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Psyc 474 > Oct 24 > Flashcards

Oct 24 Flashcards

1
Q

reasons for having sex

A

study of 44 Ps

“please list all the reasons you can think of why you, or someone you have known, has engaged in sex in the past”

237 distinct reasons

identified 4 broad themes with 13 subfactors

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2
Q

4 broad themes of reasons for having sex

A
  1. physical
  2. emotional
  3. goal attainment
  4. insecurity
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3
Q

physical: reasons for having sex

A

PPSE

  1. pleasure
    ie. “it feels good”
  2. physical desirability
    ie. “the person’s physical appearance turned me on”
  3. stress reduction
    ie. “I wanted to release tension”
  4. experience seeking
    ie. “I was curious about what the person was like in bed”
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4
Q

emotional: reasons for having sex

A
  1. love & commitment
    ie. “I wanted to intensify my relationship”
  2. expression
    ie. “I wanted to say thank you”
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5
Q

goal attainment: reasons for having sex

A

RRSU

  1. resources
    ie. “I wanted a promotion”
  2. revenge
    ie. “I was mad at my partner so I had sex with someone else”
  3. social status
    ie. “I wanted to impress friends”
  4. utilitarian
    ie. “I thought it would help me fall asleep”
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6
Q

insecurity: reasons for having sex

A
  1. self-esteem boost
    ie. “I wanted to feel attractive”
  2. duty or pressure
    ie. “I wanted them to stop bugging me about sex”
  3. mate guarding
    ie. “I didn’t want to lose them”
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7
Q

1 reason for having sex

A

“I was attracted to the person”

for both men and women

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8
Q

most frequently endorsed reasons for having sex

A

generally positive in nature

attraction, pleasure, affection, love, adventure, desire to please, opportunity, celebration

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9
Q

least frequently endorsed reasons for having sex

A

generally more negative in nature

retaliation, manipulation, desire to enhance one’s social status, desire to inflict harm

less frequent, but potentially extremely damaging

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10
Q

gender differences: reasons for having sex

A
  1. men report higher FREQUENCIES of individual items & sub-factors

a) including UTILITARIAN reasons - maybe contradicts stereotype that only women use sex to get what they want

  1. men endorse more reasons centering on physical appearance of partner, experience seeking, enhancement of social status
  2. men have stronger sex drives
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10
Q

gender similarities: reasons for having sex

A

& women remarkably similar in most frequently endorsed reasons

not a lot of evidence that women are more likely to endorse emotional reasons (contrary to stereotype)

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11
Q

men endorse more of which kinds of reasons for having sex?

A
  1. physical appearance of partner
  2. experience seeking
  3. enhancement of social status
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12
Q

gender sex drive gap gets bigger…

A

after having children and menopause

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13
Q

details: men’s higher sex drives

A
  1. more SPONTANEOUS THOUGHTS about sex
  2. greater VARIETY & FREQ of sexual FANTASIES
  3. greater DESIRED FREQ of SEX
  4. greater DESIRED # of PARTNERS
  5. more likely to succumb to SEXUAL TEMPTATION (mate poaching, infidelity)
  6. engage in more MASTURBATION & PORN
  7. hold more PERMISSIVE sex attitudes (except regarding same-sex behaviour)
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14
Q

evidence that women exhibit greater…

A

relational focus when it comes to sex

  1. women prefer sex within context of ongoing, committed relationships
  2. men express more desire for extradyadic sex
  3. women’s fantasies are more likely to include familiar partner, affection & commitment; men’s are more likely to include strangers & anonymous partners
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15
Q

although women have more of a relational focus when it comes to sex…

A

men are no less likely to engage in sex for emotional/affectional reasons

and they feel happier with their sexual experiences:
a) when they’re happy with their relationship
b) when their partner is enjoying themselves

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16
Q

sociosexual orientation

A

SOI

trait measure of individual differences in SEXUAL STRATEGIES

extent to which individuals are RESTRICTIVE or PERMISSIVE in their attitudes towards casual sex

ranges from low to high

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17
Q

low SOI (restricted)

A

tend toward LONG-TERM mating strategies

insist on commitment and closeness in relationship prior to having sex

fewer sexual partners & one night stands

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18
Q

high SOI (unrestricted)

A

tend toward SHORT-TERM mating strategies

feel comfortable with sex without commitment or closeness

more sexual partners & one-night stands

endorse MORE REASONS for having sex (with exception of love and commitment)

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19
Q

gender and SOI

A

on average, men are higher in SOI

but much more variability WITHIN each gender than between the genders

gender diffs account for only 9% of the variance in number of desired sex partners, 20% of variance in consenting to sex with attractive acquaintance, 25% of variance in casual sex

