Chapter 10: Relationships and Human Sexuality

Question 1

Two types of personal communication

Answer 1

• Verbal Communication
• -Desire to know
• Decision to tell
• -Talking and Listening
• Nonverbal Communication
• -Makes up 67% of communication
• -Touch, eye contact, facial expression
• -Comes from your own ‘sense of self esteem

Question 2

5 Types of Relationships

Answer 2

• Self-perception: can influence interactions with others; lack of self-esteem can impact relationships
• Friendship: Enhanced feelings of warmth, trust, love, affection; honesty, acceptance, empathy and loyalty
• Dating: Spending time with others, practicing communication skills, seeing if romantic feelings develop; testing compatibility
• Romantic attraction: What is attractive? Warmth, kindness, physical attraction, financial stability?
• Intimacy: open trust, sharing of close confidential thoughts/feelings; may be sexual

Question 3

Sternberg’s love triangle

Answer 3

• Romantic love: intimacy + passion
• Companionate Love: intimacy + commitment
• Fatuous love: passion + commitment
• Combination of all 3 is pinnacle ultimate love

Question 4

Some crucial ingredients for commitment

Answer 4

• Love, sex, and commitment
• Mutual trust and affection
• Willingness to tolerate flaws (realistic expectations)
• The ability to communicate effectively
• Willingness to change in response to each other (mutual respect)
• Share duties and responsibilities (egalitarian roles)
• Balance of individual and joint interests/activities
• Shared values

Question 5

Marriage/Theories

Answer 5

• Marriage
• -Fewer people are getting married
• -More couples choosing to live together
• Married people are healthier and live longer compared to non-married people
• -Selection theory: healthy people are more attractive, more likely to get married
• -Protection theory: married people look after each other, support each other

Question 6

Difference between Sex/Gender

Answer 6

• Sex: Biological categorization based on physical features (e.g., genitalia, chromosomes, hormones); most individuals are either XX or XY.
• Gender: Social categorization based on the psychological characteristics and roles that society assigns to the biological sexes; more “fluid” than sex; may or may not agree with biological categorization

Question 7

Female Reproductive Anatomy

Answer 7

-Egg (ovum): unites with sperm (fertilization)
-Ovaries
–production of eggs; –released during ovulation
production estrogen and progesterone
-Uterine tube: site of fertilization
-Uterus: region where fetus develops
-Vagina: canal for childbirth; penis

Question 8

External Female Genitalia: Vulva

Answer 8

• Outer female genitalia
• Erogenous zone
• Consists of :
• -Mons pubis – pubic region covered by hair
• • Labia (minor/major) – inner and outer folds of skin that cover the vagina
• • Clitoris – pleasure center

Question 9

The Clitoris

Answer 9

• The visible clitoris is a small cylindrical mass of erectile tissue
• Contains ~8000 nerve endings
• Covered externally by the prepuce of the clitoris.
• The visible part of the clitoris is the glans clitoris, however, most of the organ is internal.
• The only organ in the human body with the sole purpose of pleasure.
• The clitoris in females develops from the same embryonic tissue as the penis in males.

Question 10

Male Reproductive Anatomy

Answer 10

• Testes: produce sperm and testosterone
• Scrotum: encloses and protects testes
• Epididymis: stores sperm
• Vas deferens: connects the epididymis with the urethra
• Urethra: transports both semen and urine through the penis and out of the body

Question 11

External Male Genitalia: Penis

Answer 11

• Composed of 3 types of erectile tissue
• Erection occurs when spaces in the erectile tissue fill with blood
• The end of the penis is glans penis
• On the posterior side of the penis, there is an indentation called the frenulum, believed to be the most sensitive part of the penis

Question 12

The Real “Masters of Sex”

Answer 12

William Masters & Virginia Johnson were renowned sex researchers
Human Sexual Response (1966)
Human Sexual Inadequacy (1970)
Human Sexuality (1988)
Laboratory studies
Human volunteers (382 M, 312 F) had intercourse or masturbated while being observed, measured, & videotaped
10,000 female sexual cycles; 2,500 male sexual cycles

Question 13

4 stages of human sexual response

Answer 13

1. Excitement phase: Males more quickly aroused compared to females
2. Plateau phase: Full arousal, but not yet at orgasm
3. Orgasmic phase: Females may experience a prolonged orgasm (multiple) compared to males. Female orgasim may require stimulation of clitoris
   - Refractory phase (males)
4. Resolution phase: Female resolution phase may be longer than males

Question 14

Female vs Male Sexual Response

Answer 14

• Males experience a refractory period following orgasm, during which another orgasm cannot be achieved.
• Females can experience a prolonged orgasm compared with males.
• The female resolution stage may be longer.
• Females are able achieve multiple orgasms in short succession.
• Men are generally aroused more easily.
• Females may or may not have an orgasm with vaginal stimulation alone. Many require stimulation of the clitoris to achieve orgasm.

Question 15

Male Performance Concerns

Answer 15

1. Erectile Dysfunction
   - Physiological
   - -Risk factors include : high BP, high cholesterol, diabetes, alcohol, smoking, obesity, nerve damage – Constriction ring may help; Viagra/Cialis
   - Psychological
   - -Performance anxiety, stress, mental disorders – Generally treated with therapy rather than medication
2. Premature Ejaculation
   - Treatments: Practicing control/endurance; non-sexual thoughts; swapping foreplay and sex throughout; Desensitizing creams

Question 16

Female Performance Concerns:

Answer 16

• Female Sexual Dysfunction
• Persistent and recurring issues with arousal, desire, sexual response, pain, and/or achieving orgasm.
• Can occur at any stage of life
• Can be physiological, psychological, hormonal, psychosocial
• Treatment or therapy based on individual situations.