1. Baumeister & Tice Chapter 5 Female Sex Drive

2. Sex Drive u Motives, desire Women < men? u Capacity Women can have multiple Os & partners, sex after O u Enjoyment Little difference

3. Evidence of Weaker Sex Drive u Thinking u Arousal u Urge strength u # partners Even among dating/married u Sex initiation u Attitudes M more positive u Same sex f Gay couples > lesbian u Masturbation u Pornography u Fantasy

4. Ellis & Symons (1990) YesNo Fantasize > 1,000 people: Male32%68% Female8%92% Fantasy includes explicit sex: Male: 48% Female 17% Fantasy focuses on:VisualFeelings Male: 81% 19% Female 43% 57%

5. Clark & Hatfield (1989) u Sexual receptivity gender difference? u Study 1 (1978) & Study 2 (1982) 5 college women, 4 college men were Es Average attractiveness Ps = 48 men, 48 women Florida State University

6. Clark & Hatfield (1989) u Procedure u E approached attractive opposite sex stranger & said ‘I have been noticing you around campus. I find you to be very attractive. Would you go to bed with me tonight?’ –Recorded Yes or No

7. Clark & Hatfield (1989) u Study 1 (1978) Yes Male75% Female0% u Study 2 (1982) Yes Male69% Female0%

8. Class Data 03 (N = 103, Females = 74) ItemMaleFemale p Think sex/month333 34.001 Fantasize/month146 12.05 Fantasize-partner37,482/80 6.003 Aroused/month 46 17.001 Sex drive (1-5) 4.27 3.51.001 Masturbate/week 4.89 2.29.02 Video porn/year45.39 4.02.001 Desired frequency/month20.8816.51 ns Actual frequency/month 7.48 9.44 ns Actual-Desired f -13.11 -7.17.06 Sex with stranger 1.41 1.69.01 (59% = YES) (28% = YES)

9. Class Data 04 (N = 93, Females = 71) ItemMaleFemale p Think sex/month161 53.57.03 Fantasize/month69.95 14.09.001 Fantasize-partner90.85 9.09.003 Aroused/month 44.71 17.34.001 Sex drive (1-5) 3.95 3.33.01 Masturbate/week 4.24 1.97.001 Video porn/year14.68 6.74.04 Desired frequency/month21.4315.62.08 Actual frequency/month 6.10 9.52 ns Actual-Desired f -15.33 -7.44.03 Sex with stranger 1.48 1.74.03 (43% = YES) (25% = YES)

10. Why a Weaker Sex Drive? u Socio-Biological explanations u Evolution: Sex is biological destiny Alpha male for limited time Higher sex drive ~ more reproduction Females no advantage for high sex drive –1 pregnancy/year u Controlled via hormones like testosterone

11. Why a Weaker Sex Drive? u Cultural explanations: Sex is learned u Cultural scripts and norms Gender appropriate behavior rewarded Gender inappropriate behavior punished –Learning theory: Behavior producing reward will occur more frequently in future Behave sexually in ways that maximize rewards and minimize punishment –Culturally and historically relative (e.g., 1970s)

12. Fantasy Content u Active v. passive Men active doers, women passive recipients u Explicit v. emotional imagery Men explicit, women emotional, narrative u Multiple partner fantasy More common for men u Dominance fantasy More common for men

13. Fantasy Content u Submission fantasy: More common for women –Sexual power (of woman) explanation She is so irresistible man can not control his lust –Guilt explanation Not to blame for sex –Social conditioning explanation Societal eroticization of female submission –Sexual abuse explanation Associated dominance/submission w/ arousal

14. Why a Weaker Sex Drive? u Social exchange theory (SET) Women exchange sex for resources from men –Motivated to keep ‘price’ for sex as high as possible Lower sex drive makes sex scarce & valuable –Scarcity theory: Rare things are considered valuable Increases female negotiating position –She has something He wants –Maximizes ‘price’

15. Why? u Biology* & Culture u Evidence for biology No cultural variation

16. Group Activity III: Sex Drive u Groups of 4-5 (mixed gender) address Q Write down group Rs Summarize for class Please turn in at end of class

17. Group Activity III: Sex Drive u Define sex drive u Describe (at least) 2 sources of evidence for the gender difference in sex drive u Is it a problem when sexual partners differ on sex drive? Why/why not?

18. Female Sex Drive u Picture of weak sex drive accurate? Implies an antipathy towards sex –Not important, meaningful in woman’s life Really no adaptive advantage for females? u Females may be more active in obtaining, controlling & regulating sex than generally acknowledged

19. Sperm Wars (Baker, 1996) u Emerging view of evolutionary biologists Sexuality programmed by evolutionary forces –Still impacts sexuality today –Bodies, not consciousness in control –Bodies use brains to regulate sexuality Hormones, moods, arousal, receptivity Programming caused by sperm warfare –Sperm from > 1 male competing for fertilization –4%, since 1900 all have ancestor that won!

