Lecture 7: Lifespan perspective

Question 1

True or False: Childhood infancy is from birth to 2 years of age engage in ‘sexual’ behaviours

Answer 1

True!

Question 2

What sexual behaviours does a child from birth to 2 years participate in?
a) boys have erections in the first weeks of life
b) explores own body, including genitals
c) displays spontaneous, reflexive sexual response
d) enjoys touch from caregivers
e) enjoys nudity
f) All of the above

Answer 2

f) All of the above

Question 3

What are the learning domains for sexuality for children from birth to 2 years?

Answer 3

1. Learning correct names for body part
2. Differentiate between male and female
3. Learn to experience pleasure from touch (cuddling)

Question 4

What sexual behaviours can be expected in a child from early infancy (2) to 5 years?

Answer 4

a) engaging in occasional masturbation (soothing, not arousal)
b) still enjoys and comfortable with nudity
c) Consensual exploration of same-aged playmates’ bodies (curiosity about genitals may increase)

Question 5

what are the learning domains from 2 to 5 years?

Answer 5

1. very basics of reproduction (no need to go in to detail)
2. basic rules of privacy/boundaries
3. Learns “your body belongs to you” (autonomy over their body)
4. difference between appropriate and inappropriate

Question 6

What are some common sexual behaviours from ages 5 to 8?

Answer 6

1. Crushes (first romantic attachments) may occur
2. Curiosity about the genitals increases; playing doctor common b/t ages 6 to 10
3. Exploratory same-sex play is more common than play with other genders and may include handling the genitals
4. same-sex play does not foreshadow adult sexual orientation

Question 7

What are the learning domains from ages 5 to 8?

Answer 7

a) basic understanding of human reproduction
b) basic understanding of physical changes related to puberty
c) understanding b/t same-sex and straight relationships

Question 8

What are the two ways of thinking about sexuality?

Answer 8

1. Sexuality for adults
2. Sexuality viewed through a broader lens

Question 9

What are the consequences of thinking about sexuality as ONLY for adults?

Answer 9

Since we focus on sexuality as an adult behaviour, we will feel like we need to protect children from the topic, which can have consequences:

1. If children do not get answers from parents, they will get the information elsewhere, which could be false/harmful
2. When the child has sexual feelings/urges, they will feel shame and guilt due to the messages they receive from adults that it is inappropriate
3. Children cannot say no and are uncomfortable in threatening situations.

Question 10

What are the consequences of thinking about sexuality from a broader or lifespan perspective?

Answer 10

1. Sexuality is something that belongs to all of us regardless of our age
2. Sexual feelings are common across all ages, but with children, it is about curiosity, and with adults, it is about sexual desire and arousal.
3. Starts at birth and develops throughout our lifetime through the level we experience as adults
4. It begins in infancy and increases (or changes) as we get older

Question 11

True or False: Providing condoms in high school or middle school leads to having an increase in sexual activity

Answer 11

False!
–> it actually leads to a decrease in sexual activity or no change

Question 12

What are the 4 main developmental tasks of adolescent sexuality?

Answer 12

1. Adapt to the physical and emotional changes of puberty
2. Accept yourself as a sexual being
3. Explore romantic and sexual relationships
4. Learn to protect your sexual health

Question 13

Which two tasks of adolescent sexuality could we improve on?

Answer 13

2. Accept yourself as a sexual being
   - who do I like/dislike?
3. Explore romantic and sexual relationships
   - falling in love/heartbroken
   - being comfortable and confident in your own body

Question 14

What are some things that come up in adolescent sexuality regarding puberty when in a relationship?

Answer 14

1. Might be physically ready to procreate/have sex but not mentally or cognitively ready to deal with complicated relationship dynamics
2. Timing of puberty
   Boys: variability on time 10 - 14
   Girls: even greater timing: trending earlier 8 - 14
3. There is more reason to discuss at an early age because these things come up at an early age

Question 15

What are primary sex characteristics?

Answer 15

They are sex characteristics that are involved in reproduction—changes to the sex organs such as the testes, the uterus.

Question 16

What are secondary sex characteristics?

Answer 16

Hair growth, breast development, height and weight

Question 17

From a biological POV, what happens when puberty starts? (potential short answer question)

Answer 17

HPG Axis
- includes hypothalamus
-pituitary gland
- a year or two before our bodies start puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH.
-GNRH will cause the pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones. These are the fluid-filled sacs that contain egg cells.
- FSH in females is the development of egg cells, and in males, it is the development of sperm
-Luteinizing hormones in females are related to the development of estrogen; in males, it is related to testosterone production.

Question 18

HPG axis operates on a negative feedback loop. This system keeps a track of the level of sex hormones. What does a negative feedback loop do?

Answer 18

If we have a rise in sex hormones it will cause the system to turn off.

If we have a decrease in sex hormones, it will cause the system to turn on.

Question 19

What factors influence the onset of puberty?

Answer 19

a) genetics
b) Nutrition
c) Stability of home environment (less stable associated with early period)

Question 20

True or False?
In childhood the HPG axis causes the hypothalamus to have a high sensitivity (very sensitive to change) and a low set point (only a small amount of sex hormones are needed to turn off the hypothalamus).

Answer 20

True!

