Human Sexuality and Motivation Quiz
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Questions and Answers

According to the provided content, what is the primary motivational system for race preservation?

  • Social Bonding
  • Hunger
  • Sexuality (correct)
  • Aggression

    • Which of the following becomes increasingly important in the regulation of sexuality during phylogenesis, particularly in humans?

  • Hormonal regulation
  • Biological regulation
  • Cognitive regulation (correct)
  • Central Nervous System influence

    • What did the research by Cain et al. (2003) reveal was the primary motivation for women having sex, according to the provided content?

  • To reduce tension or stress
  • To show their love (correct)
  • To fulfill the request of their partner
  • To gain pleasure

    • What is primarily indicated by the chromosomes of an embryo in the first couple of months after conception?

    <p>Whether the embryo will develop into a male or female.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Besides genes and hormones, what other factor is presented as a determinant of sexual identity?

    <p>Environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary function of estradiol in men, according to the provided text?

    <p>Modulating libido, erectile function, and spermatogenesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of estrogen on the vaginal lining?

    <p>It helps maintain the thickness and elasticity of the vaginal lining</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the roles that oxytocin plays in sexual behavior?

    <p>Increases skin sensitivity to touch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do women's bodies respond to testosterone compared to men's, according to the text?

    <p>Their body cells are more sensitive to testosterone.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a known effect of oxytocin, according to the provided text?

    <p>Stimulation of milk release and contributing to feelings of love and social attachments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method of data collection was used in the Kinsey Reports?

    <p>Personal interviews with research subjects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship described between stress and oxytocin secretion?

    <p>Stress lowers oxytocin secretion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What contradictory finding about estrogen administration and libido in women is mentioned in the text?

    <p>It has been found to both increase and decrease libido</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which hormone is primarily responsible for male sexual desire (libido)?

    <p>Testosterone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of estrogen in women?

    <p>Ovaries and placenta</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is NOT a known primary effect of low testosterone levels on men, according to the text?

    <p>Erectile dysfunction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does testosterone replacement therapy have on women with low levels of this hormone?

    <p>Enhanced sexual desire and arousal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which hormone is often referred to as the 'love hormone'?

    <p>Oxytocin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary source of testosterone in men?

    <p>Testes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of androgen-blocking drugs on sexual desire?

    <p>Reduce sexual desire in men and women</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does supplemental testosterone have on women with normal testosterone levels, according to the text?

    <p>It significantly increases genital responsiveness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about estrogen is correct, according to the text?

    <p>Testes produce much smaller quantities of estrogens than ovaries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common symptom of hypogonadism in males?

    <p>Testosterone deficiency and reduction in sexual desire</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sense is highly variable in its role in sexual arousal?

    <p>Hearing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary effect of amyl nitrites on the body regarding sexual arousal?

    <p>It dilates arteries to the brain and genital area, producing warmth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the general effect of aphrodisiac substances on sexual function?

    <p>Most substances have no direct effect on sexual response, despite claims.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might alcohol be considered an aid to sexual activity for some individuals?

    <p>It reduces inhibitions to make sexual activity less stressful.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the approximate percentage of women who report regularly experiencing multiple orgasms?

    <p>15%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the content, what is a key factor enabling some men to experience multiple orgasms?

    <p>Withholding ejaculation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the content, which is a common side effect of long-term, high dose amphetamine use on sexual function?

    <p>Erectile disorder and delayed ejaculation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is considered the ideal waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) for women, according to the provided content?

    <p>0.7</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the status of research regarding the role of pheromones in human sexual arousal?

    <p>There is still ongoing debate and unclear findings about their importance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What range is considered the ideal waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) for men, according to the provided content?

    <p>0.85 - 0.95</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following foods have been claimed to be an aphrodisiac, despite having no proven effect?

    <p>Bananas, asparagus, and cucumbers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common misconception about the effect of substances like amphetamines on sexual experience?

    <p>They can enhance sexual experience with high sensitivity and response.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is commonly understood to follow ejaculation in men, according to the content?

    <p>A refractory period</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes an anaphrodisiac?

    <p>A substance that lessens or inhibits sexual desire and libido.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the information provided, which of the following is NOT a potential side effect of birth control pills?

    <p>Increased sexual desire.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a typical effect of nicotine on sexual function?

    <p>Increasing blood flow to the genitals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a typical side effect of antidepressants on sexual function?

