Definitions + theoretical perspectives

Sexuality - world health org

Central aspect of humains throughout life encompassing sex, gender, identities, orientations, etc expressed in thoughts fantasies, desires, deliefs, behaviors, relationships, etc

6 dimensional model of human sexuality

Bio, psycho, cognitive, socio-cultural, emotional, moral/spiritual/religious

Biological dimension of human sexuality

Sexual response/disfunction, reproduction/contraception, genitals/anatomy, ST(BB)I, menstruations, sexual hormones, puberty

Psychological dimension of human sexuality

Attraction, preferences/behaviors/paraphilia, attachment, fantasy, desire (libido), eroticism, self-esteem/body image, orientation, gender id

Cognitive dimension of human sexuality

Acquired knowledge about sexuality, perceptions, evaluations

Socio-cultural dimension of human sexuality

Norms, gender roles, traditions, peer pressure, expectations, laws/regulations, rights of passage/rituals

Emotional dimension of human sexuality

Shame, fear, love, confusion, connection, regret, lust

Moral/spiritual/religious dimension of human sexuality

Values, representations/meanings of concepts, rules of conduct

Sexology is…

multi-disciplinary

WEIRD (individualism/capitalism)

5-7% of the world is represented in psych journals (not 6-7)

Biological determinism

Behaviour (sexuality) = geentics, biology, bodies

Social constructivism

We and our behaviour are a product of our envi/society

Biological perspectives - GENETIC THEORY

Genetic makeup/biological markers influence sexuality/behaviour/orientation/disorders/dysfunction

GENETIC THEORY - examples

Concordance rate in twins and intersex defined as genetic disorder

Evolutionary perspective - SOCIOBIOLOGICAL THEORY

Applies evolutionary theory as the bases of social behaviour (survival of offspring = choice of mate)

SOCIOBIOLOGICAL THEORY - Darwin’s theory of evolution

Principle motivator of all human sexual behaviour

SOCIOBIOLOGICAL THEORY - Avuncular

Survival of homosexuality, gay aunt/uncle provide for sibling’s offspring

Psychological perspectives - PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY

Freud = sexuality/eroticism are fundamental forces of life

Boys of 5 with sexual want for mom and fear of castration

Psychoanalytic theory (Oedipus complex)

Girls of 5 with penis envy

Psychoanalytic theory (girl Oedipus complex)

PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY - criticism

focus on the unconscious, not falsifiable, sexist, not universal, no proof

Psychological perspectives - LEARNING THEORY

hsb is learned through intraperso and interperso learning paradigms such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, behavioural modification and social learning

LEARNING THEORY - classical conditioning

When a conditioned stimulus is paired with an original unconditioned stimulus

LEARNING THEORY - operant conditioning

More likely to repeat a behavior if it is rewarded (reinforcement) or extinguished if it is punished (punishment)

LEARNING THEORY - behavioural (therapy) modification

Change an individual’s behaviour based on classical/operant conditioning

LEARNING THEORY - Social Learning

based on operant conditioning, imitation and identification

Psychological perspectives - SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY

Max benefits and min costs

Benefits – Costs = Level of sexual and relationship satisfaction

Social exchange theory

Psychological perspectives - COGNITIVE THEORIES

Focus on perception, labeling, eval of events influencing their sexual behaviour

Psychological perspectives - SEXUAL SCRIPT THEORY

Unwritten rules that guide sb/expectations, roles during intimacy (shaped by culture, upbringing, media, personal experiences)

Sociological perspectives - SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

Hhsb is socialized by norms and expectations defined by sociocultural contexts and institutions (religion, econ, law, med, fam)

Critical perspectives - FEMINIST THEORY

Sex = socially constructed, shaped by men (gender inequities, effects on women, qualitative +)

Critical perspectives - QUEER THEORY

Contemporary theorizing about sex orientation, anatomical sex/gender, refute cisheteronormativity

Critical perspectives - CRITICAL RACE THEORY

Race as socially constructed categories based on skin colour and other physical features

Each race = qualities, charac, stereotypes = racist beliefs, institutional racism, interpersonal microaggressions

Critical race theory