Lecture Notes: Psychoanalytic Theory, Conditioning, Gender and Sexuality Theories

Flashcards covering Freud, conditioning, gender/schema theories, sexuality theories, and socio-cultural influences on sexuality.

What is libido in Freudian psychoanalytic theory?

Sex drive or energy powering the Id.

What is the Id and when is it present?

The basic part of personality present at birth; a reservoir of psychic energy that operates on the pleasure principle.

On which principle does the Ego operate, and what is its role?

Reality principle; mediates between the Id and reality to produce realistic, rational behavior.

What is the Superego?

The conscience containing society's values and ideals; inhibits Id impulses and guides toward moral goals.

What are erogenous zones mentioned in Freudian theory?

Lips, genitals, and anus.

Which stage occurs at about 1 year of age and what is its focus?

Oral stage; focus on sucking or stimulating the lips and mouth.

What characterizes the Anal stage?

Second stage around age 2; focus on elimination.

What is the Phallic stage and its key idea?

Third stage (ages 3–5/6); focus on genitals; development of Oedipus and Electra complexes.

Describe the Oedipus complex.

A boy loves his mother, resents his father, and fears castration.

Describe the Electra complex.

A girl desires her father; experiences penis envy; seeks substitute for the unobtainable penis.

What happens in the Genital stage?

Sexual urges converge on mature reproduction; emphasis on genitals.

What is a major problem with the psychoanalytic theory?

Difficult to study empirically; not easily testable.

What is classical conditioning?

A learning process where a neutral stimulus (CS) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) to elicit a conditioned response (CR); e.g., Pavlov's dogs with ringing bell and salivation.

What is operant conditioning?

Learning in which behavior is shaped by reinforcement or punishment; rewards increase repetition; punishments decrease.

What is behavior modification?

Techniques based on operant and classical conditioning used to change behavior.

What is olfactory aversion therapy?

A problematic behavior is punished using an aversive stimulus (aversive conditioning).

What is the Social Learning Theory?

Learning through imitation and observational learning; people imitate if model is rewarded.

What is the Social Exchange Theory?

Rewards and costs govern relationships; freedom of choice; aim to maximize rewards and minimize costs.

What does Equity mean in relationships?

A sense that rewards are proportional to costs in a relationship.

What is Schema theory (Bem)?

A general knowledge framework guiding perception and memory; can organize perception but may distort memory.

What is a Gender Schema?

Cognitive structure of attributes associated with males and females; biases information processing by gender.

What does a Social Constructionist view say about sexuality?

Sexual behaviors and identities are social constructs.

Name the three sexuality theories emphasized in feminist, queer, and critical race perspectives.

Feminist theory, queer theory, and critical race theory.

What does Feminist theory say about sexuality?

Gender is a dimension of inequality; sexuality issues include rape, abortion, birth control, sexual harassment, and pornography.

What is Queer theory?

Theorizes sexual orientation; includes intersex and transgender; challenges heteronormativity.

What is Heteronormativity?

Belief that heterosexuality is the only normal pattern; queer theory critiques this and highlights privilege of heterosexuality.

What does Critical Race Theory emphasize about race?

Race is socially constructed; institutional racism and laws reflect the interests of powerful groups.

What is Symbolic Interaction Theory?

Human behavior and social order are products of symbolic communications; meaning is constructed through interaction.

What is a Sexual Script?

A socially learned script that guides who, what, when, where, and why people have sex.

What does Performativity refer to in gender/sexuality?

The ways in which we perform gender or sexuality according to societal norms.

What is Sociobiology's view on sexuality?

Sexual behaviors are products of natural selection and may be genetically influenced.

What does Gender Neutral Theory argue?

Fixing fixed gender differences is unlikely; flexible behaviors are favored by natural selection.

What is Learning Theory in sexuality?

Sexual behavior is learned and modified through reinforcements and punishments.

What is Cognitive Social Learning Theory?

Adds imitation and self-efficacy to learning theory in sexuality.

What role do Religion, Economy, Family, Medicine, and Law play in sexuality?

These institutions shape norms and ideologies that govern sexual behavior.

What are Racial Microaggressions?

Subtle insults directed at people of color, often unconscious.

What do the terms Machismo, Marianismo, and Familismo refer to in Latinx culture?

Machismo = hypermasculinity; Marianismo = idealized motherhood; Familismo = emphasis on family.

What is the Latinx stance on gender designations?

Latinx perspectives seek to move away from rigid gender designations and include non-binary identities.