CH 5: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality

Question 1

What are the three areas of gender differences between the average male and female?

Answer 1

• Aggression
• Social Power
• Social Connectedness

Question 2

Aggression

Answer 2

Any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone physically or emotionally.

Question 3

Relational Aggression

Answer 3

An act of aggression (physical or verbal) intended to harm a person’s relationship or social standing.

Question 4

In what two ways does biology influence gender?

Answer 4

1) Genetically - males and females have different sex chromosomes.
2) Physiologically - males and females have different concentrations of sex hormones, which trigger other anatomical differences.

Question 5

The sex chromosome found in both men and women.

Answer 5

X-Chromosome:

Females have two X Chromosomes; males have one. An X Chromosome from each parent produces a female child.

Question 6

The sex chromosome found only in males.

Answer 6

Y-Chromosome:

When paired with an X-Chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child.

Question 7

Testosterone

Answer 7

The most important of the male sex hormones.
Both males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs during the fetal period, and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty.

Question 8

Puberty

Answer 8

The period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.

Question 9

Primary Sex Characteristics

Answer 9

The body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sexual reproduction possible.

Question 10

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Answer 10

Nonreproductive sexual traits, such as female breasts and hips, male voice quality, and body hair.

Question 11

Spermarche

Answer 11

Puberty’s landmark for boys; First ejaculation.

Question 12

Menarche

Answer 12

Puberty’s landmark for women; First menstrual period.

Question 13

Fill in the Blank:

Prenatal sexual development begins about _____ weeks after conception. Adolescence is marked by the onset of _____.

Answer 13

Seven; Puberty

Question 14

Define:

Disorders of Sexual Development.

Answer 14

A condition present at birth that involves unusual development of sex chromosomes and anatomy.

Question 15

Gender Role

Answer 15

A set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for males or for females.

Question 16

Gender Identity

Answer 16

Our sense of being male, female, or some combination of the two.

Question 17

Role

Answer 17

A set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave.

Question 18

Social Learning Theory

Answer 18

The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished.

Question 19

Gender Typing

Answer 19

The acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role.

Question 20

Androgyny

Answer 20

Displaying both traditional masculine and feminine psychological characteristics.

Question 21

Transgender

Answer 21

An umbrella term describing people whose gender identity or expression differs from that associated with their birth sex.

Question 22

Sexual Orientation

Answer 22

The direction of one’s sexual orientation.

Question 23

What are gender roles, and what do their variations tell us about our human capacity for learning and adapting?

Answer 23

Gender roles are social rules or norms for accepted and expected behavior for females and males. The norms associated with various roles, including gender roles, vary widely in different cultural contexts, which is proof that we are capable of learning and adapting to the social demands of different environments.

Question 24

Asexual

Answer 24

Having no sexual attraction to others.

Question 25

Estrogens

Answer 25

Sex hormones, such as estradiol, secreted in greater amounts by females that by males and contributing to female sex characteristics. In nonhuman female mammals, estrogen levels peak during ovulation, promoting sexual receptivity.

Question 26

What are some ways sex hormones influence us in our life span?

Answer 26

• During the Prenatal Period - they direct development as males or females.
• During Puberty - a sex hormone surge ushers us into adolescence.
• After Puberty and Late Adult Years - sex hormones activate sexual behavior.

Question 27

What does the Pubertal Surge in sex hormones trigger?

Answer 27

The development of sex characteristics and sexual interest.

Question 28

What happens Later in Life when hormone levels fall?

Answer 28

As sex hormones decline, sex remains a part of life, but frequency of sexual fantasies and intercourse subsides.

Question 29

Why does Surgery or Drugs sometimes affect hormonal shifts?

Answer 29

Surgeries such as castration and drugs such as Depo-Provera suppresses / reduces testosterone levels.

Question 30

Sexual Response Cycle

Answer 30

The four stages of sexual responding described by Masters and Johnson - Excitement, Plateau, Orgasm, and Resolution.

Question 31

What are the 4 stages of the Sexual Response Cycle?

Answer 31

1) Excitement
2) Plateau
3) Orgasm
4) Resolution

Question 32

Refractory Period in Human Sexuality

Answer 32

A resting period after orgasm, during which a man cannot achieve another orgasm.

Question 33

Sexual Dysfunction

Answer 33

A problem that consistently impairs sexual arousal or functioning.

Question 34

Erectile Disorder

Answer 34

Inability to develop or maintain an erection due to insufficient bloodflow to the penis.

Question 35

Female Orgasmic Disorder

Answer 35

Distress due to infrequently or never experiencing an orgasm.

Question 36

Paraphilias

Answer 36

Sexual arousal from fantasies, behavior, or urges involving nonhuman objects, the suffering of self or others, and/or nonconsenting persons.

Question 37

Necrophilia

Answer 37

Sexual attraction to corpses.

Question 38

Exhibitionism

Answer 38

Pleasure from exposing oneself to others without consent.

Question 39

AIDS

Answer 39

A life-threatening, sexually transmitted infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS depletes the immune system, leaving the person vulnerable to infection.

Question 40

What factors influence our sexual motivation and behavior?

Answer 40

Influences include biological factors such as sexual maturity and sex hormones, psychological factors such as environmental stimuli and fantasies, and social-cultural factors such as the values and expectations absorbed from family and the surrounding culture.

Question 41

What are some environmental factors contributing to teen pregnancy?

Answer 41

• Minimal communication about birth control.
• Guilt related sexual activity.
• Alcohol Use.
• Mass media norms of unprotected promiscuity.

Question 42

Sexual Orientation

Answer 42

An enduring sexual attraction towards members of one’s own sex (homosexual orientation), the other sex (heterosexual orientation), or both sexes (bisexual orientation).

Question 43

What factors have researchers found to have an effect on sexual orientation?

Answer 43

Factors include the size of certain cell clusters in the hypothalamus, prenatal hormone exposure and for men, having multiple older biological brothers.

Question 44

How do evolutionary Psychologists explain sex differences in sexuality?

Answer 44

Evolutionary psychologists theorize that females have inherited their ancestors’ tendencies to be more cautious, sexually, because of the challenges associated with incubating and nurturing offspring. Males have inherited an inclination to be more casual about sex, because their act of fathering requires a smaller investment.

Question 45

What are the three main criticisms of the evolutionary explanation of human sexuality?

Answer 45

1. It starts with an effect and works backward to propose an explanation.
2. This explanation may overlook the effects of cultural expectations and socialization.
3. Unethical and immoral men could use such explanations to rationalize their behavior toward women.