Human Sexual Behaviour Flashcards
What are norms, social norms, and sexual norms
norms: standards of conduct in society
social norms: standards of social conduct
sexual norms: standards of sexual conduct
What are sexual scripts?
They are social learned sequences of behaviour/reasons that lead up to/are part of sexual events
“idealizing sexual scripts that do not include safe sex can be dangerous”
What do history, religion, and culture have in common when it comes to sex?
There is always some attempt at controlling sexuality and sexual behaviour through these factors.
What is a possible reasons that sexual norms have changed in the past few decades?
The creation of birth control in the 60s, which allowed for greater pursuit of sexual pleasure without the fear of pregnancy
What were some major differences between Canadian settlers and the Aboriginal people?
Their family structure
They were matrilineal
They had 3 or 4 genders, two-spirited people who have both masculine and feminine spirits
How did Canadian settlers destroy Aboriginal culture?
The fur trade
Forcing them to convert to Christianity
Putting them in residential schools
What are three ways in which media influences people?
Cultivation
Agenda-setting
Social learning
What is sexual health and what must be done for sexual health to be attained?
Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being related to sexuality.
To be attained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected, and fulfilled
What is Classical Conditioning? What is an example of this?
Process where unconditioned stimulus is paired with conditioned stimulus repeatedly until a conditioned response occurs.
Pairing touching genitals and R&B music together which causes sexual arousal to occur right when you hear R&B.
What is Operant Conditioning? What is an example of this?
Individual’s behaviour is modified based on whether the behaviour is rewarded or punished.
condom leads to orgasm operant increases
penetrative sex hurts operant decreases
What are the parts and phases of Psychodynamic Theory?
id, ego, superego
oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital
What is Social Learning Theory?
Observational learning and imitation
What is Social Exchange Theory?
That interpersonal relationships operate on cost/losses and rewards/gains systems
What are cognitive theories?
They understand human behaviour by focusing on thought processes
For example how anxiety and distress effect erectile dysfunction
What is Genetic theory?
It explains how genetics play a large part in regulating hormone production, reproductive cycles, ovulation, ejaculation, conception, and pregnancy
For example, erectile dysfunction can be caused due to genetic factors
What is Sociobiological Theory?
It involves the application of evolutionary theories to understand emotional and psychological processes
Birds have coloured feathers to attract mates
What is Sexual Strategies Theory?
Human mating behaviours are strategies that have evolved to solve mating problems faced by ancestors
Discuss the differences between males and females in regards to Sexual Strategies Theory.
Males invest different amounts of time and energy in reproducing as they have many attempts to reproduce so they can decide how much they will attempt and how much they will invest in the offspring.
Females only have a few attempts to reproduce so more investment.
What is Sexual Script Theory? What are the levels that scripts exist in?
Based on societal beliefs and values, there are specific scripts that people consider appropriate for particular situations
Cultural
Intrapsychic
Interpersonal
They exist for who, what, where, when , why, how
Feminist and Queer Theory
you got this
What homologous organs?
organs that develop from the same embryonic tissue
What are analogous organ?
organs that have similar function
What are the exterior parts of the female reproductive system?
mons pubis clitoris labia majora labia minora urethral opening vaginal opening hymen clitoral hood bartholin glands fourchette perineum anus
what are the interior parts of the female reproductive system?
vagina cervix uterus ovaries fallopian tubes batholin glands vestibular bulbs skene's gland clitoral glans shaft crus of clitoris corpus cavernosum layers of uterus: fundus of uterus infundibulum fimbriae broad ligament ovarian ligament parts of fallopian tube: isthmus, ampulla cervical canal
What are the exterior parts of male anatomy?
penis
scrotum
What are the interior parts of male anatomy minus inside testes?
testes vas deferens seminal vesicles prostate cowper's glans corpus cavernosum corpus spongiosum spematic cord semniferous tubules epididymis (head, body, tail) corona glans spermatic cord
What are the interior parts of the testes?
vas deferens epididymis rete testes septum interstitial cells seminiferous tubule
What are the structures of the breasts?
mammary gland lactiferous duct lactiferous sinus nipple areola cooper's ligaments fat
mons pubis
you know
clitoris
especially sensitive organ
glans
seen under clitoral hood when retracted
small knob of tissue
corpus cavernosum
erectile tissue fill with blood when sexually aroused
crus
v-shape part of internal clitoris
bartholin glans
inside labia minora might help with lubrication
fourchette
bottom of vaginal opening
perineum
area between vulva and anus
vestibular bulb
interior bulbs of clit-either side of vaginal opening
fill with blood during sexual arousal
what are the layers of the vagina?
vaginal mucosa
muscular middle layer
fibrous tissue
skene’s gland
front wall of vagina, lower end of urethra
ducts empty into urethra
contribute to g-spot sensitivity
What are the layers of the uterus?
