PSYCH 270 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Gender Dysphoria, Casual Sex, Sexual Dysfunction
CHAPTER 10: Sexual Dysfunction, Paraphilic Disorders, and Gender Dysphoria
Mosher’s Study (2005)
- Most men engaged in heterosexual behavior; only 6.5% homosexual
- 92% straight, 1% bisexual, 2.2% gay → Similar numbers in women
- 9% of women & 10% of men had homosexual attraction/behavior
- 5% boys and 11% girl teens reported homosexual behavior
- 1% asexual in both men & women
French & British studies
- SIMILAR to US men
- 70% had no more than one sexual partner in the last year
- Women more likely to have fewer than <2 partners
- 4.1% French and 3.6% Brit men have had male sexual partner
Old people
- Still going at it → 38.5% men and 16.7% women ages 75-85 are sexually active
- Decrease in sex drive comes from less mobility & medications that reduce arousal
Gender differences
- Masturbation: Men>Women → Largest gender difference in sexuality
- Casual sex & porn: Men>Women
- More casual sex: Women→ more worried, Men→ opposite effect
- NO gender differences:
- Attitudes twd homosexuality, experience of sexual satisfaction, or attitudes twd
masturbation
- MODERATE gender differences
- Premarital intercourse (men>women), extramarital sex (men>women)
- # of partners was greater and first time is younger for men
- Patterns of arousal
- Men: more specific & narrow
- Women: broader & more general
- Sexual self-schemas
- Women: passionate & romantic feelings; Can have self-conscious, embarrassed
schema that conflicts
- Men: feel powerful, aggressive, independent; NOT negative beliefs
(embarrassment, etc.)
- Peplau (2003)
1. Men show more sexual desire/arousal than women
2. Women emphasize committed relationships as a context for sex more than men
3. Men’s sexual self-concept is characterized by power, independence, aggression
4. Women’s sexual beliefs are more “plastic” - easily shaped by culture/society
- (1943-1999) Almost all gender differences became SMALLER
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Cultural Differences
- New Guinea
- Believe semen is sacred→ but it must be passed from teens to young boys - blowskis
- Later on the boys are married to women and homosexuality is then on forbidden
- Munda
- Girls and boys live together→ sexual activity but ONLY heterosexual
- Sweden
- More permissive twd sex → younger age losing V
- 73.7% girls use protection first time (compared to 56.7% US girls)
- US
- Asian women less likely to report sex as very important, Black women more likely
- Hispanic women less likely to cite “for pleasure” as reason for sex :(
Development of Sexual Orientation
- Homosexuality - genetic
- Most common in identical twins (50%); 16-22% fraternal twins
- Genes account for 34-39% of case in men, 18-19% in women
- Remainder: Environmental influences
- Biological factors
- Structure of brain may be different for gays vs non gays
- Hormone exposure in utero (ex: atypical androgen levels)
- Gays are 39% more likely to be non-right handed
- Gay boys are shorter & lighter, but not gay girls
Causes of Sexual Dysfunction
- BIOLOGICAL
- Neurological diseases (diabetes, kidney disease) can reduce sensitivity→ ED
- Chronic illness→ People who have had heart attacks are cautious about phys
- Prescription meds
- Antidepressants decrease sex drive
- Drugs
- Alcohol, but also coke (60%) & heroin causes sexual dysfunction
- Chronic alcohol abuse can have long-term effects on sex drive & fertility
- People claim that coke & weed increase sexual pleasure - prob not true
- Nicotine→ ED
- PSYCHOLOGICAL
- Anxiety→ increases sexual arousal (wtf) → Experiment w/ shock threat
- Anxiety about premature ejaculation→ makes it worse
- Distraction→ Decreases arousal
- Performance anxiety:
1. Arousal
2. Cognitive process
3. Negative affect
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find more resources at oneclass.com
- SOCIAL & CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS
- Erotophobia→ Negative cognitive set about sex
- Learned from families, religious authorities, etc.
- Traumatic events→ rape, sexual abuse - high rate of orgasmic dysfunction & ED
- Men who assaulted women are 3.5x MORE likely to have ED
- Stressful life events→ low sex drive, ED
- Disliking your partner
- Script theory→ We follow scripts that reflect soc/cultural expectations & guide
behavior
- Vaginismus→ Rare in US but more common in Ireland, Turkey, Iran
Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction
- Education→ Learn about foreplay you fuck
- Compromising with partner about sex schedule
- Psychosocial & medical treatments
Treating Paraphilic Disorders
- PSYCHOLOGICAL
- Orgasmic reconditioning
- Sometimes works on sexual offenders
- Cognitive-behavioral programs are MOST effective
- Maletzky (2002) - treatment was successful when subject…
1. completed all treatment sessions
2. demonstrated no deviant sexual arousal on objective physiological testing
3. reported no deviant arousal/behavior after treatment
4. had no legal record of any charges of deviant sexual activity
- Using CBT on children with highly sexual/aggressive behavior→ successful in
preventing sex crimes later in life
- DRUGS
- Cyproterone acetate→ chemical castration - eliminates sexual desire by reducing
testosterone dramatically
Gender Dysphoria
- Can occur with people with disorders of sex development - hermaphroditism, born w/ ambiguous
genitalia
- Autogynephilia → Strong sexual attraction to a fantasy of oneself as a female
- 3x more likely in males than females
- Causes:
- Genetics contribute to 62% to creating a vulnerability to experience gender dysphoria in
twin sample
- Levels of testosterone/estrogen→ masculinize/feminize fetus
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 10: sexual dysfunction, paraphilic disorders, and gender dysphoria. Most men engaged in heterosexual behavior; only 6. 5% homosexual. 92% straight, 1% bisexual, 2. 2% gay similar numbers in women. 9% of women & 10% of men had homosexual attraction/behavior. 5% boys and 11% girl teens reported homosexual behavior. 70% had no more than one sexual partner in the last year. Women more likely to have fewer than <2 partners. 4. 1% french and 3. 6% brit men have had male sexual partner. Still going at it 38. 5% men and 16. 7% women ages 75-85 are sexually active. Decrease in sex drive comes from less mobility & medications that reduce arousal. Masturbation: men>women largest gender difference in sexuality. More casual sex: women more worried, men opposite effect. Attitudes twd homosexuality, experience of sexual satisfaction, or attitudes twd masturbation. # of partners was greater and first time is younger for men. Women: passionate & romantic feelings; can have self-conscious, embarrassed schema that conflicts.
