PSY 339 Exams 5,6,7, & 8

Sexual scripts

Culturally learned guidelines for sexual behavior, including how to act, who initiates, and what counts as sex.

Charmed circle

Concept by Gayle Rubin describing socially accepted sexual behaviors as 'normal' versus marginalized behaviors outside the circle.

Performative bisexuality

Enacting bisexual behaviors for social approval or male attention rather than authentic attraction.

Sexual double standard

Different moral rules for sexual behavior based on gender, often rewarding men and shaming women for similar actions.

Slut shaming

Criticizing or stigmatizing women for real or perceived sexual behavior outside societal norms.

Affirmative consent

'Yes means yes' model requiring clear, voluntary, ongoing agreement to sexual activity.

Sexual socialization

Learning sexual norms, values, roles, and behaviors from family, peers, media, and culture.

Abstinence-only sex education

Sex education promoting abstaining from sex until marriage without teaching contraception.

Comprehensive sex education

Sex education including abstinence plus contraception, consent, STIs, and healthy relationships.

Masturbation

Self-stimulation of genitals for sexual pleasure.

Cognitive distraction

Mental distraction that interferes with sexual arousal or functioning. Spectatoring

Sexualization

Viewing a person primarily as a sexual object or valuing them only for sexual appeal.

Self-sexualization

Presenting oneself in sexualized ways to gain approval or status.

Sex work

Provision of sexual services (e.g., escorting, stripping, pornography) for money or resources.

Sexual agency

Ability to make autonomous choices about one's sexual life.

Sexual assertiveness

Ability to communicate sexual needs, limits, and boundaries. Gender socialization

Psychoanalytic theories

Freud-based theories emphasizing unconscious processes and childhood sexuality.

Castration anxiety

Freudian concept where boys fear losing their penis as punishment. Precarious masculinity

Electra complex

Freudian female parallel to Oedipus complex, involving attraction to father. Womb envy

Behavioral theories

Behavior shaped by reinforcement and punishment.

Operant conditioning

Learning through consequences

Social learning theories

Learning through observation, modeling, and imitation.

observational learning

Learning behaviors by watching others.

Self-socialization

Children actively form gender identity through internal motivation.

Cognitive development theories

Children develop understanding of gender in developmental stages.

Gender labeling

Ability to identify self and others as male or female.

Gender schema theory

Cognitive framework guiding processing of gender-related information. Gender constancy

Social construction theories

Gender is created through culture, language, and social interaction. Acculturation

Machismo

Latinx cultural value emphasizing male dominance and strength.

Marianismo

Latinx cultural value emphasizing female purity, sacrifice, and motherhood. Gender segregation

Gender intensification

Increased pressure to conform to gender roles in adolescence. Objectification

Male gaze

Media perspective that sexualizes women for heterosexual male pleasure.

Objectification theory

Fredrickson & Roberts

Self-objectification

Internalizing an observer’s gaze and monitoring one's body. Body dissatisfaction

Normative discontent

Expectation that girls and women will dislike their bodies. Beauty work

Colorism

Preference for lighter skin tone within racial/ethnic groups.

Tripartite model of social influence

Peers, parents, and media shape body image. Body surveillance

Body esteem

Self-evaluation of physical appearance.

Fat talk

Self-deprecating body comments that reinforce body dissatisfaction. Cultivation theory

Social comparison

Evaluating oneself relative to others.

Face-ism

Media bias showing more face for men and bodies for women.

Internalization

Absorbing societal beauty ideals as personal goals.

Body shame

Feeling shame about one’s body for not meeting ideals.

Menstruation

Monthly shedding of uterine lining.

Menarche

First menstrual period.

Intuitive eating

Eating based on hunger and fullness cues.

Interoceptive awareness

Awareness of internal bodily sensations.

Social support

Resources from others for coping.

Informational social support

Advice and information to solve problems.

Instrumental social support

Tangible assistance (tasks, resources).

Emotional social support

Empathy, caring, reassurance.

Active constructive responding

Supportive response that builds connection. Co-rumination

Dating scripts

Culturally learned expectations for dating behaviors.

Compulsory monogamy

Cultural expectation that relationships must be monogamous.

Consensually non-monogamous relationships

Relationships involving agreed upon multiple partners.

Polygamy

Marriage involving multiple spouses.

Polyamorous relationships

Romantic and/or sexual relationships with multiple partners with consent.

Mate retention behaviors

Behaviors to prevent partner infidelity or loss.

Principle of least interest

Power belongs to the person who is least emotionally invested.

Routine labor

Chores that must be done regularly (e.g., cleaning).

Low-control labor

Tasks with little autonomy (childcare, cooking).

Intermittent labor

Occasional tasks like repairs.

Second shift

Women working paid job plus doing most housework.

Emotion work

Managing emotions of self and others.

Relative resources theory

Partner with more resources has more power in relationship.

Social exchange

Relationships based on cost-benefit analysis.

Time availability

Division of labor based on who has more time.

Gender deviance neutralization

Men and women increase gender-typical behavior when roles violate norms.