Observation and research on human sexuality makes us aware of how subjective sexuality truly is. Individual differences in human sexuality can begin from birth all the way to adulthood. Gender is important because it is a biological factor that leads to individual variances in sexuality. Hormone levels also affect our sexual experiences. Too little or too much testosterone may lead to sexual disorders and can affect the person’s sexuality. Culture has a big impact on how people perceive human sexuality. Different cultures have limits on what is accepted in sexual experiences. Overall, the most common individual difference that we can observe in our everyday life is sexual orientation. Research in these areas aid us in becoming more understanding of individual differences in sexuality and by making sex a more explicit topic. Despite differences all humans feel the need to have human contact and procreate. Sexual development consists of the same stages for everyone. Research has found the peak of sexual arousal to be at the beginning of puberty. This information helps young adolescence to prepare for the changes occurring in their body. Understanding that sexuality is subjective and becoming aware of these differences aids in decreasing stereotypes and prejudice.
Gender is determined through fertilization of the eggs. Female gametes (eggs) always carry an X chromosome. The male gamete (sperm) carries either an X or Y chromosome so it is the final determinant of gender. The combination of a XX chromosome represents a female. The female reproductive organs begin to develop instead of the male organs. However, if the sperm is carrying a Y chromosome then the testosterone in the embryo activates male organs to begin to develop instead ...
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...op. Research about sex educates people about these stages and how to deal with these changes. It also helps parents convey the message to their children of what to expect. Being aware of the individual differences in sexuality can also help others understand why not everyone is the same and that biological factors are also at play when it comes to these outliers.
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DiDonato, Matthew D. and Berenbaum, Sheri A. “The Benefits and Drawbacks of Gender Typing: How Different Dimensions are Related to Psychological Adjustment.” Archives of Sexual Behavior April 2011, Volume 40, Issue 2, pp 457-463 Web 21 Apr. 2015.
Sexual orientation is a topic scientists spend a great deal of time researching, however it is unclear what factors really have an effect on one’s sexual orientation. The role of biology, culture, socialization, and age contribute to the influences of sexual orientation.
To begin with, gender must be examined at the basic level of science in regard to physical and biological development of humans. We all understand the physical differences between the male and female gender, but how is our sex actually determined. After conception,
What controls a human's sexual orientation? The long-standing debate of nature versus nurture can be extended to explaining human sexual orientation. Is it biological or environmental? The biological explanation has been gaining popularity amongst the scientific community although it is only based on speculations. It is argued that sexual orientation is linked to factors that occur during sexual differentiation. The prenatal exposure to androgens and their affect on the development of the human brain play a pivotal role in sexual orientation (2). Heredity is also part of the debate. Does biology merely provide the slate of neural circuitry upon which sexual orientation is inscribed? Do biological factors directly wire the brain so that it will support a particular orientation? Or do biological factors influence sexual orientation only indirectly?
The beginning of this short research essay began with the author explaining what the essay will be about. This essay primarily focuses on the differences and similarities of sexuality between men, women, gays, and lesbians. It also focuses on time, because throughout time, human sexuality has changed. New scientific evidence has also helped give new insight to the human mind and their most basic needs.
By doing this research, I am hoping to fill a gap in current research and to show a relationship between an individual’s current activity and preference and their perception of other people’s to be similar to their own. It will also help to show that some previously atypical sexual behaviors may be more commonly practiced than previously thought which would allow some to breathe easier about not being “deviant.”
Genetics, biology, and upbringing are all key aspects in determining one’s sexual orientation. Many of the factors are combined to make up how a person feels or who he or she is attracted to. There is no definite answer to why someone has a particular orientation, but there are studies that sugge...
From birth, one's sexuality is shaped by society. Cultures institute behaviors that are to be seen as the societal norms, which work to constantly reinforce societal expectations of how genders should act in relation to one another. Although some may argue that one's sexuality is an innate characteristic resulting from genetic makeup, there is a large amount of evidence pointing to its social construction instead. Through the power differences between males and females, established gender roles, and drastic economic shifts, society establishes sexuality and reinforces the behaviors that are expected of its citizens.
...per, Al, David Delmonico, and Ron Burg. “Cybersex Users, Abusers, and Compulsives: New Findings and Implications.” Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity. 7 (2000):5-29.
Sex determination is decided by the 23rd pair of chromosomes commonly known as the sex chromosomes. Males have XY as their 23rd pair and females have XX. A female gamete, the ovum, can only receive only the X chromosome and the male gamete, the spermatozoon can receive either the X or the Y chromosome when meiosis occurs. Therefore the male sperm is responsible for the sex determination of the baby.
According to the Advocates for Youth organization, “sex education is the cause of healthy sexual behavior and results in the decline of teen pregnancy.” This could be because sex education teaches young people about sex from a biological and scientific standpoint. Thus, explaining why teens physically feel a certain way when puberty happens. It answers lingering questions about the b...
Vrangalova, Z., & Savin-Williams, R. C. (2012). Mostly heterosexual and mostly gay/lesbian: Evidence for new sexual orientation identities. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 85-101. doi: 10.1007/s10505- 012-9921-y.
Sexual attraction is an everyday part of life that has different effects on each person. In the following paper I am going to discuss the different types of sexual attraction for adolescences ages 12-20, early adulthood ages 20-30, mature adulthood 30-65, and older adults age 65 and older.
Most of today’s theorists and scientists have a different perception of determining whether or not gender can be based on biological factors, or evolutionary factors. Gender determination involving humans can be identified by evaluating male and female chromosomes. Theorist of Penn State (2005) contains that chromosomes is a combination of instructions used to produce organism. As previously stated, the male chromosomes consist of X and Y. These two chromosomes are responsible for creating male gender and their ability to produce sperm. The female egg consists of double XX chromosome. Based on this theory, the X chromosomes carry a more dominant instruction manual than the Y chromosome.