Module 16 - human sexuality

Question 1

testosterone

Answer 1

• main male sex hormone
• found in both males and females, but much higher in males
• stimulates growth of the male sex organs during fetal period
• development of male sex characteristics during puberty

Question 2

estrogens

Answer 2

• found in both males and females but much higher in females
• contributes to female sex organs during fetal period
• development of female sex characteristics during puberty
• peak during ovulation

Question 3

sexual response cycle (steps and people who came up with it)

Answer 3

William Masters and Virginia Johnson (1966)
- excitement
- plateau
- orgasm
- resolution (followed by refractory period)

Question 4

sexual dysfunction

Answer 4

• consistent impairment of sexual arousal or functioning causing distress
  can include:
• erectile disorder
• premature ejaculation
• inability to orgasm
• lack of interest/arousal
  typically more psychological than psychological

Question 5

sexual orientation (percentages)

Answer 5

Question 5

paraphilia

Answer 5

• unusual sexual interest that causes distress for the person or causes harm to self/others
• ex: pedophilia

Question 6

evidence for genetic influence on sexual orientation

Answer 6

• identical twins are more likely to have the same sexual orientation
• single gene in fruit flies determines sexual orientation
• no single “gay gene” in humans, but still evidence that it could be genetic

Question 7

prenatal influence of sexual orientation

Answer 7

atypical hormone exposure at particular point in development may lead to develop more typical of the other sex in some particular way (ex: sexuality)

Question 8

parenting and sexual orientation

Answer 8

• there is no evidence that how you are raised affects your sexual orientation

Question 9

subtle gay/straight brain differences

Answer 9

• part of the hypothalamus in gay men resembles that in straight women more than that of straight men
• on average, gay people perform between straight men and straight women on certain cognitive tasks
  
  • EX: visual rotation

Question 10

men vs. women on causal sex

Answer 10

• across cultures, men are more interested in casual sex
• likely evolutionary
  
  • higher cost of mating for females
  • females can only reproduce about once per year at most
  • more important to find best mate than maximizing
• not all men are more promiscuous (mostly the same genes)

Question 11

attractiveness

Answer 11

Question 12

sexual selection

Answer 12

• type of natural selection
• certain traits are more attractive to potential reproductive partners and thus lasting in the gene pool