1) endometrium: outermost layer, hormone secreting glands and blood vessels, sheds during menturation
2) myometrium: muscular, allows stretching for fetus
3) permetrium: thin smooth membrane
ovaries
produces estrogen and progestins
produces eggs/ova
spematic cord
suspends each teste
seminiferous tubules
within testes, long, thing, coiled tubes
involved in sperm production
epididymis
c-shaped, narrow coiled tube structure covering part of each testes,
head, body, and tail
vas deferens
part of spermatic cord
carries sperm to prostate gland
seminal vesicles
tubular glans next to prostate near end of vas deferens
secrete sugary alkaline fluid that makes up 70% of ejaculate
prostate
secretes fluid for safe environment for sperm
cowper’s gland
each side of urethra, secrete pre-cum
What is the sexual response cycle?
the sequence of events that occur when a person becomes sexually aroused and engages in sexually stimulating activities
Discuss Masters & Johnson
The first systematic, large scale study of human sexual response in the late 1950s. It was innovative because it enabled researchers to be able to MEASURE sexual response through their empirical approach.
Masters & Johnson phases of the sexual response cycle
excitement
plateau
orgasm
resolution
Vasocongestion
The dilation of blood vessels in a region that causes a lot of blood to flow into it leading to swelling or engorgement. It is responsible for sexual arousal in the genitals.
Myotonia
The muscle contraction in genital and non-genital areas during sexual arousal.
What does psychophysiological mean as it refers to the SR cycle?
All aspects of the SR cycle interact between higher mental processes and physiological responses.
Mental processes or physiological responses can trigger the SR cycle. (sexual fantasy vs touching genitals)
What is reflexogenic response?
Aspects of sexual arousal that occur in an automatic “knee-jerk” like manner (brain not involved)
What are the 3 cells/organs involved in reflexogenic response?
receptors
transmitters
effectors
receptors
sensory cells and neurones (penis, clit)
transmitters
cells that bring signals into spinal cord or brain and interpret/produce the appropriate response
effectors
the organs that respond to stimulation (penis)
Name and explain 2 types of reflexogenic response in the SR cycle
Erection: the sacral region of the spinal cord sends the response
Ejaculation: the lumbar regions of the spinal cord sends the response
What is psychogenetic repsonse?
Aspects of sexual arousal that are psychological in origin. The stimuli is processed by a higher level brain centre. These responses can enhance or interfere with refexogenic response.
How is the parasympathetic nervous system involved in the SR cycle?
It has to do with relaxation so it causes vasocongestion which leads to responses like erection
How is the sympathetic nervous system involved in the SR cycle?
It has to do with activation so it causes myotonia which leads to responses like ejaculation
Males-Excitement
smooth muscles around penis relax allowing for vasocongetion
skin of scrotum tenses and thickens causing testes elevate
corpus cavernosa fill with blood become firm
corpus spongiosum fill with blood but are not as firm
nipple erection
heart rate and blood pressure increase
Female-Excitement
capillaries in vaginal wall dilate causing lubrication due to vasocongestion
glans, crura, vestibular walls of clit swell
labia majora separate
labia minora swell and darken
uterus and cervix elevate to allow vagina walls to expand to prepare for penis
Male-Plateau
everything in excitement phase continues
glans penis deepen in colour
testes increase in size and come close to the body preparing for ejaculation due to myotonia
prostate enlarges
cowper’s gland releases pre-cum
heart rate and blood pressure continues to increase
Female-Plateau
everything in excitement phase continues
clit retracts because it’s getting very sensitive
uterus, cervix, vaginal canal form orgasmic platform (swelling and tightening)
breasts enlarge, nipples retract
Male-Orgasm
occurs in 2 stage
1) omission
men start to feel like they will cum
testicles, vas deferens, seminal vesicles all contract which allows for semen to move through them
prostate contracts and adds fluis to semes
internal sphincter and bladder contracts
anal sphincter contracts
2) expulsion
urethral penile contracts shoot ejaculate out
Obviously spike in pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate
Female-Orgasm
Uterus, orgasmic platform, anal sphincter, and other muscles in body contract
The sensation usually starts in the clit then spreads to pelvis then throughout the body
Obviously spike in pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate
At what interval do orgasmic contractions occur?
