10.Sexuality in Late Adulthood and Gender and Sexual Minorities

These flashcards cover essential concepts related to sexuality in late adulthood, gender identities, and sexual minorities, based on the lecture notes.

What are some factors that can cause sexual dysfunction in late adulthood?

Biological changes, death of partner, psychological influences, and social stigmas.

What is menopause diagnosed by?

After 12 months without a menstrual period, vaginal bleeding, or spotting.

What are some symptoms of menopause?

Hot flashes, red blotches, heavy sweating, cold shivering, vaginal dryness, changes in sleep, mood changes, and physical changes.

What issues might arise in older men regarding sexual health?

Less sexual responsiveness, less penile rigidity, less ejaculate, and potential absence of ejaculation during intercourse.

When is it best to approach the topic of sex with older individuals?

During intake for couples.

Define sexual orientation.

An inherent or immutable enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people.

What does it mean to be transgender?

People whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex assigned at birth.

What are gender roles?

Attitudes, behaviors, rights, and responsibilities that groups associate with assumed or assigned sex.

What is gender affirming care?

A range of medical, social, and legal interventions designed to support individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth

PLISST model and disabilities

Education should be provided according to the client’s preference

Know the five love languages and how this can be used in counseling

-Gifts – Quality time – Acts of service – Words of affirmation – Physical touch used in counseling to improve communication.

What is intimate partner violence (IPV)?

Refers to violence or aggression that occurs in a close relationship. 

Characterized by a pattern coercive behavior.

How is Compulsive sexual behavior defined in the ICD-11?

-failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges resulting in repetitive sexual behavior  

-Become the focus of one’s life to the exclusion of concerns regarding one’s health, personal care, or responsibilities 

-Continue despite adverse consequences or not deriving any satisfaction from conducting them 

What is the goal of therapy when working to create new patterns of interactions?

To foster healthier communication and relationship dynamics.

What is consensual non-monogamy?

An arrangement where all partners agree that they can engage in romantic or sexual relationships outside their primary relationship.

What is the good enough sex model?

Sex provides comfort, sexual experiences vary, open communication and sexual equality

Types of IPV

• Physical violence 

• Sexual violence 

• Stalking 

• Psychological aggression

What is gender non-conforming?

People who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender.

Gender expression

External appearance of one’s gender identity expressed through behavior, clothing, body characteristics, voice.

Who is someone Intersex?

People born with a variety of differences in their sex traits and reproductive anatomy.

Warning signs of IPV

-Physical injuries around the face, neck, and throat 

-Inconsistent/evasive answers when questions about injuries 

-Substance abuse

-Stress related illness and conditions 

-Complications in pregnancy 

-Makes excuses for partners behaviors 

-Asserts control by telling the survivor what they can or cannot do (including medical and mental health decisions) 

 The way the client describes their partner to include: 

-Isolating survivor from others 

-Harm other family members or pets 

-Threaten to hurt survivor, self, or others 

How to assess IPV?

 Ask specific concrete questions 

 Define violence 

 Find out when the violence occurs and who the target is 

 Be direct and candid 

 Be sensitive to the patient and respect their privacy 

 Become familiar with batterers’ excuses for their behavior 

 Don’t be manipulated or misled by excuses 

Objective IPV tools

HITS: Hit, Insult, Threaten, Scream

WAST: Woman Abuse Screening Tool

Partner Violence Screen

Pansexual means

Romantic/sexual attraction to all gender identities

Asexual is

Little or absent sexual attraction to others

Cognitive development theory  

Gender develops in a stage-like manner during childhood. 

Gender identity (2-3yo)

Gender stability (3-5yo)

Gender consistency (5-7yo)

Cognitive Social Learning Theory (Bandura)

Expanded view of gender development, considering how the mutual influences of the individual, the environment, and psychosocial dynamics shape learning, which includes: 

1. Paying attention 

2. Motivation to enact the behavior 

3. The ability to reproduce the action 

4. The ability to remember the behavior 

Social construction theory  

Gender is socially constructed through sociocultural influences (e.g., ethnicity, historical and cultural background, family values, religion, etc.); “performing gender”.  

Queer theory

Further dismantles traditional assumptions about gender and sexual identities and broadly challenges traditional institutional views of gender and heteronormativity. 

Gender Affirmative Model

Delivers support and services to gender diverse individuals across contexts, and this approach has been widely adapted and is considered evidence-based.

Common concerns that may be identified by gender diverse clients include 

Depression 

Anxiety 

Suicidal ideations associated with gender dysphoria 

Alcohol and substance use 

Exposure to traumatic experiences and symptoms of minority stress associated with discrimination, stigmatization, and harassment. 

Gender Identity (2-3yo)

According to the Cognitive Developmental Theory, children in this stage are conscious about physical differences between boys and girls.

Gender Stability (3-4yo)

According to the Cognitive Developmental Theory, children in this stage recognize that gender is stable over time.

Gender Constancy (5-7yo)

According to the Cognitive Developmental Theory, children in this stage have a stable sense of gender identity and adherence to gender-role stereotypes.