Chapter 2: Understanding Human Sexuality - Theory and Research PDF

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Human Sexuality Notes ...

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Chapter 2: Understanding Human Sexuality - Theory and Research! ! • Theories are the intellectual structure (assumption, principles, methods) for understanding sexuality ! • Research helps answer questions about human sexuality ! • Many disciplines conduct research in sexuality, varying in the question asked and scientific approaches taken ! • May theories guide our thoughts about human sexuality ! • Most theorist utilize multiple perspectives ! • Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1939) - the father of psychoanalysis, set the stage for all psychological theories that followed! ◦ Most influential physchological theory of sexuality ! ◦ Sex drive is a very important life force ! ◦ Psychoanalytic theory ! • Guiding identities ! ◦ Id - seeks immediate satisfaction ! ‣ Ex: Drug addict, sexual assault, pornography toddlers ! ◦ Ego - operates in reality; balances id and superego! ◦ Superego - values and restrictions; conscience ! ‣ Ex: LDS church, boundaries, saying no ! ◦ Psychoanalysis required if ego does not balance id and superego! ◦ Psychoanalysis brings unconscious thoughts into consciousness ! • Behavioral theory ! ◦ Only study overt behavior; ignore internal states ! ◦ Operant conditioning (Skinner) ! ‣ Reinforcement ! ‣ Punishment ! ◦ Behavior modification - tool to change unwanted behavior ! ‣ Aversion therapy - therapy to fix sexual orientation/attraction; used for smoking cigarettes! • Social Learning Theory ! ◦ Bandura ! ◦ Basis in operant conditioning ! ◦ Also consider internal events in affecting behavior ! ◦ Identification and imitation of same-sex parent in development of our gender identity ! ◦ Peer pressure influence on our sexuality! • Cognitive Theory ! ◦ Individual differences in processing information ! ◦ Behavior is a result of our perceptions and conceptualizations of our environment ! ◦ Largest sex organ - the brain ! ◦ We are sexually aroused by what we think is sexual arousing (aphrodisiac, fetishes, foreplay)! • Biological Theory ! ◦ Our sexuality is controlled by our physiology, genetics ! ◦ Sexual problems due to physiological causes; interventions include medications or surgery! ‣ Underlying emotional or psychological problems ! • Evolutionary Theory ! ◦ Combination of evolution and sociology ! ◦ Sexuality serves mainly to reproduce !

◦ Primary goal is to pass on ones genes! ◦ Consider mate preferences from an evolutionary perspective...