Human Sexuality - Quiz 3

Hormones

• chemicals released directly into the blood stream, affecting behavior and experience
  • estrogen (produced in females AND males)
  • testosterone (produced in females AND males

Neurotransmitters

• chemicals released from nerve cell to nerve cell, affecting behavior and experience

Hormones in females

• Estrogen production declines in older women
  – slows growth of vaginal cells
  – thins vaginal the wall
  – increases dryness of vagina
  – decreases vaginal sensitivity

• Testosterone levels remain constant in aging women
  – can increase sexual desire

Hormones in males

Testosterone decreases in aging men
– decreased sexual desire
– decreased quality of erections
– decreased quantity of erections

Sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm is affected by…

• *Neurotransmitters

Directly after orgasm, serotonin, oxytocin, and
vasopressin increase, which can lead to feelings of pleasure, relaxation, and attachment

1. oxytocin

2. serotonin

3. dopamine

4. vasopressin

Family background

Children with married parents:
– have conservative attitudes about sex
– likely have seen displays of affection between parents
– have talked to parents about sex
– have fewer lifetime sexual partners

Religion

Compared to non-religious people, religious people are:
– more conservative their sexual attitudes/behavior
– less likely to have premarital intercourse
– less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior
– less likely to approve of oral sex
– experience more guilt about sexual behavior

Sexual Response

• series of physiological and psychological changes during sexual behavior

sexual cognitions

• thoughts about sex

• for the most part, science and medicine considers sexual fantasy normal and healthy
  

women’s fantasies tend to be

• be more passive, submissive, and romantic

• include more touching, feeling, and partner response

Five most common females’ sexual fantasies

1. sex with current partner
2. reliving a past sexual experience
3. engaging in different positions
4. having sex in rooms other than the bedroom
5. sex on a carpeted floor

men’s fantasies tend to be

• more active and aggressive

• be more frequent, impersonal, and visual

• involve explicit sex acts and focus on partner as a sex object

• involve someone other than the current partner

Five most common males’ sexual fantasies

1. different positions

2. having an aggressive partner

3. receiving oral sex

4. having sex with a new partner

5. having sex on the beach

masturbation

1. unrelated to relationship status

2. the main sexual outlet in adolescence

3.  common throughout the lifespan

4. more likely to elicit feelings of stigma in females versus males

5. linked to cultural and religious taboos, leading to guilt

foreplay

everything that happens before penetration
– Ex. caressing, fondling, snuggling

manual sex

physical caressing of the genitals in solo or partner masturbation

Cunnilingus

performing oral sex on a woman

fellatio

performing oral sex on a man

Anilingus

performing oral sex on an anus

sixty-nine position

mutual oral sex

Air Embolism

• blowing air into a pregnant woman’s vagina can an force air into her
  uterine veins

• air bubbles then enter her bloodstream and obstruct vessels that lead to her death

How often do Americans have vaginal intercourse?

• 1/3 have intercourse at least twice a week

• 1/3 have intercourse a few times a month

• 1/3 have intercourse a few times a year or not at all
  • vaginal intercourse = common human sexual behavior
  • frequency of vaginal intercourse decreases with age

Heterosexual intercourse typically lasts

3 to 13 minutes

anal intercourse

• 1/4 of adults have had anal sex at least once

• practiced by men and women of all sexual orientations

• may lead to orgasm, especially with simultaneous clitoral or penile stimulation

• lubrication is required
  – the tissue is fragile, does not self-lubricate, and can be
  damaged without lubrication
  • anal sphincter muscle needs to be relaxed

Interfemoral Intercourse

thrust penis between the partner’s thighs

Buttockry

penile rubbing in the buttocks

Fisting (Hand-Balling)

the insertion of the fist and sometimes part of the forearm into the anus

Tribadism (Scissoring)

women rub their genitals together

Dildo/Vibrator

can be inserted into vagina or anus (lubrication)

Fisting

hand inserted in vagina (lubrication)

