TEST 1 Flashcards
1) What was our definition for Primary Instincts? What are the three main instincts we engage in on a daily basis?
- innate or inborn instinct
- comes naturally
- not taught
- were born with it
- we must satisfy them on a regular basis in order to survive
three main primary instincts:
- eat + drink water
- sleeping: if we do not sleep we will get sick, our body will be weaker, and we can die indirectly through accidents (driving) (other symptoms of lack of sleep: hallucinations, lower body temperature, change in personality)
- urinating: we need to get rid of waste otherwise we can get infections
2) What was our definition for Sub-Instinctsand how do Sub-Instincts differ to Primary Instincts? In addition, what are the two main sub-instincts we discussed in class?
- were programmed to do these
- were born with these behaviours but there’s more flexibility of refraining from them
difference from primary instincts:
- we will not die if we hold back from these but we may have difficulty continuing in life
two main sub-instincts:
- sex: were all products of sexuality (reproduction and creation of life are biological mechanism)
aggression: fight or flight, destroy life
3) With the use of three examples, briefly and thoroughly explain our lecture’s definition of Human Sexual Behavior.
- it is a behaviour that produces arousal and increases change of orgasm (orgasm is not required)
- it should be associated to the norm (7/10)(outside of the norm = paraphilia)
anything that feels like cheating to you is a sexual behaviour
- non-consensual sexual behaviours open the door to harassement and sexual assault
examples of human sexual behaviours:
- masturabation
- oral sex
- intercourse
- kissing
- sexual fantasizing
- flirting
- sexting
- watching pornographic material
- foreplay
- etc
4) How is Gendera separate concept in reference to identity than anatomical sex (i.e. being male or female)? (Pleaseinclude the definition ofGenderandSexin your answer-class notes &Ch. 1)
Sex: refers to sexual anatomy and sexual behaviour. sex can be used for reproductive purposes but also for pleasure, intimacy and fun. (10)
Gender: refers to being male or female
anatomical sex has to do with the biological physical structure of ones reproductive organs, which is used to assign sex at birth
gender is …
5) Select any sexual topic and use the scientific method to assess it. Please be sure to use all four stages learned in class along withaconcise explanation to each stage. A diagram can be used for this answer (Class activities& Class notes).
The stages of the scientific method are as follows…
- Identify question of interest stemming from
- behaviour and phenomenon requiring explanation
- prior research findings
- curiosity, creativity, insight - formulate an explanation
- specify a theory
- develop a hypothesis (prediction of how theory will take place) - carry out research
- operationalize hypothesis
- select a research method
- collect data
- analyze the data - communicate the findings
- to other researches
- to the rest of the world
- productive for human evolvement - restart the cycle
my example…
1. I would inquire on the topic of kinks and childhood trauma. I would do this by checking scholarly articles and reviewing previous researches and cases.
- My theory is that kinks stem from major childhood traumas. My hypothesis is that a history of violence that is heavily detrimental to a child’s health increases chance of various kinks.
- To carry out my research, I would follow through with various surveys of experimental and control groups (surveys with people who DID and DIDNT have childhood trauma). I would collect my data and analyze it.
- I would publish my findings in a formal academic journal and then publish it in news magazines and podiums.
- Somewhere else around the world will do another research and more information on this topic will be accumulated and society will progress at a faster rate.
