Myers EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (6th Edition in Modules) Sexual Motivation James A. McCubbin, PhD Clemson University Linda Zimmerman Oakton Community College Worth Publishers

Sexual Knowledge Quiz http://www.healthunit.com/article.aspx?ID=15160

Sexual Motivation Sex is a physiologically based motive, like hunger, but it is more affected by learning and values.

Sexual Response Cycle Refractory Period Masters and Johnson (N= 382 f and 312 m) the four stages of sexual responding excitement plateau orgasm resolution Refractory Period resting period after orgasm, during which a man cannot achieve another orgasm

Sexual Disorder …a problem that consistently impairs sexual arousal or functioning Can include: lack of motivation, arousal Premature ejaculation (men) Erectile dysfunction (men) Orgasmic dysfunction (women) Treatments: Sexual therapy Medication

Estrogen a sex hormone, secreted in greater amounts by females than by males in nonhuman females, levels peak during ovulation, promoting sexual receptivity

Testosterone most important of the male sex hormones both males and females have it extra testosterone in males: stimulates growth of sex organs in the fetus development of the male sex characteristics during puberty

Forces Affecting Sexual Motivation

Births to Unwed Parents

Sexual Orientation an enduring sexual attraction toward: members of one’s own sex (homosexual orientation) Members of the other sex (heterosexual orientation)

Brain Differences On the average (the evidence is strongest for males), various biological and behavioral traits of gays and lesbians fall between those of straight men and straight women.

Brain Differences One hypothalmic cell cluster is larger in straight men than in women and gay men, same difference is found in male sheep displaying other-sex versus same-sex attraction. Anterior commissure is larger in gay men than in women or straight men.

Genetic Influences Shared sexual orientation is higher among identical twins than among fraternal twins. Sexual attraction in male fruit flies can be genetically manipulated. http://clipsforclass.com/sexuality.php

Prenatal Hormonal Influences Altered prenatal hormone exposure may lead to homosexuality in humans and other animals. Men with several older brothers are more likely to be gay.

Brain differences and prenatal influences may contribute to observed gay-straight differences in childrens’: Spatial abilities Relative finger lengths Fingerprint ridge counts Gender nonconformity Auditory system Age of male puberty Handedness Male body size Ocupational preferences

Views of Homosexuality