Sexual/Affectional Orientations and Diversity (Ch. 11) Flashcards
Affectional Orientation
The interaction between affect and cognition such
that it produces attraction, erotic desire, and ultimately feelings of love for members of the other sex, the same sex, or both.
More inclusive term for sexual orientation that doesn’t reduce orientation to sexual aspects.
“preferred term”
Kinsey Scale
-operational definitions of sexual orientation that range from exclusively hetero-
sexual (a score of 0) to exclusively homosexual (a score of 6).
-placement on the scale is determined
primarily by self-reported sexual behaviour and secondarily by self-reported sexual desires and
attractions.
Klein Sexual Orientation Grid
measures of seven components:
sexual attraction,
sexual behaviour,
sexual fantasies,
emotional preference,
social preference,
self-identification, and
heterosexual/homosexual lifestyle.
Each component is assigned a number from 1 (other sex only) to 7 (same-sex only) in terms of past, present (over the previous 12 months), and self-defined “ideal” circumstances.
Alderson Sexuality Questionaire
measure affectional orientation on two separate scales: one that measures interest in males and one that measures interest in females.
measures affectional orientation using 6 components:
Sexual attraction
Sexual fantasies
Sexual preference
Tendency to fall in love romantically
Tendency to be in love romantically
Extent to which one has male/and or female partners
Queer Identity
An identity status that is
intended not to label one’s
sexuality.
Asexuality
An identity label acknowledging that a person perceives little or no interest in engaging sexually with others.
- The primary feature of asexual identity is their low sexual desire
- 0.4% of people in Greaves et al. study of 12000 new zealanders were asexual
- More typically women
- Often defined as low levels of sexual attraction, lack of interest in sexual behaviour, lack of sexual orientation and/or lack of sexual excitation
- Brotto et al. found that genital and subjective arousal did not differ across asexual, bisexual, same-gender/sex oriented, or heterosexual people
- Further, genital and subjective measures of arousal were of higher concordance for asexual individuals
Conversion Therapy
the process aimed at changing an individual’s same-gender/sex or bisexual orientations into a heterosexual orientation.
- It has ignored the affectional component of orientation
Sexual and Gender Diversity-affirmative therapy
Therapy directed at helping LGBTQ+ individuals
view their sexual/ affectional orientation, sexual identity, and/or gender identity in a positive light.
Cass’s six stages of gay/lesbian identity development
Identity Confusion: The individual labels some of his or her thoughts, emotions, and/or behaviours as
homosexual, which creates a deeper question of whether the person should identify
as gay or lesbian.
Identity Comparison: The tentative acceptance of a potential gay or lesbian identity occurs, which leads to
comparing oneself to others and assessing the implications underlying this potential identity.
Identity Tolerance: The individual moves closer to identifying as a gay or lesbian person, expressed in the
statement, “Il probably am a gay or lesbian person.” The individual begins to seek out the
company of other gay or lesbian individuals and their subculture.
Identity Acceptance: The individual accepts a gay or lesbian identity instead of merely tolerating and
exploring it.
Identity Pride: The individual is absorbed into the gay and lesbian community, spending most of his or
her time with people in this community, and develops a certain distrust of heterosexual people.
Identity Synthesis: the individual’s gay or lesbian identity becomes integrated with his or her other
identities. It no longer rules the person’s interactions with others.
Person-centred Orientation
Way of thinking and acting that focuses on the needs and preferences of an individual, recognizing that people are the experts in their own lives and should be treated with dignity and respect
