Psych of Sexuality - A comprehensive PDF of my lecture notes from the entire semester. PDF

Preview

Summary

A comprehensive PDF of my lecture notes from the entire semester....

Description

Week 1 Saturday, September 3, 2016

12:58 PM

Sexuality: Pathways to Understanding Chapter 1 Overview • The meaning of "sex" has broadened ○ Categories of male or female anatomy and physiology ○ Genital anatomy and function ○ Sexual behavior  Even the way we talk about sex has changed ○ Identity ○ Gender in place of sex • Sexuality and gender across cultures ○ Rationale for sex and sexual behavior may depend on the culture you're in • Sexuality across primates (including humans) ○ In primates, more sex occurs than is necessary for reproductive purposes ○ Individuals compete for sex partners ○ Sexual behavior is driven by instincts that do not require conscious awareness of reproductive outcome  There is awareness of what sex may and may not be liked  Some apes (bonobos) see sex for bonding  Instincts not necessarily connected to procreations Sexual behavior and relationships • ○ Sexual relationships are diverse ○ Sexual relationships are not ideal ○ Sexual relationships take place in a moral context • What is gender? ○ Gender: describes the traits and behaviors that are regarded by culture as appropriate to women and men ○ A "scheme" for social categorization of individuals  Gender schema ○ Gender is a social label, not biology  Sex is biology, i.e. chromosomes and genes ○ Sex is about identity  Gender identity is one person's sense of being male or female  Transgendered: identify with the opposite sex from one's birth sex. □ Includes people who may or may not want to change their sex  Transsexual: people who may change their anatomical sex to match their gender identity  Sexual orientation: the direction of a person's sexual attraction □ Homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, etc. • Studying human sexuality ○ Survey  Self-administered questionnaire, face-to-face interviews, telephone, internet  Self-selection bias □ People that may self-select to take these surveys may be more open in the first place and this makes results not generalizable  Anonymity with online surveys can help improve honesty which the surveys and research ○ Behavioral observation ○ Correlational research

 Does not mean causation!!!! ○ Experiments  Cause and effect  Can't really do experiments easily in sexualities studies ○ Meta-analysis  Overview of all of the research that has been conducted in a certain area ○ Pseudo-research (supermarket check-out line) ○ Sex researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson, around 1970 ○ What is feminist research?  Chicana lesbian Gloria Anzaldua (1942 - 2004) influenced the third wave of feminisms concerned with sexual freedom and female circumcision ○ Ethics  Informed consent  freedom to withdraw  Debriefing  Confidentiality • Researchers take diverse approaches to the study of sexuality ○ Psychiatrists have tended to view sexual problems as mental diseases ○ Richard von Krafft-Ebing claimed the "right" to name sexual disorders and "diagnose" those who suffer from them Research on Human Sexuality • Describe three reasons why we have a lack of understanding of human sexuality? ○ One reason is the lack of general research regarding human sexuality  Many decision-makers have the idea that sexuality is not a legit or acceptable area for scientific research ○ Another reason is that humans are so complex  People react differently to the same sexual situation or behavior  They also may react differently at different times or w/ different partners ○ Finally, it is difficult to do any type of sexual research • List and describe four potential difficulties in conducting sexuality research ○ Many people are unwilling to be completely honest or do not welcome questions about sexual beliefs ○ Not everyone is willing to participate in study of sexuality  Because of association of sex of morality ○ Much of our behaviors occurs in private settings, it is feasible to conduct unobtrusive studies Attitudes about sexuality: sexual ideologies and religion • Beliefs do not always predict behavior • We can see the impact of Christian attitudes and beliefs in many of our legal codes and cultural practices Jews

Why?

Christian

• Believed sex was a • Procreation plays pivotal religion duty and for roles in purpose of sexual procreation activity • General belief is was • Also acceptable for men pleasurable for both men to engage to release and women sexual tensions • Sex was a religious duty • Better for men to "marry on Sabbath than to burn" bc it was hard to remain celibate so they sure marry to release tensions

Muslims

• Sex for both pleasure and procreation • Men may have up to 4 wives • Both sexes assumed to have strong sexual drives • Assumed that if men & women are alone together they will have sex

Who?

