Human Sexuality Ch. 6
what occurs during the resolution phase of sexual response
4th phase of the sexual response cycle in which sexual systems return to their non-excited state
how much testosterone is bound/unattached in men
95% bound; 5% unattached
how much testosterone is bound/unattached in women
97-99% bound; 1-3% unattached
what occurs during the orgasm phase of sexual response
an orgasm, or a series of muscular contractions of the pelvic floor muscles at the peak of arousal, occurs only lasts a few seconds orgasms can create an intense mixture of highly pleasurable sensations
males produce _________ and females produce _____________
androgens; estrogens
what are common drugs that are classified as anaphrodisiacs
anti-androgens, opiates, tranquilizers, blood pressure medicine (anti-hyperintensives), antidepressants, nicotine, steroids
erogenous zones
areas of the body that contain dense concentrations of nerve endings there are primary and secondary erogenous zones
secondary erogenous zones
areas of the body that have become erotically sensitive through sexual conditioning
what are example of aphrodisiacs
bananas, cucumbers, and oysters
why do women have smaller amounts of testosterone in their bodies
because it takes very little testosterone to stimulate female libido
what averse affects occur when males have too much testosterone
causes disruption in natural hormone cycles, salt retention, fluid retention, hair loss, increased risk of strokes, heart attacks, and death
what averse affects occur when females have too much testosterone
causes stimulation in growth of facial and body hair, increase muscle mass, reduce breast size, and enlarge the clitoris
pheronomes
certain odors secreted during female fertile periods that relate to reproductive functions
neuropeptide hormones
chemicals produced in the brain that influence sexuality and other behavioral functions
when is oxytocin released
cuddling, sexual intimacy, and touch
what are common signs of testosterone deficiency in both sexes
decrease in one's level of sexual desire reduced sensitivity of the genitals and the nipples to sexual stimulation overall reduction in general levels of sexual arousal, possibly accompanied by decreases in orgasmic capacity and/or less intense orgasms diminished energy levels and possibly depressed mood increased fat mass decreased bone mineral density, which can result in osteoporosis in both sexes reduced body hair decreased muscle mass and strength
what is Kaplan's Three-stage model regarding sexual response
desire excitement orgasm
what two neurotransmitters in the nervous system influence sexual arousal and response
dopamine: facilitates sexual arousal and activity serotonin: inhibits sexual arousal and activity
vasocongestion
engorgement of blood vessels in particular body parts in response to sexual arousal
what is Masters and Johnson's Four Phase Model on sexual response
excitement plateau orgasm resolution
true/false: individuals with depression are often prescribed selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which enhance sexual response and libido
false: SSRIs can interfere with sexual response and libido; can reduce orgasmic capacity in both sexes
true/false: foreplay is subject to strict cultural variation
false: foreplay is subject to wide cultural variation Eastern societies prolong foreplay and Western cultures use foreplay for short durations and move rapidly to the main event
true/false: hugging is the prime means of sexual arousal in the US
false: kissing is prime means of sexual arousal Hindus believe that kissing symbolically contaminates the act of sexual intercourse
true/false: regular use of opiates (heroine) can increase sexual interest and activity in both sexes
false: regular use of opiates (heroine) can decrease sexual interest and activity in both sexes
true/false: recent research indicated that testosterone may increase risk of stroke and death in men
false: research indicates that testosterone may increase risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular dangers in men may cause cardiovascular concerns in men over the age of 65
true/false: taste plays a major role in sexual arousal
false: taste plays a relatively minor role in sexual arousal
true/false: testosterone generally has a greater effect on male sexual functioning than male sexual desire (libido)
false: testosterone generally has a greater effect on male libido than sexual functioning
true/false: testosterone replacement therapy is rare and hard to get approved by a medical professional
false: testosterone replacement therapy is relatively common and easily attainable by men this is hard for females to get this prescribed for them
true/false: women always experience an orgasm after reaching the plateau level of sexual response
false: women sometimes obtain plateau levels of arousal without release of sexual climax
what are examples of primary erogenous zones
genitals, booty, breasts (particularly the nipples), inner thighs, ear lobes
what is pattern B of the female sexual response
going through the sex cycle without an orgasm and extended plateau
hypogonadism
impaired hormone production in the testes that results in testosterone deficiency
where does the term "horny" come from
in asian countries, a widespread belief persists that the ground-up horns of animals such as rhinos and reindeer are powerful sexual stimuli
myotonia
increased muscle tension that occurs through the body during sexual arousal
what is pattern A of the female sexual response
most similar to male pattern except females can achieve one or more orgasms without dropping below the plateau
what is an example of a neuropeptide hormone
