sexuality and gender

psychology

CHAPTER

Copyright ©2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved.

Psychology, Third EditionSaundra K. Ciccarelli • J. Noland White

third edition

sexuality and gender

10



Male and Female Physical Differences

• Secondary Sex Characteristics– sexual organs and traits that develop at

puberty and are indirectly involved in human reproduction

LO 10.1 Physical Differences between Males and Females



Gender

• Gender: the psychological aspects of being male or female

• Gender roles: the culture’s expectations for masculine or feminine behavior, including attitudes, actions, and personality traits associated with being male or female in that culture

LO 10.2 Gender: Influence of Biology and Learning on Gender Development



Gender

• Gender typing (gender socialization): the process of acquiring gender role characteristics

• Gender identity: the individual’s sense of being male or female

LO 10.2 Gender: Influence of Biology and Learning on Gender Development



Gender Roles

• Social learning theory: gender identity is formed through reinforcement of appropriate gender behavior as well as imitation of gender models

LO 10.3 Theories on Gender Role, Gender Stereotyping ,and Androgyny



Gender Roles

• Gender schema theory: theory of gender identity acquisition in which a child develops a mental pattern, or schema, for being male or female and then organizes observed and learned behavior around that schema




Gender Stereotyping

• Stereotype: a concept held about a person or group of people that is based on superficial, irrelevant characteristics

• Gender stereotype: a concept held about a person or group of people that is based on being male or female

• Sexism: prejudice against males and/or females leading to unequal treatment




Gender Stereotyping

• Benevolent sexism: acceptance of positive stereotypes of males and females that leads to unequal treatment




Androgyny

• Androgyny: characteristic of possessing the most positive personality characteristics of males and females regardless of actual sex




Other Male and Female Differences

• Cognitive differences: male advantage in mathematical and spatial skills; female superiority in verbal skills

• Emotional expression: males tend to talk with each other in a “report” style; females tend to talk to each other in a “relate” style “rapport”

LO 10.4 Gender Differences in Thinking, Social Behavior, and Personality



Masters and Johnson Study

• Masters and Johnson used volunteers, some of whom were prostitutes, and both observed and measured their physiological responses during all phases of sexual intercourse.

LO 10.6 Early and Recent Studies on Sexual Behavior



Kinsey Studies

• Series of sexual behavior surveys in the late 1940s and early 1950s

• Revealed some highly controversial findings about the kinds of sexual behavior common among people in the United States, including:– homosexuality– premarital sex– extramarital sex

LO 10.6 Early and Recent Studies on Sexual Behavior



Kinsey Critique

• Kinsey’s results are highly suspect due to ; biases he held when initiating the research; disproportionate numbers of atypical subjects responding to his questionnaires, and leading/bullying questioning.



Sexual Dysfunction

• Sexual dysfunction: a problem in sexual functioning

• Organic or stress-induced dysfunction: sexual problem caused by physical disorder or psychological stress– hypoactive sexual desire, sexual aversion,

female sexual arousal disorder, male erectile disorder, male orgasmic disorder, female orgasmic disorder, premature ejaculation, vaginismus, and dyspareunia

LO 10.8 Sexual Dysfunctions



Sexually Transmitted Infections

• Sexually transmitted infections (STI) can affect the sexual organs and the ability to reproduce and may result in pain, disfigurement, and even death.

• Common bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) are chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea.– treatable with antibiotics

LO 10.9 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and Protecting against STIs




• Viral sexually transmitted infections (STI) include genital herpes (caused by the herpes simplex virus that also causes cold sores) and genital warts (caused by the human papillomavirus). – Neither can be cured, and both can lead to

complications such as increased risk of cancer.





• AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome: sexually transmitted viral disorder that causes deterioration of the immune system and eventually results in death due to complicating infections that the body can no longer fight– There are drug treatments, but there is no

cure.




How to Stop the Spread of STIs

• Using condoms• Having only one partner• Abstaining from sex• Avoiding IV drug use• Knowing the symptoms of the various

diseases• Getting regular physicals




Forces Affecting Sexual Motivation



Sexual Attitudes & Behaviors

• Vary across cultures– 50-80% of American teenagers– 2.5% China

• Vary across history– 3% of American women age 18 in 1900– 50% of American women age 18 in 1998



Are we having fun?

