Chapter 10 - Sexual Motivation and Behaviour Flashcards
(31 cards)
what is the relationship between sexual activity and well-being?
more frequent sex is correlated with greater well-being, but this levels off at about once per week.
what percentage of Canadian teens aged 15-17 have engaged in sexual intercourse?
about 30%
what percentage of Canadians aged 18-19 have engaged in sexual intercourse?
nearly 70%
What are the 4 stages of the sexual response cycle (developed by William Masters and Virginia Johnson in the late 1960s)?
excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution.
what happens during the excitement phase of the sexual response?
rapid increases in muscle tension, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure; vasocongestion (engorgement of blood vessels) occurs in erectile tissue (corpora cavernosa & corpus spongiosum in the penis, and clitoris & vaginal lips for women)
what occurs during the plateau phase of the sexual response?
arousal builds slowly; may fluctuate, especially with extended foreplay.
define orgasm
orgasm occurs when sexual arousal reaches its peak intensity and is discharged in a series of muscular contractions that pulsate through the pelvic area.
are orgasms the same for women and men? are there any differences?
the subjective experience is similar, but women are more likely to have multiple orgasms in a short period of time, and they are also more likely to have no orgasms during intercourse.
what is the resolution phase of the sexual response cycle?
gradual return to pre-arousal states; may be slow if orgasm did not occur.
what is the refractory period?
a time following orgasm during which men are largely unresponsive to further stimulation.
**varies from a few minutes to a few hours
how does frequency of orgasm differ by gender?
older data shows 78% of men orgasm every time, while 28% of women orgasm every time; newer studies find a smaller gap.
what are some possible reasons for the gender gap in orgasm frequency?
evolutionary biology (male orgasm has adaptive significance for reproductive fitness), guilt-based socialization, and sexual scripts and practices that are less than optimal for women.
what is the core idea of parental investment theory?
the sex that makes the smaller investment competes for mating opportunities, while the sex with the larger investment is more selective in choosing partners.
according to parental investment theory, why are human males though to pursue more partners?
males invest less in reproduction and can increase reproductive success by mating with many females.
why are human females more selective in choosing mates?
females invest more time and energy in pregnancy and child-rearing, so they benefit from choosing high-quality mates.
what sexual behaviour differences does evolutionary theory predict between men and women?
men: greater interest in sex, desire for variety, more willingness to engage in uncommitted sex.
women: more selective, prioritize mates with resources and stability.
what are some observed gender differences in sexual activity and motivation?
men think about sex more, initiate it more, masturbate more, and consume more porn than women.
what did studies find about men and women’s mate preferences across cultures?
men valued youth and physical attractiveness more; women prioritized status, ambition, and financial prospects.
define sexual orientation
a person’s preference for emotional and sexual relationships with individuals of the same sex, the other sex, or either sex.
what is asexuality?
a lack of interest in sexual behaviour.
What was Everett Klippert put in jail for in 1965?
being gay; the case spurred debate that led to legal reforms.
what did Pierre Elliot Trudeau propose in in 1967?
an amendment to relax laws against same-sex relations; passed in 1969.
When was same-sex marriage legalized in Canada?
July 20th, 2005
What did Kinsey propose about sexual orientation?
It exists on a continuum (scale), not in distinct categories.
