Psych 133D (Sexuality)

Psychology 133D: Social and Personality DevelopmentInstructor: Bonnie Goff, Ph.D.Week 9, Class 2Class Schedule and Important Dates

• Monday’s Class: Synchronous/online

• Wednesday’s Exam: Synchronous/online on BruinLearn under the "Quizzes" tab

  • Date and Time: Weds (3/12) 2 – 3:15 PM (unless CAE accommodations are in place)

  • Format: Multiple-choice, open-note

• Final Written Assignment: Due Friday during finals week (3/14) by 11:59 PM, with a discussion in class on the preceding Monday.

Content Coverage for Exam 3

• Topics Covered: Gender (with reference to "Raised Without Gender"), Personality Disorders, Sexuality, Early Adversity (discussed next Monday).

Raised Without Gender Key Concepts

• Gender as a Social Construct: Gender norms and roles differ by society and evolve over time.

• Distinction between Gender and Sex: Gender is social, while sex is biological (chromosomes, hormones, organs).

• Gender Identity: An individual’s internal sense of gender may not align with their assigned sex at birth.(Source: World Health Organization)

Ecological Systems Theory (Bronfenbrenner)

• Chronosystem: Temporal events and transitions in life.

• Macrosystem: Cultural attitudes and ideologies.

• Exosystem: Indirect influences like social and legal services.

• Mesosystem: Interconnections between family, school, and peers.

• Microsystem: Direct interactions, e.g., family and friends.

Transgender Issues

• Discussion on the inclusion of transgender identities within the gender framework.

Development of Sexuality

• Early Sexual Development:

  • Infants (0-2 years): Explore body parts; begin learning social norms.

  • Toddlers/Young Children (3-5 years): Curiosity about gender and anatomy; social imitation.

• Sexual Orientation Development:

  • Ages 5-8: Curiosity about pregnancy and birth; discovering sexual orientation (Kinsey, 1948).

  • Ages 9-12: Onset of puberty and increased sexual interest influenced by family and peers.

• Adolescent Sexual Development:

  • Ages 13-18: Romantic relationships emerge; 38.4% of high schoolers report sexual intercourse (CDC, 2019).

Secular Trends in Adolescent Sexual Activity

• 15% decline in sexual activity since the early 1990s across racial groups.

• Notable drop among Black/African American high schoolers from 81.5% (1991) to 42.3% (2019).

Reasons for Decline in Adolescent Sexual Activity

• Changes in societal attitudes, improved access to sex education and contraception, and the internet’s influence, including COVID-19 impacts.

Cultural Influences on Adolescent Sexual Development

• Permissive vs. Restrictive Cultures: Different cultural attitudes towards sexuality (e.g., Mangaia, Kwoma).

• Educational Environments: Sex education mandates vary; discussions on pleasure and pornography often missing.

Intergenerational Technological Discrepancies

• Overview of technology adoption in US households from 1860 to 2019, highlighting significant advancements.

Adolescent Sexual Behavior

• Dual Systems Model: Interaction of the prefrontal cortex for decision-making and the limbic system for reward-seeking during adolescence.

Typical and Atypical Sexual Development in Adolescents

• Psychological outcomes of pornography consumption, affecting self-esteem and mental health; engaging with harmful content can lead to negative effects and atypical behaviors.