Understanding Sexuality

Understanding Sexuality

• Sexuality encompasses all of life's events
• This includes womb to tomb life occurrences, knowing oneself, gender, and relationships
• Sexuality also deals with sexual feelings, living, birth, and death

Sexuality Defined

• Sexuality refers to the quality of being sexual
• The main aspects that encompass sexuality:
  • Sex
  • Biological/physiological sex
  • Gender
  • Gender identity
  • Gender roles
  • Sexual orientation

Sexual Orientation

• Sexual orientation is categorized by affectional, emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction from one person to another.
• Sexual orientation is determined by gender(s) or biological sex people are attracted to
• In effect, sexual orientation informs if attraction is primarily toward the same sex, the opposite sex, or both
• Sexual orientation exists on a scale, from homosexuality to heterosexuality, with bisexuality in between
• Sexual orientation is an important part of self and how we’re viewed by others
• Sexual orientation can vary, depending on experiences and understanding during one's life
• Sexual orientation differs from sexual behaviour
  • Orientation refers to feelings and self-identity, not just actions
  • People may or may not express or act on their sexual orientation

Sex vs Gender

• Sex relates to the biological aspects of being male or female
  • Sex differences are physical differences
• Gender relates to psychological and sociocultural meanings added to biological sex
  • Gender differences result from people's thinking about gender

Sex Dimensions

• Sex can be classified into seven dimensions:
  • Chromosomes
  • Gonads
  • Hormones
  • External genitalia
  • Internal accessory organs
  • Secondary sex characteristics
  • Sexual orientation
• For males:
  • XY chromosomes
  • Testes gonads
  • Androgens hormones
  • Penis and scrotum external genitalia
  • Prostate and seminal vesicles internal accessory organs
  • Beard, low voice, and sperm emission secondary sex characteristics
  • Heterosexual, gay, and bisexual sexual orientations
• For females:
  • XX chromosomes
  • Ovaries gonads
  • Estrogens hormones
  • Labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening external genitalia
  • Vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes internal accessory organs
  • Breasts and menstruation secondary sex characteristics
  • Heterosexual, lesbian, and bisexual sexual orientations

Gender Dimensions

• Gender can be classified into two dimensions.
  • Identity
  • Role
  • For males:
    • Perceives self as male identity
    • Masculine role
  • For females:
    • Perceives self as female identity
    • Feminine role
• Gender identity is self-defined
• Gender role is socially defined

Determinants of Gender Identity

• Gender identity is the personal view of oneself as male or female
• Environmental factors were once assumed to be the central determinants of gender identity due to sociocultural influences
• The case of a castrated identical twin whose gender was reassigned after a botched circumcision was seen as evidence for the role of environmental factors
  • Eventually rejected the reassignment and took on a male gender identity

Gender Role Development

• Gender roles are societal expectations for normal and appropriate female and male behavior
• Social-learning theory: gender roles develop as children through rewards/punishments and imitation
• Cognitive-developmental theory: children develop gender schemas

Gender Differences

• Regarding cognitive abilities:
  • Females score higher on verbal skills
  • Males score higher on math and visual-spatial skills
• Regarding aggression:
  • Males exhibit greater physical aggressiveness
  • Females are higher on relational aggression, such as spreading rumors and excluding others

Scientific Study of Sexuality

• Havelock Ellis was among the first physicians to initiate a scientific study of sexuality
  • His studies showed nocturnal emissions were not dangerous
  • Ellis promoted the dissemination of accurate information on human sexuality
• Alfred Kinsey used surveys and interviews to study sexual practices and beliefs
• Masters and Johnson brought the study of sexuality into the laboratory to study the sexual response cycle

Sexual Activity

• Men are thought to have a greater sexual drive, interest and activity than women
• Evolutionary perspective:
  • Men developed interest in sex with multiple partners to maximize the possibility of passing on their genes
  • Women seek a good provider
• Social Role Approach: Gender differences reflect cultural roles and division of labor
  • Women prefer resource-rich men only when they live in cultures without reproductive freedom or educational equality

Sexual Orientation Facts

• Homosexuality may reflect the impact of biological factors
  • Biological factors are supported by twin studies that suggest genetic influence is at play
• Homosexuality is typically unrelated to factors like:
  • Poor parenting
  • Arrested development
  • Immature personality
  • Childhood seduction by adults
  • Modeling of gay behaviors and views from others

Homosexuality Stats

• The following are gay or bisexual:
  • 2.8% of men
  • 1.4% of women
• Research says:
  • 44% of gay men fit the stereotype as feminine
  • 54% of lesbians fit stereotype as masculine

Transsexuals

• Transsexuals Identify as a member of the opposite sex
• Transsexuals may utilize “sex reassignment” surgery to transition