• According to one survey, 72% of 12-17 year old girls who had sex said that they regretted it.



Are We Having Trouble?

Births to unwed parents



Adolescent Pregnancy

• U.S. adolescent pregnancy rate is higher than that of most industrialized countries– 40-45% of these end in abortion– 75% to unmarried females

• Why?– Increased social acceptance– Belief that a baby will fill a void in life



Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s)

• Adolescents have the highest rates of all age groups, 1 in 6 of those who are sexually active contracts a sexually transmitted disease per year.



What motivates teen sexual activity & lack of contraception?

• Ignorance of relationship/motivational factors

• Guilt related to sex – ambivalent feelings• Lack of communication about birth control• Alcohol• Media norms of spontaneous passion



Why are we having so much irresponsible sex?

Lack of clear cultural standards (reasons

not to).

Change in direction of social pressure Religious diversity - More people

believe it is OK.



Why are having so much irresponsible sex?

• Social Pressure & Idealized concepts of romance and sexuality (Reasons to).– Everybody is doing it - Most HS seniors no

longer virgins.

• Media (TV, movies) creates ideals– Proves masculinity/desirability (media

pressure).– Necessary & desirable part of romantic

relationship (extended adolescence).– Spontaneous passion is idealized.



Knowing about “Safer Sex” Is Not Enough

• College students engage in number of risky sexual behaviors:

– High numbers of sexual partners

– “One-night stands” with casual acquaintances

– Frequent condomless sex



Sex Education? • Effective prevention programs must focus on

multiple areas of a person’s life in order to increase safer sexual behaviors. – Discussions of nonsexual motivations for seeking

intimacy

– Assertiveness training for people to feel comfortable saying no to a potential sex partner

– Providing models and examples of situations where safer sex is still exciting sex (de-glamorizing).



Responsible Sexual Behavior

• People who are uneasy thinking about sex plan less for sexual interactions.

• This leads to more unprotected sex

& greater likelihood of unwanted pregnancies & STD infection.



Know your partner

• Cochran & Mays (1990)

• 4% of women; 20 % of men Indicated that they would lie to a potential sex partner about the results of a positive HIV test.



Sex and Relationships

• “Sex is a socially significant act.” It will affect your self-concept. It will affect your current relationship. It will influence relationships with future partners. It will affect your relationship with parents and

family. It will affect your peer and friendship relationships. It may cause you to become a parent under

unintended circumstances.




• Sex is most satisfying and has the least capacity for harm in intimate, committed relationships.

• However, people often engage in sexual relationships for other motives.

Need to be accepted or to belong. Need to be loved. Believing casual sex is “normal.”



Sexuality - Adulthood

• 80% of adults in committed relationships , and 88% in marriages report begin “extremely physically and emotionally satisfied.”



Sexual Motivation

• Motives for sexual behavior also include nonphysical factors:– peer approval– need to feel valued– need for intimacy– stress reduction– need for power– desire to have children




People also have sexual relationships for selfish motives.

Use others to satisfy own desires

Feeling of power & control

Frighten, dominate, or humiliate

another

Demonstrate own attractiveness



Sexual Coercion

• 12% of American girls and 5% of boys say they were forced to have intercourse.

• Among those who had sex voluntarily, 25% said they really did not want to do so.



Sexual Coercion

• Estimated 13% of women have endured rape, legally defined as intercourse by force, by threat of harm, or when the victim is incapable of consent by reason of mental retardation, mental illness, or intoxication.

• 1998 college survey, 44% of women had experienced sexual coercion; 19% of men had obtained sex through force



Deciding how sexual behavior suits your life: In what relationship?

• A new acquaintance?• An old friend?• A new romantic interest?• A long-time romantic interest?• A fiance(e)?• A marriage partner?• Anyone, anywhere, anytime?



Why is it OK to have sex?

• Share mutual love or affection?• A thrill? A biological need? Curiosity?• Prove that you are attractive?• Fulfill a need for acceptance or affection?• Hold on to a partner?• Don’t need a reason?



Why is it OK to not have sex?

• Immoral?• Not socially acceptable?• Might get pregnant?• Might catch a disease?• I’m not that easy?• Don’t want to bond with you?• Don’t want to be used?



What Sexual Acts Do Americans Find “Very Appealing”?

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