Understanding the Self - Sexual Self (Finals)

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the Sexual Self, including biological perspectives, sexual response cycle, chemistry of love, antecedents of attraction, Sternberg's Theory of Love, and gender and sexual diversity.

Autosomes

The first $22$ pairs of human chromosomes.

Sex Chromosomes

The last pair ($23\text{rd}$ pair) of chromosomes, consisting of X and Y chromosomes, which serve as the genetic basis for sex determination.

Conception

The event when an egg and sperm unite to create a new organism that incorporates characteristics of each parent.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Physical features that appear during puberty in humans and at sexual maturity.

Erogenous Zones

Parts of the body that experience heightened sensitivity and/or signal sexual arousal, where the libido is centered according to Freud.

Brain (Sexual Functioning)

Considered the most powerful sexual organ in the human body.

Hypothalamus

The most important part of the brain for sexual functioning, producing important sexual hormones that are secreted by the pituitary gland.

Pituitary Gland

The gland that secretes important sexual hormones produced by the hypothalamus.

Male Sex Hormones

Hormones that influence sexual behavior in males, specifically including testosterone produced in the testes.

Female Sex Hormones

Hormones that influence sexual behavior in females, specifically including estrogen and progesterone produced in the ovaries.

Sexual Response Cycle

A model that describes the psychological and physiological responses that occur during sexual activity.

Desire (Libido)

The first phase of the sexual response cycle where a person begins to want gratification or sexual intimacy, lasting from a moment to many years.

Excitement Phase

The second phase of the sexual response cycle, also called arousal, characterized by the body's physical response to sexual feelings.

Plateau Phase

The third phase of the sexual response cycle, representing the highest point of sexual arousal where initial body changes intensify.

Plateau Phase Duration

The duration of the plateau phase, which generally lasts from $30\text{ seconds}$ to $3\text{ minutes}$.

Plateau Phase Physical Responses

Physical changes including increased breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle spasms in the feet, face, and hands.

Orgasm Phase

The fourth phase of the sexual response cycle and peak of the plateau stage, marked by the sudden release of sexual tension.

Orgasm Phase Duration

The typical duration of the orgasm phase, which generally lasts $< 1\text{ minute}$.

Orgasm Phase Physical Responses

Involuntary muscle contractions, peak blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing with rapid oxygen intake, and foot muscle spasms.

Resolution Phase

The fifth phase of the sexual response cycle, also called the refractory period, where the body returns to its pre-excitement state.

Resolution Phase Characteristics

Marked by a general sense of well-being, enhanced intimacy, and often fatigue, with duration increasing with age.

Lust

A feeling of strong sexual desire for another person that serves as the initial driving force attracting individuals to a potential partner.

Lust Hormones

Testosterone and estrogen, which are produced in the testes and ovaries to drive sexual desire.

Prefrontal Cortex and Lust

The area of the brain responsible for rational behavior, which may be shut off during feelings of lust.

Attraction

A phase of romantic involvement characterized by high levels of neurotransmitters that control reward behavior pathways.

Attraction Neurotransmitters

Dopamine (produced in the hypothalamus), norepinephrine, and serotonin.

Dopamine and Norepinephrine Effects

Chemicals released during attraction that make people feel giddy, energetic, euphoric, and cause decreased appetite and insomnia.

Reward Behavior Pathways

Brain pathways involved in attraction that explain why the first few weeks or months of a relationship feel exhilarating and all-consuming.

Transference

An antecedent of attraction involving the unconscious redirection of feelings from one person to another who reminds you of your father, mother, or yourself.

Propinquity

An antecedent of attraction where you become attracted to people in your neighborhood or those you spend long periods with, like a best friend.

Similarity (Attraction)

An antecedent of attraction occurring when you are drawn to someone with the same hobbies, promoting intimacy, trust, empathy, and long-lasting relationships.

Reciprocity (Attraction)

An antecedent of attraction based on a person participating in the give-and-take process of a relationship, providing validation of self-worth.

Physical Attractiveness

An antecedent of attraction where you like someone due to physical traits such as fair skin, height, or handsome/pretty appearance.

Traits and Characteristics (Attraction)

An antecedent of attraction where a person is drawn to the attitude and character of another individual.

Attachment

The predominant factor in long-term relationships that mediates friendships, parent-infant bonding, social cordiality, and other intimacies.

Attachment Hormones

Oxytocin and vasopressin, which facilitate bonding and long-term monogamous relationships.

Oxytocin

Known as the cuddle hormone or love hormone, produced by the hypothalamus and released during sex, breastfeeding, childbirth, and skin-to-skin contact.

Emotional Effects of Oxytocin

Provokes feelings of contentment, calmness, and security.

Vasopressin

An attachment hormone linked to behaviors that produce long-term, monogamous relationships.

Passionate Love Evolution

The process where passionate love gradually fades as long-term attachment grows.

Theory of Love

A theoretical framework formulated by Robert Sternberg describing love through three core components: intimacy, passion, and commitment.

Robert Sternberg

The psychologist who proposed the Theory of Love ($1986$).

Intimacy (Sternberg)

The feeling of closeness, bondedness, and connectedness between people in a romantic relationship (Sternberg, $1986$).

Secret of Staying in Love

The chord of intimacy connecting two individuals in a romantic relationship.

