Exam 01 2017-09-18 Flashcards
Defining Human Sexuality
(in-class 8/28)
- times have changed
- not just penile-vaginal sex
- now more varied: behaviors, purposes
Psychology of Human Sexuality
(in-class 8/28) - scientific study of thoughts and behaviors that produce arousal and increase the chance of orgasm
Sex-positivity (from in-class 8/30)
(in-class 8/30)
- inclusive definitions of gender, sexual orientation, sexual behavior
- consider (+) and (-) consequences of sex
- provide information, tools to optimize sexual health, sexual, romantic relationships
- monogamy, marriage aren’t universal goals
- respect differences of opinions about sex
Sex-positivity (from Williams, et al., 2013)
(Williams et al. 1)
- sex positive approach means being open, communicative, and accepting of individual’s differences
- allow for wide range of sexual expression that considers sexual identities, orientations, and behaviors; gender presentation; accessible health care and education; multiple important dimensions of human diversity
biases in research on human sexuality
(in-class 8/30)
- focus on heterosexual monogamous sex
- largely binary views of gender
- pathology, stigma associated with many sexual variations
Sexual orientation terminology
(Yarber & Sayad, 16)
- sexual orientation: pattern of sexual and emotional attraction based on the gender of one’s partner
(in-class 8/30)
Considered affirmative (APA)
- gay, lesbian, bisexual, same-gender couple, same-sex couple, pansexual, asexual,
Proceed with caution (only if someone has used it themself)
- queer
gender identity terminology
(in-class 8/30) Considered affirmative (APA) - cisgender, trans, transgender Proceed with caution (only if someone has used it themself) - queer, genderqueer, transsexual
Cross-cultural and historical perspectives on sexuality
(Yarber & Sayad, 14-24)
- can be “natural in one culture and “unnatrual” in another
- some cultures very sexual, and then not; some cultures only sex for procreation; many differences based on gender (women needing to control men’s sexual desires, women having to sexual desires);
(Williams, et al.)
- sex-positive approach
- lots of social injustice and oppression towards LGB people
(In-class 8/30)
Leonore Tiefer’s 5 Normality Types
(Yarber & Sayad, 20) (in-class 8/30)
1) Subjective - “are they the same as me because I’m normal?”
2) Statistical - common = normal; uncommon = abnormal; cut-off numbers change
3) Idealistic - fit ideal of perfect person?
4) Cultural - is it considered deviant or not in your culture?
5) clinical - healthy = normal; unhealthy = abnormal
Anal Sex (Myth #18) (in-class 8/30 group discussion)
(Schwartz & Kempner, 103-107)
- 5% heterosexual women found anal sex to be “very appealing” or somewhat appealing” (S&K, 103)
- another study: many )72%) experimented, and some (23%) regularly engaged (S&K, 103)
- connotation of gay men, but small amount (1-1.5%) regularly engage in anal sex (S&K, 105)
- virginity can be a motive for women where virginity is prized/required (not enough data to be conclusive); few data show young people have anal sex to “preserve virginity,” and few engage in anal sex before vaginal sex (S&K, 106)
- many (47%) women engaged seeking pleasure, but many found it not pleasurable (coercion, violence, roughness may have occurred) (S&K, 107)
controversy with civility
(in-class 8/30)
- learn from good discomfort
- be brave
- minimize bad discomfort
- don’t dehumanize people
- impact and intent both matter
- challenge what’s been said, not the person; challenge without blame or shame
construct validity
(in-class 9/4)
- abstract psychological phenomenon
- inferred from observable behavior
EX: love, attraction, engagement
– need to be specific in how you’re going to measure (unlike a ruler)
- did the authors measure or manipulate ~all facets of the concept~ that they claim to be measuring or manipulating?