Social Influence Hypothesis

• One hypothesis suggests Homosexuality arises from early sexual experiences
• There is a study of gay men (Bell) that supports it
• "Adult homosexuality is a continuation of earlier homosexual feelings and behaviors"

Opposing View

• There is a view that Others influence this homosexual behavior
• Examples include
  • Spending more time with boys
  • Being masturbated by other boys

Biological Hypothesis:

• 70% of homosexuals remember being “different” as early as 4 or 5 years of age
• Gender nonconformity is common among Homosexuals
  • includes Engageing in activities preferred by opposite sex
  • Atypical preference for other-sex playmates early in development

Genetic Influences:

• Homosexuality is 2-7 times higher among siblings of homosexuals than the population at-large
• Identical twins are more concordant than fraternal twins for homosexual traits

Research (Hamer):

• Gay men have More gay relatives on mothers side than father's side of the family
• 64% of the pairs of Gay brothers in a study who had gay relatives on mother's side shared same material at end of X chromosome

Hormonal influences:

• Studies of hormonal levels of gays and straights have determined No difference in sex hormone levels
• Attempts have been made tp reverse male homosexuality with Administering testosterone to gay men
  • Did not affect sexual preference
  • Increased level of gay sexual activity
• There are Prenatal differences in hormone levels of animals can be observed through:
  • Early hormonal manipulation
  • Observing Same-sex preferences for rats, hamsters, ferrets, pigs, zebra finches

Animal studies of hormone influence:

• Critics of hormonal influence findings say Homosexuality only occurs in absence of members of opposite sex
• However the Response to critics is that:
  • 10% of male sheep prefer other males
  • Some female gulls formed lesbian pairs
• In homosexual humans,there is Little evidence of prenatal hormonal imbalances

Brain Structure

• Looking at Brain Structure Differences:
  • Third interstitial nucleus of anterior hypothalamus (INAH3) is Involved in sexual activity of animals
    • it's Half the size in gay men and heterosexual women as in heterosexual men
  • Suprachiasmatic nucleus of hypothalamus; Regulates reproductive cycle of female rats & Controls daily cycles in rats and humans
  • Is Larger in gay men than heterosexual men
    • Contain twice as many cells that secrete vasopressin Excessive vasopressin in male rats associated in increased homosexual behavior

Brain Anatomy

• Anterior commissure Connects the left and right hemisphere.
• It is Larger in gay men and heterosexual women than heterosexual men
  • It aids in Partial explanation for higher verbal score of gay men.
• Central bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BSTC) has ; mm structure in hypothalamus and is involved in Role in sexual activity of male rats
  • the size of the Male-to-female transsexuals is Similar in size to women; and Smaller than other men

Another key area of Brain:

• Central bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BSTC)
• Concerning Female-to-male transsexuals
  • They're Male-sized
• Hormonal manipulation of fetal rats are known to Affect size of BSTc, leading the Brainlikely to be feminized during fetal stage.

Female homosexuality

• Little evidence exists about masculinization of lesbians' brains prenatally
• Concordance studies indicates it is As High for lesbians as for gays
• Physical differences of lesbians include:
  • Index-to-ring-finger ratios being Indistinguishable from heterosexual men with Longer ring fingers that are Influenced by testosterone during prenatal period
• Index and ring finger in Heterosexual women are the same length

Still on Female homosexuality

• Physical differences exist in Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions; that are used to give Faint sound off by inner ear when stimulated
  • the level of this Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions is Weaker in lesbians and men (both heterosexual and homosexual) and are typically Influenced by testosterone during prenatal period
• On Social issues:
  • If homosexuality is biological, then civil rights legislation applies to them
  • 75% of homosexuals believe their condition is inborn.

Sexual Function

• Sexual behavior in males and females involves arousal of the peripheral sex organs, the spinal cord,and the brain.
• Factors that modulate activity within any of these regions can impair sexual function
• Sexual arousal involves activity within the parasympathetic nervous system (allows for blood flow to the sex organs)
• Sexual orgasm involves the activation of the sympathetic nervous system

Determinants of Healthy Sexual Function:

• Psychological well-being
• Partner relationship
• Developmental experiences (History of abuse)
• Physical health(Medication use)
• Lifestyle factors(Substance abuse)

Sexual Dysfunctions

• Male sexual problems can include Impotence (inability to maintain an erection) & Premature ejaculation
• For both Males and Females Dyspareunia (painful intercourse) can be noted including Inhibited desire and Sexual aversion
• For Females exclusively Orgasmic dysfunction and Vaginismus (painful contraction of the vaginal muscles)

Sexual Response Cycle

• The sexual response is governed by the nervous system
• The female response is more variable than the male response
• Two major physical changes during arousal include vasocongestion and myotonia

