Psychosocioal Perspective on Gender & Sexuality PDF

 3.1 PSYCHOSOCIAL DIMENSION OF HUMAN SENSES AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR Define the term Discuss the Reflect upon one’s psychosocial responsibility in “psychosocial” ensuring psychological definitions o...

 3.1 PSYCHOSOCIAL DIMENSION OF HUMAN SENSES AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR Define the term Discuss the Reflect upon one’s psychosocial responsibility in “psychosocial” ensuring psychological definitions of gender & sexuality wellness in the aspect of gender & development  Social script ascribed to individuals performing to their role in child-bearing or child-rearing and related tasks such as maintaining the household Social script ascribed to individuals pertaining to their role in economic production and related tasks such as engaging in public affairs and living in the world of work.  WHAT DOES PSYCHOSOCIAL MEAN? Anything associated with Associated with human mental process and relationships, connections, behaviors. and interactions. PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIAL  COGNITION These domains means that people’s thought processes such as in studying gender and memory, perception, and sexuality, it is important to look information processing into the way people think BEHAVIOR people’s (cognition), feel (affect), and observable or not behave (behavior) since these readily observable emotions actions and feelings are linked to one another. AFFECT  Field of science which concerns itself with the human person’s realities and experiences as part of groups and institutions including the structures and functions of these institutions, and the dynamics of human relationships within them.  UNDERSTANDING THE PSYCHOSOCIAL DOMAIN  In the context of gender and sexuality, we ask: SELF-AWARENESS  What am I physiologically?  What is my gender?  What is my sexual orientation?  How am I expressing my gender?  How do I feel about my - conscious understanding sexuality of something  Am I happy with what I am?  In the context of gender and OTHER-AWARENESS sexuality, we ask:  What is he/she physiologically?  What is his/her preferences?  How is he/she different from me?  How is he/she similar from me? - understanding others  What is his/her motivations and aspirations? INTIMACY & RELATIONSHIP HUMAN RELATIONSHIP INTIMACY A bond formed between two/more people, Process of knowing others manifested through communications and and allowing others to know interactions us  SOCIALIZATION - The process by which we learn cultural norms and traditions.  WELL-BEING AS A PSYCHOSOCIAL GOAL A state of satisfaction, meaning, and purpose. OBJECTIVE WELL-BEING Observed, outward, and can be evaluated through the presence/absence of particular elements in our environment.  Does the physical environment allow expression of diversity?  Are health care systems and services responsive to the needs of people with different sexes, genders, etc.?  Are there services and policies in place to mitigate abuse and different forms of violence related to gender and sexuality? SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING Personal experience of satisfaction, meaning, and purpose. SEX AND SENSES  LESSON OBJECTIVES Discuss the human senses Show appreciation of how in the context of sexual the sensorium contributes response. to our experience of human sexuality.  SENSORIUM The totality of our sensory experiences and perception. HUMAN AFFECT AND THE SENSES Our affect (emotions and feelings) actually play a major role in our behavior.  WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT SENSORY EXPERIENCES RELATED TO SEXUALITY?  Overall, both men and women value physical attractiveness and this is true across many different cultures. However, there are some studies that have explored gender differences in visual stimuli and sexual arousal.  The study of Rupp & Wallen found that when confronted by an intimate interaction, men would tend to be rather influenced by visual cues. On the other hand, women were found to be more influenced by the context.  Scientists have tried to explain how human olfaction influence sexuality. Our noses are the best compass to find a suitable partner because of two reasons: Pheromones Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC  1. PHEROMONES Chemical molecules released in humans, insects, and animals that trigger a response to or elicit specific behavioral expressions or hormonal changes from the opposite sex, the same sex, or both sexes of the same species.  