Week 5: H2, 3, 8 en 17

Question 1

Darwin proposed that sexual selection creates differences between females and males. There are two processes involved:

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Answer 1

1. The competition of representatives from one gender (often males) for access to mating members of another gender.
2. Preferential choice by representatives from one gender (often females) for certain members of another gender.

Question 2

Gowaty proposed a gender-neutral evolutionary theory as an alternative to other evolutionary psychological theories of sex. explain

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Answer 2

His gender-neutral evolutionary theory states that it is most adaptive for individuals to be flexible in their behavior. A flexible mating strategy is therefore most successful: In some situations, one may need to behave more male-typical, while in other situations, one might behave more female-typical.

Question 3

The psychoanalytic theory is….

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Answer 3

• Freud argues that sex drive, or in other words the libido, is the primary force in sexual behaviour.
• the id, ego and superego.
• The id operates based upon the pleasure principle and includes the libido. The ego uses the reality principle to keep track of the irrational id. The superego is referred to as consciousness. It operates based upon the idealism principle.

Question 4

Explain sexuality according to the social exchange theory.

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Answer 4

According to the theory, humans behave hedonicand strive for optimal profits with our actions. Social relationships are characterized by the exchange of services and goods. The outcome of such a relationship is defined by its comparison level for alternatives.

Question 5

The matching hypothesis is…. Why is it criticized?

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Answer 5

predicts that people choose mates based upon social characteristics and rewards on the dimensions of attractiveness, wealth and social status.

The theory has been criticized because:
* the applied ideas of rewards and costs do not always seem to apply in romantic relationships.
* other motivations are downplayed by social exchange. The theory is unable to explain altruistic behaviour.

Question 6

How can cognitive theories explain sexual behaviour?

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Answer 6

1. The basic notion is that thoughts shape what we feel. The cognitive approach states that psychological distress is caused by unpleasant thoughts.
2. *gender schema theory *explains gender-role-development in terms of internal schemas. A schema is a framework that consists of general knowledge that someone has about a subject.

Question 7

the sociological perspectives on sexuality are the symbolic interaction theory and sexual scripts.. explain

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Answer 7

• the symbolic interaction theory states that human nature and social order is derived from symbolic communication between individuals.
• Sexual scripts are learned by the outcome of social influence. The idea behind it is that human behaviour is somehow scripted. Sexual behaviour in this sense comes from prior learning and teachings of sexual etiquette.

Question 8

Ethnography is…

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Answer 8

a qualitative method that is used to provide a description of a social setting, society or human group.

Question 9

Sexual response commonly happens in three stages: excitement, orgasm and resolution. The two physiological mechanisms are…

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Answer 9

• Vasocongestion takes place when a major deal of blood flows in regional blood vessels, such as the genitals.
• Myotonia is the contraction of the muscles throughout the body, so not only in the genitals.

Question 10

Viagra works on…. to reverse the erection the neurotransmitters….

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Answer 10

the nitric oxide neurotransmitter. epinephrine and norepinephrine are involved.

Question 11

When the woman gets closer to an orgasm, the orgasmic platform forms. This is

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Answer 11

the narrowing of the muscle around the entrance of the vagina.

Question 12

Many people believe the woman can experience two types of orgasms, the clitoral and the vaginal orgasm. Is this true?

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Answer 12

according to Masters and Johnson (1966) there is no difference.

Question 13

How does ejaculation work in a neurological way?

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Answer 13

is alike erection, but there are two centres. The ejaculation reflex sends a message to the ejaculation centre which is situated in the lumbar portion of the spinal cord. Retrograde ejaculation is when the ejaculate ends up in the bladder. A dry orgasm is the result.

Question 14

How does erection work in a neurological way?

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Answer 14

works trough the erection centre which is the lowest part of the spinal cord. This causes a reflex trough the spinal cord to permit blood flow into the genitals.

Question 15

An aphrodisiac is…. An anaphrodisiac is

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Answer 15

An aphrodisiac is a substance used to increase sexual desire. An anaphrodisiac is a substance that diminishes sexual desire.

Question 16

How might long term alcohol abuse cause sexual disorders?

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Answer 16

Alcohol abuse often causes a variety of sexual disorders such as loss of desire and erectile disorder. This might be caused by reduced hormones in the testes or the dysfunctional relationships people with chronic alcohol abuse have.

Question 17

The two-component theory of love describes

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Answer 17

that love depends on the fulfilment of two conditions: the physical arousal itself and the cognitive label: “love” attached to it. People with sexual disorders tend to misinterpret arousal as anxiety.

Question 18

What are four specific treatments for sexual disorders?

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Answer 18

1. The stop-start technique is helpful for men with premature ejaculation. The woman stimulates the men until he gets an erection and stops until he loses his erection. She then stops again and so on. This learns a man to get an erection and be aroused without getting an orgasm.
2. Masturbation is effective for women and men with orgasmic disorder.
3. Kegel exercise is a form of sex therapy for women where the woman exercises the muscles around the vagina. It helps with an orgasmic disorder. It can help with enhancing awareness of the genitals and with involuntary urination during the orgasm.
4. Bibliotherapy is the use of a self-help book to treat a sexual disorder.

Question 19

What are two common Drug treatment for females with sexual problems?

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Answer 19

The combination is either testosterone with sildenafil (for too low sexual excitation), or testosterone and buspirone; an anti-anxiety drug (for high sexual inhibition).