- can’t measure directly
internal validity
(in-class 9/4)
- all about causation
- allows researchers to state that they’ve identified causal associations
- was the IV the sole cause of changes in the DV
EX:
- high: well controlled experiment (ideally with random assignment)
- medium: correlational study with statistical controls
- low: did not rule out potential third-variable explanations
external validity
(in-class 9/4) - ~generalizablilty~ to population of interest (not always everyone) - are the results true for other: participants? settings? times? EX: - high: large, random selection of participants from population of interest; procedure similar to situation of interest - low: small convenience sample with major differences from population of interest; procedure different form situation of interest
Three components of a well-controlled Experiment
(in-class 9/4)
1) manipulation of the IV
2) random assignment
3) measure of DV
Sexology research methods
(in-class Kinsey discussion 9/6) (Lehemiller, 32-42) - Survey - Direct observation - case report - experiment
Self report
(Greenberg, 38)
- most sexual research is self report, which isn’t always accurate
Social desirability responding
(Lehemiller, 35)
- participants presenting themselves in what they think is the most favorable way
Survey methods and limitations
(Lehemiller, 35)
Survey
- simply asked to report sexual experience
Limitations:
- non-response: choosing not to participate
- social desirability
direct observation and limitations
(Lehemiller, 38)
Direct observation
- researchers watch participants and record behaviors
Limitations
- hard/difficult to film for sexologist research
- reactivity: people act differently when they know they’re being observed
Strengths
- eliminate response bias, can be filmed
Sample selection
(Lehmiller, 32)
- find target population first, then chose sample
Convenience sample and importance
(Lehmiller, 33)
- participants who are most readily accessible for research purpose(s)
- quick and easy study, but not always representative of a whole population
Random selection and importance
(Lehmiller, 33)
- finding all of target population, then randomly selecting/contacting a subset to participate
- important for high internal validity and high external validity
Mean
- average
- - not always fully representative based on if there’s an outlier
Median
- middle number of data
- - helps to understand the mean better
ethics
(Greenberg, 37)
- sexuality research is intimate
- informed consent required: what, risks, etc.
- approved by IRB
experiments and their importance
(Lehmiller, 32, 42)
- Experiment strengths: precise control of variables; ability to infer cause and effect
- Experiment limitations: not possible or ethical to implement for all research questions; several threats to external validity; hard for a diverse sample
Henry Havelock Ellis
(Greenberg, 40)
- Controversial: masturbation is common for both sexes; women have sexual desires
- Sex Ed should be for both sexes
- shouldn’t be laws against contraceptives or private sexual behavior
Sigmund Freud
(Greenberg, 40)
- sex(uality) center to human life, natural, pleasurable
- childhood experiences have influence on adulthood, contemporary life
Magnus Herschfeld
(Greenberg, 41) (Yarber & Sayad, 55)
- coined the term “transvestite” and identified as a transvestite
- believed sexual orientation was from nature, homosexuality from hormonal development
- believed sexual health was necessary for healthy living
Evelyn Hooker
(Yarber & Sayad, 55)
- said same-sex relationships are widespread
- said “typical” gay men and “typical” straight men aren’t that different
Alfred Kinsey
(Greenberg, 42), (Kinsey Film), (in-class 9/6)
- first person to put sexual orientation on a continuum (previously believed it was either or)
- interviewed people of 6 ways men and women achieve orgasm: masturbation, nocturnal sex dreams & emissions, heterosexual petting, heterosexual premarital intercourse, homosexual intercourse, sexual contact with animals.
William Masters and Virginia Johnson
(Greenberg, 43)
- first to observe sexual behaviors (direct observation, in a lag, recorded)
- main finding: “human sexual response” existence of cycle of physiological events in response to sexual arousal stimulation; in 4 phases in order:
1 - excitement
2 - plateau
3 - orgasm
4 - resolution
feminist principles
(Yarber & Sayad, 53)
- gender is important everywhere/status
- women’s sexuality has been depressed/repressed and rarely expressed as a result of men’s control over women’s sexuality
- power dynamics are a critical element in male-female relationships
- ethnic diversity must be addressed (intersectionality is important)
ethnicity and sexuality
(Williams et al.)
- lots of oppression and social injustice to people with same-sex attraction, bisexual, and pansexual orientations
- lots of federal dollars to sex education, many focus on abstinence (type of program depends on money in school, neighborhood, socioeconomic status, etc.)
