Theoretical Approaches

Question 1

Scientific theories

Answer 1

sets of tested and generally agreed upon conclusions or explanations about certain phenomena

Question 2

What do sex theories help to do?

Answer 2

• organize, correct, and generate knowledge

- They communicate about sexuality

Question 3

What is classical conditioning

Answer 3

o Ivan Pavlov
o Neutral stimulus (bell – doesn’t necessarily mean anything) + unconditioned stimulus (food) = conditioned response
o Used to understand the development & extinction of compulsive sexual behaviors and fetishes
♣ Ex: erection & spanking in sexual abuse cases

Question 4

Operant Conditioning

Answer 4

o Operant conditioning is a process through which an individual’s behavior is modified by its consequences or the reinforcement they receive.

Question 5

What is a reinforcement?

Answer 5

♣ Reinforcement: something that increases the likelihood of a specific behavior happening again
• Positive - Ex: moaning to indicate pleasure
• Negative – something bad is taken away: using an orgasm to take away anxiety

Question 6

What is a punishment?

Answer 6

♣ Punishment: something that decreases the likelihood of a specific behavior again
• Positive: something bad happens – pain initially during penetrative sex
• Negative: something good goes away – sex doesn’t feel as good maybe you’ve been doing it so much

Question 7

Primary Reinforcement:

Answer 7

♣ : A powerful reward that is intrinsically satisfying – will override the other things

Question 8

Social Learning Theory

Answer 8

o Julian Rotter & Albert Bandura
o This theory is based on the notion that leaning occurs through modelling observed behaviors
o We learn from observing those around us and being rewarded or punished for our behavior
o Sex is a primary reinforce and a behavior that can be shaped by rewards and punishments
♣ Can happen with others or with what you see in the media

Question 9

Sex therapy

Answer 9

successful change reinforces further efforts and more success

Question 10

Cognitive theories emphasize the importance of

Answer 10

of thought processes and how they influence behavior
o Thoughts are subject to many kinds of distortions and false assumptions, which can result in all kinds of psychological distress
o Major focus in sex therapy because we Can focus on different thoughts that contribute to the negative loops

Question 11

Sociological Theories

Answer 11

o Highlight the importance of social institutions such as religion and family
o Institutions determine how sexuality is defined and expressed within a given society
o Sex is linked to societal structures of power, kinship, and ideology

Question 12

The Ecological Model (Bulls eye)

Answer 12

o Microsystem: closes and stronger influence
o Mesosystem: How those things in your microsystems relate to one another and the different messages you’re receiving
o Ecosystem: further away
o Macroculture:
o Central idea: The individual interacts with their environment in many ways
o Multiple influences on behavior. Most people think they are immune to culture affecting how they act

Question 13

Social Script Theory

Answer 13

indicates that social interactions are made easy and predictable because we follow culturally predefined patterns of behaviour

Question 14

Sexual scripts defined by

Answer 14

culture (and by pornography)

Question 15

Pros and cons of sexual scripts

Answer 15

♣ Without them we would be frustrated and stressful
♣ Pro: In terms of sexuality it is good to have known steps that come before sex
♣ Con: You get stuck thinking this is how things ought to be

Question 16

Feminist theories

Answer 16

• Inequities between males and females are reflected in male-female relationships
• “typical” sexual behavior, such as the focus on vaginal intercourse and male pleasure, reflects male privilege (females don’t have orgasms by penetrative sex alone, but males do so this pleasure is focused on the male). Women are much more likely to fake an orgasm.

Question 17

Social exchange theory

Answer 17

• interpersonal relationships operate on a system of cost and rewards. Individuals try to maximize rewards and minimize costs

Question 18

What are the 4 components of the social exchange theory?

Answer 18

1. Balance of cost and rewards
2. Equity/equality
3. Comparison level (within the relationship)
4. Comparison level for alternatives (makes or breaks the relationship. If someone looks around and sees other people who are more rewarding and less costly they are more likely to leave the relationship but if there are no alternatives (so the first three suck but this one is good) they will stay in that crappy relationship

Question 19

Sociobiological theory/ evolutionary psychology

Answer 19

• Evolutionary psychology applies evolutionary theories to explain social behaviors
o all about putting your genes into the next generation
• Intrasexual competition versus intersexual selection (mostly shown as male competing for females so the males tend to have something fancy or showier for example the peacock has a colorful big tail and the bigger the tail the better the male)
• Applies Darwin’s theories of evolution to modern-day human sexual behavior
• Focus on reproduction/passing on one’s gene

Question 20

Dual control model of sexuality

Answer 20

Human sexual responses involve the interaction two opposing neurobiological impulses: excitement or inhibition
People vary in their excitation and inhibition and the two are independent (you can be high on one and low on the other or you can be low on both or high on both etc.)

Question 21

Sexual inhibition scale

Answer 21

o Putting on a condom can make me lose my erection

o If I can be heard by others while having sex, I am unlikely to stay around

Question 22

Sexual excitation scale

Answer 22

• When an attractive person flirts with me, I easily become sexually aroused
• When I start fantasizing about sex, I easily become sexually aroused

Question 23

Queer theory

Answer 23

• Challenges notions of socially constructed ideas of bodies, sexualities, gender, etc.
• Emphasizes on critically examining concepts to challenge the notion that they are fixed and categorical