human sexuality ch. 5-8

what do people find attractive?

averageness and symmetry

when are women “most” attractive?

on the most extreme feminine end

what do western countries find attractive?

BMI in the unhealthy range below average

what do african cultures favor?

BMI ranging in average to above

is judging one’s visual attractiveness unconscious or conscious?

it is an unconscious process

what is choice blindness?

Unawareness of the actual reasons for a preference, along with the unconscious invention of fictive reasons. (i.e. getting chocolate ice cream but accepting strawberry without noticing)

what also influence sexual attractiveness?

one’s behavior and personality

what are highly rated traits?

1. trust

2. warmth

3. humor

what are men interested in?

physical appearances

what are women interested in?

wealth, social status, and intelligence

what happens when people become familiar with each other?

their judgements change by becoming more specific and deeper; familiarity plays a huge role

habituation?

affects sexual relationships, less sexual satisfaction as duraction of relationship increases

coolidge effect?

revival of sexual arousal caused by the presence of a novel sex partner

westermarck effect?

lack of sexual attraction between individuals (i.e. siblings) who have lived together during childhood

asexuality?

lack or little to no sexual attraction experienced by an individual

what promotes sexual arousal?

sexual fantasies

what do men spend more time doing than women?

fantasizing sexual experiences outside of reality

what do men tend to look at?

crotches (lol)

aphrodisiacs?

substances from plants/animals that are meant to “arouse” people; mostly influenced from top down processing

what are the four stages of the sexual response cycle?

1. excitement

2. plateau

3. orgasm

4. resolution

excitement phase?

start of sexual arousal

• women experience raised blood flow to labia, erect clitoris, and “wetness”

• men experience an erect penis duh

plateau phase?

sexual arousal is maintained

• women experience increased muscular tension of outer vagina

• men experience secretions of fluids from glands and are more erect

orgasm phase?

subjective experience of pleasure and release at sexual climax

• brief sequence of muscle contractions in genitals

• heart rate, respiration and blood pressure reach peak levels

  • emission and ejaculation (duh)

resolution phase?

• physical signs of sexual arousal subside

• erections and muscles relax

• heart rate and blood pressure go back to normal

• usually 15 mins, longer if no orgasm occured

  • sometimes multiple orgasms

refractory period?

for men, after an orgasm this lasts 30 to 90 minutes

• may be absolute, some men cannot be physiologically aroused

what did masters and johnson accomplish?

providing the physiological aspect and start of sexology; early pioneers in this field of work

masturbation?

stimulating one’s self for sexual pleasure; can be alone, with someone, or combined with other activities

what about masturbation?

• negative attitude towards it

• sin by religion

• more common with gay people

  • age, ethnicity, education, etc

why masturbate?

• relieve tension

• pleasure

  • partner not available

women v. men masturbation?

women use more diverse methods / stimulate clitoris

men attempt to replicate coitus

deep kissing?

“french kissing”

more common among well educated people

how do men view kissing?

a pathway to sex

how do women view kissing?

to evaluate if their partner is sustainable

necking?

kissing / touching confined to head and neck

petting?

touching naked skin below the neck

heavy petting?

refers to touching another person’s breasts / genitals

fondling?

any kind of sexual touching of partner’s body

outercourse?

sex without penetration (i.e. grinding, dry humping)

tribadism?

2 women stimulating eachother via thrusting against each other’s vulvas,,,, scissoring

foreplay?

sexually pleasing behavior designed to increase arousal

afterplay?

sexual behavior following coitus or orgasm

fellatio?

penis + mouth

cunnilingus?

vulva + mouth

anilingus?

anus + mouth

who is more likely to engage in oral sex?

younger generations

sex play?

catch-all phrase for activities that add spice and variety to sex life

devotees?

those who are sexually aroused by disabled people

what have masturbation statistics revealed?

• Gay people do this more

• People with or without a partner do this

• men do this more frequently

what was illegal in some states?

anal sex

what normally keeps the anus closed?

the contraction of two sphincter muscles

how is sex culture in the U.S. ?

• more open discussion

• sex ed in schools is very controversial

• conflicts between older and newer generations

how is sex culture in South Africa?

• dry sex preference by men

what do Taoists believe?

the loss of semen drains a man’s life energy and brings him closer to death; it is recommended to avoid ejaculation

what do the Aka people believe?

• frequent sex and more children are important

• infant mortality rate is high

• people don’t participate in masturbation or homosexuality

what does the GSS reveal about the frequency of sex?

It has been declining as more years go by

what has changed about the attitude of sex over time?

• extramarital is ALWAYS bad

• homosexual sex disapproval dropped from 80% to 39%

benefits of hookup culture?

• none really

• very few report getting a partner out of it

• emotional connection forms but is expected to not occur

sociosexuality?

willingness to engage in casual sex

what factors make up a hook up?

• kissing to coitus

• unplanned

• typically at parties or social gatherings

what makes up sternberg’s model of love?

1. intimacy (emotions)

2. commitment (cognitive)

3. passion

passionate love?

“falling in love” or “head over heels”

compassionate?

cooler emotion; sense of attachment, trust, intimacy, and comittment

Dopamine?

is secreted during the honeymoon period of relationship

Oxytocin?

secreted during sex; this is what forms emotional bonds between people

why are people dissatisfied in relationships?

• lack of proper, clear communication

• little to no common denominators

• upbringing, gender and culture can inhibit communication

• stifling emotions or “never fighting”

are most people monogamous?

yes; infidelity is morally wrong and looked down on by americans

stats of maternal death during birth in modern age?

24 in 100,00

what is a non-cohabiting relationship?

the couple is not married and not living together

Infertility problems?

• bad sperm

• sub and infertility

• can be from both or one parent

infertility in women?

• abnormalities in tract

• damaged oviducts

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

• STIs

gestational surrogacy?

when the ovum is provided by another woman and not the surrogate

what does Rh incompatibility lead to?

a miscarriage

what is the Rh?

the positive and negative part of our blood i.e. O-negative or B-positive

what happens with age?

fertility declines

recommended weight gain for a normal woman during pregnancy?

25-35 lbs

what is the “term” pregnancy range?

37 - 42 weeks

what is gestational age?

the number of weeks since the onset of the last menstrual period

how long is each trimester?

3 months