Sexology College 1 (Introduction) Flashcards
sex
social construct: exists by the virtue of social agreement, and there’s room for interpretation
- WHO: sex = “the sex act”
sex as gender
female: XX, male XY, intersex XXY
sexuality
sexual feelings, thoughts, attractions and behaviors towards others, ourselves, objects…
sexual behaviors
behaviors that produce arousal and increase the chance of an orgams OR any action leading to sexual reward
sexual identity
how one defines themselves with regard to sexual/romantic interests
sexual orientation
what one actually does and likes, not what one says
sexual health
ability to sexually adapt and self-manage in the face of life’s physical, psychological and social challenges
sexual rights
basic inalienable rights regarding sexuality
- right to reproductive self-determination, sexual self-expression and freedom from sexual violence
sexual well-being
comfort, pleasure, and satisfaction with one’s sex life and absence of shame/guilt; connection and intimacy with sexual partner(s)
why sex?
- we think about it a lot every day
- offspring/progeny (nakomelingen) -> genetic variation
- bonding (not just the act, also raising children together)
- pleasure
- money/business/power
- physical exercise, self-esteem, good against boredom
Incentive motivation model (Agmo & Laan, 2023; Beach, 1956)
sexual motivation = the intensity of approach to a sexual partner
1) incentive stimulus
2) representation <–
3) central motive state
4) approach behavior and sexual arousal
5) transition to sex act
6) sex act
7) after effects
1) incentive stimulus
any stimulus that activates the sexual central motive system
2) representation <–
representation of the incentive stimulus you have in your head
3) central motive state
do you feel motivated for sexual behavior?
- affects representation <–
4) approach behavior and sexual arousal
behavior to approach the sexual stimulus, and being sexually aroused (viscerosomatic reponses)
- affects central motive state
6) sex act
affects central motive state and representation <–
7) after effects
can be positive or negative; affects representation of incentive stimulus
alliesthesia
the perception of the stimulus depends on the internal state or condition (if you ate a lot, a cookie has less incentive value)
viscerosomatic reponses
initiated by the internal organs (blood to genitals)
sexual arousal VS. sexual excitement
excitement denotes (indicates) the awareness of arousal
excitement = more physiological
sexual arousal VS. sexual motivation
motivation denotes a more long-term psychological construct; an internal drive to have sex
conclusion
excitement and motivation are more internally and cognitive driven processes
sexual arousal = requirement for orgasm, excitement and motivation aren’t
female sexual arousal/desire disorder
1) tendency of the CENTRAL MOTIVE STATE to be low (low arousal in general)
2) REPRESENTATION of what was once rewarding, isn’t rewarding anymore (being with a partner too long)
3) APPROACH BEHAVIOR: insecurity, low-esteem
4) SEX ACT/AFTER EFFECTS can be negative
male hypoactive sexual desire
barely exists; when it does, it almost always has to do with a specific stimulus