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20
Q

gender and SOI: variance percentages

A

gender diffs account for only:

a) 9% of the variance in number of desired sex partners

b) 20% of variance in consenting to sex with attractive acquaintance

c) 25% of variance in casual sex

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21
Q

gender and SOI: approx ___% of US men have LESS favourable attitudes towards casual sex than the ____ of US women

A

30%

median

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22
Q

evolutionary explanations for gender and SOI

A

recall that there’s asymmetry in MINIMAL PARENTAL INVESTMENT

women may increase reproductive success by being choosier, selecting mates that will provide resources, care & protection

men may increase reproductive fitness by pursuing MULTIPLE mating opportunities

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23
Q

social role theory and sex

A

traditional view of men as INITIATORS

and women as GATE KEEPERS

changing, but stigma against sexually permissive women still exists

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24
Q

social role theory: sexual double standard

A

harsher judgment of women (relative to men) for engaging in similar sexual activity

women socialized to RESTRICT feelings of sexual desire to context of committed intimate relationships

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25
Q

gender diffs in casual sex preferences: Clark & Hatfield study

A

secret filming experiment

male & female confederates approached students on campus

“would you go to bed with me?”

75% of men and 0% of women accepted the offer

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26
Q

gender diffs in casual sex preferences: a closer look

A

Ps asked to imagine that they were approached with an offer for casual sex

women LESS LIKELY to accept offer

women also anticipated that they’d be SEEN as MORE PROMISCUOUS, socially inappropriate, desperate & less intelligent if they accepted the offer

this PERCEIVED NEG STIGMA inhibited their receptiveness

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27
Q

mediator in gender diffs in casual sex prererences

A

perceived negative stigma

gender > perceived negative stigma > receptiveness to offers of casual sex

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28
Q

casual sex negative stigma - were the women right to expect negative judgment?

A
  1. Ps rated a women accepting offer of casual sex MORE NEGATIVELY than a man accepting the same offer

ie. as more promiscuous, less mentally healthy, less intelligent

  1. men were more concerned about what would happen if they REJECTED the offer

ie. viewed as less intelligent, less mentally healthy

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29
Q

gender diffs in causal sex: safety

A

women believe male proposer is more dangerous compared to how men view female proposer

bisexual women more likely to accept offer from a woman

gender gap decreases when proposed casual sex partner is familiar

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30
Q

gender diffs in causal sex: gender gap disappears when…

A

disappears when proposed casual sex partner is very ATTRACTIVE or believed to be SEXUALLY SKILLFUL

suggests that KEY CONSIDERATION is expectation of PLEASURE

concern not unwarranted - women orgasm 35% as often as men in first-time casual sex encounters

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31
Q

gender diffs in sexual behaviour: TAKEAWAY

A

when it comes to sexual behaviour & motivation, men & women DIFFER in MEANINGFUL, SUBSTANTIAL ways

but our REASONS for having sex are COMPLEX & MULTI-FACETED, likely reflect both BIOLOGICAL & EVOLUTIONARY and SOCIAL influences

32
Q

genders diffs: reasons for having sex…

A

are complex & multi-faceted

likely reflect both biological & evolutionary & social influences

33
Q

reasons for having sex are mostly driven by…

A

seeking of pleasure

insecurities

desire to connect

34
Q

for men and women, _____ & ______ _______ _______ often go hand in hand

A

sex & intimate romantic relationships

this too can be explained from an evolutionary perspective

35
Q

sexual behavioural system

A

innate - basic operation doesn’t rely on socialization

individual differences in sexual motives, emotions, behaviours reflect VARIATIONS IN FUNCTIONING of the system

36
Q

what’s the function of the sexual behavioural system? what about the proximal cause?

A

the function/evolutionary purpose is PASSING ON GENES TO NEXT GEN

proximal/immediate case isn’t necessarily the same as the evolutionary function

37
Q

is the sexual system separate from the attachment system?

A

yes

can ‘mate without bonding’ and ‘bond without mating’

38
Q

sex and attachment system: evolutionary view

A

big brains + bipedalism = serious adaptive problem

narrow hips to support walking on two legs = change of pelvis - but we have huge heads, which makes childbirth very dangerous

SOLUTION: softheaded, helpless babies, don’t come out fully cooked

NEW PROBLEM: how to keep softheaded, helpless babies alive?

