sexology ch1

what drives us to have sex

-psychological factors

-socio cultural factors

-biological and evolutionary factors

psychological factors that drive us

-personality: nature and frequency. OCEAN, extophilia vs erotophilia, restrictive vs unrestrictive, sensation seeking

-mood: negative mood may mean less inclined to have sex and poor quality

-attitudes: attitude toward partner (might use sex to make partner happy)

socio cultural factors that drive us

all cultures regulate sexual behavior. Standards of normalcy and deviance vary throughout societies

ex. monogamy vs polygamy, homophobic vs accepting, abstinence vs before marriage

biological and evolutionary factors

-genetics and hormones

ex. gender roles seem to be influenced by sex hormones (CAH), D4 receptor gene for sensation seeking, evolutionary factors

psychological theories of human sexuality

-psychoanalytic theory freud

-cognitive behavioral theories: pavlov, skinner, and Bandura

-exchange theories

-personality theories

psychoanalytic theory

human behavior is driven by sex (libido) and death. There are five stages of psychosexual development, fixation may lead to unusual sexual interests and behaviors in adulthood

cognitive behavioral theories

-classical conditions: behaviors are learned from experience. Ex. pairing genital touching and dirty talk could make dirty talk sexy

operant: people who experience pleasurable consequence like getting closer with the increase of sex. People who associate pain/embarrassment will decrease sex frequency.

social learning: we imitate behaviors that are percieved as good and vice versa. Ex boost of popularity for sexually active high school students

exchange theories

How we feel about a given relationships depends upon the outcomes we receive.

ex. If we see high rewards and low costs we are going to continue trying in the relationship. If it is the opposite, then we are going to end things and move on.

sensation seeking

a personality trait that describes someone's preference for novel, exciting, and optimal levels of stimulation and arousal

leads to large number of sexual partners and greater frequency of unprotected sex.

restrictive and unrestrictive personalities

restrictive: needs to feel close to their partner

unrestrictive: doesn’t need the emotional connection. more likely to have numerous partners and higher frequency of sex

evolutionary theory

we are more attracted to people who we could reproduce with.

ex. men are attracted to women whose bodies are shaped like an hourglass and who have long silky hair bc these are signs of good health/fertility.

ancient greeks

-gods viewed as sexually adventures

-viewed men and women as bi

-mlm sex normal as long as it didn’t interfere with the family.

-women often not property

romans

-elite practiced sexual excesses like orgies, bestiality, sadism

-male male sexuality was met with disapproval

-women were considered property of men

ancient hebrews

-procreative function of sex. Sex strengthed the marriage and soldified the family

-same sex sexual relations were frowned up

-polygamy was permitted but monogamy was majority.

taoism

-sex is a form of worship that leads to harmony with nature, as well as immortality.

-a focus on sexual balance

-men and women should both want sex equally or sex will be unbalances

buddhism

-faith grounded in mastering desire to be free of suffering

-buddhist monks and nuns are celibate

-lay buddhists should refrain from sexual misconduct

indigenous south American sexuality

-sexual practices were more open and varied than middle Christians

-archeological evidence often depicts sexual images of men and women

the early/middle christians

early: sex was for marriage and procreation, not pleasure. Lust made in sexual expression was evil. Masturbation, prostituition, same sex sexual relations, oral genital conditions and anal intercourse were forbidden and sinful.

middle: conflicting views of women, sinful as eve or saintly as Mary

protestant reformation

-priests allowed to marry and rear children

-sex not just for procreation

traditional islam

-sex only in marriage for procreation and marital pleasure.

-Certain sexual practices are prohibited

-only men may have more than one spouse

-social interactions between men and women are often restircted ]

hinduism

-hinduism views sex as a religious duty

-sexual fulfillment can lead to reincarnation at a higher level

-arranged marriage

-homosexuality is not mentioned in the religious writings of hinduism

indigenous north american sexuality

-gender roles were defined but equally values

-recognition of feminine and masculine in all people

-there are third and fourth genders

United states

-religion stressed ideals of family

-sex outside of marriage is considered immoral

-women’s place is in the home and fields

Victorian era

-sexuality was publicly repressed, there is no public discussion

-women thought to have no sexual feelings

-sex drained men of their vitality

-prostitution were common even though there were prohibitions

sigmund freud

-biological sex drives controlled by society

-conscious and unconscious mind, dream analysis, and the personality structures of the id, ego, and superego

modern era

-sexual revolution: sexual attitudes become more liberal. Discussion and portrayals of sexuality was accepted and common

-gay activism: arouse during the sexual revolution. AIDS eduction, prevention, and treatment

-sex research: sexually explicit questionnaires, masters and Johnson lab research

recent trends

-fewer teens report being sexually active

-fewer report being sexually active at younger ages

-female sexuality is more accepted

-sex is discussed more openly

-porn is much easier to access