Question 21

True or false?
In adolescence, the HPG axis causes the hypothalamus to have a high sensitivity and a high set point.

Answer 21

False!
In Adolescence, the hypothalamus has a low sensitivity (no sensitivity) and a high set point (more hormones are needed to turn off the hypothalamus)

Question 22

Far more males report orgasms (76%) compared to females (12%) – does this surprise you?
&
More females (54%) found it emotionally satisfying compared to males (42%)

Why is this important?

Answer 22

Sexual satisfaction predicts health, well-being, happiness and relationship satisfaction.

Question 23

Compare the Biological POV to a broader POV as to why would it be important for a woman to orgasm? What is a theory that attempts to explain women orgasming as a means outside of reproductive purposes?
(potential short answer question)

other then looking at it from an evolutionary POV (reproduction)

Answer 23

Context - Study wanted to know if it was important for women to orgasm from a bio POV.

Result = Women: Orgasm does not contribute to reproductive success and accompanies intercourse unreliable

no correlation between women who orgasmed more frequently and having an increase in offspring.Thus, women don’t necessarily have to. However, orgasms can contribute (some research out there). For women, it is not as clear.

• Evolution of Ovulation (Theory to explain results)

1. Reflex/induced ovulators: (female cats) produce a mature egg only when stimulated by intercourse
   At one point in time, women would produce a mature egg only when they had an orgasm
2. Spontaneous ovulators: women produce eggs monthly independent of sexual intercourse
   Regardless of whether or not a woman had an orgasm, women would produce eggs monthly

Question 24

So, if from an evolutionary POV, it does not matter as much if some women experience orgasm or not, why do some women experience orgasm if there is no need? Two theories attempt to explain this:
What are these two theories?

Answer 24

1. Byproduct theory: Males and females develop similar traits in the first two months of life as our basic body plan and tissue patterns get laid down.
   
   • Nipples - women have them, and it is necessary to feed the offspring
     Men have nipples but don’t need them
   • The idea from this theory is that women have orgasms b/c men need them
2. Pair-bond theory: Adaptation-based, evolved to strengthen the relationship between male and female, encouraging women to return to man
   
   • If a woman does experience an orgasm with her partner, it is beneficial from an evolutionary POV as this encourages her to stay and have a relationship with her partner and have a child.

Question 25

Why is it important for women to have orgasms outside of a reproductive purpose?

a) understanding their own body
b) encouraging women to return to man
c) can help reduce pain
d) helps with sleep
e) All of the above
f) a, c and d

Answer 25

f) a, c, & d

Question 26

What are some risk factors for adolescents engaging in sexual activity early?

Answer 26

• Other high-risk activities, such as drug use, delinquency, and school-related problems
• Forced sex involving drugs/alcohol
  Unprotected sex
• Becoming/causing pregnancy
• Experience of dating violence
• Increased number of sexual partners

Question 27

What predicts intercourse at a young age?

Harsh and/or unpredictable childhood environments - longitudinal study

Heather: Impoverished neighborhood; Low SES

Uma: Impoverished neighbourhood; Low SES; unpredictable (moving from place to place; different people in the home)

Developmental psychopathology approach: Harsh environments undermine healthy development; each girl should start having sex at an early age, have many sexual partners, engage in risky behaviours

Evolutionary approach: In response to difficult, early social environments, risky strategies may increase the probability of passing on one’s genes.

Answer 27

Early harshness is not related to sexual partners but related to sexual activity

Early harshness and later harshness/was related to other variables

–> Living in an unpredictable environment is more risky than living in a harsh environment.

Question 28

True or False?
Preadolescent (9 to 12 years) sex play involves a mutual display of genitals with or without touching.

Answer 28

True!

Question 29

True or False?
Being less connected to family (relationship with parents) and school can be associated with experiencing intercourse at a younger age.

Answer 29

True!

Question 30

What is puberty?

Answer 30

Begins with the appearance of secondary sex characteristics (height, weight, hair growth) and ends when long bones reach their length.

Also involves changes in primary sex characteristics such as the testes and uterus.

Question 31

What are some of the changes that take place in puberty for females? What does estrogen do?

Answer 31

FSH released by the pituitary gland causes the ovaries to secrete estrogen.

Estrogen can promote the growth of the following:
-uterus
-vagina and labia
-thickening of the lining of the vaginal wall
- growth of fatty tissue in hips/butt

Question 32

What do androgens promote the growth of in females when in puberty?

Answer 32

androgens -cause the clitoris to develop

Question 33

True or false?
A girl’s early menstrual cycle is usually anovulatory (can not ovulate), and cannot become pregnant until ovulation

Answer 33

True!

Question 34

What are some changes that happen in males in puberty?
What does testosterone do?

Answer 34

Hypothalamus signals to the pituitary gland to increase FSH and LH, which tell the testes to increase testosterone which allows the testes, scrotum and penis to grow.

Testosterone allows secondary sex characteristics to form, hair growth, and deepening of the voice.

Question 35

True or False?
Nocturnal emissions in boys usually occur when they sleep and are dreaming.

Answer 35

True!

Question 36

What is the traditional sexual script theory?

Answer 36

States that young men are supposed to be attracted to and pursue young women, who are supposed to take passive roles in relationship development and conform to cultural ideals of feminine attractiveness.