SOLUTION: BI-PARENTAL CAREGIVING and BONDING between sexual partners

39
Q

solution to problem presented by big brains & bipedalism

A

bi-parental caregiving & bonding between sexual partners

40
Q

sex & attachment system can help us understand somewhat unique…

A

sexual tendencies of humans

  1. “missionary position” > promotes intimate FACE-TO-FACE contact
  2. sleeping together after sex
  3. sex throughout the menstrual cycle
41
Q

does activation of the sexual system promote relationship initiation and maintenance? study SETUP

A

showed participants either a sexy movie or a movie about cats

then paired them with another person (preferred sex, attractive, single)

asked to go through self-disclosure task

ie. tell an embarrassing personal story

42
Q

does activation of the sexual system promote relationship initiation and maintenance? study RESULTS

A

more intimate self-disclosure to potential partner after watching erotic video

subsequent study: also more responsive towards a partner discussing an interpersonal dilemma

43
Q

sexual system and attachment activation TAKEAWAY

A

activation of sexual system promotes self-disclosure & responsiveness

which play key role in development of intimacy

44
Q

strengthening ongoing relationships: when subliminally primed with erotic cues…

A
  1. more willingness to SACRIFICE for one’s partner
  2. more preference for using POSITIVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION strategies
  3. more desire to do smtg to MAKE PARTNER HAPPY
45
Q

relationship stage model of sexual desire

A
  1. across diff relationship stages, SEXUAL DESIRE MOTIVATES expenditure of effort towards deepening & maintaining the relationship

a) may be particularly potent in EARLY STAGES

b) but serves PROTECTIVE ROLE whenever there’s ADVERSITY or VULNERABILITY

  1. sexual desire also makes it hard to DETACH if relationship is terminated

ie. can still feel sexual desire for old partner

46
Q

relationship stage model: compensating for relationship vulnerabilities

A

model predicts that sexual desire may be especially important to relationship persistence for couples facing DIFF TYPES OF VULNERABILITY in relationship

ie. NEUROTICISM, ATTACHMENT INSECURITY

^generally linked to more negative interpersonal perceptions & experiences, lower relationship satisfaction, greater divorce likelihood

while related to lower marital satisfaction on average, UNRELATED when couples engage in FREQUENT SEX

47
Q

what buffers against neg relationship effects caused by neuroticism and attachment insecurity?

A

frequent sex

48
Q

make up sex

A

why does romantic conflict sometimes INCREASE sexual desire?

relationship threat > attachment system activation > seeking reassurance & closeness

49
Q

relationship threat prime…

A

ie. thinking of partner falling in love with someone else

INCREASES INTEREST in sex with partner

50
Q

make up sex caveats

A
  1. there are INDIVIDUAL DIFFS

ie. avoidantly attached individuals are LESS LIKELY to desire partner following threat

  1. more effective when conflict is SUCCESSFULLY RRESOLVED
  2. consistent conflict & feelings of threat/insecurity can damage relationship over time
51
Q

sexual satisfaction

A

evaluation of the quality of the sexual aspect of an intimate relationship

ie. my sex is fulfilling
ie. my partner really pleases me sexually
ie. I’m satisfied with our sexual relationship

52
Q

sexual satisfaction is consistently associated with…

A

overall relationship satisfaction

in both:

a) dating and married couples

b) same-sex and diff sex couples

c) young and old couples

53
Q

sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction directionality? LONGITUDINAL STUDY

A

McNulty et al

BIDIRECTIONAL association during the FIRST FEW YEARS of marriage

  • relationship satisfaction > less decline in sexual satisfaction
  • sexual satisfaction > less decline in relationship satisfaction

true for men and women

54
Q

sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction directionality? LONGITUDINAL STUDY - longer term couples..

A

longer term couples - sexual satisfaction is associated with changes in relationship satisfaction

but NOT THE REVERSE

path between T1 relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction at T2 wasn’t found in long term couples

55
Q

more sex = more happiness?

A

couples who have sex more frequently…

  1. are more SATISFIED with their relationships
  2. are HAPPIER with their lives overall

sex rated as the daily activity associated with the MOST POSITIVE AFFECT

56
Q

more sex = more happiness? correlational research…

A

can’t establish directionality or causality (can’t rule out third factor)

57
Q

more sex = more happiness? experimental research

A

experimental manipulation: asked half of Ps to DOUBLE their sex frequency

increasing sex frequency DIDN’T increase their happiness

instead, led to LESS DESIRE & LOWER ENJOYMENT of sex

58
Q

more sex = more happiness? perhaps there’s a…

A

point beyond which more sex doesn’t lead to more satisfaction

59
Q

point beyond which more sex doesn’t lead to more satisfaction STUDY

A

30 645 participants

sexual frequency only matters for wellbeing for PEOPLE IN RELATIONSHIPS

found a CURIVILINEAR effect of sexual frequency on life satisfaction

life satisfaction LEVELS OFF at around ONCE A WEEK

60
Q

sexual frequency only matters for wellbeing for…

A

people in relationships

61
Q

financial value of the happiness boost resulting from increasing frequency of sex from once a month to once a week