• Only acceptable partners • Sex to be shared only b/w • In general sex should be for men were wives or spouses only w/ spouse in this • concubines Good women were not tradition • For women, only husband expected to have sexual • But more liberal groups feelings, shouldn’t tempt was an approved partner have tolerance for men homosexuality and • Divorce was possibly although easier for men • Married women perform prostitutions "marital duty" and satisfy • Extra/premarital sex meat • Extramarital sex was forbidden husband dishonor to fam especially if it was the woman • Divorce is allowed and relatively easy for men

What?

• Primary important for men was no spilling of seed (no masturbation, oral and anal) • Homosexual acts were forbidden because they would not create offspring • Women had less explicit discussion but widows were not to engage in bestiality

• Limited to heterosexual intercourse • Must have potential to lead to procreation so no contraception

• Display more tolerance of various sexual activities than other groups • Contraception and abortion allowed except by most conservative • Women expected to be modest and cover some/all of body around men • Women generally not allowed freedom of movement

• Think of two examples of historical Christian believes which still influence laws in our society today ○ Ban on gay marriage until recently ○ Conservative politicians still seek to limit women's access to contraception and abortion Attitudes and Behaviors • There are a number of reasons why attitudes and behaviors are not highly correlated. See if you can think of at least 2 reasons ○ Their behaviors may reflect more of society's attitudes versus their own ○ They may not know how to correlate their behavior with their attitudes Some reasons why attitudes and behaviors may not correlate • ○ Any behavior is determined by a number of factors including:  Demands of the situation  One's own attitude and beliefs ○ People don’t like to be different ○ Attitudes which are more strongly held are more likely to affect behavior than weekly held attitudes • People's attitudes may have a strong effect on behavior, but then again, they may not • Research on sexual attitudes show that they often do correlate with behavior. Give do reasons why this high correlation may exist even if attitudes and behavior are NOT highly correlated ○ You may change answers about behaviors to reflect beliefs  i.e., if you believe masturbating is sinful you say you don’t do it even if you do ○ Social desirability  The desire to appear as a "good" person… someone may claim to have both social desirable attitudes and behaviors even if either is really true • Give two examples of how the Victorian beliefs about sexuality were similar to those of Conservative Christians. Give two examples of how they were different ○ Similarities  Only sexual intercourse was accepted  Sex was only with a spouse IDEALLY

○ Differences  It was expected that people should marry and reproduce so did not idea that celibacy was ideal state  Mistresses and prostitutes were widely accepted for me • Briefly describe Freud's five stages of development and the possible sexual problems resulting from fixation in each stage ○ Oral stage begins at birth  Mouth and lips are primary erogenous zones ○ Anal stage from ages two to three  Sexual arousal was focused on retention and elimination of feces ○ Phallic begin at age three or four  Found child interested in masturbation  Freud believed girls developed a lasting penis envy because of superiority of the penis compared to clitoris ○ Latency stage at age six or seven neither sex was believed to be particularly sexually oriented ○ Genital stage was the final stage  Signaled interest in heterosexual intercourse • Freud has had an enormous impact upon the beliefs of our society • Briefly list attitudinal changes about sex which may have been influence by sex research why researchers and discuss why sex research may have influence these changes ○ Research such Kinsey helped people to evaluate their own sexual behaviors, perhaps for the first time ○ Masters and Johnson's detailed analysis of arousal has added to public knowledge of sexuality and make public discussion of sexuality more acceptable • The human potential movement was advocated by clinical psychologists in the late 1950s to 1970s ○ It was the belief that people should strive to reach their full potential as human beings by better understanding their own feelings  When these beliefs are applied to sex they result in very permissive beliefs about sex Research on human sexuality • Publication of Kinsey and his collaborators and of Masters and Johnson has had a major impact on people's views of sexuality • Kinsey ○ Work involved an in-depth survey of people's sexual behavior  KINSEY SCALE!!! ○ Criticized but highly cited and read  People could read these results and evaluate their own sexual behavior, perhaps for the first time  Led to greater openness about sex and perhaps experimentation ○ Also documented the fact that many women have strong sexual feelings  And can have multiple orgasms  This was widely disbelieved since it contradicted so many earlier findings • Masters and Johnson ○ First scientific and comprehensive study of what actually happened during sexual arousal and orgasm  Were able to measure precise bodily changes during sexual activity by bringing people into the lab and observing ○ Showed that for both men and women: breasts, skin (sex flush), muscles, rectum, heart, and lungs are all involved in complete sexual response  As well as genital reactions Both sexes have four basic stages of sexual response although lengths vary between ○ individuals ○ This detailed analysis has helped make public discussion of sexuality more acceptable

