Psych of 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

Estrogen Production in older women:

• declines

• slows growth of vaginal cells

• thins the vaginal wall

• increases dryness of vagina

• decreases vaginal sensitivity

Testosterone levels remain:

• constant in aging women

• can increase sexual desire

testosterone decreases in aging men by:

• decreased sexual desire

• decreased quality of erections

• decreased quantity of erections

Sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and desire to couple with certain partners are affected by:

1. oxytocin

2. serotonin

3. dopamine

4. vasopressin

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

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

Research on Sexual Response

1. Masters and Johnson’s Four-Phase Sexual Response Cycle (Women and Men)

2. Helen Singer Kaplan’s Triphasic Model

3. David Reed’s Erotic Stimulus Pathway

4. John Bancroft’s Dual Control Model

5. Leonore Tiefer’s New View Model

6. Rosemary Basson’s Non-Linear Model

William Masters an Virginia Johnson’s Four-Phase Sexual Response Cycle

Four-phase model of physiological changed that occur during sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation.

The Four Phases of physiological Changes: (In Women)

1. Excitement

2. Plateau

3. Orgasm

4. Resolution

Excitement (Women)

many stimuli induce excitement, and it can last minutes to hours

• breasts and areolas enlarge

• nipples become erect

• sex flush

Vasocongestion (Women) also referred to as Plateau

increased blood flow to the genitals and/or breasts

• labia’s turn red and flatten or engorge

• orgasm releases pressure

Transudation (Women) also referred to Orgasm

vaginal lubrication, occurs within 30 seconds, longer if lying down

• when vasocongestive pressure reaches a threshold, a reflex of surrounding muscles is triggered.

• Contractions expel the pooled blood and causes pleasurable orgasmic sensations

• the contractions occur every 0.8 seconds

• 8 to 15 contractions, contractions 5 and 6 are felt most strongly

• can reduce menstrual cramps 

Tenting Effect (Women) also referred to as Resolution

vaginal walls expand

• takes about 5-10 minutes

• body returns to pre-excitement condition

• blood leaves genitals

• multiple orgasms are sometimes possible 

Four Phases (in men) 

1. Excitement

2. Plateau

3. Orgasm

4. Resolution

Excitement (men)

often very short phase 

Tumescence 

testicles increase about 50% in size testicles are pulled closer to the body 

Plateau (men)

• may develop a sex flush

• nipple erections

• glans penis engorges with blood

• erection is generally more stable

• pre-ejaculatory fluid may appear on head of penis

Orgasm (Men)

• ejaculation does not always accompany orgasm

• leads to ejaculatory inevitability - which is the inability to control an impending ejaculation

• semen is forced out of the urethra by muscle contractions that occur every 0.8 seconds the first 3 and 4 are the strongest

• some men can teach themselves to have multiple orgasms by practicing delaying and withholding ejaculation

Resolution

• glans penis decreases in size 

• period in which men cannot be re-stimulated to orgasm

• time period increases as men age 

Helen Singer Kaplan’s Triphasic Model 

1. Desire

2. Excitement

3. Orgasm

Desire: (Kaplan’s Model)

which is a psychological phase

Excitement: (Kaplan’s Model)

which is a physiological phase 

Orgasm: (Kaplan’s Model)

which is a physiological phase

David Reed’s Erotic Stimulus Pathway (ESP)

blends features of masters and johnson’s and kaplans models and has four phases

Seducation (David Reed’s)

psychosocial phase

Sensation (David Reed’s)

psychosocial phase 

Surrender (David Reeds)

orgasm

Reflection (David Reeds)

a person reflects on the experience 

John Bancroft’s Dual Control Model

Sexual response is a neurobiological process

Sexual Excitation (John Bancroft’s)

– triggered by a variety of things, such as thoughts, feelings,
and sensations
– there are variations in individual levels of sexual excitation
and inhibition

Sexual Inhibition (John Bancroft’s)

reduces the likelihood of sexual response
– the opposite of sexual excitation
– caused by
1. performance anxieties
2. fears about negative consequences

Leonore Tiefer’s New View Model

s a feminist sexologist who criticizes theories (such as
Masters and Johnson) that focus only on adequate genital
functioning.

