PSYCHOLOGY OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
Kansas State University
www.ksu.edu/psych
Psychology 580, Fall 2004 Reference #22780
Exam 1 Study Qs
Study Questions – Carroll 2
1. Describe the various theoretical approaches to sexuality. How are they different and how are
they the same?
2. Briefly describe the history of sexuality research (NOT Table 2.1) including some of the
most notable early contributors.
3. Describe Sexology and the scientific approach including rules, assumptions, goals and the
importance of sampling including: Probability sampling, convenience sampling, sampling
bias, volunteer bias
4. Describe the three types of measurements used in the study of sexuality, including the
limitations of these methods
5. Summarize the four most commonly used research designs and list the limitations and
strengths of each (including types of measurement error)
6. Discuss the significance and limitations of Alfred Kinsey’s sex surveys and the NHSLS
7. Discuss ethics in science and summarize researchers’ ethical obligations
Internet cites related to Sexology:
Censorship and the Internet
www.eff.org/CAF/cafuiuc.html
Discusses academic freedom and scientific inquiry as it relates to sexuality.
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
www.siecus.org
130 West 42nd St., Suite 350, New York, NY 10036-7802, (212) 819-9770
SIECUS is a nonprofit that advocates sexuality education and HIV/AIDS prevention in the
schools and sexual and reproductive rights.
The Kinsey Institute
www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/index.html
Morrison 313, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, (812) 855-7686
Focusing on sexual behavior and attitudes, the Institute offers Library and Clinic resources,
Research/Publication, Special Events, and Other Sexology Links information.
The Center for Sexuality and Religion
www.ctrsr.org
987 Old Eagle School Road
Suite 719
Wayne, PA 19087-1708
(610) 995-0341
Connects religion and sexuality to develop sexual, spiritual and emotional health
Midwest Institute of Sexology
www.MWSexual.com
P.O. Box 277
Southfield, MI 48037-0277
(248) 737-3984
Studies human sexuality and promotes happiness and openness to all sexualities.
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS)
www.ssc.wisc.edu/ssss
P.O. Box 208
Mount Vernon, IA 52314-0208
An international organization for researchers, clinicians, and educators dedicated to the
advancement of knowledge of sexuality. They also publish the quarterly newsletter, Sexual
Science.
World Association of Sexology
www.tc.umn.edu/nlhome/m201/colem001/was/
C/o The Program in Human Sexuality
1300 South Second Street, Suite 180
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Works to promote further understanding of human sexology.
International Center for Research on Women
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 302
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 797-0007
www.icrw.org
Supports social and environmental developments with the support of women.
http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/ssss/jsr.htm This is the home page of the journal of Sex Research, and
presents the guidelines for submitting papers as well as the table of contents.
www.ejhs.org The electronic journal of Human Sexuality. A publication of the Institute of Advanced
Study for Human Sexuality.
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/HSC/
The Human Sexuality Collection seeks to preserve and make accessible primary sources that document
historical shifts in the social construction of sexuality, with a focus on U.S. lesbian and gay history and
the politics of pornography.
Study Questions – Carroll Chapter 16, Baumeister & Tice Chapter 3
1. What is normal? Which definition appeals to you? What are paraphilias and how do they
impact sexual behavior?
2. Describe the behaviors associated with the various paraphilias discussed in the text, including
the characteristics of those who have each type (e.g., gender, marital status, etc.).
3. Discuss the biological, psychoanalytic, behavioral, development and sociological
explanations for the causes of paraphilias. Which accounts are most clearly supported by
research?
4. Describe the theories explaining masochism from BT chapter 3, in particular the theory
involving escape from the self. Which of these theories are most clearly supported by the
existing evidence? Are masochists self-destructive perverts? Is masochism associated with
better sex? What are the parallels with sex therapy and how are they relevant for this issue?
Are women naturally masochistic?
5. What are some of the issues relevant for treating paraphilias? Describe the psychoanalytic,
behavioral and biochemical approaches to treatment of paraphilias. How successful are these
approaches?
Atypical Sexual Variation Internet sites:
http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/Paraphilias.html What are paraphilias?
Web sites of journals that deal specifically with atypical sexual behaviors and parpahilias:
Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality
www.haworthpressinc.com
Sexualities: Studies in Culture and Society
http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journals/details/j0065.html
Study Questions – BT Chapter 3, Widmer et al., Morris
1. How are humans sexually unique compared to other animals? Why might these differences
exist? What do the essentialist and social constructivist views say about this issue? What are
the moral and other implications of the various views? What criterion can be used for
determining nature v. nurture? Why is this criterion at times ineffective?
2. Describe some of the evidence suggesting the role of culture in sexuality. What aspect(s) of
sexuality appear to be most strongly impacted by culture?
3. According to the article by Morris what is female genital mutilation and how common is it?
Describe the different types and where such practices are most common. Summarize the
attitudes regarding FGM in the western and African countries and the reasons for and against
FGM.
4. Describe the purpose and procedure of the study by Widmer et al. Overall how did responses
to the different types of sex vary by country? Were the responses similar or very different
across countries for each type of sex? How did the US rank for homosexual sex? Describe
each of the 4 clusters of attitudes.
5. What are attitudes and under what circumstances will attitudes not predict behavior? How
can this help us understand the results from Widmer et al. in relation to the estimate that 50%
of all couples in the US experience an extramarital affair?
6. Describe some of the evidence suggesting the role of nature in sexuality including the impact
of androgens and consistencies (e.g., sexual practices, love, jealousy, promiscuity, mate
choice). What aspect(s) of sexuality appear to be most strongly impacted by nature?
7. How might nature & culture combine to impact sexuality? Describe the work by Guttentag &
Secord (1983) and their conclusions regarding the interplay of culture and nature on sexual
morality. Also summarize other ways in which culture and nature interact to impact sexuality
(e.g., adoption).
Study Questions – BT Chapter 2
1. Why is it important for people to know how much sex is going on? Describe social
comparison theory and its role here.
2. Why is it so difficult to evaluate one’s sex life in comparison to other peoples?
3. How many sex partners does the average American male and female have/desire? Why are
there discrepant findings from different surveys? What are some of the notable differences?
How do sampling and volunteer biases play a role here? Which survey do the authors think is
the best? Why?
4. In the study at USC (Miller & Fishkin, 1997) how many partners did men and women say
they desired? Do the findings change depending on whether you use the mean or median?
How so and what are the implications?
5. What is the other gender difference commonly found in sex surveys? Why might this
difference exist? Describe the 6 potential explanations for this difference and the evidence
for each. Which seem to be the best explanation(s)? Is this gender difference rooted in ‘real’
behavior or something else?