1. PHEROMONES Hypothalamus - the part of the brain that interprets these chemical messages. - this part comprises much of the Limbic System, the part of the body responsible of managing our emotions, including sexual behavior.  2. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) A group of genes that code for proteins that help the immune system recognize It is because of these genes that we feel attracted foreign substances. to another person’s signature odor. Example: Sweaty T-shirt Experiment  Heterosexual females tend to like wearing floral sweet scents but want musky-spicy scent to be worn by their partners. Heterosexual males and homosexual females preferred wearing musky-spicy scent and liked their partners to wear floral- Homosexual males wanted sweet scent. musky-spicy for themselves and their partner Muscarella, Arantes, and Konscol (2011)  Touch is an element of intimacy and holds meaning.  Primary Erogenous Zone – mouth, anus, genitals, & nipples  Secondary Erogenous Zone – back, cheek, neck, and buttocks is believed to influence tribal behavior and maternal bonding.  In sexual interactions, couples may give verbal erotic encouraging-words that trigger sexual response or verbal expression of affection.  “I love you”  “I miss you”  “You smell good” SEXUAL BEHAVIORS  LESSON OBJECTIVES Discuss the variety of Tackle atypical Show appreciation sexual behaviors in sexual variations. of the diversity of humans. human sexual expression.  DEFINITION OF TERMS  Sexual Behavior – an action with sexual intention and context.  Erotic – related to sexual stimulation; has something to do with erogenous zones  Sexual Response Cycle – sequence of events from arousal to orgasm to resolution of sexual tension.  Sexual Dysfunction – a concern or problem in any of these phases of the sexual response cycle  Copulatory Behavior – related to the insertion of the penis to the vagina  Paraphilia – arousal from non-living objects or nonconsenting persons  BEHAVIOR - refers to actions  Overt - observable  Covert – not readily observable by the naked eye something that drives us to do something MOTIVATION FREQUENCY INTENSITY - how many times an action - magnitude by is done in a which it is done span of time DIVERSITY DURATION - varieties of - how long similar behavior does an action done in various take place contexts SEXUAL BEHAVIORS These are actions that humans interpret as an expression of their sexual motivation or intention. Generally erotic.  AIM OF THE BEHAVIOR  Auto-Erotic– self-directed  Homo-Erotic – same sex  Hetero-erotic – other sex COPULATION - insertion of the penis to the vagina Oral Stimulation of the Genitals  Fellatio – oral stimulation of the penis  Cunnilingus – oral stimulation of the vagina  Anal Sex – stimulation or penetration of the anal orifice  1. Sexual Desire Disorder - an individual has low levels of desire or has an aversion to sexual activities. 2. Sexual Arousal Disorders - an individual has problems in achieving necessary physiological state of copulation o Erectile dysfunction in males SEXUAL RESPONSE DYSFUNCTIONS  3. Orgasmic Disorder - an individual has problems in achieving orgasm. o premature ejaculation among males; o male and female orgasmic disorders 4. Sexual Pain Disorders - an experience of pain during the sexual response cycle. o painful erection or dyspareunia o vaginal spasms or vaginismus SEXUAL RESPONSE DYSFUNCTIONS  an individual gets sexually aroused by an object, a person, or a circumstance that are unusual.  Not prevalent  Dangerous to self and others  Bizarre and are not socially acceptable  Distressing either to the doer or to other people involved in the act.  When the urge (recurrent) lasts for at least six months.  When the individual has acted on these sexual urges with a nonconsenting person, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas in functioning. 1. EXHIBITIONISM - pleasure from exposing one’s genitals to non-consenting people  2. FETISHISM - arousal from non-living objects 3. FROTTEURISM - touching or rubbing one’s body or genitals to a nonconsenting person  4. PEDOPHILIA - arousal from prepubescent children 5. SEXUAL MASOCHISM - arousal from being humiliated, beaten, bound 5. SEXUAL SADISM - arousal from inflicting pain to others  6. TRANSVESTIC FETISHISM (for heterosexual males only) - arousal from wearing clothing by the opposite sex during sexual activities. 7. VOYEURISM - observing other people engaged in sexual activities  Only trained psychologists or medical doctors can make such diagnosis after conducting lengthy and comprehensive assessments.