Sexual Self and Spiritual Self Lecture Notes

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers concepts from the 'Sexual Self' and 'Spiritual Self' lectures, including gender terminology, sexual health, and Viktor Frankl's logotherapy.

Sex

A biological state that corresponds to what we might call "man" and "woman," determined at birth based on the genitalia.

Gender

The social understanding of how sex should be experienced and how it manifests in behavior, personality, preferences, and capabilities.

Normative gender behavior

Behavior that adheres to the dominant understanding of masculine men and feminine women.

Non-normative behavior

Behavior that does not follow established social scripts regarding gender.

Sexuality

An individual's expression and understanding of desire.

Queer

An umbrella term for non-normative expression of sexuality, including practices like polyamory and BDSM.

S.O.G.I.E.

An acronym standing for Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression.

Sexual Orientation

An enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes.

Heterosexuality

Attraction towards the opposite sex or gender.

Homosexuality

Attraction towards the same sex or gender (gay and lesbian).

Bisexuality

Attraction towards both sexes.

Pansexuality

Attraction towards both sexes and all gender identities.

Gender Identity

A person's internal sense of being male, female, or something else.

Cisgender

A person who identifies with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Gender Queer

A person who does not identify with either of the two sexes.

Transgender

A person who identifies with the opposite sex; also used as an umbrella term for identities not conforming to assigned sex at birth.

Gender Expression

The way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice, or body characteristics.

Transexual

People who alter or wish to alter their bodies through hormones, surgery, and other means to achieve congruence with their gender identities.

Cross-dresser

People who wear clothing traditionally worn by another gender but are usually comfortable with their assigned sex.

Drag Queens/Kings

People who dress as the opposite gender specifically for the purpose of entertainment.

Androgynous

People who tend to move from either of the extreme sides in the gender continuum.

Disembodiment hypothesis

The theory that internet users, liberated from physical constraints, choose which gender or sexuality to "be," leading to alternate identities.

Sexual Health (WHO definition)

A state of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being as it pertains to sexuality, not just the lack of dysfunction or disease.

Human Sexual Response Model

A model pioneered by William Masters and Virginia Johnson consisting of Excitement, Plateau, Orgasm, and Resolution phases.

Refractory period

A phase in the Male Sexual-Response Cycle occurring after orgasm during the resolution stage.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD)

A type of sexual dysfunction related to a lack of sexual interest.

Vulvodynia

A chronic pain syndrome affecting the vulvar area that occurs without an unidentifiable cause.

Endometriosis

A condition where the tissue that makes up the uterine lining is present on other organs inside the body.

Vaginismus

The body's automatic reaction to the fear of some or all types of vaginal penetration.

Spiritual Self (William James)

The man's inner or subjective being, comprising psychic faculties or dispositions which are the most enduring part of the self.

Religion

A formal, long-established institution or organization focused on faith in specific claims, religious teachings, and ritual prayer.

Spirituality

A personal, individual experience involving a search for a relationship with the sacred and qualities like love, forgiveness, and hope.

Purpose

A long-term aim or guiding principle based on meaning; the cumulative effect of meaningful goals and the impact one wants to have on the world.

Logotherapy

A form of "therapy through meaning" pioneered by Viktor Frankl, founded on the belief that humans are motivated by a search for life purpose.