Sexual Response Cycle Phases

• Excitement phase: Heightened sexual awareness to thoughts, sights, touches, sounds, and odors occur
• Plateau phase: HR, BP, respiration, and muscle tension increase occur
• Orgasmic phase: Ejaculation occurs for men, butWomen experience rhythmic contractions of the pelvic muscles and vaginal walls
• Resolution phase: The body returns to pre-arousal state

Sexual Addiction:

• The following constitute addiction
  • Loss of Control
• Behaviours done is A pattern of out of control with Repeated specified attempts to stop the behaviour which fail.
• Addictions manifest in many ways such as: -Significant amounts of Loss of Time
  • Significant amounts of Preoccupation -Significant Inability to fulfill Obligations; due to the behavior which Interferes with work, school, family, and friends All of the above results to: -Continues behaviour as a result Despite problems encountered
  • an Escalation : Need to make behavior more intense, more frequent, or more risky
  • One may encounters Losses of hobbies, family, relationships, and work.
  • Withdrawing; Stopping behavior causes considerable distress which brings, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, or physical discomfort.

The Addictive Cycle:

• The Addictive Cycle involves:
  • Belief System causing a feeling of;
  • Unmanageability/ and or, -Impared Thinking
• this results in Addictive Cycle - Preoccupation, that causes; - Guilt and/ or shame, that causes; - Despair- which results in - the above and is Compulsive.

Characteristics of Addicts: Characteristics

• There are Many characteristics to addiction such as:

Sexual Behaviour ; the primary reason for addicition.

• Other Addictions can play a big role in enclining addiction
• Addiction Interaction with family, friends, etc, can encourage or discourages addiction
• Abuse/Early Trauma also is a core characteristic.
• there are 8 Trauma Factors that comes to play. such as Repetition, Pleasure, Blocking, Splitting, Abstinence, Shame, Reaction and Bonding.

Initial Assessment of Sex Addicts

• there's a screening such as: Sexual Addiction Screening Test – Revised (SAST-R) at www.SexHelp.com.
• This is inteded to find sexually compulsiveness
• It assists in the assessment of sexually compulsive behavior which may indicate the presence of sex addiction.
• It Includes hospitals, treatment programs, private therapists, and community groups,SAST-R provides a profile of responses
• there are 45 yes or no questions.

Recovery Start Kit: The Process tasks

• there are several things you need in order to break the cycle and maintain soibriety.

• TASK 7: PARTICIPATE IN CULTURE OF SUPPORT, is a very important measure is to have strong support system

• Task 6: Ensure Physical Intergrity; Physical intergrity should be a priority, both mental and physical.

• Task1: Break Through Denial, its important to confront your issue head on.

• Task 5: Maintain Sobriety, maintain sobriety is a constant task that needs attention constantly.

• Task 2: UNDERSTAND NATURE OF ILLNESS, its important to understand every angle. Tasks required to Maintain Sobriety:

  • Damage control plan
  • Read books on sex addiction
    • Map out addiction cycle
    • Sexual anorexia/binge-purge cycle

• Task 3: Maintaining progress Surrender to Process :

      Ten worst moment or a plan, can go a long way.
  

Female Sexual Dysfunctions

• There are 4 Classes of femske dysfunction which include: Sexual Desire Disorders Sexual Arousal Disorders Orgasmic Disorders Sexual Pain Disorders
• Disorders can be due to many things Psychological or/Medical related
• It can happen any time lifelong and is Generalized vs. Situational(Occationa)

Categories of Female Sexual Dysfunction

• There exists Sexaul Desire which includes Hypoactive/Aversion, Sexual Arousal, and Orgazms
• Sexual pain disorders can result in Dyspareunia/Vaginismus/Noncoital related pains

Psychological and Physoilgical issues can effect Sexuall Health

• the factors of what causes dysfucntion stems from many avenues.
• the primary causes are:
• Physioaolgical and Psychological as well as a lack of Intersppersonal Relatitionships and Socicultural Influence that causes dysfuction.

HYPOACTIVE SEXUAL DESIRE DISORDER (HSDD)

• HYPOACTIVE SEXUAL DESIRE DISORDER (HSDD): Consistently recurring and is perrsistently or recurrently low or absent that effect sexual interest in and desire for a relationship
• It causes Distress and in most cases is the person cannot perform.
• Its very common in women and increases in post-menopause

Female Sexology

• The factors of woman sexology is derived Physiological as well as Psychological routes :
• There are many routes of why womwn sexology is broken into
• the Etilogy depends if its Hormones, Nervous ssystem(Neurotransmitters or CNS) and of course Drugs.The above results that effect stress-full,Intrapsychic and the overall relationship of woman,
• Relationships especially for women consists of: Power struggles ,Intimacy issues , Lack of sexual attraction