FINAL Flashcards
Genetic theory
The role the genes play in influencing behaviour, genetics influence sexuality in a number of ways; hormones, sex, reproductive cycles etc.
Evolutionary Theory
Why the patterns of social behaviour and phycological mechanisms have evolved in animals
Evolution occurs by means of natural selection (survival of the fittest) • Gender differences from evolutionary processes meant to maximize reproductive fitness
• Women produce limited children, are more conservative in sexual behaviour.
• Men Can father many offspring, making their sexual behaviour less conservative, and greater sex drive.
Epidemiology
The study of disease distribution and burden across a population
Social epidemiology is often specifically concerned with social and structural states of health
Sociological Theory
Highlights the importance of social institutions such as religion and family
Sex is linked to the societal structure of power
women more susceptible to sexual stereotyping because they’re more responsive to cultural influences.
The Ecological Model
- Complex social and psychological phenomena combine to impact an individual
- Bronfenbrenner
Masters and Johnson’s- Direct observational approach
- First systematic large scale study of human sexual response in the late 1950s
- Empirical approach to sexuality
- They measures sexual response
- Everyone has the exact same pattern in phycological arousal
Kinsey’s interview based approach
- The first sex researcher to conduct large scale analytic studies of sexual behaviour in north America
- Door to door to ask-
How often do you masturbate?
Do you cheat on your partner?
What do you masturbate to? - 7 point scale -
1950s
most people range from 1-5 for mixed heterosexual and homosexual behaviour
- Door to door to ask-
Challenges in sex research
- Sampling
- Bias
- Generalization
- Validity
- Faulty estimation
- Differing interpretations of questions
Typical sex chromosomal karyotype is -
- Female= XX Male= XY
What determines sex?
- Chromosomes
- Gonad development
- Prenatal hormonal exposure
- Prenatal and neonatal
- brain differentiation
- Internal genitals
- External genital appearance
- Pubertal hormones
Sexual expression
Intersex
- 1 in 500-1000 births there may be atypical patterns of sex chromosomes (i.e. NOT XX or XY)
- Congenital conditions in which anatomical, gonadal, or chromosomal sex is atypical
- True hermaphrodites are very rare in humans (and typically used as a term to de-humanize Intersex individuals)
- Estimated 25+ different variations (Fausto-Sterling)
Sex Chromosome Variations
Turner’s Syndrome (XO)
Klinefelter’s Syndrome (XXY)
Klinefelter’s Syndrome (XXY)
- Often undiagnosed until puberty
- Klinefelter’s may show breast development, small testes, shorter than average penises, low testosterone
- Irregular hormone production that leads to stunted growth
Turner’s Syndrome (XO)
- Affecting 1 in 2500 females
- Missing second X
“monosomy”
Turner’s syndrome tend to be short, have underdeveloped breasts, and are infertile
- Missing second X
Sex Hormone Variations
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
- CAH individuals are exposed before birth to high levels of androgens produced by the adrenal glands Cause varying degrees of virilization in female genitals
- Condition may be diagnosed at puberty
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome
AIS individuals have an XY karyotype but develop a female phenotype
- Mutations in the androgen – receptor genes prevent the body tissue from masculinzing to some degree
- Complete androgen insensitivity (CAIS) have female
genitals and identify as heterosexual
Gender Development in childhood 3 processes
- Detecting gender
(recognizing differences between male and female)- Having Gender
Recognizing in oneself characteristics you share with either girls or boys - Doing gender
- Having Gender
Ruble et al, 2006
- Study that gave children pictures defying or showing stereotypical images (girl baking cookies, or girls playing with trucks)
Miller et al, 2009
described girls by looks ( pretty long hair) but boys by how they act and what they do
Martin & Ruble, 2004
- Children socialized with their own gender group may have stronger attitudes about gender differences (this process is also an example of “othering”)
Menarche
typicality one of the last developmental milestones for girls after body hair and breast development
Investment theory
1 egg/28 days vs. 200 million sperm/teaspoon
- biological impulses and understandings
WOMEN ARE PRECIOUS SINCE THEY PRODUCE ONLY ONE EGG
WHR- women
· 0.7- ration + waist over hips
Known to be most fertile women
Menstrual-cycle effects
· Women prefer more masculine features wile menstruating
Role of Pheromones
· More then smell
· Arm pits - sweat from gland doesn’t smell itself, its interaction with bacteria on the body)
Research may be stunted since we don’t want to smell more private parts LMAO
Sexual selection theory
· Survival of the fittest, outperform other individuals
· The way we must socially adapt makes us more appealing and will
Sociological perspectives
· Physical patterns of attraction are largely influenced bu evolving society
· Birds of a feather flock together- Homophily, social similarities, personal characteristics
· ‘Types’- social and personal similarities and age
Proximity
· Mere-repeated-exposure effect
· Repeated exposure can influence attraction
· Proximity makes it more likely that people will be repeatedly exposed to one another and thus develop an attraction
Reciprocity and uncertainty
· We tend to like people who like us
Exception when women might be more attracted to someone they are uncertain about
A rose by another name-2006, Gardwood
§ Rated as more beautiful when they had a common name
Koesterner research - DATING
· Men tend to list their height and women their weight
· Women tend to have more photographs
· Men are more likely to showcase and sell expressive traits as a selling point- kind, loving
· Women showcase- I’m level headed and down to earth
DSM
deviant sexual behaviour
Measuring sexual orientation
Asexuality
· Low sexual desire, not low sexual arousal
Around 1% of people indicated they have never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all.
Self-identification and identity disclosure
· Process of accepting oneself and a particular sexual identity label
· Considered necessary for emotional health in Canada and the US
The triangular theory of love
· Liking, companionate love, intimacy and commitment,
Why do we have sex?
· Pleasure
· Relationships
· Connection and intimacy
Orgasm
▪ Myotonia
▪ Muscle release
Oxytocin
▪ Releases from pituitary gland
▪ “love drug”
▪ Or “cuddle hormone”
▪ Releases during orgasm
· Dopamine
▪ Neurotransmitter
▪ Circuit controls body’s response to rewards
Influences incentive and drive (looks to repeat experience
25% rule
dating within 25% up or down of our league
TSS
Traditional “sexual scripts”: Blueprints for sexual conduct
Where do we get TSS from?
Indirect and direct messages • Social context • Media • Pornography - sexually arousing art, literature, or films • Sexually explicit material