PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION
Sixth Edition
by
Karen Huffman
PowerPoint  Lecture Notes Presentation
Chapter 11
Gender & Human Sexuality
Paul J. Wellman
Texas A&M University
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Lecture Overview
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Sex and Gender
The Study of Human Sexuality
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Problems
Sexually Transmitted Infections
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Sex and Gender
• Sex refers to the biological aspects of being
male or female (and the physical acts of
intercourse/masturbation)
– Sex differences are physical differences
• Gender refers to the psychological and
sociocultural meanings added to biological
sex
– Gender differences result from people’s thinking
about gender
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Physical Dimensions of Sex
Sex Dimensions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Chromosomes
Gonads
Hormones
External genitalia
5. Internal accessory organs
6. Secondary sex
characteristics
7. Sexual orientation
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Male
Female
XY
Testes
Androgens
Penis, scrotum
XX
Ovaries
Estrogens
Labia, clitoris,
vaginal opening
Vagina, uterus,
fallopian tubes,
cervix
Breasts,
menstruation
Heterosexual,
lesbian, bisexual
Prostate, seminal
vesicles,
vas deferens
Beard, low voice,
sperm emission
Heterosexual, gay,
bisexual
Human Reproductive Structures
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Gender Dimensions
Gender Dimensions
Male
Female
8. Gender identity
Perceives self
as male
Perceives self
as female
9. Gender role
Masculine
Feminine
Gender identity is self-defined
Gender role is socially-defined
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Determinants of Gender Identity
• Gender identity refers to the personal view of
oneself as male or as female
• Environmental factors were assumed to be key
determinants of gender identity
– Notion was that social-cultural influences shaped
gender identity
– The case of the castrated identical twin whose gender
identity was reassigned following a botched
circumcision was taken as important evidence for the
role of environmental factors
• Problem: he later rejected the reassignment and took on a
male gender identity (now this case supports a biological view
of gender identity)
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Gender Role Development
• Gender roles are societal expectations for
normal and appropriate female and male
behavior
– Social learning theory argues that gender
roles develop as children
• receive rewards/punishments for gender role
behaviors
• watch and imitate the behaviors of others
– Cognitive development theory argues that
children develop gender schemas on gender
roles
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Gender Differences
• Cognitive abilities
– Females score higher on verbal skills
– Males score higher on math, visual-spatial
skills
• Aggression
– Males exhibit greater physical
aggressiveness
– Females are higher on relational aggression
• E.g. spreading rumors about others, ignoring or
excluding others
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Scientific Study of Sexuality
• Havelock Ellis was among the first
physicians to initiate a scientific study of
sexuality
– His studies revealed that nocturnal emissions
were not dangerous
– Ellis later came to promote the dissemination
of accurate information on human sexuality
• Alfred Kinsey was another early pioneer of
the study of sexuality
– Kinsey brought the study of sexuality into the
laboratory to study the sexual arousal cycle
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Sexual Arousal Cycle
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Male Sexual Activity
• Men are thought to have greater sexual drive,
interest and activity than do women. Why?
• Evolutionary Perspective: Men developed an
interest in sex with multiple partners in order to
maximize the likelihood of passing on their
genes; women seek a good provider
• Social Role Approach: Gender differences reflect
cultural roles and division of labor
– Women prefer resource-rich men, but only when they
lived in cultures with little reproductive
freedom/educational equality
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Sexual Orientation
• Homosexuality may reflect the impact of
biological factors on sexual orientation
– Biological factors are supported by twin studies that
suggest genetic influence on sexual orientation
• Gay brothers share a common region of the X chromosome
• Brain structures (including the hypothalamus) vary between
gay and heterosexual men
• Homosexuality does not reflect
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Poor parenting: smothering mother, detached father
Arrested development or an immature personality
Childhood seduction by adults
Modeling of gay behaviors and views from others
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Sexual Function
• Sexual behavior in males and females
involves arousal of the peripheral sex
organs, the spinal cord, and the brain.
– Factors that modulate activity within any of
these regions can impair sexual function
– Sexual arousal involves activity within the
parasympathetic nervous system (allows for
blood flow to the sex organs)
– Sexual orgasm involves the activation of the
sympathetic nervous system
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Sexual Dysfunctions
• Male sexual problems
– Impotence (inability to maintain an erection)
– Premature ejaculation
• Male and Female
– Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
– Inhibited Desire
• Female
– Orgasmic dysfunction
– Vaginismus (painful contraction of the vaginal
muscles)
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Sex Therapy: Masters and
Johnson
• Therapy focuses on the relationship
• Therapy integrates physiological and
psychosocial factors
• Therapy focuses on cognitive factors
• Therapy focuses on specific behavioral
techniques
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Drug Actions on Sexuality
• Alcohol: Reduced testes size and suppressed
hormone function
• Cocaine: Erectile disorder, inhibited orgasm,
lowered sperm counts
• Barbiturates: Reduced desire, erectile disorder,
delayed orgasm
• Marijuana: Reduced testosterone levels,
reduced desire
• Tobacco: Decreases the frequency and
duration of erections and of vaginal lubrication
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E
Copyright
Copyright 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York,
NY. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected
by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any
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storage and retrieval system, without written permission
of the copyright owner.
© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huffman: PSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION, 6E