Lesbian Erotic Role Identification

“butch” (masculine) and “femme” (feminine) roles may be used

sexual orientation

the gender(s) that a person is attracted to emotionally, physically, sexually, and romantically

heterosexual

erotic attraction members of the other sex

homosexual

erotic attraction to members of the same sex

bisexual

erotically attracted to members of either sex (may also be referred to as pansexual)

gay

traditionally defined as a homosexual male

lesbian

traditionally defined as a homosexual female

LGBTQ

acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning

androsexual

being primarily emotionally, physically, sexually, and/or romantically attracted to some men, males, and/or masculinity

asexual

a person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others and/or a lack of interest in sexual relationships/behavior. Some researchers have proposed that asexuality is a sexual orientation

gynesexual

being primarily emotionally, physically, sexually, and/or romantically attracted
to some women, females, and/or femininity

pansexual

a person who experiences emotional, physical, sexual, and/or romantic attraction for members of all gender identities/expressions.

skoliosexual

being primarily emotionally, physically, sexually, and/or romantically attracted to some genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary people

Kinsey Continuum

• in 1948, Kinsey published a 7-point scale from exclusively heterosexual behavior to exclusively homosexual behavior
  • suggests sexual orientation is a continuous variable
  • emphasizes behavior

Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG)

Klein (1990) expanded Kinsey’s continuum with 7 dimensions:
1. attraction
2. behavior
3. fantasy
4. emotional preference
5. social preference
6. self-identification
7. lifestyle

Kinsey (1948) found that

37% men had at least one adult homosexual experience
• 4% men identify as lifelong homosexuals
• 13% women had at least one adult homosexual experience
• 3% women identify as lifelong homosexuals

Laumann and colleagues (1994) found that

Females
• 4% of women had sex with a female as an adult
• < 2% of women had sex with another female within a year
Males
• 9% of men had sex with a male since puberty
• 5% of men had sex with a male as an adult
• 2% of men had sex with another male within a year

Gays, lesbians, and bisexuals are often not
well represented in national survey data

Scholars generally agree that:
• 3% to 4% of males are predominantly gay
• 1.5% to 2% of women are predominantly lesbian
• 2% to 5% of people are bisexual

prenatal hormones

prenatal hormones in human beings as well stress during pregnancy
influence hormones, which may impact the fetus’ eventual sexual orientation
• females who were exposed to excess diethylstilbestrol (DES – which is a
synthetic estrogen) in the womb are possibly likely to identify as bisexuals or
lesbians compared with females not exposed to DES

Adult Hormone Levels?

• androgen levels in adult male homosexuals with those in adult male
  heterosexuals appear to be the same

• research on hormone level differences in lesbians compared to heterosexual females finds conflicting results, so there is no clear relationship between adult hormone levels and female sexual orientation

Maternal Immune Hypothesis

after the birth of successive sons in some mothers, there is a progressive immunization to male-specific antigens
• this produces anti-male antibodies in the developing brain of the male fetus during the developmental period of the fetus’ sexual differentiation
• as a result, in families with multiple brothers, later born brothers from the same mother are more likely to be homosexual (known as the Fraternal Birth Order Effect)
– each older brother increases a man’s chance of being gay by
about 33%

Hypothalamus

portion of the anterior hypothalamus that is involved in sexual motivation may be smaller in homosexual men, compared to heterosexual men

Cerebral Hemispheres

homosexual men (unlike heterosexual men) use both hemispheres of their brain, similarly to heterosexual women

Finger Length

the ratio of the index and ring fingers is affected by prenatal exposure to
testosterone.
• the typical male-type finger pattern is a longer ring finger than index finger,
whereas the typical female-type pattern is similar index and ring finger
lengths, or a longer index finger.
• homosexual females are more commonly found to have a typical male-type
finger length pattern, whereas homosexual males are more likely to have a
typical female-type finger length pattern

Freud’s Psychoanalytic View

Since we are born with sexual energy, all of us are naturally bisexual at birth

Oedipal Complex

after puberty, males desire for mother can transform into identification with her… which then makes males sexually desire a penis

Electra complex

angry with their mother because they do not have a penis, and since they cannot have their father’s penis girls minimize their anger towards their mothers leading to sexual desire of females

Rado’s View of Homosexuality

homosexuality is a mental illness due to unhealthy development
• his ideas spurred medicine to attempt to “cure” homosexuality

Bieber’ Theory on Homosexuality

Gay males:
1. have mothers who are overly close and possessive
2. have fathers who are hostile or absent, driving boys into the
arms of their mothers
3. the overly intimate mother instills fear of heterosexuality in the
boy, and inhibits the boy’s normal masculine development