6)Briefly and thoroughly define the termEthnocentrism,how does it play role in how one viewshuman sexuality in general? When isethnocentrismdismissedlegally when it comes to certain cultural behaviors?(class notes& Ch. 1)
ethnocentrism: we judge other cultural practices based on our own cultural lens
how ethnocentrism influences people understanding of human sexual behaviour:
- we tend to view our sexual behaviours as the only pattern in existence (“natural” pattern)
- if we live in Canada, we will have had only a proper experience with sexuality in one single culture so it is all we really know and perceive to be a human sexual behaviour
ethnocentrism is dismissed legally when it comes to certain behaviours such as:
- incest taboos (universal)
- most societies condemn forces sexual relations (rape)
we also draw the line when its going against someone’s right and it starts being harmful to yourself or to others:
- female genital cutting/mutilation
- child marriages
- polygamy
- infibulation (removal of the whole vulva)
for these laws to change, lawyers would need to be involved
7) Briefly and thoroughly explain the Cross-Species Perspective behind human sexual behavior. Please be sure to add brain and genetic related differences between animals & human beings (Ch. 1 & class notes)
- humans and animals both display sexual behaviours (ex. masturbation very common among primates (dolphins, monkeys, female porcupines, apes) and same-sex sexual behaviour typically in mammalian (sheep, japanese macaques))
humans are unique:
- environmental influences are much more important in shaping primates/human sexual behaviour than other species
- sexual behaviour is more hormonally (instinctively) controlled among lower species: fish, rodents
- sexual behaviour is more controlled by the brain in higher species: primates + humans
-sexuality is much more complex in primates (they engage in all types of sexual behaviours)
reptiles:
- reptiles (+ other lower functioning species) will engage sexually purely for reproductive purposes
mammals:
- mammals are more sophisticated, they engage for other reasons such as pleasure (they are much more social and evolved than reptiles)
humans brain is quite developed we have:
- forebrain
- midbrain
- hindbrain
8) Briefly and thoroughly explain the Cross-Cultural Perspective behind human sexual behavior. (Ch. 1 & class notes).
cross-cultural data is important for two reasons:
- demonstrates the wide variation in HSB
- shows the importance of culture and learning in shaping sexual behaviour
facts:
- ethnocentrism plays a key role in our understanding of HSB
- every culture has sexuality but it what is “sexually acceptable” varies, different norms exist (example views on; arranged marriages, masturbation, multiple sexual partners, oral sex)
- incest taboos are universal norms (a regulation prohibiting sexual interaction between blood relatives)
9) Briefly and thoroughly explain the Sexual-Health Perspective behind human sexual behaviour. Please be sure to include positive & negative sexual rights and list a minimum of two examples foreach (Ch. 1 & class notes)
sexual health: state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being related to sexuality
sexual rights: includes the right to sexual self-expression, freedom from sexual abuse and violence, etc
sexuality is about healthy decisions. everyone is attracted to healthy traits. sexuality is a core component of your identity.
positive sexual rights: ( + add)
freedoms to…
- birth control
- consent
- choosing a sexual partner
- abortion
- same-sex relations
negative sexual rights: ( - take away)
freedom from…
- beastiality
- polygamy
- sexual violence
10) Briefly and thoroughly explain the Evolutionary Theory & Gender-Neutral Evolutionary Theory behind human sexual behaviour. Please be sure to list a minimum of two sexual examples explained by evolutionary and gender-neutral evolutionary theory; one example for each (Chapter 2 & class notes).
evolutionary theory:
in order to assure the survival of a species, natural selection occurs, in which a species must adapt to its changing environment otherwise it will die off in time.
examples of evolutionary theory:
1) males will opt for short term relationships more than females: this allows them greater opportunities for reproduction. the more partners a man has, the greater probability of fertilizing an egg. this guarantees that his lineage will get passed down and that at least one of his children will survive.
2) females will opt for longer relationships rather than one-night stands: this is because females can only have one baby at a time so this involves much more maternal investment and they should therefore be much more selective when choosing a proper male to accommodate their child in case of maternal death)
gender-neutral evolutionary theory:
states that it is most adaptive for individuals to be flexible and adaptable in their behaviours. according to this theory, an individual may behave in a more male-typical way in one situation or a more female-typical way in another because behaviours are adaptive in these situations. they are not set in stone. a fixed mating strategy may not be adaptive in a different environment
- this theory takes environment into consideration; a flexible mating strategy would be most successful
- this theory does not insist on fixed male and female behaviours
examples:
1) no matter the gender or environment, humans tend to look for a partner who is more physically attractive. this attractiveness is a false sign of good health.
2) incest is seen as a taboo in most societies, no matter then gender or environment. incest can cause health issues and is strictly looked down upon by everyone
environment
11) According to classic psychoanalytic theory, briefly and thoroughly describe what the Id, Ego and Superego are and how they are symbiotic to each other. (class notes,Ch.2,class activities& Psychoanalytic power point)
Freud described the human personality as being divided into three major parts: the id, the ego, and the superego.
