Sexual Arousal I and II

Question 1

Who proposed the four phase model of sexual arousal?

Answer 1

Masters and Johnson

Question 2

What are the four phases of the four phase model?

Answer 2

• Excitement - Plateau - Orgasm - Resolution

Question 3

How does the four phase model differ between men and women?

Answer 3

Men have a sharp increase in arousal, then a flatline plateau then a sharp increase to orgasm and steep drop to resolution. Women have a more gradual arousal and resolution. They don’t have a clear plateau

Question 4

What are the two main components of erotic arousal in both sexes?

Answer 4

• Vasocongestion (Swelling of bodily tissue from increased blood flow and blood vessel dilation) - Myotonia (tonic muscle spasms)

Question 5

What is characteristic of the excitement phase in males? (2)

Answer 5

• Erection - Tightening of scrotum

Question 6

What is characteristic of plateau in males? (4)

Answer 6

• Peak vasocongestion - Cowper’s glands secretion - Increase in breathing, pulse and blood pressure - Intense vasocongestion and myotonia

Question 7

What is characteristic of orgasm in males? (9)

Answer 7

• Muscle tension and pelvic engorgement build to a climax - Rhythmic contractions of pelvic organs Typically at .8 second intervals - Anal sphincter expels blood flow from pelvic tissues back into circulation - Hyperventilation - Intense myotonia and spasms - Vas, seminal vesicles and prostate contract to force ejaculate into urethra - Ejaculatory inevitability - Bulb and penis contract to force semen through the urethra - Carpopedal spasms and general muscle contractions

Question 8

What two things happen at the preliminary stage of male orgasm.

Answer 8

• The vas, seminal vesicles and prostate contracts to force ejaculate into urethra - Ejaculatory inevitability

Question 9

What are two things that happen at the second stage of male orgasm?

Answer 9

• Bulb and penis contract to force semen through the urethra - Carpopedal spasms and general muscle contractions

Question 10

What are three things characteristic of resolution?

Answer 10

• Reversal of excitement and plateau - Return to unaroused state - Refractory period for men

Question 11

What are five characteristics of the excitement phase in females?

Answer 11

• Vaginal lubrication resulting from vasocongestion of tissue around vagina - causing fluid to seep through membranes of the vagina (transudation) - Clitoris swells (erection) - Erection of nipples, breasts swell, labia minora swell and open, upper 2/3 of vagina balloons - Feelings of pressure or fullness in the pelvis - Uterus elevates up and away from vagina

Question 12

What are six characteristics of the excitement phase in females?

Answer 12

• Peak vasocongestion - Further increase in breathing, pulse and blood pressure - Formation of orgasmic platform - Clitoris retracts for protection - Labia minor double-triple in size - push majora apart - Intense vasocongestion and myotonia

Question 13

What are three characteristics of orgasm in females?

Answer 13

• Series of rhythmic muscle contraction of the orgasmic platoform and the uterus - Generalized contractions of the perineal and perianal muscles - Sometimes accompanied by ejaculation

Question 14

What are four characteristics of resolution in females?

Answer 14

• Reversal of excitement and plateau - Return to unaroused state (1/2 hour) - Refractory period for men - Multi-orgasmic potential in women and some men

Question 15

What is Kaplan’s three stage model?

Answer 15

Three independent phases - Desire (cognitive) - Excitement (vasocongestion) - Orgasm (contraction)

Question 16

How does vasocongestion differ from orgasm in Kaplan’s model?

Answer 16

1. The two physiological components are controlled by different nervous systems (vasocongestion with parasympathetic, ejaculation by sympathetic)2. The two components differ in structures involved (vasocongestion is through blood vessels, orgasm through muscles)3. Different susceptibilities (such as male age and number of orgasms)4. Ejaculatory reflex can be controlled (but erection cannot)5. Impairment of each results in different problems

Question 17

What is Walen and Roth’s cognitive model of arousal?

Answer 17

Sexual arousal is the result of a series of cognitive functions that involve perception and evaluation of - stimuli (perception and positive evaluation of) - Arousal (perception and positive evaluation of) - Sexual behaviour (perception and positive evaluation of)

Question 18

List the 8 stages of Walen and Roth’s cognitive model of arousal. Describe the feedback loop the produces a positive sexual experience.

Answer 18

1. Perception of sexual stimulus2. Positive evaluation3. Arousal4. Perception of arousal5. Positive evaluation6. Sexual behaviour7. Perception of behaviour8. Positive evaluationPositive evaluation feeds back into arousal and sexual behaviour

Question 19

What are the three components of a reflex?

Answer 19

• Receptors - Transmitters - Effectors

Question 20

Where is the erector reflex centre?

Answer 20

On a superior position of the sacral region of the spinal cord

Question 21

What produces an erection?

Answer 21

Spinal reflex or tactile stimulation of genitals or fantasy

Question 22

Is the centre of ejaculation located higher or lower on the spinal cord than the erection reflex?

Answer 22

Higher

Question 23

What is retrograde ejaculation?

Answer 23

A condition in which orgasm in the male is not accompanied by an external ejaculation

Question 24

What is the Grafenberg spot?

Answer 24

The female prostate (G-spot), a smll region on the front wall of vagina, emptying into the urethra, and responsible for female ejaculation

Question 25

What two effects do hormones have on the brain?

Answer 25

• Organizing (eg. brain structures) - Activating (eg. sexual behaviour)

Question 26

How do women go into menstrual synchrony?

Answer 26

With pheromones

Question 27

What is the most common position used by heterosexual couples in Canada?

Answer 27

Missionary

Question 28

What position is best for clitoral stimulatio?

Answer 28

Woman on top, also good for males who want to control orgasm

Question 29

What is mouth stimulation of the female genitals called?

Answer 29

Cunnilingus

Question 30

What is mouth stimulation of the male genitals called?

Answer 30

Fellatio

Question 31

True or false? There are substances which powerfully increase sexual desire?

Answer 31

False, no aphrodisiacs work that well…

Question 32

At what stage of life is attachment to parents developed? The quality of this attachment will affect a person’s capacity for emotional attachment in adulthood.

Answer 32

From hours after birth through infancy

Question 33

At what stage of life do people learn boy/girl differences?

Answer 33

Infancy

Question 34

What is the orgasmic platform in women?

Answer 34

A tightening of the entrance to the vagina caused by contraction so the bulbospongiosus (which covers the vestibular bulbs) that occur late in the arousal stage of sexual response

Question 35

As women pass the Oedipal stage, what is thought to supposed to happen with their orgasms?

Answer 35

They are supposed to shift from clitoral to vaginal.

Question 36

What are two criticisms of the Masters and Johnson model?

Answer 36

• Participants had higher sex drives than the average person

- Lacks the subjective and cognitive aspects of sexual response

Question 37

What two sexual responses are controlled by spinal reflexes?

Answer 37

Erection and ejaculation

Question 38

What are three other names for the G-spot?

Answer 38

• Graffenberg spot
• Skene’s gland
• Female prostate

Question 39

What is the organizing effect of sex hormones?

Answer 39

The effect that sex hormones have over development

Question 40

What is the activating effect of sex hormones?

Answer 40

The effect that sex hormones have over sexual behaviours