20. Sperm Wars u Female reproductive strategies/sexuality evolved to promote sperm warfare* Obtain healthiest sperm/genes u Male reproductive strategies/sexuality evolved to fight/prevent sperm warfare Best chance of fertilizing egg, passing genes on, & avoiding cuckoldry

21. Sperm Wars u Paints a picture of females as in control of their sexuality (even if they don’t realize it) When they conceive, how often & with whom u Strategies to control fertility = modern day sexuality (for males & females) –Routine sex –Cervical filter –Masturbation & orgasms –Infidelity

22. Females & Routine Sex u Not for procreation u Average couple will have sex 2,000-3,000 times in their lifetime Vast majority have < 7-8 kids 500 episodes of sex/kid u Sex drive does not cease post-fertile years

23. Females & Routine Sex u Developed as part of reproductive strategy Confuse males about fertility Hidden & inconsistent menstrual cycle Control when & with whom they conceive u Routine sex most common after ovulation Pill produces similar effects implicating hormones

24. Cervical Filter (CF) u Ejaculate comes to rest in a coagulating seminal pool at floor of vagina Cervix expands, dips into vagina during intercourse & following insemination rests on the vaginal floor in seminal pool Cervical mucus contains channels through which sperm travel to uterus & egg

26. Cervical Filter (CF) u Nature of mucus changes # channels, channel size, flow rate, blockages u Infertile phase few channels & > blockages Hinders passage of sperm u Fertile phase more, larger, clearer channels Makes sperm passage easier u Cervix acts as a filter for sperm

27. Cervical Filter (CF) u Ability to change strength of CF critical to reproductive control/success Flow-back: In ~15 minutes seminal pool decoagulates & is ejected out vagina –Average CF = 50% of sperm –Strong CF ejects ~90% –Weak CF ejects ~10% Female body controls how many sperm are kept

28. Masturbation & Orgasm u Great range of female orgasm u 80% masturbate (Average = 1/week: Class M = 2.29) Stimulate clitoris w/ fingers (to orgasm) –Not designed for intercourse (~10% have O) Class: M = 61% F = 39% have O during intercourse –Biologically developed as self-stimulation (fertility) Orgasms critical for reproductive success –Evolved to have a reproductive function

29. Orgasm & Cervical Filter u Orgasm: Cervix gapes & dips into vagina Increases mucus flow from cervix to vagina –Ejects cervical debris (sperm which block channels) Increases acidity of mucus (killing sperm) u Orgasm during masturbation increases CF strength

30. Orgasm & Cervical Filter u Orgasm during intercourse weakens CF –Only after insemination (< 1 hour) Cervix widens opening new channels Cervix dips up & down into seminal pool Vaginal contractions suck semen into channels u O during intercourse 50% - 90% sperm retained u No O during intercourse 0%-50% sperm retained

31. Orgasm & Cervical Filter u Female body prepares for next intercourse Orgasm before not during w/ routine partner –Strengthen filer No orgasm before but during w/ infidelity –Weakens filter u Females control w/ whom she conceives

32. Orgasm & Cervical Filter u Masturbation more likely before routine sex than before infidelity u Nocturnal orgasms more likely before routine sex than before infidelity u 22% of time orgasms during sex w/ routine partner 33% of time orgasms during sex w/ lover

33. Female Infidelity u Females want (evolutionarily speaking) 1. Long-term mate and provider/care-giver 2. Short-term mate to supply good genes for conception

34. Infidelity u Characteristics associated w/ these differ 1. Long-term: Stable, nurturing, loyal, resourceful, ambitious, status, wealth 2. Short-term: Healthy, symmetrical features, broad shoulders, smart, small waist u Features most attractive changes w/ cycle Scent of symmetrical, masculine men more attractive during fertile phase of cycle Only for short-term mates

35. ItemLongShort p IQ3.205.09 <.05 Emotional Stability3.505.93 <.05 Honesty2.175.21 <.05 Wealth 9.258.25 <.05 Health6.645.42 <.05 Kind2.824.56 <.05 Weight7.824.37 <.05 Religion8.009.70 <.05 Race8.528.09ns Attractive5.101.84 <.05 Height8.345.44 <.05 Family8.479.98 <.05

36. Infidelity u Females often compromise Marry 1 & have affair with 2 –10% of children not sired by rearing father Even higher among low-status males Adaptive for females to be promiscuous/cheat –Promotes sperm warfare Regulate their routine sex & masturbation routines to maximize chance of conception w/ lover rather than partner

37. Sperm Wars Conclusion u Sexuality programmed by sperm wars u Sexuality among females evolved to promote sperm warfare u Females control reproduction With whom & when conception occurs

38. Suppression of Female Sexuality u 1. Mild sex drive - null Ho 1 No suppression at all Problem: History replete w/ suppression –Chastity belts u 2. Dangers - null Ho 2 Pregnancy, disease & death Females suppressed themselves Problem: Some forms of sex less dangerous but still prohibited (oral sex)

39. Suppression of Female Sexuality u 3. Male conspiracy & victim feminism Ensure fidelity, superiority or paternity Fear/envy female sexuality Squelch disruptive sexuality Problem: Most men desire liberal sexuality

40. Suppression of Female Sexuality u 4. Female conspiracy & agentic feminism u SET: Women give men sex for resources Liberal sexuality drops value of sexual favors Restrain female sexuality ensures sex value –Increases benefits they get from men –Reduces chances of male infidelity u Problem: Sexual revolution reduced advant More non-sex resources less suppression

41. Group Activity: Evidence u Grab a partner and pick one of the sources of evidence and: Summarize evidence (1 paragraph) Which theory does it support? (male or female) Please turn this in at end of class

42. Class Discussion IV: Evidence u 1. Power differences u 2. Female sexuality u 3. Infibulation & Subincision u 4. Sexual revolution

43. Evidence u 1. Power differences Female conspiracy - ~Yes Male conspiracy ~ Maybe u 2. Female sexuality Female conspiracy - Yes! Male conspiracy - NO! u 3. Infibulation Female conspiracy - ~Yes Male conspiracy - NO! u 4. Sexual revolution Female conspiracy - ~Yes Male conspiracy - NO!

44. Conclusion u Female sexuality complicated but not necessarily weaker Stronger in some ways than males –Females suppressing own sexuality? u Various theoretical accounts for gender differences Social v. evolutionary accounts