    <p>Increased desire</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Masters and Johnson's research was groundbreaking because it:

    <p>Provided some of the first direct laboratory observations and measurements of human sexual activity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is the correct order of Masters and Johnson's four-stage model of the sexual response cycle?

    <p>Excitement, Plateau, Orgasm, Resolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common limitation of the Masters and Johnson model of sexual response, as highlighted in the text?

    <p>It focuses only on physiology, and not the entire personal experience of sexual response.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the summary, what is a noted similarity between the sexes regarding sexual response?

    <p>Men and women show many more similarities than differences regarding sexual response.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Affective Psychology: The Motive of Sex

    • Sexuality is a primary motivational system for race preservation. Success in reproduction is linked to the act of making love, not war.
    • Biological regulation of sexuality:
      • Hormonal regulation becomes less important during phylogenesis (evolutionary development).
      • Central Nervous System (CNS) regulation is crucial in humans, evidenced by the role of sex fantasies in arousal.
      • Learning and previous experiences become more important in evolutionary development (e.g., Harlow experiments).
      • Cultural factors are also vitally important.
    • Cognitive regulation is important in humans due to the role of sex fantasies in sexual arousal.
    • Learning and previous experiences play a larger role in human sexual development compared to other species.
    • Cultural influences deeply affect human sexuality.

    Sexuality as an Element in Intimate Relationships

    • A study by Cain et al. (2003) of thousands of women revealed that most (around 90%) are motivated to show their love when engaging in sexual activity.
    • Other significant motivations reported by women included:
      • 80% reported enjoying pleasure
      • 70% reported fulfilling their partner's desire
      • 60-70% felt that sex reduced tension/stress
      • A very small percentage (around 1-2%) responded that they wished to have a baby.
    • Human sexuality is a key aspect in forming and maintaining pair-bonding.

    Determinants of Sexual Identity

    • Genes
    • Hormones
    • Environment

    Early Sexual Development

    • Genes: At the beginning of development of a fetus, or about the first couple of months after conception, the chromosomes determine whether the baby will develop into a male or a female.
      • XX chromosomes indicate the embryo will develop into a female.
      • XY chromosomes indicate the embryo will develop into a male.
    • Genetic disorders can affect this process
    • Example: Monosomy XO can result in Turner syndrome.

    Adult Sexuality: Hormones

    • Steroid hormones
      • "Male sex hormones" and "female sex hormones" are actually produced in both sexes.
      • Testosterone:
        • The primary androgen (male hormone).
        • Produced mainly in the testes (men), but smaller amounts are also secreted by adrenal glands in men and women.
        • Men typically produce significantly more testosterone than women.
      • Estrogen:
        • The main female sex hormone.
        • Produced in the ovaries and placenta (women) as well as in smaller quantities in the testes (men) and adrenal glands (both).
        • Testes produce much less estrogen than the ovaries
    • Neuropeptide hormones:
      • Oxytocin;
        • Acts as a hormone and neurotransmitter.
        • Produced in the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain (men and women).
        • Also secreted in the ovaries (women) and testes (men).
        • Influences erotic and emotional attraction (often called the "love hormone").

    Testosterone in Sexual Behavior

    • Linked to male sexual desire (libido)
    • May have a less direct impact on sexual functioning
    • Lower testosterone levels (in men) can still result in full erections and orgasms, but a reduced interest in sex.
    • Evidence from research using castration studies and medication in men:
      • Reduction of sexual desire and activity.
      • Use in medical treatments of conditions, such as prostate cancer.
    • In women:
      • Important for sexual desire and arousal.
      • Testosterone replacement therapy can significantly increase sexual desire and arousal, especially in postmenopausal women.
      • Supplementary testosterone can increase genital responsiveness within hours.

    Estrogens in Sexual Behavior

    • Role is still not completely clear
    • In males:
    • Important for fertility and sexual function, may be associated with nerve cells in the brain controlling territory defense in mice
    • In females:
    • Contribute to a general sense of well-being; low levels of estrogen are linked to low mood and postpartum/peri-menopausal depression.
    • Also maintain thickness/elasticity of vaginal lining and may be linked to vaginal lubrication.

    How much testosterone is necessary for normal sexual functioning

    • Levels of free testosterone are much lower in women than in men.
    • Women's body cells are more sensitive to testosterone than men's.
    • Testosterone levels decline with age in both sexes.