 Has also contradicted a number of cultural beliefs and has been a major impetus for changes in them □ For example, gave concrete evidence to Kinsey's multiple orgasms theory • Human Potential Movement ○ See summary of movement beliefs above ○ Spurred on by theorists such as Carl Rogers and Maslow ○ Viewed sexual expressions as part of a larger movement toward attempting to uncover one's true inner feelings and act on those feelings  Necessary for development of one's full human potential ○ Criticized monogamy as too limited  Consenting adults who wished to engage in sex should do so  Concept of open marriage ○ Emphasized experimentation and that any and all sexual activities should be tried • Feminist Movement of the 1960s and 1970s ○ Like HPM, accepted the idea that sexuality is a form of human expression  Feminists saw sex as sensual and emotional, also explicitly organized toward orgasms and trying new partners ○ Felt that women should have the freedom to choose who they want to have sex with  Choose a partner who is supportive Women should have control over their own sexuality and over their bodies ○

Week 2 Friday, September 9, 2016

6:31 PM

Women's Bodies Female Anatomy • External female genitalia, or vulva ○ The vulva refers to the entire genital area in women ○ The monsveneris (or mons) is fatty tissue covered with skin and pubic hair  it acts as a cushion during sex and pubic hair helps to vaporize odors ○ The labia majora (outer lips) are two folds of skin that extend down from the mons on either side of the vulva ○ The labia minora (inner lips) are thin folds of hairless skin between the two labia majora  They meet at the front to form the clitoral hood and enclose the vestibule space ○ Within the vestibule are the clitoris, urethral opening, and vaginal opening  The clitoris is a complex organ consisting of glans, shaft, and two corpora cavernosa □ The crura and vestibular bulbs are internal portions of the clitoris □ Two muscles associated with the clitoris are the ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles □ The only know function of the clitoris is sexual arousal, and erection of this structure is a sign of sexual arousal  Located between the introitis and the clitoris is the urethral opening, the passageway of excretion of urine ○ The perineum is the area between the vaginal opening and the anus ○ The pelvic floor muscles enhance sexual pleasure ○ Exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, including the pubococcygeus muscle, are called Kegel exercises ○ The appearance of the vaginal opening is variable  The introitis, or vaginal opening, varies in appearance among girls and women; in newborn girls it is usually covered with a thin membrane of skin called the hymen Myths of the hymen • ○ There have been and still are many myths and assumptions associated with the hymen  One of the most common is that is a women's hymen is still tact she is a virgin or has not engaged in coitus □ However, there is a lot of variation in how much of vaginal opening is covered by the hymen  Many customs used blood common after breaking a hymen as a sign of marriage consummation and purity of bride ○ There are many way in which a women's hymen can break over the course of growing up • Genital cosmetic surgery or labioplasty ○ In recent years, alterations of the vulva have become popular  Most common form is a reduction of labior minora □ It is usually done for cosmetic reasons  Some cultures stretch the labia as opposed to reducing it • Female circumcision ○ Different approach in altering women's genitalia ○ It is often viewed as a tradition  It's important to understand the deep cultural meaning in some countries • The vagina is the outermost portion of the female reproductive tract ○ The women's reproductive tract is a T shape formed by the vagina, cervix, and body of the uterus ○ Penetration of the vagina by a penis constitutes coitus

