Human Sexuality Exam 1

What can sex refer to?

- Anatomic sex of male or female
- Anatomic structures
- Behaviors
- Feelings and desires
- Sex v.s. Gender

Human sexuality refers to:

Our experiences and our expressions of ourselves as sexual beings, which are affected by our culture.

Society embraces wide range of sexual attitudes and values but...

It can change

Sexual values are moral guidelines for making sexual decisions in...

- Non-marital
- Marital
- Heterosexual
- Homosexual relationships

Various sexual values are:

- Absolutism
- Relativism
- Hedonism

Absolutism

- Unconditional power and authority of religion, law or tradition.

- Choices are made based upon the rules of what is considered to be "right or wrong" by a higher power.

- 15% of college students fall into this category.

- Black and white. Things you can do and cannot do. What is right or wrong by a higher power such as God.

- Sex before marriage.

- More women are absolutists than males.

-Absolutist values were reported by 13% of 3,068 male students and 15% of 10,002 female students.

Relativism

- Emphasizes consideration of the context of a situation when making sexual decisions.

- About 70% of college students are in this school of thought.

- Depends on the situation, what is ok in one situation is not okay in another situation. "It's okay to have sex with a partner if I have been with them for a long time".

- More an individual choice.

- More common

- 55% of the male respondents and 62% of the females reported having relativist sexual values.

Hedonism

- "If it feels good, do it"

- "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"

- Reflects the idea that the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain provide the ultimate motivation for sexual behavior.

- Sensation seeking.

- 14% of college students.

- Twice as many males than females.

- Sexual double standard: if guys have multiple partners they think it's cool but if a girl is the same way she is seemed slutty.

- Everything falls on the girl usually. If they wear too short of a skirt. If a guy and girl both get an STI, the girl is usually blamed for not using a condom.

Sexual choices need to be made...

Over and over

When we are confronted with a sexual decision, at least 5 factors are involved:

1. Not to decide is to decide

2. Decisions involves trade-offs

3. Decisions include selecting a positive or negative view

4. Decisions can produce ambivalence and uncertainty

5. Some decisions are revocable, some are not

Not to Decide is to Decide

If you don't make explicit sexual decisions about what you will and will not do, you are still choosing a course of action.

Choices Involve Trade-Offs

- A choice eliminates other options.

- A choice can occasion risks - a married person having an affair risks losing spouse, children and home.

- All the decisions you make will involve trade-offs or disadvantages and advantages.

Decisions Include Selecting Positive or Negative Views

- Choices are not always negative

- Regardless of your circumstances, you can choose to focus on the positive aspects of a difficult situation and to approach it as a problem to be solved.

- Glass half full

- EX: The discovery of your partner having an affair can be viewed as an opportunity to open channels of communication and strengthen your relationship.

Decisions Produce Ambivalence and Uncertainty

- Ambivalence= conflicting feelings that produce uncertainty or indecisiveness about your course of action.

- A young unmarried couple facing an unplanned pregnancy has several options. The woman can choose to have an abortion, place the baby for adoption, or rear the baby in a single-parent home.

Some decisions are revocable; some are not

- There are times when a choice can be changed and other times they cannot.

- Although many sexual decisions can be modified or changed, some cannot.

- You cannot eliminate the effects of some sexually transmissible infections or undo an abortion. However, it is possible to learn from past decisions.

When making sexual choices:

- Be sure of your values and goals

- Identify feelings and emotions

- Explore all alternative possible choices

- Be fully informed on short- and long-term consequences of your choice

- Ask for input and advice from trusted friends if necessary

- Implement your choice

Where do teens learn about sex?

Parents
Clinician
Internet

What is the range percentage of adolescents using the internet for sex education?

20% to 76.5%

Where do most people learn about sex

peers and media

Most programs emphasize...

Biological aspects

Few deal with "controversial" topics like:

- Sexual Orientation
- Abortion
- Masturbation
- etc.

Research shows that education does not....

encourage sexual activity

Accurate information might...

prevent problems

Why sex education?

-To promote healthy behaviors

-To meet parental expectations

-To address bullying and harassment

-To address relationship violence

To promote healthy behaviors:

- Delay they onset of sexual activity

- Reduce the frequency of sexual activity

- Reduce the number of sex partners

- Increase condom use

To meet parental expectations:

Parents nationwide overwhelmingly support comprehensive sexuality education in public schools.