Passion (Sternberg)

The intense force that drives and consumes a person to pursue an interest, vision, or another person.

Commitment (Sternberg)

An act of deciding to consistently fulfill and live by agreements made with another person, entity, or cause.

Two Aspects of Commitment

According to Sternberg, the commitment to love a person and the commitment to stay in love (more applicable to married individuals).

Guides for Commitment

The core values of integrity and respect that serve as a guide to one's behavior and thinking in a committed relationship.

Sex (Biological Sex)

A person's identity based on physical characteristics, genes, and hormones, also referred to as anatomical sex or physical sex.

Male Physical Identity

Biological sex classification characterized by male external genitals (penis).

Female Physical Identity

Biological sex classification characterized by female external genitals (vagina).

Intersex

A condition where an individual has chromosomes and hormones of a female/male, but external genitals resembling that of a male/female.

Primary Sex Characteristics

Anatomical structures directly involved in reproduction that define biological sex.

Gender

The structure of social relations centering on the reproductive arena and practices bringing reproductive distinctions into social processes.

Socially Constructed Concept of Gender

Social or cultural distinctions associated with a given sex, underlying assumptions regarding masculine or feminine behavior.

Gender-Normative Behavior

Behavior that is compatible with cultural expectations associated with a person's biological sex.

Gender Non-Conformity

Behaviors that are viewed as incompatible with cultural expectations associated with biological sex (APA, $2012$).

Sexual Diversity

The spectrum encompassing gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation or attraction.

Gender Identity

One's innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both, or neither, indicating how individuals perceive and call themselves.

Gender Identity Alignment

How an individual perceives and names themselves, which can be the same as or different from their sex assigned at birth.

Gender Expression

Refers to the ways that humans choose to display their gender identity to the world.

Modes of Gender Expression

External demonstrations of gender identity displayed through behavior, clothing, haircut, or voice.

Sexual Orientation

All about who an individual is physically, spiritually, and emotionally attracted to in romantic and sexual contexts.

Straight (Heterosexual)

A sexual orientation where an individual is attracted to people of the opposite gender.

Gay / Lesbian (Homosexual)

A sexual orientation where an individual is attracted to people of the same gender.

Bisexual

A sexual orientation where an individual can be attracted to both men and women.

Cisgender

A person whose gender identity matches his or her assigned sex at birth.

Transgender

A person whose lived experiences do not match their assigned sex at birth.

Transgender Expression Flexibility

The characteristic of transgender individuals who may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors typically associated with being masculine or feminine.

Gender Equality

Respect for all people as human beings, recognizing that you do not choose who you are attracted to and must do what is right.

Engineering Relationships

The concept under Gender Equality stating that you cannot artificially design or engineer a relationship.

X Chromosome

A type of sex chromosome involved in genetic sex determination.

Y Chromosome

A sex chromosome present in genetic males involved in sex determination.

Unit 2 Topic

The unit title in the lecture notes focusing on 'Sexual Self'.

Testes

The male reproductive glands responsible for producing testosterone.

Ovaries

The female reproductive glands responsible for producing estrogen and progesterone.

Prolactin

A hormone listed among the sex hormones influencing sexual behavior.

Serotonin in Attraction

A neurotransmitter involved alongside dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain chemistry of attraction.

Childhood Friend Attraction

An example of propinquity where spending a long period with someone leads to romantic attraction.

Validation of Self-Worth

The psychological feeling brought by reciprocity that forms a stronger basis for liking a person.

Parent-Infant Bonding

A form of non-romantic intimacy mediated by the attachment system and oxytocin.

Social Cordiality

An interpersonal bond governed by attachment mechanisms rather than lust or romantic attraction.

Skin-to-Skin Contact

A physical interaction that triggers the release of large quantities of oxytocin.

Childbirth and Oxytocin

A physiological event during which oxytocin is released in large amounts.

Breastfeeding and Oxytocin

A maternal process during which oxytocin is secreted in high quantities.

Monogamous Relationship Behavior

Behavioral patterns linked specifically to the hormone vasopressin.

Love Hormone

An informal name for oxytocin due to its role in provoking contentment, calmness, and security.

Cuddle Hormone

An alternative common name for oxytocin associated with physical touch and bonding.

Sternberg (1986)

The citation and publication year associated with Robert Sternberg's definition of romantic intimacy.

APA (2012)

The citation associated with the definition of gender non-conformity in the lecture notes.

Married Individuals and Commitment

The context in Sternberg's model where the commitment to stay in love is particularly applicable.

Integrity in Relationships

A core value serving as a guide to behavior and thinking within Sternberg's commitment component.

Respect in Relationships

A guiding value in Sternberg's commitment framework alongside integrity.

Having Sex

A phrase referring to physical sexual acts.

Attitudes, Feelings, and Behaviors (Gender)

Aspects that a given culture associates with a person's biological sex.

Innermost Concept of Self

The core definition of gender identity as male, female, a blend of both, or neither.

Voice and Gender Expression

An audible mechanism through which individuals choose to display their gender identity.

Haircut and Gender Expression

A grooming choice used as a visual mode of expressing gender identity.

Clothing and Gender Expression

An external attire choice used to demonstrate gender identity to the world.

Physical, Spiritual, and Emotional Attraction

The three dimensions of attraction defined under sexual orientation.