A

$50 000 USD in 2004

$100 000 in CAD today

62
Q

for people in romantic relationships, sexual frequency no longer associated with wellbeing at a frequency greater than…

A

once a week

in Loewenstein et al study, couples were already having sex about once a week at baseline

63
Q

Muise et al - effect of sexual frequency on wellbeing mediated by…

A

relationship satisfaction

sexual frequency > relationship satisfaction > wellbeing

part of pleasure of sex derives from STRENGTHENING THE INTIMATE BOND, and that doesn’t rely on daily sexual activity

64
Q

sexual afterglow - daily diary study

A

daily diary study with a 4-6 month follow up

following sex, couples experienced LINGERING BOOST in sexual satisfaction that lasts ~48 hours

higher levels of sexual afterglow predicts relationship satisfaction over time

possible that “feel good” neuro-chemicals released during sex that keep us bonded to our partners take a while to dissipate

65
Q

from evolutionary perspective, too-frequent sex may…

A

be sub-optimal

  1. DEPLETES RESOURCES required for other life-sustaining activities
  2. SPERM CONCENTRATIONS decrease with successive ejaculations
  3. risk of DISPLACING OWN SPERM
66
Q

reasons for having sex and self-determination theory

A

reasons WHY we have sex also impact our satisfaction & wellbeing

self-determination theory: we’re happiest when engaging in activities that meet needs for…

1) COMPETENCE - feel confident & capable
2) AUTONOMY - feel that we can choose & control our own actions
3) RELATEDNESS - feel close to others

fulfilment of all 3 needs UNIQUELY PREDICTS sexual & relationship satisfaction

67
Q

self-determination theory: we’re happiest when engaging in activities that meet needs for…

A
  1. AUTONOMY
    - feel that we can CHOOSE & CONTROL our own actions
  2. RELATEDNESS
    - feel CLOSE to OTHERS
  3. COMPETENCE
    - feel CONFIDENT & CAPABLE
68
Q

social determination theory makes distinction between what kinds of motivation?

A

AUTONOMOUS and CONTROLLED

when behaving AUTONOMOUSLY, we’re doing something we GENUINELY WANT to do

not something we’re pressured to do

69
Q

sex is more enjoyable when pursued for _________ reasons

A

autonomous

a) because it feels good

b) because we enjoy the intimacy it brings

c) because it’s seen as valuable part of relationship

70
Q

controlled reasons for having sex

A

ie. feel pressured to

ie. feel it would be embarrassing to refuse

71
Q

approach versus avoidance motives for having sex

A
  1. approach: motivation to approach REWARDING OUTCOMES

ie. experiencing pleasure, fostering intimacy, pleasing partner

  1. avoidance: motivation to avoid NEGATIVE OUTCOMES

ie. escaping conflict, preventing partner’s loss of interest

72
Q

having sex for approach reasons…

A

linked with more POSITIVE EMOTIONAL & RELATIONSHIP OUTCOMES

for both SELF and PARTNER

while having sex for avoidance reasons linked with more negative emotional & relationship outcomes for both self & partner

73
Q

can encourage people to foster sexual approach motivations

A

half of Ps received info about benefits of approach goals

instructed to focus on approach goals over the next week

one week later, reported having more satisfying sexual experiences and greater relationship satisfaction

74
Q

“sexpectations”

A

extends to lay beliefs about how sexual satisfaction can be attained & maintained over time

  1. sexual GROWTH BELIEFS
  2. sexual DESTINY BELIEFS
75
Q

sexual growth beliefs

A

sexual satisfaction requires EFFORT & WORK

76
Q

sexual destiny beliefs

A

natural compatibility between partners is key to sexual satisfaction

struggles in a sexual relationship are a sure sign that relationship will fail

a couple is destined to have a satisfying sex life or they are not

77
Q

sexual growth beliefs associated with…

A

higher levels of sexual & relationship satisfaction for both self and partner

true even when undergoing major transition like birth of child

78
Q

impacts of sexual destiny beliefs on relationship quality depends on…

A

degree of sexual disagreements in relationship

lower relationship quality when experiencing disagreements about sexual relationship (esp if you have destiny beliefs)

but good news is that sexual beliefs are malleable

Psyc 474 (23 decks)

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