 The vagina facilitates sperm transport and acts a birth canal ○ The vaginal walls are elastic and consist of three layers: a mucosa, intermediate muscular layer, and outer fibro-plastic layer ○ The vagina undergoes changes during arousal including lubrication ○ Increased blood flow to the walls of the vagina occurs during arousal and can be documented with a photocell Menstruation and Hormones • The menstrual cycle ○ Scientists describe the menstrual cycle as an average 28 day cycle  First day of the cycle is identified as the first day of menstrual flow  During this cycle a number of changes occur in the body and in the brain □ Other changes involved the uterus and other parts of the body as well as psychological changes • We will focus on the ovulation and the premenstrual and menstrual cycle ○ These two parts of the cycle present the maximal difference in hormone levels • Midcycle is considered the 3 days before ovulation, ovulation, and the three days after ○ This is the time when estrogen is at a very high level and also when pregnancy is most likely to occur • The endcycle is the name assigned to the premenstrual and menstrual part of the cycle ○ The last few days before menstruation begins (typically days 25 to 28) and the first 3 days of menstruation (days 1 to 3) ○ Part of the cycle when estrogen and progesterone are both at very low levels • There a number of physical symptoms associated with the low hormone levels in the endcycle period ○ Cramping, an unpleasant feeling of fullness from water retention, digestive disorders (cramping or gas), or acne • A number of theories have been advanced to explain the physical and emotional changes associated with the menstrual cycle ○ Water retention and resulting weight gain is caused by high levels of progesterone initiated by ovulation which become obvious near end of cycle ○ Digestive issues and acne can be traced effects of lowered estrogen levels at end and beginning of cycle • Although most women report physical changes during their menstrual cycles, only 40% to 50% of women report regular mood changes ○ Psychological changes are less common than physical changes • Causes of cyclical changes associated with the menstrual cycle ○ Direct hormonal effect  The most straight-forward explanation of mood changes is that they are a direct result of hormonal changes □ High levels of estrogen are seen as causing positive mood changes and vice versa  Many researchers reject this seeing as many psychological explanations or combo of psych/bio explanation as most probable □ The fact that psychological changes are not as consistent are evidence for this ○ Indirect hormonal effects  All of the physical changes may cause women to feel less attractive and possibly more upset  People are also depressed and irritable when they are physically not feeling well ○ Concern over pregnancy and menstruation  Another factor may be the concern most women have each month over whether they are pregnant or not □ Whether they want to be pregnant or not, it could be a concern either way ○ Learned expectations

 Women react the way they do during endcycle because they have been trained to react that way  Societal expectations about how women should act and what they should do on their periods ○ Good excuse  Women may find this is a time they can get away with acting hostile in blaming their behavior on their periods □ This does not explain the depressed feelings reported by many women

Week 3 Saturday, September 17, 2016

11:03 AM

Male Bodies Male Anatomy • The external male genitalia are the penis and the scrotum ○ The penis combines erotic, reproductive, and urinary functions ○ The penis in its uncircumcised state consists of a shaft, glans, and foreskin • Male external genitalia ○ Penis, glans, corona, shaft, frenulum, corpus spongiosum (under surface) • Male circumcision ○ Male circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin or prepuce ○ It is practiced all over the world and the practice dates to ancient times  Ancient Egypt performed it to improve male hygiene  Religious circumcisions in Jewish and Muslim faiths  Western culture advocates it in male infants as preventative health measure □ At times without any scientific rationale  i.e., 1900s it was suggested to prevent masturbation and tuberculosis ○ Recently scientific data shows it may not be a medical necessity  However studies show men who are circumcised may have reduced chance of spreading and contracting STDs • Anatomy of the penis ○ The shaft of the penis contains three erectile structures  A pair of corpova cavernosa and a single corpus spongiosum □ The corpus spongiosum extends from the shaft and extends to fill the flans of the penis • Medical problems associated with the penis ○ Balanitis  Inflammation of the glans, or tip of the penis Phimosis ○  The inability to retract the foreskin to expose the glans ○ Paraphimosis  The entrapment of retracted foreskin behind the flans ○ Peyronie's disease  A curvature of the penis caused by scarring of the corpora cavernosa ○ Penile cancer is rare  When discovered early, it may be treated with minor surgery • Penile erection involves nerve endings, blood, and chemistry ○ The penis possesses sensory nerve endings called genital end-bulbs ○ Nerves that innervate the penis so that erections can occur are part of the autonomic nervous system • Erection is expansion of the penis with blood ○ The corpora cavernosa consists of sinusoids that collect blood ○ Erections occur when the nervous system allows the arteries of the penis to expand and the veins to contract  The neurotransmitter involved in triggering erections is nitric oxide ○ Priapism, o...