Ch. 2: Theoretical Perspectives on Sexuality Flashcards
Sociobiology
sexual behaviors are under biological control (part of the evolutionary perspective)
sexual selection
a specific type of selection that creates male-female differences
ex: men’s preference for polygamy & woman’s preference for monogamy
sexual strategies theory
there is a difference between long-term mating and short-term mating strategies
ex: long-term mating- best strategy for monogamous women
gender neutral evolutionary theory
responds to sexism in sociobiology (evolutionary theory)
psychoanalytic theory
sexual behavior (libido) is led by unconscious elements of the person (aka: id (pleasure), ego (reality) & superego (idealism, conscience))
erogenous zones are influenced by stages of psychosexual development
What are the stages of psychosexual development?
1) oral (0-1 yr)
2) anal (1-2 yr)
3) phallic (3-6 yr)
4) latency (7-12 yr)
5) genital (13-on)
oedipal complex
son lusts mom but fears dad will kill him so he gives up mom and chooses to become more like dad
oedipal complex
son lusts mom but fears dad will kill him so he gives up mom and chooses to become more like dad
electra complex
daughter lusts dad so she decides to have a son who has a penis like dad
classical conditioning
developed by Ivan Pavlov- CC creates a conditioned response through associating unconditioned stimulus and a neutral stimulus
used to explain sexual thoughts and behaviors related to fetishes
operant conditioning
sexuality is dictated by reinforcement & punishment
social learning theory
sexuality is formed through operant conditioning and imitation from people you admire
feminist theory
look at intersectionality and performativity’s influence on sexuality
queer theory
questions heteronormative views of sexuality
sociological perspective
involves institutions, symbolic interaction theory, and sexual script theory
gender schema theory
people have a cognitive structure (schema) that associates certain behaviors, personalities, and appearances with being male/female.
castration anxiety
fear of having penis cut off
social exchange theory
people will choose actions that maximize rewards and minimize costs
(based on operant conditioning)
schema
a general knowledge framework that a person has about a particular topic
sexual field
a site populated with people with erotic dispositions that they project on the space and each other, creating a system of sexual stratification.
What are some institutions that influence sexuality?
- religion
- economy
- family
- medicine
- law
medicalization of sexuality
The process by which certain sexual behaviors or conditions are defined in terms of health and illness, and problematic experiences or practices are given medical treatment.
