Ch. 14: Sexual Variations

Question 1

stastical sex abnormality

Answer 1

any sexual behavior that is rare

Question 2

sociological sex abnormality

Answer 2

deviance, a violation of norms

Question 3

psychological components of abnormal behavior (4 Ds)

Answer 3

Dysfunctional: impairs daily functioning (ex: stealing panties can get you arrested)
Distress: the person is distressed by their behavior
Deviant: the behavior is highly deviant (ex: sex with a corpse)
Dangerous: harm to the self or others

Question 4

Paraphilia

Answer 4

unconventional sexual behavior (ex: a fetish)

Question 5

Paraphilic disorder characteristics

Answer 5

• an intense & persistent sexual interest (other than sexual interest in genital stimulation or preparatory fondling with physically mature, consenting human partners
• causes clinically significant distress or impairment (social, occupational, etc.) OR harm to others

Question 6

Fetishism

Answer 6

a person’s sexual fixation on some object and attachment of great erotic significance to that object

Question 7

Normal-Abnormal Continuum

Answer 7

the strength of preference for fetish object determines whether something is abnormal or not; when it becomes a “necessity” it becomes abnormal

Question 8

what can cause a fetish?

Answer 8

1) classical conditioning: pair a nonsexual stimulus (ex: furry rug) with sexual arousal, the rug itself can become arousing
2) cognitive: perception of an unconventional stimulus as erotic

Question 9

drag queen

Answer 9

gay man who dresses as a woman, performance, satire of traditional gender roles (also drag kings)

Question 10

female impersonator

Answer 10

job in entertainment

Question 11

transvestite

Answer 11

man who puts on women’s clothing for sexual arousal

Question 12

Sadism

Answer 12

receiving sexual pleasure from giving pain

Question 13

masochism

Answer 13

receiving sexual pleasure from receiving pain

Question 14

what are other varieties of masochism and sadism?

Answer 14

• master-slave-dominance & submission
• bondage & discipline
• collectively, BDSM

Question 15

causes for masochism

Answer 15

• classical conditioning

- escapism (may have high-power jobs and may use masochism as an escape from responsibility)

Question 16

causes for sadism

Answer 16

sense of power and control

Question 17

voyeurism

Answer 17

sexual pleasure from viewing unsuspecting people who are nude and engaging in sex

Question 18

nymphomania

Answer 18

an excessive, insatiable sex drive in a woman

Question 19

satyriasis

Answer 19

an excessive, insatiable sex drive in a man

Question 20

characteristics of hypersexuality (nympho and satyrisis)

Answer 20

• driven to the behavior

- never feels satisfied

Question 21

asexuality

Answer 21

a lack of sexual attraction to anyone

Question 22

aromantic

Answer 22

a lack of romantic attraction

Question 23

sexual addictions

Answer 23

a pathological relationship to a sexual event or process, substituting it for a healthy relationship

Question 24

characteristics of a sexual addiction

Answer 24

preoccupation, rituals, compulsive (no control), despair

Question 25

criticisms of the term “sexual addictions”

Answer 25

medicalization of a socially constructed behavior

Question 26

alternative term for “sexual addictions”

Answer 26

compulsive sexual behavior

Question 27

compulsive sexual behavior

Answer 27

intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges and behaviors that are intrusive, driven and repetitive; lack impulse control; result in social & legal sanctions; interfere with social and occupational functioning (there’s a debate about whether it is different from hypersexuality)

Question 28

treatments for sex addictions

Answer 28

12-step programs like SAA (sexaholics anonymous)

Question 29

treatments for sex compulsions

Answer 29

psychotropic drugs + psychotherapy (ex: SSRI antidepressants)