Download EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (7th Edition in Modules) David Myers

Sexual
Motivation
Module 27
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Motivation
Sexual Motivation Overview
 The Physiology of Sex
 The Psychology of Sex
 Adolescent Sexuality
 Sexual Orientation
 Sex and Human Values
 The Need to Belong
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Sexual Motivation
 Sex
 a physiologically based motive
(testosterone, limbic system,
pheromones)
 but it is affected by learning and values
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Sexual Motivation
 Same drives, different attitudes
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Men’s Porn
• …is visual, anatomical, impulsive,
floridly promiscuous, and devoid
of context and character.
• Men fantasize about copulating
with bodies….
• Dr. Pinker in Better Angels of Our Nature
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Women’s Erotica
• …far more likely to be verbal,
psychological, reflective, serially
monogamous, and rich in context
and character.
• Women fantasize about making
love to people…
• Dr. Pinker in Better Angels of Our Nature
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The contrast
• The contrasts between romance
novels and porn videos are so
numerous and profound that they
can make one marvel that men
and women ever get together at
all, much less stay together and
successfully rear children.
• Dr. Pinker in Better Angels of Our Nature
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Guys…
• Have you read 50
Shades of Gray?
• Were you
disappointed?
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For the
articles
….right?
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Sexual Motivation
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The Physiology of Sex
Masters and Johnson (1966) describe the human
sexual response cycle as consisting of four phases:
Phase
Physiological Response
Excitement
Genitals become engorged with blood. Vagina expands
secretes lubricant. Penis enlarges.
Plateau
Excitement peaks breathing, pulse and blood pressure,
continue to increase
Orgasm
Contractions all over the body. Increase in breathing,
pulse & blood pressure. Sexual release.
Resolution
Engorged genitals release blood. Male goes through
refractory phase. Women resolve slower.
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The Sexual Response Cycle
Adapted from W.H. Masters and E.E. Johnson, Human Sexual Response, p. 5 (Boston: Little, Brown, & Company, 1966). Reprinted
by permission from Masters and Johnson Institute.
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Sexual Problems
Men generally suffer from two kinds of
sexual problems: premature ejaculation
and erectile disorder.
Women sometimes suffer from orgasmic
disorders.
These problems are
not due to
personality
disorders and can
be treated through
behavior therapy
and drugs such as
Viagra.
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Hormones and Sexual Behavior
Sex hormones effect the development
of sexual characteristics and
(especially in animals) activate sexual
behavior.
Testosterone
(Small amounts of
Male
Testes
estrogen)
Female
Ovaries
Adrenals
Estrogen
(Small amounts of
testosterone)
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Estrogen
Female animals “in heat” express peak
levels of estrogen. Female receptivity in
animals may be heightened with estrogen
injections.
Sex hormones may have milder affects on humans than
on animals. Women are more likely to have sex when
close to ovulation (increased testosterone), and men
show increased testosterone levels when socializing
with women.
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Testosterone
Levels of testosterone remain
relatively constant in males, so it is
difficult to manipulate and activate
sexual behavior.
Castration, which reduces
testosterone levels, lowers sexual
interest.
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The Psychology of Sex
Hunger responds to a need. If we do not
eat, we die. In that sense, sex is not a need
because if we do not have sex, we do not
die.
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External Stimuli
Men become sexually aroused
when browsing through erotic
material.
However, women experience
similar heightened arousal with
similar material.
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Imagined Stimuli
Sotographs/The Gamma-Liaison Network/ Getty Images
Our imagination can influence sexual
arousal and desire. People with spinal
cord injuries and no genital sensation can
still feel sexual desire.
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Adolescent Sexuality
When individuals reach adolescence,
their sexual behavior develops.
However, there are cultural
differences.
Sexual promiscuity in modern Western culture is much
greater than in Arab countries and other Asian
countries.
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Contraception
1. Ignorance: Many do not have the right ideas
about birth control methods.
2. Guilt Related to Sexual Activity: Guilt
reduces sexual activity, but it also reduces
the use of contraceptives.
3. Minimal Communication: Many teenagers
feel uncomfortable discussing
contraceptives.
4. Alcohol Use: Those who use alcohol prior to
sex are less likely to use contraceptives.
5. Mass Media: The media’s portrayal of
unsafe extramarital sex decreases the use of
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contraceptives.
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STDs
• Roughly 1 in 4 individuals will get an
STD in their lifetime.
• “This class of infections is second
only to the common cold in
frequency.”
– Sharon S. Hutchins, Ph.D., MPH
» Epidemiologist
» Community Assessment, Planning and Evaluation (CAPE)
Unit
» Stanislaus County Health Services Agency/Public Health
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Factors that reduce sexual activity
in teens.
1. High Intelligence: Teens with higher
intelligence are likely to delay sex.
2. Religiosity: Religious teens and adults often
reserve sex for a marital commitment.
3. Father Presence: A father’s absence from
home can contribute to higher teen sexual
activity.
4. Learning Programs: Teens who volunteer
and tutor in community projects are less
likely to engage in unsafe sex.
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What about “purity” rings…
• 82 percent of those who had taken a pledge had retracted their
promises
• There was no significant difference in the proportion of
students in both groups who had engaged in any type of sexual
activity.
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Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation refers to a person’s
preference for emotional and sexual
relationships with individuals of the same
sex, the other sex, and/or either sex.
Homosexual
Heterosexual
Bisexual
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Sexual Orientation Statistics
In Europe and America, based on many
national surveys, homosexuality in men is
3-4% and in women is 1-2%.
As members of a minority, homosexuals often
struggle with their sexual orientation.
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Origins of Sexual Orientation
Origins unclear
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Genes & Sexual Orientation
A number of studies suggest that homosexuality
may be due to genetic factors.
1. Family: Homosexuality seems to run in
families.
2. Twin studies: Homosexuality is more
common in identical twins than fraternal
twins.
3. Fruit flies: Genetic engineers can genetically
manipulate females to act like males during
courtship and males to act like females.
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Sexual Orientation: Biology
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Changing Attitudes
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Homophobic tweets
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The Need to Belong
“[Man] is a social animal,” (Aristotle).
Separation from others increases our need to
belong.
20th Century Fox/ Dreamworks/ The Kobal Collection
“Cast Away,” Tom Hanks, suffers
from social starvation.
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Aiding Survival
Social bonds boosted our
ancestors’ survival rates.
1. Protecting against predators.
2. Procuring food, hunting and
gathering
3. Come together to reproduce the
next offspring, and nurture young.
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Belongingness
1. Wanting to Belong: We spend a lot of time
thinking about real and imagined
relationships
2. Social Acceptance: A sense of belonging
with others increases our self-esteem. Social
segregation decreases it.
3. Maintaining Relationships: We resist
breaking social bonds
4. Ostracism: Social exclusion leads to
demoralization, depression, and at times
nasty behavior.
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EXPLORING
PSYCHOLOGY
(7th Edition in Modules)
David Myers
PowerPoint Slides
Aneeq Ahmad
Henderson State University
Worth Publishers, © 2008
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