Sexual
Motivation
10:15 Assembly
Front Left
Row
Allen
Anselene
K.Banks
Barbara
Bradley
Edgington
Troianello
B,C,D
E
F
G
G,H
I,J
L
Front Center
Row
Front Right
Row
Burns
Campbell
Carter
Davis
Dufour
Dunn
Chandler
A,B,C
C,D
D,E,F
F,G,H
H,I
J,K
L
Fogelson
Kittelson
Kostkan
Wortman
Bourassa
B,C,D
D,E,F
F,G
H
K
Row
Middle Right
Row
Middle Left
Row
Middle Center
Schwartz
Sierralta
Sloop
K.Smith
Price
M,N
N,O,P
P,Q
Q,R,S
T
Scipioni
Yousefzadeh
M-T
U,V
Lenotti
Throckmorton
Worth
Woolley
M,N,O
O,P,Q
Q,R,S
T,U
Schedule for today
1st block 9:00 – 11:13
 1st Assembly 9:15 - 10:00
 2nd Assembly 10:15 – 11:00
 Announcements 11:13 – 11:20
 3rd block 11:25 - 1:12 D Lunch at 12:43
 2nd block 1:17 - 2:30
 4th block 2:35 - 3:48

Agenda
1. Bell Ringer: Review Guide for test, Format,
and Dates. (March 9 and 11)
 2. Notes: Sexual Motivation and Homosexuality
 3. Kinsey Article and Questions
 4. CBS Report: Masters and Johnson
 5. Culture and Psychology, can we study
without bias? How does Culture play a role?
 6. Q and A, testing
 Assembly at 10:15

Sexual Motivation
Sexual
motivation is
nature’s clever way of
making people
procreate, enabling
our species to survive.
Imagined Stimuli
Our imagination in our brain can influence
sexual arousal and desire. People with
spinal cord injuries and no genital
sensation can still feel sexual desire.
Sex Drive
Sex
is not a “need”
Involves the
hypothalamus
We are aroused by
almost anything at any
time.
Sex Drive
Increases
at puberty with an
increase in sex hormones
Pituitary gland
Males – testosterone (testes)
Females – estrogen (ovaries
& adrenals)
4 Stages to Sexual Response Cycle by
Masters and Johnson
Phase
Physiological Response
Excitement
Genitals become engorged with blood. Vagina
expands secretes lubricant. Penis enlarges.
Plateau
Excitement peaks such as breathing, pulse and
blood pressure.
Orgasm
Contractions all over the body. Increase in
breathing, pulse & blood pressure. Sexual release.
Resolution
Engorged genital release blood. Male goes
through refractory phase.
Sexual Disorders
Premature ejaculation
(male)
Erectile disorder (male)
Orgasmic disorder
(female)
Contraception





Ignorance: many teens do not have the right ideas
about birth control methods.
Guilt Related to Sexual Activity: Guilt reduces sexual
activity, but it also reduces the use of contraceptives.
Minimal Communication: Many teenagers feel
uncomfortable about discussing contraceptives.
Alcohol Use: Those who use alcohol prior to sex are
less likely to use contraceptives.
Mass Media: The media’s portrayal of unsafe
extramarital sex decreases the use of contraceptives.
Adolescent Sexuality
When individuals reach
adolescence, their sexual
behavior develops. However,
there are cultural differences.
Sexual promiscuity in modern
Western culture is much
greater than in Arab countries
and other Asian countries.
Factors that reduce sexual activity in teens




High Intelligence: Teens with higher
intelligence are likely to delay sex.
Religiosity: Religious teens and adults often
reserve sex for a marital commitment.
Father Presence: A father’s absence from
home can contribute to higher teen sexual
activity.
Learning Programs: Teens who volunteer and
tutor in programs dedicated to reducing teen
pregnancy are less likely to engage in unsafe
sex.
Sexual Orientation
Direction
of an
individual’s sexual
interest
Heterosexuality
Bisexuality
Homosexuality
Origins of Sexual Orientation
Homosexuality is more
likely based on biological
factors like differing brain
centers, genetics, and
prenatal hormone
exposure rather than
environmental factors.
Sexual Orientation Statistics
In Europe and
America, based on
many national surveys,
homosexuality in men
is 3-4% and in women
is 1-2%.
About
10% of the
population is
homosexual.
Researchers attribute
causes of homosexuality
to biological,
psychological, or
sociocultural factors.
Animal Homosexuality
A number of
animal species are
devoted to samesex partners,
suggesting that
homosexuality
exists in the
animal world.
Wendell and Cass
The Brain
In homosexual men, the size of the
anterior hypothalamus is smaller and
the anterior commissure is larger .
http://www.msu.edu
Anterior
Commissure
Anterior
Hypothalamus
Genes & Sexual Orientation



Family: Homosexuality seems to run in
families.
Twin studies: Homosexuality is more
common in identical twins than fraternal
twins. However, there are mixed results.
Fruit flies: Genetic engineers can
genetically manipulate females to act like
males during courtship and males to act
like females.
Hormones & Sexual Orientation
Prenatal hormones affect sexual orientation
during critical periods of fetal development.
1.
2.
Animals: Exposure of a fetus to testosterone results
in females (sheep) exhibiting homosexual behavior.
Humans: Exposure of a male or female fetus to
female hormones results in an attraction to males.
Heterosexual
male
Homosexual
Heterosexual
female
Kinsey article
What is the controversy behind studying
sexuality in Psychology?
 What are complications behind the
studies? Give several examples.
