Human Sexuality: Behaviors and Dysfunctions

Motivation Overview

• Motivation is the process of starting, directing, and continuing actions to meet physical or psychological needs.

Basic Motivational Concepts

• Concepts include hunger, sexual motivation, affiliation, and achievement.

Defining Motivation

• Motivation stems from the Latin word "movere," meaning "to move."
• Motivation is what drives people to act.

Types of Motivation

• Extrinsic motivation: Actions motivated by external rewards (e.g., money, praise).
• Intrinsic motivation: Actions motivated by internal satisfaction (e.g., enjoyment, satisfaction).

Basic Motivational Concepts (Further Perspectives)

• Instinct theory (evolutionary perspective): Innate, genetically predisposed behaviors.
• Drive-reduction theory: Responses to internal needs (e.g., hunger, thirst).
• Arousal theory: Optimal levels of stimulation drive behavior.
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs: Prioritization of needs (physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, self-actualization, transcendence).

Instincts and Evolutionary Psychology

• Darwin's work: Classified many behaviors as instincts.
• Instinct: Fixed, unlearned, species-typical behavior.
• Genes predispose some species-typical behaviors.

Instincts

• Early attempts to understand motivation focused on innate patterns of behavior (instincts) in humans and animals.

Same Motive, Different Wiring

• More complex nervous systems lead to more adaptable organisms.
• Humans and other animals achieve comparable needs in different ways, reflecting inherited capacities.

Drives and Incentives

• Drive-reduction theory: Physiological needs create tension (drive) to motivate satisfaction.
• Homeostasis: The tendency to maintain internal balance.
• Incentive: Positive or negative environmental stimulus motivating behavior.

Drive-Reduction Theory

• Connection between internal physiological states and outward behavior.
• Primary drives: Involve survival needs (e.g., hunger, thirst).
• Secondary drives: Acquired through experience (e.g., desire for money or social approval).

Limitations of Drive-Reduction Theory

• Theory cannot explain all human motivations, such as engaging in activities that increase arousal.

Arousal Theory

• People seek an optimal level of arousal.
• Task performance is best at a moderate arousal level.
• Yerkes-Dodson law: Optimal arousal for specific tasks.

Sensation Seeker

• Need for higher levels of arousal and stimulation.

A Hierarchy of Needs

• Maslow's theory views human motives as a hierarchy.
• Basic needs (physiological & security) precede higher-level needs (affiliation, esteem, self-actualization, transcendence).

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

• The highest level of need is self-actualization, the striving to reach fulfillment.
• Several levels of needs must be met before achieving this level.

The Role of the Hypothalamus

• Different areas of the hypothalamus control eating and satiety.

Weight Set Point and Basal Metabolic Rate

• Hypothalamus affects weight set point and basal metabolic rate (BMR).
• Injury to the hypothalamus can drastically affect these.
• Set point is the weight the body tries to maintain.

The Physiology of Hunger

• Multiple factors determine hunger. These include glucose levels, hormones (insulin, glucagon, leptin), and brain structures like the hypothalamus.

The Psychology of Hunger

• Cultural or environmental factors influence preferences.

Taste Preferences: Culture

• Adaptive food preferences exist for various climates and cultures.

An Acquired Taste

• People across different cultures develop tastes for fatty, bitter, and spicy foods common in their respective cultures.

Situational Influences on Eating

• External factors, such as friends, serve sizes, or food variety, can influence eating behavior and preferences.

Obesity and Weight Control

• Obesity rates are increasing worldwide.

Genetics and Environment in Obesity

• Genetics and environment contribute to obesity risk.
• Sleep loss, social influences, increased food consumption, and decreased activity contribute to obesity.
• Understanding obesity and weight control considers the biological and environmental factors.

Waist Management

• Maintaining a healthy weight involves mindful eating, exercise, and self-discipline.

Hormones and Sexual Behavior

• Hormones play a key role in regulating sexual behavior (e.g., testosterone, estrogen) during different phases of life.
• Large hormonal shifts occur during puberty and menopause.

The Sexual Response Cycle

• Excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution comprise typical patterns of physiological response during sexual activity.

Sexual Dysfunctions and Paraphilias

• Impairments in sexual arousal or functioning.
• Paraphilias: Unusual sexual interests that cause distress or harm.
• Includes specific disorders, such as erectile disorder, premature ejaculation, and female orgasmic disorder.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

• Primarily spread through sexual contact.

Teen Pregnancy

• Various factors influence the teen pregnancy rate, including minimal communication about birth control and cultural norms.

What is Sexual Orientation?

• Enduring attraction toward same-sex individuals (homosexual), opposite-sex individuals (heterosexual), or both (bisexual).

Sexual Orientation: The Numbers

• Survey results reflect varying degrees of openness in different cultures.

Origins of Sexual Orientation

• Explanations for the origins of sexual orientation remain a dynamic research area.

Gay-Straight Brain Differences

• Structural and functional differences exist between the brains of gay and straight individuals in specific hypothalamic regions and responsiveness to stimuli.

Sexual Orientation: Prenatal Influences

• Altered prenatal hormone exposure can influence sexual orientation in some situations.
• Men with multiple older brothers often show a higher probability of being gay.

Sexual Abilities Differences

• Homosexual and heterosexual individuals show differences in spatial abilities.

Sex and Human Relationships

• Stable relationships benefit from commitment between partners, regardless of sexual orientation.

The Benefits of Belonging

• Social bonds and cooperation are key factors in the survival and well-being of human ancestors.
• Group identity is crucial for both health and well-being.

Affiliation and Achievement

• Humans are fundamentally social and rely on affiliation to develop and flourish.
• Social needs greatly impact thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.
• Social isolation can increase mental decline and cause poor health.

The Pain of Being Shut Out

• Exclusion (ostracism) creates negative consequences like physical pain, depressed moods, elevated aggression risk, and mental decline.

The Need to Belong

• Ostracism and social isolation are harmful, physically and emotionally.
• The need for belonging shapes thoughts and behaviors in different cultures.

Connecting and Social Networking

• Increased rates of mobile phone use, texting, and internet use in recent years highlight the significance of digital connection in modern society.

Maintaining Balance and Focus

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires planning and prioritization of time between work, study, or social activities.
• Social media use can be a distraction, thereby requiring mindful use and self-discipline to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Achievement Motivation

• A desire for accomplishment and mastery of skills or ideas.
• Achievability matters beyond raw ability, often related to passion, and perseverance.

Research-Based Strategies for Achieving Goals

• Goal accomplishment requires deliberate planning.
• Communicating and establishing support systems are essential for motivation and consistency.

Explore topics in human sexuality, including hormonal influences, sexual response cycles, sexual dysfunctions, and unusual sexual desires. Learn about erectile disorders, AIDS, and factors influencing eating habits. Gain insights into the complexities of human sexual behavior.