Theoretical Perspectives

Question 1

What are the five theoretical perspectives regarding human sexuality?

Answer 1

Biological Perspectives

Evolutionary Perspectives

Psychological Perspectives

Sociological Perspectives

Critical Theories

Question 2

This perspective applies evolutionary theory as the basis of social behaviour (including sexual behaviour) in animals and humans

Answer 2

Sociobiological theory

Question 3

Which theory is understood as being the principal motivator of human sexuality as seen by the evolutionary perspectives?

Answer 3

Darwin’s theory of evolution

Question 4

What are four factors that can influence human perceptions of reproductive success?

Answer 4

Age
Physical appearance
Resources
Parental investment

Question 5

What aspect of human sexuality did the evolutionary perspective struggle to explain?

Answer 5

Homosexuality

Question 6

Siblings of reproducing pairs contribute resources to offspring

Answer 6

Avuncular theory

Question 7

Biology and gender differences may not be destiny, it is most adaptive for individuals to be flexible in their behaviours

Answer 7

Gender-Neutral evolutionary theory

Question 8

Freud proposed that sexuality and eroticism are fundamental forces of life

Answer 8

Psychoanalytic theory

Question 9

What are three major criticisms of psychoanalytical theory?

Answer 9

Focus on sexual motivation and the unconscious in determining behaviour

Difficult to validate scientifically (not falsifiable nor universal)

Sexist

Question 10

MRI imagery to verify cortex activity that could be assigned to subconscious activity

Answer 10

Neuro-psychoanalysis

Question 11

This perspective explains how human sexual behaviour is learned and shaped through various intrapersonal and interpersonal learning paradigms such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, behavioural modification and social learning

Answer 11

Learning theories

Question 12

Takes place when a conditioned stimulus is paired with an original unconditioned stimulus

Answer 12

Classical conditioning

Question 13

A person is more likely to repeat a behavior if it is rewarded (reinforcement)

Answer 13

Operant conditioning

Question 14

Techniques used to change an individual’s behaviour based on classical and operant conditioning principles

Answer 14

Behavioural (therapy) modification

Question 15

Assumes people will choose actions that maximize rewards and minimize costs.

Answer 15

Social exchange theory

Question 16

This perspective focuses on how people’s perception, labeling and evaluations of events (whether positively or negatively) influences their sexual behaviour.

Answer 16

Cognitive theory

Question 17

Explains ways in which human sexual behaviour is socialized and shaped by norms and expectations defined by sociocultural contexts and social institutions

Answer 17

Sociological theory (macro)

Question 18

Our sexual interactions follow a set and sequence of learned responses (behaviours, gestures, rules, expectations, etc.) that are considered appropriate in a given sexual situation.

Answer 18

Sexual scripts theory

Question 19

Understands sexuality as socially constructed (social constructivism) and interested in how categories are created and their consequences for individuals and groups

Answer 19

Feminist theory

Question 20

What are some issues of interest for feminist theory?

Answer 20

Sexuality, gender roles, socialization, intersectionality and performativity

Question 21

Contemporary theorizing about sexual orientation, intersexuality and gender.

Answer 21

Queer theory