Module 2: Sex Research and Theory Flashcards
define scientific research
- approach used by researchers to acquire to knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest
why are people who study human sexuality sometimes subjected to ridicule or sarcasm
human sexuality is a topic that many consider to be taboo
what dimensions of health does human sexuality include
- all dimensions of health
- physical, social, emotional, intellectual, etc.
are people generally honest in human sexuality surveys
people are generally honest if the survey is confidential
list two professional organizations that study human sexuality
- the society for the scientific study of sexuality
- the kinsey institute for sex research
what university is the kinsey institute for sex research apart of
indiana university
what are the three theories of sexuality
- biological
- psychological
- sociological
define biological theories of sexuality
- focused on the physical aspects of sexuality
- includes both physiological and evolutionary theories
describe the physiological theory of sexuality
- biological
- explains how physiological processes affect and are affected by sexual behavior
- physical effects of attraction/orgasm, sexual response
describe the evolutionary theory of sexuality
- biological
- explains human sexual behavior on the basis of human evolution
- Darwinism: selecting mates with the best characteristics to pass down
describe the features that women are attracted to in a man based on the evolutionary theory of sexuality
- attributes that show that a partner can provide and protect
- height, muscles
describe the features that men are attracted to in a woman based on the evolutionary theory of sexuality
- attributes that show a partner can take care of a home and have children
- breasts, broad hips
define psychological theories of sexuality
- account for the influence of personality, learning, thoughts, and emotions on human sexuality
- includes psychoanalytic theory and classical conditioning
describe the psychoanalytic theory of sexuality
- psychological
- emphasizes the role of unconscious processes in our lives
- id, ego, superego
describe the terms id, ego, and superego
- id: pleasure seeking and basic needs (food, water, shelter, sex)
- ego: conscious thought, keeps id in check, holds personal values
- superego: conscience, supplies guilt when the id wins over the ego
who developed the ideas of the id, ego, and superego
Sigmund Freud
what human drive did Sigmund Freud think was most important
libido
describe classical conditioning
- a process where a stimulus and a response that are not originally linked become connected
- Pavlov’s dogs
what can be used to understand fetishes
classical conditioning
define operant conidtioning
rewarding someone for performing a good behavior
define sociological theories of sexuality
- explain how society and social groups affect and are affected by sexual attitudes and behaviors
- includes symbolic interaction theory
describe the symbolic interaction theory of sexuality
- sociological
- explains how meanings, labels, and definitions that are learned through interactions affect our attitudes, self-concept, and behavior
- creating social scripts
give examples of societal expectations
- how women/men should behave (social scripts)
- beauty standards
- trends
do all societies have the same societal expectations
- no
- different cultures have different beliefs
define social scripts
how we should/are expected to act around others based on societal expectations
what are the general social scripts for men and women
- men: aggressive/assertive, less emotional
- women: emotional, passive
list the steps of conducting sex research
- identify a question or concern about a particular human or social issue (topic of interest)
- review the literature and discover what other researchers have already learned about that issue
- formulate a hypothesis and operationalize definitions
- collect data
- draw conclusions based on results