To address bullying and harassment:

- 90% of LGBT students experience harassment in school.

- Those harassed suffer from lower grade point averages, are more likely to commit suicide, and suffer from self-harm.

To address relationship violence:

10% of teens are physically harmed by their boyfriend or girlfriend each year.

What is Sexuality Education?

- Anatomy and physiology

- Puberty and adolescent development

- Identity-Pregnancy and reproduction

- Sexually transmitted infections

- Healthy relationships-Personal safety

What is the major sex organ of the human body?

The brain

How do men and women tend to think?

- Men ten to think "Sex is meant to be quick, without foreplay, and the man should always be on top"

- Females tend to think they "Should play a passive and receptive role in sexual activites"

What is Sexual Self-Concept?

The way you think and feel about your body, self-evaluation of your interest in sex, and evaluation of yourself as a sexual partner.

What is Sexual Self-Efficacy

The way you think and feel about your own competence to function sexually or to be a good sexual partner.

One's relationship and the partner's level of commitment have a powerful effect on one's...

Sexual Self-Concept

What are Sexual Values?

Moral guidelines for making sexual decisions.

What is the Sexual Double Standard?

One standard for women and another for men regarding sexual behavior.

What are some male hedonist labels

- Real men
- Stud
- Player

What are some female hedonist labels

- Wh@re
- Sl*t

Men are more often...

Hedonist

Women are more often...

Absolutist and Relativist

What are the 4 themes of Sexual Decision-Making by women?

1. The importance of being in a relationship

2. Influence of alcohol

3. The need to be seen as normal

4. A feeling of powerlessness in negotiating condom use

What is Sexual Growth?

Sexual satisfaction that results from work and effort with one's partner for a good sex life.

What is Digisexuality?

The use of radical new sexual technologies

- Sex robots

What is Locus of Control?

An individuals beliefs about the source or cause of his or her successes and failures.

What is Internal Locus of Control?

The belief that successes and failures in life are attributable to one's own abilities and efforts

What is External locus of Control?

The perspective that successes and failures are determined by fate, chance, or some powerful external source.

(Quiz) Chris decides to have sex for the sheer pleasure of it. This is an example of:

Hedonism

(Quiz) Choosing not to cheat on your partner, even though it may feel good to do so, is an example of which of the following?

Choices involve trade-offs

(Quiz) According to the textbook, which of the following is NOT a family factor that can influence a person's sexual decisions?

Level of acculturation

(Quiz) What is NOT an example of an internal locus of control?

A belief in fate

(Quiz) Which of the following is true about the impact of online pornography?

It has made it harder for people to connect sexually.

What is Scientific Research?

An approach used by psychologists, sociologists and other researchers to acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest

Biologists, psychologists, sociologists, health-care professionals, and others who study human sexuality in their occupational fields may...

Be subjected to ridicule or sarcasm

The study of human sexuality...

Is a serious endeavor

Who testify to the validity of the study of sexuality?

- Professional organizations such as: Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality

- Academic programs such as: Kinsey Institute for Sex Research

- Upward of 20 journals

Biological Theories:

Includes both physiological and evolutionary theories.

Physiological:

Explains how physiological processes affect and are affected by sexual behavior.

Evolutionary:

Explains human sexual behavior on the basis of human evolution.

Psychological Theories

- Account for the influences of personality, learning, thoughts, and emotions on human sexuality.

- Psychoanalytic theory

- Classical conditioning

Psychoanalytic Theory

- Emphasizes the role of unconscious processes in our lives

- Id, Ego, and Superego

Classical Conditioning

A process whereby a stimulus and a response that are not originally linked become connected.

Sociological Theories

- Explain how society and social groups affect and are affected by sexual attitudes and behaviors

- Symbolic Interaction Theory

Symbolic Interaction Theory

Explains how meanings, labels, and definitions that are learned through interactions affect our attitudes, self-concept, and behavior.

