lesson 3.1

• PSYCHOLOGY

  These domains means that in studying gender and sexuality, it is important to look into the way people think (cognition), feel (affect), and behave (behavior) since these are linked to one another.
• 3 Primary Psychological Domains

  1. COGNITION

  • people's thought processes such as memory, perception, and information processing

  1. BEHAVIOR

  • People's observable or not readily observable actions

  1. AFFECT

  • Emotions and feelings
• SOCIOLOGY

  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 

  Self-Awareness – conscious understanding of something

  • In the context of gender and sexuality, we ask:  
  • 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 sexuality? 
  • Am I happy with what I am?
• Other-Awareness – understanding others

  • In the context of gender and sexuality, we ask:  
  • What is he/she physiologically?  
  • What are his/her preferences?  
  • How is he/she different from me?  
  • How is he/she similar to me?  
  • What are his/her motivations and aspirations?
• HUMAN RELATIONSHIP –  A bond formed between two/more people, manifested through communications and interactions

  INTIMACY –  Process of knowing others and allowing others to know 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. 
• Our affect (emotions and feelings) 

  • actually play a major role in our behavior. 
• SENSORIUM – The totality of our sensory experiences and perception. 
• • 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. 
• Rupp & Wallen:

  • found that when confronted by an intimate interaction, 

  1. men would tend to be rather influenced by visual cues.
  2. women were found to be more influenced by the context.
• Scientists have tried to explain how human olfaction influences sexuality.

  • Our noses are the best compass to find a suitable partner because of two reasons: 

  1. Pheromones 
  2. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC 
• 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

  • 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 for managing our emotions, including sexual behavior.
• MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX (MHC)

  A group of genes that code for proteins that help the immune system recognize foreign substances.

  • It is because of these genes that we feel attracted to another person’s signature odor.
  • Example: Sweaty T-shirt Experiment 
• Olfactory Experience Muscarella, Arantes, and Konscol (2011)

  • Heterosexual Females: Floral sweet scent ; Partner: musky-spicy scent
  • Heterosexual Male:  musky-spicy scent ; Partner: floral sweet scent
  • Homosexual Female: musky-spicy scent ; Partner: floral sweet scent
  • Homosexual Male: musky-spicy scent ; Partner: musky-spicy scent
• Tactile Experience

  Touch is an element of intimacy and holds meaning. 
• • Elements of touch:

  1. Tactile
  2. Thermal
  3. Vibrational
• • Tactile Experience

  1. Primary Erogenous zone

  • Mouth
  • Anus
  • Genitals
  • Nippples

  1. Secondary Erogenous Zone

  • Back
  • Neck
  • Cheek
  • Buttocks
• OXYTOCIN (Love hormone) – is believed to influence tribal behavior and maternal bonding.
• AUDITORY EXPERIENCE

  In sexual interactions, couples may give verbal erotic encouraging-words that trigger sexual response or verbal expression of affection.
• DEFINITION OF TERMS:

  1. Sexual Behavior – an action with sexual intention and context.  
  2. Erotic – related to sexual stimulation; has something to do with erogenous zones  
  3. Sexual Response Cycle – sequence of events from arousal to orgasm to resolution of sexual tension.  
  4. Sexual Dysfunction – a concern or problem in any of these phases of the sexual response cycle  
  5. Copulatory Behavior – related to the insertion of the penis to the vagina  
  6. Paraphilia – arousal from non-living objects or nonconsenting persons 
• MOTIVATION - something that drives us to do something 

  FREQUENCY - how many times an action is done in a span of time 

  • INTENSITY magnitude by which it is done

  DURATION - how long does an action take place

  DIVERSITY - varieties of similar behavior done in various contexts 
• 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  
• PARAPHILIAS

  an individual gets sexually aroused by an object, a person, or a circumstance that is 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.
• PARAPHILIC DISORDER

  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.
• Only trained psychologists or medical doctors can make such diagnosis after conducting lengthy and comprehensive assessments
• SEXUAL RESPONSE DYSFUNCTIONS - refers to a problem during any phase of the sexual response cycle that prevents an individual or couple from experiencing satisfaction.
• • Sexual Desire Disorder an individual has low levels of desire or has an aversion to sexual activities. 
  • Sexual Arousal Disorders - an individual has problems in achieving necessary physiological state of copulation 
  •  Erectile dysfunction in males 
• 1. Orgasmic Disorder - an individual has problems in achieving orgasm. 

  • premature ejaculation among males
  • male and female orgasmic disorders

  1. Sexual Pain Disorders - an experience of pain during the sexual response cycle. 

  • painful erection or dyspareunia 
  • vaginal spasms or vaginismus 
• PARAPHILIAS

  an individual gets sexually aroused by an object, a person, or a circumstance that is 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.
• • EXHIBITIONISM pleasure from exposing one’s genitals to non-consenting people
• • FETISHISM arousal from non-living objects
• 1. FROTTEURISM - touching or rubbing one’s body or genitals to a nonconsenting person 
• 1. PEDOPHILIA - arousal from prepubescent children
• 1. SEXUAL MASOCHISM - arousal from being humiliated, beaten, bound 
  2. SEXUAL SADISM - arousal from inflicting pain to others
  3. TRANSVESTIC FETISHISM (for heterosexual males only) - arousal from wearing clothing by the opposite sex during sexual activities.
  4. VOYEURISM - observing other people engaged in sexual activities