Gender-Role Nonconformity

explores cross-gendered traits in childhood
• boys who exhibit female-gender traits are more likely to be gay adults (correlational)
• girls who exhibit male-typical gender traits are more likely to be lesbian adults (correlational)

Critique:
• Many gay men do not exhibit female-gender traits children, and many lesbians do not exhibit male-typical gender traits as
children
• Not all boys who exhibit female-typical traits grow up to be gay adults, and not all girls who exhibit male-typical traits grow up to be lesbian adults

Peer Group Interaction

early developing children become sexually aroused prior to opposite-sex contact
• for males, this means same-sex peer groupings will relay emerging erotic feelings to focus on other boys

Critique:
Sambian boys who live communally regularly have sex with other boys until they are ready to marry. Yet, almost all these males go
on to lead heterosexual lives

Behavior Theory

if we are reinforced for a behavior (rewarded), we are likely to
increase that behavior
• if we are punished for a behavior, we are likely to decrease that
behavior

Homosexuality is a learned behavior, brought about by
the reinforcement of homosexual behaviors and/or the
punishing of heterosexual behavior

Why Are There Different Sexual Orientations?
Behavior Theory

• A same-sex encounter that is pleasurable (reward), coupled with an encounter with the other sex that is frightening (punishment) leads to greater likelihood of engaging in another same-sex encounter.
• A same-sex sexual fantasy may be reinforced (rewarded) though sexual self-pleasure (masturbation)

Critique:
• American society tends to view heterosexuality as the norm,
with less (or little, or no) societal reinforcement for homosexual behavior. Yet homosexuality nevertheless exists even without positive reinforcement from society

Why Are There Different Sexual Orientations?
Sociological Theory

Society defines “gay, lesbian, bisexual,” and we learn our culture’s way of thinking about sexuality
• “Heterosexual” or “homosexual” not a biological facts, but simply a ways of thinking that evolve as social conditions
change in a cultural context over time
• Our current society offers its members definitions of what it means to be homosexual or not homosexual, and members
choose from options available in the cultural context.
– Ex. effeminate boys may be labeled as “gay” children, and thus adopt that role

Interactional Theory

Bem (2000) stated that homosexuality results from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors
• these factors contribute to childhood temperaments and play preferences
– male children who engage in "male-typical" behavior tend to like spending time with similar males
– female children who engage in "female-typical" behavior tend to like
spending time with similar females
• gender-conforming children prefer the other gender for romantic interests, whereas gender nonconforming children prefer the same gender

Interactional Theory leads to

Exotic-Becomes-Erotic” Theory
• Bem stated that sexual feelings evolve from experiencing heightened arousal in situations in which one gender is viewed as more exotic, or different from oneself
• lesbian and gay children had playmates of the other sex while growing up, and this led them to see the same sex as more “exotic” and appealing

Critique:
• limited empirical support for Bem’s theories

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

manual used to in psychiatry to classify mental disorders in the USA

The diagnosis of homosexuality was removed from DSM in the 1970s, to account for the fact that members of homosexual communities functioned in healthy and meaningful ways

Ego Dystonic Homosexuality

diagnosis that appeared in DSM in the 1980s, but was eventually removed from DSM altogether

Reparative Therapy (Conversion Therapy, Sexual Reorientation)

interventions to change sexual orientation, supported by several faith- based organizations, and overall poorly supported by science

Sexual Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

diagnosis that replaces Ego Dystonic Homosexuality in current DSM

American Psychiatric Association

same-sex attraction, whether expressed in action, fantasy, or identity, implies no impairment per se in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities

American Psychological Association

• lesbian, gay and bisexual orientations are not disorders

• research has found no inherent association between any of these sexual orientations and psychopathology

• both heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality

Heteronormative

• growing up in a society where heterosexual ideals are espoused/encouraged by a society, and behavior/identity other than heterosexual is not as actively
  espoused/encouraged (and in some cases rejected)
  • “presumption of heterosexuality”

