Human Sexuality Exam #1

What does a person’s sexuality refer to?

How they experience and express themselves as sexual beings, including feelings, thoughts, behaviors, identity, values, and attitudes about sex

Where do most teens get their information about sex?

Primarily from media, especially television, movies, the internet, social media, and peers rather than parents or schools

What do cross-cultural studies of sexual behavior teach us about what is “normal”?

They show that what is considered “normal” sexual behavior varies widely by culture, meaning normality is socially defined—not universal

What was St. Augustine’s overall view of sex?

St. Augustine believed sex was sinful due to original sin and should only be used for procreation, not pleasure. His views strongly shaped the Church’s anti-sexual attitudes

What two groups have most heavily contributed to negative sexual attitudes in Western culture?

Christian theologians (especially early Church leaders) and Victorian-era medical professionals

When did the idea that women were asexual begin?

During the Victorian era (19th century), when women were viewed as pure, innocent, and uninterested in sex

What were the purported consequences of masturbation in the 19^th century?

It was falsely believed to cause blindness, insanity, physical weakness, disease, and moral decline

How did Victorian medical beliefs influence attitudes about sexuality?

Doctors reinforced sexual repression by spreading misinformation and fear, portraying sexual pleasure as dangerous and unhealthy

What did Dr. Clelia Mosher’s questionnaires reveal about the sexual attitudes of Victorian women?

They revealed that many Victorian women experienced sexual desire and pleasure, contradicting the belief that women were asexual

What factors contributed to the start of the sexual revolution?

The Industrial Revolution, women’s rights movement, birth control pill and IUD, changing social norms, and later HIV/AIDS awareness

What is socialization?

The process by which society shapes individuals’ behaviors, values, and expectations, including sexual norms

What factors or entities contribution to our sexual socialization?

Parents, peers, schools, religion, media, advertising, and popular culture

What factors most greatly influence the sexual attitudes and behaviors of children and teens?

Media and peers, especially when parental communication is limited

What form of media is most influential on the sexual attitudes and behaviors of most teens?

Television and digital media, including social media and online content

What is the impact of frequent exposure to sexual content on television?

It leads to more permissive sexual attitudes, earlier sexual activity, overestimating peer behavior, and increased risky behaviors

What is the libido, according to Freud?

The sexual energy and the primary driving force behind human behavior and motivation

What were Henry Havelock Ellis’s major conclusions about sexual behavior, and in what series did he publish his views?

He argued that behaviors like masturbation and homosexuality are normal and published his findings in seven volumes tilted Studies in the Psychology of Sex

What were the major findings of Kinsey’s research surveys?

Most people masturbate, many engage in oral-genital sex, and sexual behavior is far more diverse than previously believed

What is the biggest issue with the Kinsey studies?

Volunteer bias - participants were not randomly selected and may not represent the general population

Which researchers were the first to observe and record sexual responses in a laboratory setting?

William Masters and Virginia Johnson

What are some common challenges associated with using surveys in sex research?

Dishonesty, misunderstanding terms, sampling issues, and volunteer bias

What is volunteer bias?

Volunteer bias occurs when people who choose to participate differ significantly from those who do not, skewing results

Efficacy of abstinence-only

Shown to have little or no long-term effect

Efficacy of abstinence-plus

More effective; teaches abstinence while also addressing contraception and STI prevention

What is the name for the external female genitalia?

Vulva

What structures make up the vulva?

Mons veneris, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, vaginal opening, and urethral opening

Mons veneris

Fatty tissue over the pubic bone that cushions during intercourse

Labia majora

Outer folds of skin that protect the genital structures

Labia minora

Inner folds that protect the vaginal and urethral openings

Clitoris

Highly sensitive organ for sexual pleasure

What structure forms the clitoral hood?

Labia minora

What is the function of the Bartholin’s glands and where are they located?

Secrete lubrication for the vaginal opening and located at the base of the labia minora

What is the function of the clitoris?

Sexual sensation only; it has no reproductive function

To what male structure is the clitoris most similar?

Penis

To what male structure are the ovaries most similar?

Testicles

Where are the vestibular bulbs located and what is their function?

Located on both sides under the vaginal opening; they swell with blood during arousal and help grip the penis

What is the hymen? Who has one, how can it be broken, and what does it say about sexual experience?

A thin membrane partially covering the vaginal opening; found only in females. It can stretch or tear through tampon use, sports, biking, or intercourse and does not indicate sexual experience

Where is the urethral opening in women?

Below the clitoris and above the vaginal opening

What determines breast size?

Amount of fatty tissue (not number of mammary glands)

When is the optimal time to conduct a breast self-exam?

Monthly, ideally after menstruation or at the same time each month

When screening test is used to find breast tumors? Who should have them?

Mammograms; recommended regularly for adult women

Where do egg and sperm usually unite?

Fallopian tubes

What path would an unfertilized egg follow from ovulation to expulsion from the body?

Ovary → fallopian tube → uterus → expelled through menstruation

What causes vaginal lubrication, and what is it made of? What factors affect it?

Caused by increased blood flow during arousal; made of plasma filtered through vaginal walls. Affected by arousal, hormones, stress, and medications

How might normal vaginal smell be described?

Slightly musky; considered normal

What parts of the vagina / vaginal walls are actually sensitive to touch?

The outer third of the vaginal walls

What exercises are used to strengthen the pubococcygeus muscle?

Kegel exercises

What is the G-spot? Where is it, who discovered it, and who has one?

A sensitive area on the anterior vaginal wall; identified by Dr. Ernst Grafenberg; all women have one

When should regular pelvic exams and Pap smears begin?

In early adulthood or when recommended by a healthcare provider

What is the purpose of a Pap smear?

To detect cervical cancer early

What is the opening to the uterus called

Cervix

Which uterine layer is involved in cramps / muscle contractions?

Myometrium

In which uterine layer does a fertilized egg implant?

Endometrium

What is a follicle?

A structure in the ovary that contains and nourishes a developing egg

What is the function of the penis?

Urination and delivery of sperm

What are the parts of the penis (shaft, glans, root)?

Shaft, glans, and root

What is the penile shaft made of?

Two corpora cavernosa and one corpus spongiosum