Tiefer’s New View Model

There are many important aspects of sexuality, including:
1. pleasure
2. emotionality
3. sensuality
4. cultural differences
5. power issues
6. communication

Rosemary Basson’s Non-Linear Model

❖ Male arousal is genital response
❖ Female arousal dependent on thoughts and feelings

Women have sex to:
1. express feelings
2. feel emotionally close
3. feel wanted/needed
4. receive/share pleasure

These cause women to consciously focus on sexual stimuli, which leads to
sexual arousal. However, women can become distracted.

Sexual Cognitions

– thoughts about sex
– for the most part, science and medicine considers

sexual fantasy normal and healthy!

• Men report having more sexual fantasies than women
• Most people have at least a few sexual fantasies

Some unusual sexual fantasies are considered to be
troublesome mental health indications by the American
Psychiatric Association (for instance, sexual attraction to
children)

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

Compared to women’s fantasies, 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 is:

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
Masturbation

Foreplay

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

Manual Sex

• physical caressing of the genitals in solo or partner
masturbation
A. Females
• differ in clitoral touching preferences
B. Males
• “hand jobs” are strong, consistent strokes of the
penis with some light strokes of the scrotum
• most nerve endings at the tip of the penis

Oral Sex

Cunnilingus
• performing oral sex on a woman
Fellatio
• performing oral sex on a man
Anilingus
• performing oral sex on an anus
Sixty–Nine Position (“69”)
• mutual oral sex

Can cause cold sores

Cunnilingus

• most women prefer it begin slowly, gradually
• some enjoy simultaneous digital (finger) stimulation of
the vagina or anus
• most popular lesbian sexual behavior

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

Fellatio

• many men enjoy simultaneous hand stimulation of the
penile shaft, while the head is sucked
• teeth can cause pain if not covered by the lips
• some men enjoy having one testicle in their partner’s
mouth with the tongue strokes the testicle
• most popular sexual behavior for gay men

• volume of ejaculate is usually larger if a long time has
passed since the last ejaculation
• one to two teaspoons of semen is contained in each
ejaculation
• ejaculate is 5 calories (fructose, enzymes, vitamins)
• ejaculate taste varies depending on the man’s diet and
stress level

Vaginal Intercourse

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

Positions for Vaginal Intercourse

While there are many positions for vaginal intercourse,
some common ones include:
1. male-on-top (“male superior”, or “missionary”)
2. female-on-top (“female superior”)
3. side-by-side
4. rear-entry (ex. “doggie style”)

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

Gay men use a variety sexual behaviors:

– most common is fellatio, followed by mutual
masturbation, anal sex, and body rubbing
– hugging, kissing, caressing are also common
Other sexual behaviors include:
• 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

Lesbians use a variety sexual behaviors:

– manual stimulation is the most common practice for
lesbians, followed by cunnilingus
– kissing, body contact, caressing are also common
Other sexual behaviors include:
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 genders that a person is attracted to emotionally, physically, sexually, and romantically

Heterosexual

erotic attraction members of the other sex

Homosexual

erotic attraction members of the other 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

Among gays (males)…

• 52% of identical twins were also gay
• 22% of fraternal twins were also gay
• 11% of adoptive brothers were also gay
• they have more homosexual male relatives than do heterosexual males
• they are more likely to have gay relatives on their mothers’ sides
• they are more likely to have gay relatives on their fathers’ sides (not
mothers’)

Among lesbians (females)…

• 48% of identical twins were also lesbian
• 16% of fraternal twins were also lesbian
• 6% of adoptive siblings were also lesbian
• studies find that lesbians have more lesbian relatives
• they are more likely to have gay brothers than do heterosexual females

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

Gay males

have an unresolved Oedipal Complex
– after puberty, desire for mother can transform into
identification with her… which then makes males sexually
desire a penis

Lesbian females

have an unresolved 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 (1963)
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)

Peer Group Interaction (Storms, 1981)

• 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

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

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)

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

Why Are There Different Sexual Orientations?
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.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

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

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

Sexual orientation awareness often occurs around age 8 to 9 years

• many experience anxiety over possible rejection, religious
conflicts, and/or cultural conflicts
• many have positive coming-out experiences
• today’s youth are coming out earlier than any time in history

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