Chapter 5: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key vocabulary related to sex, gender, and sexuality as presented in Chapter 5.

Sex

Biologically influenced characteristics by which people are defined as male, female, or intersex.

Gender

Behavioral characteristics that people associate with being a boy, girl, man, or woman.

Aggression

Any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally.

Menarche

The first menstrual period, which is influenced by nearly 250 genes predicting its age.

Gender Role

Set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits associated with being male or female.

Gender Identity

Personal sense of being male, female, neither, or some combination of male and female.

Cisgender

Individuals whose gender identity corresponds with their sex assigned at birth.

Transgender

Individuals whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth.

Asexual

Having no sexual attraction towards others.

Paraphilias

Sexual arousal from fantasies, behaviors, or urges involving nonhuman objects or nonconsenting persons.

Sexual Orientation

The direction of one's sexual interest, which may be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or asexual.

Natural Selection

The process by which traits that enhance survival and reproduction are passed on over generations.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that social behavior is learned through observation, imitation, and reinforcement.

Gender Typing

The process of acquiring traditional masculine or feminine roles through cultural influences.

Androgyny

A gender identity that includes both masculine and feminine traits.

Gender Schema

Cognitive frameworks that help children organize and interpret gender-related information.

Sex Selection

The principle explaining how females and males may differ in their dating and mating preferences.

Role

Set of expectations or norms about how to behave in a particular social position.

Relational Aggression

A form of aggression in which harm is caused through manipulation of social relationships.