0.8 second intervals for males and females
Male-Resolution
Literally just the opposite of everything
Enter refractor period which coincides with EJACULATION not orgasm
Will always happen even if no orgasm
Female-Resolution
Literally just the opposite of everything
No refractory period so more chance of multiple orgasm
Takes 15 min if you orgasm or an hour if you don’t
What are some critiques of Masters & Johnson’s model?
It doesn’t capture how everyone orgasms; men could have multiple orgasms and they do not have to ejaculate to orgasm
It describes individually separate and discrete stages but the SR cycle is not so linear
Focuses on orgasm as the end-point goal
Only represents normal functioning
No recognition of context
What happens to sexual response when one gets older?
Resolution is faster and the degree of vasocongestion decreases
What was Kaplan’s main critique of Master’s and Johnson’s model?
It did not include DESIRE which is the psychological process that doesn’t involve genitals and that plays a main role in sexual response
Three stages of Kaplan’s model
Desire: psychological doesn’t involve genitals
Excitement: similar but focuses on connection to parasympathetic nervous system
Orgasm: controlled by sympathetic
acknowledges interruptions in the phases and is not linear
Bason’s model
It’s the circle
Can start anywhere
People may engage in sexual activity for non-sexual or sexually neutral reason like to feel emotionally closer to their partner
What are hormones?
Chemicals made and secreted by endocrine glands into the bloodstream that effect organs of the body
what are the main structures of the endocrine system in sex hormone regulation?
Hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland
Gonads
Adrenal Glands
What does the hypothalamus do?
It connects the nervous system and endocrine system through the pituitary gland.
It releases GnRH which activates the hormonal production of the pituitary gland
The 4 F’s
What does the Pituitary Gland do?
It is the master gland
Releases FSH: stimulates growth of ovarian follicles or sperm production
Releases LH: stimulates production of estrogen or testosterone
Releases Oxytocin: affects boding, beast feeding, orgasm, etc
Releases Vasopressin: increases blood flow to areas, connected to rewards system
Releases Prolactin: associated with reproductive processes, production of milk
What do the gonads do?
Releases Estrogen and Progesterone from ovaries OR Releases androgens (Testosterone) from testes
What does organizing mean as it refers to hormones?
Whenever the presence of a hormone is making a fairly permanent change
What is happening at around the 7th week of embryo development?
The embryo is undifferentiated and has the potential to develop into either a male or female fetus.
The embryo has both Mullerian and Wollffian ducts.
The genital tubercle is present which causes genital swelling
The urethral folds are also present which either turn into the labia minora or the shaft of the penis
Which gene determines the type of gonad-differentiating genes that will be expressed and where is it usually found?
The SRY gene, it is found on the Y chromosome
What happens if SRY is present?
It will activate the TDF and the indifferent gonads will develop into testes
The testes will then secrete testosterone which supports the Wolffian ducts to grow and Anti-Mullerian hormone which causes the Mullerian ducts to degenerate
What happens is SRY is NOT present?
The default process will activate Ovary-Determining Genes causing the indifferent gonads to develop into ovaries
The Wolffian duct degenerate
The ovaries will secrete Mullerian-Inhibiting Substance that causes the Mullerian ducts to deelp into the fallopian tubes, uterus, and upper part of vagina
What are the phases of the menstrual cycle?
1) follicular
2) ovulation
3) luteal
4) menstruation
What triggers the shift in menstrual cycle phases?
Fluctuations in FSH, LH, Estrogen
What is Dysmennorrhea and what is it caused by?
It painful menstruation caused by hormones called prostaglandins that cause smooth muscles to retract in the uterus
What are the phases of sexual differentiation?
1) prenatal
2) puberty
3) older adulthood
What is perimenopause?
the years prior to menopause where hormonal levels are fluctuating/declining and women’s bodies are becoming reproductively incapable
What is Andropause?
The gradual decrease in androgen and sperm production in men over time