clitoris
(Dregger, 5)
- lots of nerves (important for orgasm)
- most of it’s inside, has foreskin
vulva
(Dregger, 6)
- NOT THE SAME AS THE VAGINA
- external (labia majora, labia minora, opening of the vagina [entroitus])
(Myth 2)
- get unneeded makeovers (cosmetic, usually on labia, pubic hair)
vagina
(Dregger, 5, 6)
- tube from outside to the womb
- muscular, flexible
(Myth 2)
- elastic
- media influences misconceptions of smell, appearance, and cleanliness
- clean themselves (vulva should be cleaned)
uterus
- sheds lining every 28-10 days
- elastic
hymen
- not a sheet, can break from exercise, can stay intact after penetrative sex
penis
(Dregger, 5)
- lots of nerves
- mostly internal, has foreskin
(Myth 1)
- penis size not correlated with hand/feed, but does significantly correlate with height
- average: flaccid 3.5in, erect 5.1in
- larger penises aren’t necessarily better (can be painful when penetrating)
fallopian tubes
- where sperm meets egg
labia majora
(Dregger, 6)
- on sides of the vaginal opening
- lots of nerves
labia minora
(Dregger, 6)
- around the clitoris
- lots of nerves
scrotum
- holds the 1-2 testes
g-spot
(Myth 4)
- historically discussed and debated
- different kind of orgasm, some say distinct from clitoral excitement (evidence brain reacts differently)
- G-spot is part of the clitoris (clitoral tissue, and clitoral nerves creating sensation)
ejaculate
(Dregger, 8)
- smoothie of prostate juice and sperm from testes
vulvodynia
- chronic pain in the vulva area
erectile dysfunction
(Myth 5)
- studies show caused by low testosterone
- reduced blood flow can be due to stress factors, relationship factors (also stress from work, family, etc)
psychology of penile circumcision
(Myth 3)
- acceptable because of cultural/religious roots
- low risk (when a medical professional does it), and should be done in the “newborn period”
- ethical debate: babies can’t give informed consent, but parents legally can
- impacts on sex: some adults who have been circumcised as adults said it was the same as before, some said easier to reach orgasm, some said less pleasurable
- not for health reasons, but should be available to parents
- parents should have more scientific research on it (from both sides)
sex and gender (from in-class 9/13)
(in-class 9/13)
- gender: socio-legal status
- sex: also social construct! (genitals as assessment of “male” or “female”; intersex: socially constructed)
- sex: chromosomes, reproductive system, reproductive process, anatomy
- gender: personal care practices, family roles, clothing, etc.
8 variables of gender (From Money, 1987)
(Hyde & DeLameter, 97)
1) chromosomal gender: xx, xy, or xxy, etc.
2) gonadal gender: ovaries or testes
3) a) prenatal hormonal gender: elevated testosterone in “males” and base levels in “females”
3) b) prenatal and neonatal brain differentiation: elevated testosterone present for masculinization and base levels for feminization
4) internal organs: fallopian tubes, uterus, upper vagina for “females” and semivesicles in “males”
5) pubertal hormonal gender: at puberty estrogen for “females” and testosterone for “males”
7) assigned gender: announced at birth, based on external appearance
8) gender identity: person’s internal sense of “maleness” or “femaleness”
sex chromosomes
(Hyde & DeLameter, 93)
- part of prenatal sexual differences
- xx, xy, xxy, etc.
testosterone
(Hyde & DeLameter, 90)
- adrogens group of sex hormones: testosterone
- secreted by the testes into the bloodstream
(Myth 5)
- impacts sexual appetites, but mood, medications, stress also factors
- taken by many cis-men for erectile dysfunction
- taken by cis-women for sex drive, but not intended us, so not much research (or any) of effects
oxytocin
(Hyde & DeLameter, 92)
- stimulates milk ejection from the nipples and contractions of the uterus during childbirth
(study session (9/15)
- social bonding hormone (released when people groom each other, cuddle)
estrogen
(Hyde & DeLameter, 90)
- secreted from ovaries into the bloodstream
- elevated at puberty
endocrine disruptors
(Hyde & DeLameter, 95)
- chemicals in the environment that affect the endocrine system and production of hormones
factors that lead to intersex variations
(Dregger, 10-12)
- some chromosomal (xxy)
- missing “sex parts” or extra (2 uteruses, penises)
- like bowling: usually left lane or right lane (“male” or “female”) but sometimes somewhere in the middle
CAH
(Hyde & DeLameter, 98) Congenial andrenal hyperplasia - Genetic female (chromosomes XX) - Provides excess androgen prenatally - External genitalia appears male at birth, usually assigned male (enlarged clitoris, fused labia) - CAH person has XX, ovaries, androgen
treatment of intersex people
- many babies who’s external genitalia appearance isn’t “male” or “female” have surgeries without informed consent (sometimes even from the parent[s])
- often are not told or learn about intersex people and can lead to isolation
puberty
(Hyde & DeLameter, 99)
- time when sudden enlargement and maturation of gonads (ovaries, testes), other genitalia, and secondary sex characteristics (body hair, etc)
biology of intersex people
(( connect to CAH ?? ))
- xx chromosomes; produce excess androgen prenatally; external genitalia appears male, but enlarged clitoris, fused labia
menopause
- absence of hormones
- cis-women don’t produce estrogen anymore and have hot flashes, unable to reproduce usually
erections
(Myth 1)
- average penis size: flaccid 3.5in, erect 5.1in
testes
- gonads
- in the scrotum
- secrete testosterone into the bloodstream
ovaries
- gonads
- secrete estrogen
- secret testosterone into the bloodstream
scrotum
- where the 1-2 testes are