Id (0 y/o)
- basic part of personality
- present at birth (child is born, wants nothing else than to get fed)
- operates on the pleasure principle
- can be irrational
- instinctual drives (libido)
- located in unconscious mind
Ego (1-2 y/o)
- keeps id in line
- reality principle
- function: makes the person have realistic, rational interactions with others
- uses defence mechanisms to reduce anxiety
Superego (5 y/o)
- the conscience
- contains values of society that we learn
- idealism
- function: aims to inhibit the impulses of id and persuade the ego to strive for moral goals instead of just realistic ones
- superego can be damaged, people who commit bad crimes have immature and weak superegos that can’t fight the id)
12) According to classic Psychoanalytic theory, what is a Defence Mechanism and how does it function in protecting one’s ego? (class notes,class activities,Ch.2 &psychoanalytic power point)
defence mechanisms are the brains way of reducing anxiety, shame and guilt due to id, ego, superego decisions.
the 6 main defence mechanisms are…
repression: in short, it is when we take our trauma and lock it into the unconscious to keep threats out of consciousness
displacement: moving the target of emotions (from lack of being able to satisfy libido) on a less threatening or intimidating target
projection: putting your own ideas, feelings and undesirable characteristics onto someone else
denial: refusing to accept the reality of an event and turning away from this reality. denial keeps us in check and allows us to continue out life
intellectualisation: (a step higher from rationalisation) using human intelligence to form a super sophisticated explanation for why something happened in order to eliminate guilt from a situation
rationalisation: coming up with an excuse or a logical explanation to justify a situation in a way to convince yourself and others
13) What is Repression according to psychoanalysis and how does this defence mechanism function (please be sure to include a sexual example of repression in your answer)? (class notes, psychoanalytic power point,Ch.2)
repression is taking trauma from an event that has broken your threshold of trauma and therefore causes too much guilt or shame (life or death), and locking this trauma into the unconscious.
- eventually the trauma will try to rise through the conscious but will adapt to todays situation
example:
someone who was raped may be scared to go into certain rooms and see certain people. they trigger the trauma that lives in their unconscious and interfere with the persons life. they may forget about this trauma but be reminded when they here a certain sound, as the trama hits the conscious.
14) What is the Phallic Stage according to psychoanalytic theory and what typically occurs to a boy going through this psychosexual stage (please be sure to includeatwhat approximate age this stage takes place as well as the proper terminologies)? (class notes, psychoanalytic power point)
The phallic stage for boys living in a classic nuclear family goes as such: (3-6 y/o)
1. the boy falls in love with his mother that is his caretaker
2. he gets angry at his siblings and father and begins to see them as competition for the mothers love
3. the boy gets erection and engages in infantile masturbation
4. the boy learns that his erection around his mother isn’t good and begins to feel guilty.
5. with further analysis, he realizes that his mother, female siblings, and female friends dont have a penis
6. the boys develops castration anxiety (fear that his penis will get cut off if he touches it). he gets scared that his father will cut off his penis
7. the boy represses this castration anxiety and moves on to the latent phase
15) What is the Phallic stage according to psychoanalytic theory and what typically occurs to a girlgoing through this psychosexual stage(please be sure to includeatwhatapproximate age this stage takes place as well as the proper terminologies)? (class notes, psychoanalytic power point, Ch. 2)
The phallic stage for girls living in a classic nuclear family goes as such: (3-6 y/o)
1. the girl is already aware that she doesn’t have a penis
2. she gets attached to her father and notices that she feels pleasure around the clitoral regions, she may engage in infantile masturbation but its rare
3. she begins to think: how come my brother and father have a penis and i dont?
4. she starts to believe that maybe if she stays close to them she will get one and develops penis envy
5. she has a tendency to hang out with boys
6. she realizes that nothing is happening and detaches herself from her father
7. she believes that men can’t be trusted and attaches herself to her mother.
