A fundamental step for understanding the links between human nature and intimate relationships is by understanding human sexuality. Alfred Kinsey, in his pioneering study on human sexual behaviour, illustrated the degree to which individuals differ in their sexual attitudes, beliefs and preferences (Kinsey, Pomeroy & Martin, 1948). In particular, a marked difference was highlighted in individuals’ sociosexual attitudes and behaviours. Following this, many of the sociosexual features individuals differ in, including preferred frequency of sexual intercourse, the number of different sexual partners they predict to have in the future, and their willingness to engage in uncommitted relationships, have shown to covary (Eysenk, 1976, as cited in Barnes, Malamuth & Check, 1984). Considered together, these features compose an individual difference dimension named sociosexuality (Snyder, Simpson & Gangestad, 1986). Sociosexuality reflects the tendency to engage in uncommitted, casual sexual encounters (Simpson & Gangestad, 1991). Those with a restricted sociosexual orientation typically prefer closeness and commitment from their romantic partner before engaging in sex (Simpson & Gangestad, 1991). Such individuals claim they rarely have one-night stands, and require emotional intimacy within a romantic relationship before feeling comfortable with sex (Simpson & Gangestad, 1991). Conversely, unrestricted individuals require little or no emotional bond with a partner in order to have sex. These individuals are more likely to be involved in extra-marital relationships (Seal, Agostinelli & Hannett, 1994), and exhibit more frequent displays of sexual assertiveness such as flirting (Simpson, Gangestad & Nations, 1996).
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...vels of sensation seeking than males (Leone et al, 2001), it was also expected that females would be more hypersensitive to punishment than males showing higher BIS scores, as measured by Carver and White’s (1994) BIS/BAS scale.
Considering the behavioural inhibition system is related to variables that correlate with low sensation seeking, such as anxiety (Segal, 1973), it was expected higher BIS scores and lower Sensation Seeking scores would explain female’s restricted sociosexuality. As high sensation seekers share traits with sociosexually-unrestricted individuals, such as disinhibition, it was expected that male’s unrestricted sociosexuality could be explained by higher sensation seeking scores and lower BIS scores. Therefore, the second hypothesis was that gender differences in sensation seeking and BIS would mediate the gender differences in sociosexuality.
In the article “An Anthropological Look at Human Sexuality” the authors, Patrick Gray and Linda Wolfe speak about how societies look at human sexuality. The core concept of anthology is the idea of culture, the systems of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors people acquire as a member of society. The authors give an in depth analysis on how human sexuality is looked at in all different situations.
References to Kurt Freund’s studies to “assess sexual arousal in men and women” and Alfred Kinsey’s “sexual orientation” scale are made to further explain how sexuality and asexuality are not solid concepts with strict definitions of their own but rather more multifarious. For
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.
Baumeister, R. F. (2000). Gender differences in erotic plasticity: The female sex drive as socially flexible and responsive. Psychological Bulletin, 126(3), 347-374. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.126.3.347
This paper describes the potential study in how the societal norm of sexual permissiveness hampers the elusive attraction of “playing hard to get” within the genders. This is important in the advancement of social psychology in terms of situational factors influencing gender attraction qualities. This potential study may advance the concept of situational factors sometimes overpowering attribution factors when a population has a surplus of marriageable women, leading to a societal norm of sexual permissiveness and delayed marriages (Gutentag, and Secord, 1983). Hatfield, Walster, Piliavin, and Schmidt (1973) described “playing hard to get” as an attribution quality in that the women who is hard to get is a more desirable catch than the women who is too eager for an alliance. This paper analyzes studies and literatures on the impact of elusive attraction, sexual temptations, and situational factors that create attraction between the genders. It examines the elusive phenomenon, when does “playing hard to get” increase romantic attraction, sex differences in succumbing to temptations and the sex ratio question. After this examination, it will suggest the need for a study in how the societal norm of sexual permissiveness hampers the elusive attraction of “playing hard to get” within the genders.
Milstein, Susan A. Taking Sides Clashing Views in Human Sexuality. Ed. William J. Taverner and Ryan W. McKee. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print.