Coming-Out

establishing a personal identity and communicating that to others

Coming-Out to Self

recognizing sexual orientation within oneself

Coming-Out to Others

disclosing one’s sexual orientation to family, friends, and the public

Stage 1: Identity Confusion

Person believes their behavior may be defined as gay or lesbian. Person may accept that role and seek information, or repress it and inhibit all lesbian and gay behaviors

Stage 2: Identity Comparison

Person accepts potential lesbian and gay identity; he or she rejects the heterosexual model may begin to seek homosexual models

Stage 3: Identity Tolerance

Person shifts to the belief she/he is probably lesbian or gay. Begins to seek out the homosexual community for social, sexual, and emotional needs. Confusion
declines. Usually, the person still does not reveal new identity to the heterosexual world but maintains a double lifestyle

Stage 4: Identity Acceptance

Positive view of self-identity is forged, a network of lesbian and gay friends is developed. Selective disclosure to friends/family is made. Person often immerses oneself in homosexual culture

Stage 5: Identity Pride

Homosexual pride is developed, and anger over treatment prejudice/discrimination may lead to rejecting heterosexuality

Stage 6: Identity Synthesis

Person truly becomes comfortable one’s identity, realizes the inaccuracy of dividing the world into “good lesbians and gays” and “bad heterosexuals.” Disclosure of sexual orientation is no longer an issue. The person realizes that there are many sides and aspects that make up a person’s identity, of which
sexual orientation is only one

American Academy of Pediatrics (2013) stated that

Children who grow up with same-sex parents do as well emotionally, cognitively, socially, and sexually as children from
heterosexual parents, and no significant differences have been found in the psychological adjustment and social relationships between the children of same-sex and heterosexual couples

Homosexual Parents in USA

1 in 3 lesbians has given birth
• 1 in 6 gay men has fathered or adopted a child
• research does not support the idea that lesbian and gay parents are more
likely to raise homosexual children

Gay and Lesbian Seniors

• face a number of issues: survivor benefits, lack of health insurance, Social Security, assisted living
  needs

• specialized retirement homes have formed for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered seniors

Homophobia (Homonegativity)

strongly negative attitudes toward homosexuals and homosexuality

Sexual Prejudice

negative attitudes toward an individual because of her or his or their sexual orientation
• preferable term to homophobia because it conveys no assumptions about the motivations underlying negative
attitudes and avoids value judgments about such attitudes

Internalized Homophobia (Internalized Homonegativity)

• homosexuals who themselves have homonegativity.

• exhibit lower self-esteem, more shame, and increased psychological
  distress compared to those with no internalized homophobia

The Media

gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender media representation is increasing

Education

much opposition to teaching sexuality, including homosexuality, in schools

Organizations and Advocacy

Ex., American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• Ex., Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
• Ex., Services and Advocacy for LGBT Elders (SAGE)

Legislating Against Hate Crimes

• targets violence committed in response to a victim’s identity, including sexual orientation
  • college campuses required to report all hate crimes

Bisexuality

sexual attraction to both males and females
• often first identify as heterosexual, then identify as bisexual later in life
• some critics claim bisexuality is not a true sexual orientation (or the denial of
homosexuality, or identity confusion, or an attempt to be trendy)

Sequential Bisexuality

sex solely with one gender, followed by sex solely with the other

Contemporaneous Bisexuality

having male and female sexual partners during same time period

Biphobia

• prejudice that exists in straight, gay and lesbian communities against bisexual individuals
• those who are bisexual may be viewed as homosexuals by heterosexuals
• those who are bisexual are viewed by some homosexuals as becoming homosexual or playing both sides of an identity dichotomy (gay vs. straight)

Situational Homosexuality

• found when people spend long periods of time together
• majority of inmate sexual contact is consensual
• majority are not homosexual and return to heterosexuality upon release

Contraception

the deliberate use of methods or techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse

Popular forms of contraception in USA include…
• birth control pills
– used by all USA racial groups, but more so by White females
• female sterilization
– used by all USA racial groups, but more so by Black & Hispanic females

Contraception use is affected by…

1. social issues (ex. desired family size)
2. economic issues
3. knowledge and/or misinformation about sex and contraception
4. religion (ex. limited contraceptives in Catholic regions)
5. gender roles and power
– in some areas, men make the contraceptive decisions; for some
it is the responsibility of both men & women

Douching

injecting water to clean the vagina