oxytocin; influences sexual response and interpersonal attraction sometimes called the "love hormone"
refractory period
period of time following orgasm in the male during which he cannot experience another orgasm
sex flush
pink or red rash that can appear on the chest or breasts during sexual arousal more common in females
what is pattern C of the female sexual response
rapid rise to orgasm with no definitive plateau and a quick resolution
how is vision related to sexual arousal
research seems to support that the human male is more aroused through visual stimuli that females how we look determined one's state of arousal
what occurs during the plateau phase of sexual response
second phase in the sexual response cycle where muscle tension, heart rate, blood pressure, and vasocongestion increase powerful surge of sexual tension in both sexes the continues to reach for the peak that leads to orgasm lasts a few seconds to a few minutes
steroid hormones
sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone)
what did Kaplan argue inn regards to the sexual response cycle and sexual difficulty
sexual difficulties tend to fall into one of the three categories above and that it is possible for a person to have difficulty in one while continuing to function normally in the other two
how is hearing related to sexual arousal
some people find words, intimate or erotic conversation, moans, and orgasmic cries to be highly arousing
what have studies about castrated men and their sexual interest discover
studies report that surgically castrated men experience significantly reduced sexual interest and activity within the first year of undergoing the operation when sexual behavior persists following castration, levels of sexual interest and activity generally diminish, often markedly anti-androgens reduce the among of testosterone circulating in the bloodstream and reduces sexual interest
aphrodisiac
substance that allegedly arouses sexual desire and increases the capacity for sexual activity
anaphrodisiacs
substance that inhibits sexual desire and behavior
what is the most distinctive feature about Kaplan's sexual response model
that desire is a distinct stage of the sexual response cycle
what two brain systems have profound influence over sexual arousal
the cerebral cortex controls higher mental processes such as sexual fantasy the limbic system--the cingulate gyrus, the amygdala, the hippocampus, and parts of the hypothalamus--regulate sexual behavior
what part of the hypothalamus is linked with sexual behavior
the medial pre-optic area increases sexual behavior as its stimulation increases
what is the biggest difference between the male and female resolution phase of sexual response
the presence of a refractory period in male resolution phase
what is the role of estrogens in female sexual behavior
the role of estrogens in female sexual behavior is still unclear
what occurs during the excitement phase of sexual response
this is the first phase of the sexual response cycle, in which engorgement of the sexual organs and increases in muscle tension, heart rate, ad blood pressure occur both sexes experience an increase in myotonia, vasocongestion, heart rate, and blood pressure
true/false: MDMA, crystal meth, barbiturates, cocaine, and LSD are known for having aphrodisiac qualities
true
true/false: alcohol can provide people with "liquid courage" to facilitate sexual behaviors and conversation that normally go against one's values
true
true/false: alcohol is a depressant and has depressing effects on higher brain centers and reduces cortical inhibitions, such as fear and guilt, that inhibit sexual expression
true
true/false: antidepressants almost without exception cause adverse changes in sexual response such as decreased sexual desire in both sexes
true
true/false: men always experience orgasm after reaching plateau level of sexual response
true
true/false: oxytocin exerts significant influence on sexual response, sensuality, and interpersonal erotic and emotional attraction
true
true/false: oxytocin increases skin sensitivity to touch and encourages or facilitates affectionate behavior
true
true/false: oxytocin levels increase as a person moves through a sexual response cycle from initial excitement to orgasm
true
true/false: oxytocin plays a big role in facilitating social attachment with others and in the development of fostering feelings of being loved
true
true/false: testosterone plays an important role in maintaining sexual desire in both sexes
true
true/false: touch tends to be the predominate during sexual intimacy
true
true/false: particular sexual stimuli and/or behaviors that people find arousing are greatly influenced by cultural conditioning
true: in Western societies sexual activity is heavily focused on achieving orgasm; in Asian society the primary goal of interaction is extension of sexual arousal
true/false: considerable evidence indicates that testosterone plays an important role as a libido-facilitating hormone in females
true: there is a causal relationship between levels of circulating testosterone and sexual desire in females
how is smell related to sexual arousal
typically learn through experience to view certain odors as erotic and others as offensive females secrete pheromones that are sexually arousing
what are the two fundamental physiological responses to effective sexual stimulation occur in both men and women
vasocongestion and myotonia
how does the decreasing rate of testosterone production differ between men and women
when women enter menopause, her total testosterone may fall quickly in just a matter of months for men, testosterone production remains stable in most men until the age of 40 and declines 1-2% each year