Sexuality is a fundamental part of our self-discovery, involving much more than just being genetically or anatomically male and female and it is not defined solely by one 's sexual acts (Ministry of Education 1989, p.79 cited in Gourlay, P 1995). The notion that sexuality is fixed and innate disregards the social aspects that impact ones’ sexualities. Gagnon and Simon (1973) further commented that sexuality is a feature of social
The next topic of the essay was how sexuality correlated with aggression. Several tests were given out to both men and women asking them whether they saw themselves as very passionate or not at all, but with the men's test they correlated being passionate with aggression, where as they didn't do that with the women. This test showed that men are more assertive than women in relationships. Men also initiate touching and other sexual things. Rape is considered the extreme link between aggression and sexuality. This being said, there are tendencies in men of showing the wrong kind of aggression in relationships that could lead to rape.
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.”
Evolutionary framework for human mating is based on three elements. First, strategies for mating developed to solve specific problems in human evolutionary history. Second, people behave differently depending on the type of mating involved. There are two types of mating, short term and long term mating. Short term mating is defined as casual sex (i.e. one-night stands and brief affairs). Long term mating is seen as a committed relationship (i.e. dating, going steady, and marriage). Third, males and females developed different strategies due to the difference in problems they have had over the course of human evolution (Buss 241). This paper will examine those strategies specific to males.
Technology and things like social media have a great effect on sexual views, behavior and practice among generations. Recent advances in technology are influencing sexual behaviors because of things like computers, smartphones, sex technology (sex toys, pornography, etc.). The list is growing and so are the many possible uses of these technologies. In fact, one in every ten websites is a pornography website, (Krotoski, 2011). This alone gives individuals access to the erotic, fantasy world of sex. These advances in technology, and the availability of this information has made it easier than ever to enter the world of sex.
...nto penile tissue, both directly mediated by parasympathetic afferents. The dilation and relaxation of these areas cause the usually flaccid internal pudendal arteries to fill with blood while venous output is remains constant, resulting in more blood entering the penis than leaves it. This rising pressure causes the penis to enlarge and extend, with the erection maintained by the bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles.
Men and women sexually go through a cycle. This cycle is known as the sexual response cycle. The sexual response cycle is made up of four different phases, the excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution phases. The cycle is also categorized in two ways, vasocongestion and myotonia. Vasocongestion is where swelling occurs because blood rushes to certain areas of the body such as earlobes, for women to the opening of the vaginal area, and for men around the testes, it also causes the erection of the penis. Myotonia is what causes hands and feet to spasm, affects the face, and the involuntary movements of orgasm, these occur because the muscles are tightening creating these movements and spasms to occur. (Nevid & Ruthus, 2005).
Oliver, M. B., & Hyde, J. S. (1993). Gender difference in sexuality: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 114, 29-51.
The American Psychiatric Association does not define atypical sexual interests as a disorder unless it causes personal distress, causes another person psychological or physical injury, or involves a person unwilling or unable to give legal consent. These distinctions were made to show that individuals who engage in atypical sexual behavior must not be inappropriately labeled as having a mental disorder. When we think of sexual orientation, we usually think of the continuum of gay, straight, and bisexual, but sexual orientation is a deep-seated attraction toward a certain kind of person. Erotic desire includes attention, attraction, fantasy, thoughts, urges, genital arousal, and behavior. It is further complicated by variations of dominance or submission, sadism and masochism, fetishes, and consent or no consent. These interests may be single or multiple, exclusive or nonexclusive, idiosyncratic or opportunistic, stable or fluid. Possible legal consequences, lack of opportunity, and unwillingness or inability to act all work to constrain our behavior. The sooner we learn this concerning human sexual behavior, the sooner we shall reach a sound understanding of the realities of sex. The reasons for our sexual choices are analyzed obsessively, imposing an undue emphasis on categorization rather than accepting the great diversity of same-sex attractions. But the act of categorizing all of these atypical sexual attractions does not mean that acting on them is either legal or morally acceptable nor unacceptable. Explanations for all of the elements of our sexual attractions are complex and probably unknowable. All research runs the risk of reductionism, but when research on sexuality focuses exclusively on genital sexual activity --to the exclusion of considerations of attraction, affection and affiliation--it falls short in understanding our