Step-by-step process for conduction a sex research

1. Identify a question (or a concern about a particular human or social issue)

2. Review the literature (and discover what other researchers have already learned about that issue)

3. Formulate a hypothesis - (a prediction stated in a way that allows it to be tested)

4. Collect data

5. Draw conclusions (based on results)

Research Methods:

- Survey research

- Field research

- Case study research

- Archival research

Survey Research

A sample of people are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts and attitudes concerning the issue, This can be done face-to-face, by phone, by mail, using questionnaires, or on the internet. The sample (number and variety of people interviewed) should be representative of a larger population.

Field Research

- Observation of naturally occurring behavior in settings in which they normally occur

- In 'participant observation' the researcher participates in the phenomenon being studied

- In 'non-participant observation' the researcher observes but does not participate

Case Study Research

An in-depth, detailed, analysis of an individual, small group, relationship or event

Archival Research

Investigating the issue through the study of the historical documents

Are there Ethical Limitations to Sex Research?

- Do no harm (Physical & Psychological)

- Ensure informed consent

- Ensure confidentiality

- Ensure anonymity

Closed-ended Questions

- Those which can be answered by a simple one-word/numerical response

EX:
- What is your sex?
- How many sexual partners have you had?
- What is your sexual orientation?
- Do you use condoms?

Open-ended Questions

- Those which require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer

EX:
- How has your religion impacted your views of sex?
- What are your views on using contraceptives when sexually active?
- How would you define "safe sex"?

Double-Barreled Questions

- Incorrect: Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statement: I can talk to my friends and family about sexual health

- Correct: I can talk to my friends about sexual health OR I can talk to my family about sexual health

Biased or Leading Questions

- Incorrect: Relationships are hard. Does talking openly with your partner make your relationship more likely to succeed?
- Much more likely to succeed
- Somewhat more likely to succeed
- Slightly more likely to succeed
- Not more likely to succeed

- Correct: Talking openly with my partner makes my relationship more likely to succeed.
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree

We must be careful when...

Doing research on human subjects

Critically analyze...

Results of studies and articles

Be sure to write good questions to get...

Useful answers

Remain ethical in all...

Research activities

What are Critical Sexuality Studies?

Generic term for current core content of sexuality theory and research that is multifaceted and multidisciplinary.

What is Empirical Evidence?

Data that can be observed, measured, and quantified

What are the various sources of knowledge?

1. Common sense

2. Intuition

3. Tradition

4. Authority

Theory and empirical research are linked through two forms of reasoning:

1. Deductive

2. Inductive

What is Deductive Research?

Sequence of research starting with a specific theory, generating a specific expectation or hypothesis based on that theory, and then gathering data that will either support or refute the theory.

What is Inductive Research?

Sequence of research that begins with specific empirical data, which are then used to formulate a theory to explain the data.

The 3 major sources of content are:

1. Biosexology

2. Psychosexology

3. Sociosexology

What is Biosexology?

The study of the biological aspects of sexuality

What is Psychosexology?

Area of sexology focused on how psychological processes influence and are influenced by sexual development and behavior.

What is Sociosexology?

Aspect of sexology that is concerned with the way social and cultural forces influence and are influenced by sexual attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

What is Sexology?

Unique discipline that identifies important questions related to sexuality issues and finds and integrates answers from biology, psychology, and sociology based on scientific methods of investigation

What is a theory?

Set of ideas designed to answer a question or explain a particular phenomenon.

What is Sociobiological theory?

Framework that explains human sexual behavior and sexual anatomy as functional for human evolution

What is Natural Selection?

Theory that individuals who have genetic traits that are adaptive for survival are more likely to survive and pass on their genetic traits to their offspring.

What is Biosocial Framework?

Theoretical framework that emphasizes the interaction of one's biological/genetic inheritance with one's social environment to explain and predict human behavior.

What is Id?

Freud's term that refers to instinctive biological drivers, such as the need for sex, food, and water.

What is Ego?

Freud's term for that part of the individual's psyche that deals with objective reality.

What is Superego?

Freud's term for the conscience which functions by guiding the individual to do what is morally right and good.

What is Libido?

The sex drive

What is an example of Classical Conditioning?

Pavlov's dogs

Sexual fetishes can be explained on the basis of...

Classical conditioning

What is Operant learning theory?

Learning theory explanation of human behavior that emphasizes that the consequences of a behavior influence whether that behavior will occur in the future.