Module 38 - Sexual Motivation and the Need to Belong

Question 1

Sexual Response Cycle (4 stages)

Answer 1

1. Excitement
2. Plateau
3. Orgasm
4. Resolution

Question 2

Excitement

Answer 2

Blood pressure and heart rate begin to rise; increase blood flow to sex organs (sympathetic)

Question 3

Plateau

Answer 3

Increase respiratory and heart rate; orgasm immanent

Question 4

Orgasm

Answer 4

Muscle contractions throughout body; in female, increases chances of conception (position uterus to draw sperm inward); subjective experience of men and women reported as same (parasympathetic)

Question 5

Resolution

Answer 5

Male refractory phase (not as long for women)

Question 6

Hormones and Sexual Behaviour - Direct

Answer 6

Physical development of male and female physical sex characteristics (brain circuits)

Question 7

Activate Sexual Behaviours (in animals)

Answer 7

Female: rodents receptivity coincides with ovulation; timed injections of progesterone and estrogen induce sexual receptivity
Male: testosterone levels are more constant; castration leads to gradual loss of interest in receptive females

Question 8

Human Sexual Behaviours

Answer 8

Hormones not a powerful an influence; increase sex drive in women around ovulation

Question 9

Psychology of Sex

Answer 9

• if you don’t have you won’t die
• sex is not a need
• sexual motivation greatly influenced by external factors
  1. exposeure to erotic material(arousal in men/women)
  2. Harmful Effects
  3. Imagination

Question 10

Harmful Effects

Answer 10

Devalues one’s own relationship; dissatisfaction with partner, partner viewed as less attractive

Question 11

Imagination

Answer 11

Sexual desire arises arises in the brain; spinal cord injury (no genital sensation) still report sexual desires; during REM experience genital arousal in men

Question 12

Sexual Attraction

Answer 12

• 97% attracted to opposite sex

- gay is in animals as well

Question 13

Fraternal Birth - Order Effect

Answer 13

• increase it of homosexuality in men with older brothers, only in right handed men
• may be caused by mothers change in immune system in response in uterus (biological theory)

Question 14

LeVay (The Brain and Sexual Orientation)

Answer 14

• examined post-mortem brains of homo’s men and heterosexual men and women
• hypothalamus area was larger in heterosexual men than homo men and women

Question 15

Genes and Sexual Orientation

Answer 15

• homo’s run in families
• male identical twins are more similar than females
• homo is more likely to occur on mom’s side of fan
• more likely to have more children

Question 16

Taken Together (Genes and Sexual Orientation)

Answer 16

Genes in mother that make them strongly attracted to men may be passed on to males and nephews (creating attraction to men)

Question 17

Fruit Flies

Answer 17

Single genes changes orientation of male from pursuing females to males

Question 18

Prenatal Hormones

Answer 18

• increase number’s in fraternal twins and identical suggest pre-natal effect (common womb environment)
• testosterone injections during fetal development increase male like behaviour in female sheep
• stress hormones also possible
• several characteristics of homosexual men and women are intermediate to typical male and female pattern

Question 19

Sex and Human Values

Answer 19

• importance of intimacy and sex
• sex is a socially significant act
• ppl report greater satisfaction after intercourse and orgasm with their loved one
• sexual motivation involves a yearning for closeness with another
• sex at its human best is life - uniting and love renewing

Question 20

Aiding Survival

Answer 20

People with close social support are;

• happier
• healthier
• low risks for disorders and premature death

Question 21

Wanting to Belong

Answer 21

• most people spend much time thinking about actual or hoped relationships
• we strive for acceptance and inclusion (don’t like rejection)
• self-esteem is enhanced when we feel valued and accepted

Question 22

Sustaining Relationships

Answer 22

• naturally form relationships with people we meet
• feel the need to contact people when a part
• strong attachments can even keep people in an abusive relationship
• people suffer, even after bad relationships are broken
• negative emotions; anxiety, guilt, jealousy, emptiness follow broken relationship

Question 23

Social Exclusion

Answer 23

Used throughout history to punish

• in many form; ignore, snub, talk behind back, exile, imprisonment, solitary confinement
• threatens your need to belong
• leads to depression, attempts to restore acceptance, then withdrawal