    Oxytocin in Male and Female Sexual Behavior

    • Released during physical intimacy and touch
    • Increases skin sensitivity to touch
    • High levels associated with orgasm.
    • High levels thought to contribute to emotional and erotic bonding.
    • Important for facilitating social attachments and feelings of love (e.g., mother-child bonding)
    • Stress lowers oxytocin levels.

    The Brain and Sexual Arousal

    • Sexual arousal can occur without sensory stimulation (thoughts and fantasies).
    • Factors that are considered attractive vary greatly depending on culture.
    • Cultural conditioning plays a major role in determining the stimuli individuals find arousing (e.g., some cultures find bare breasts erotic, while others do not).

    Anatomical Regions of the Brain Involved in Sexual Arousal and Response

    • Cerebral cortex
      • The “thinking center” of the brain.
    • Limbic system
      • Associated with emotions, motivation, and memory.
      • Structures include: hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and cingulate gyrus.
    • Stimulation of certain areas of the limbic system leads to intense sexual pleasure in humans.
    • Damage to specific hypothalamic areas can significantly reduce sexual behavior in various species.

    Neurotransmitters and Sexual Arousal

    • Dopamine:
      • Released in the pleasure center of the limbic system.
      • Facilitates sexual arousal and response. -Testosterone stimulates dopamine release in both men and women.
    • Oxytocin
      • Already discussed
    • Serotonin:
      • Inhibits sexual activity.
      • Inhibits the release of dopamine.
      • Antidepressants that increase serotonin levels (SSRIs) can decrease libido and sexual response.

    Sexual Arousal: The Role of the Senses

    • Touch:
      • Primary erogenous areas contain high concentrations of nerve endings.
      • Secondary erogenous zones are areas that become erotically sensitive through experience.
    • Vision:
      • Males are often more aroused by visual stimuli than females.
      • This is influenced by social conditioning (view of pornography, expectations).
    • Smell:
      • Highly influenced by a person’s past experiences and social conditioning. Some cultures consider the smell of genital secretions a sexual stimulant.
      • Other individuals note a desire for people with whom they feel an attraciton toward or whom they are physically intimate with.
    • Hearing:
      • Highly variable.
      • Some find words, erotic conversation, moans, etc., to be arousing.
      • Others prefer quiet or intimacy.
    • Taste:
      • Plays a minor role in arousal.

    Aphrodisiacs and Anaphrodisiacs

    • Aphrodisiacs are substances alleged to increase sexual desire and activity (e.g., bananas, asparagus, and ground-up animal horns). Foods of this kind rarely have any effect.
    • Certain drugs (e.g., some stimulants and depressants) can increase or decrease sexual desire or responses depending on the dose and properties of the agent.
    • Anaphrodisiacs lessen or inhibit desire and libido (e.g., birth control pills, opiates, tranquilizers, nicotine, and some blood pressure medications, drugs treating heart disease, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and antipsychotics).

    The Sexual Response: Masters & Johnson

    • Masters and Johnson recorded physiological data from 382 women and 312 men from 1957-1965.
    • Their research focused on the physiological responses of the human body during sexual activity.
    • They recorded data on masturbation and sexual intercourse; developed a 4-stage model of human sexual response.

    Masters & Johnson's Four-Stage Model of Sexual Response

    • Excitement
    • Plateau
    • Orgasm
    • Resolution.
    • Note: There are lot's of variations in individual experiences.

    Sexual Response Cycle Differences Between the Sexes

    • Women are more varied in their response than men:
    • Women can have multiple orgasms in a single sexual session, often without a refractory period.
    • Males have a refractory period after orgasm, which can range from a few minutes to hours.

    Sexual Attraction

    • Facial metrics
    • Body metrics are important in sexual attraction (e.g., waist to hip ratio).
    • Female and male preference (cultural differences on ideals).
    • Dove's campaign for real beauty (Focus on average women, not ideal physical standards)
    • Thabiso M'Timkulu's website for his course on Human Sexuality
    • McGraw-Hill Human Sexuality Image Bank
    • Naked Science Video on What is sexy?

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    Related Documents

    Affective Psychology: The Motive of Sex PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge on human sexuality and the psychological motivations behind sexual behavior. This quiz covers key concepts related to genetic, hormonal, and sociocultural influences on sexuality. Dive into the research findings and understand the complexities of sexual identity and behavior.

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