Discuss the nature and nurture (and their interaction) of gender development
Chapter 5
Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
Discuss the nature and nurture (and their interaction) of gender development
Understand different aspects of human sexuality – the physiology and psychology of sex, the sexual response cycle, common misconceptions, diff b/w males and females, sexual dysfunctions, STIs, and sexual orientation
Comprehend the importance of the relationship in sex
Objectives
Sex – the biologically influenced characteristics by which people define males and females
Gender – the socially influenced characteristics by which people define men and women
“sex is what’s in between the legs; gender is what’s in between the head”
Gender Development
ACTIVITY & Discussion Handout 9: Gender Traits
Which traits do you think are more often linked with men, women, or both? You can include traits that are not on the handout and even include traits that you have heard but may disagree with.
Are there a lot of differences in traits between the genders? Are there more differences than similarities?
What do you think explains the similarities/differences? Why do we have cultural universals in beliefs about the personality characteristics of men and women? For example, you can talk about nature or nurture.
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Biology does not dictate gender, but influences gender in 2 ways
Genetically – males and females have differing sex chromosomes
Physiologically – males and females have differing concentrations of sex hormones, which trigger other anatomical differences
The NATURE of Gender: Our Biological Sex
Prenatal Sexual Development
7 weeks after conception, your sex is distinguishable
From mom you get an X chromosome and from Dad either an X or a Y.
The Y chromosome has a gene that triggers the testes to develop and produce testosterone (the principal male hormone that promotes development of male sex organs)
This hormone bathes the fetal brain and influences its wiring
this helps explain why male and female brains are different
The NATURE of Gender: Our Biological Sex
Adolescent Sexual Development
Puberty – 2-yr period of sexual maturation when a person becomes capable of reproducing
Puberty leads to the development of primary (reproductive organs and external genitalia) and secondary (non-reproductive sexual traits) sex characteristics that contribute to an even larger difference between males and females
The NATURE of Gender: Our Biological Sex
“Biology draws the outline, and culture paints the details.” p.177
The physical traits that define us as biological males or females are the same worldwide, but the gender traits that define how men/boys and women/girls should act, interact, or feel about themselves may differ from one place to another.
The effect of exposure to sex hormones is direct (biological appearance) and indirect (influence of social experiences that shape people)
Because you look like a boy/girl, you are treated like a boy/girl
The NURTURE of Gender: Our Culture and Experiences
Gender roles
def – a set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for males or females
Does culture construct these gender roles? Or do gender roles merely reflect men’s and women’s natural behavior tendencies?
The NURTURE of Gender: Our Culture and Experiences
How do we learn gender?
Gender identity – our sense of being male, female, or some combination of the two.
Social learning theory – we learn social behavior and gender identity by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished
https://www.learner.org/series/the-brain-teaching-modules/gender-development-social-influences/
The NURTURE of Gender: Our Culture and Experiences
Gender typing – the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role
Gender schemas – concepts about gender that help us make sense of our world; help us think about our gender identity
Transgender – an umbrella term describing people whose gender identity or expression differs from that associated with their birth sex
Note: gender identity is distinct from sexual orientation (the direction of one’s sexual attraction)
Terms related to gender
asexual – having no sexual attraction to others
The Physiology of Sex
Hormones and Sexual Behavior
Male – testosterone
Female – estrogens (i.e., estradiol)
Hormones (biology) are needed for there to be sexual drive, but psychological stimuli are also needed
Human Sexuality
The Sexual Response Cycle
Masters & Johnson (1966)
Requires intact neurological, endocrine, vascular, and psychological systems
Problems in these areas cause problems in the sexual response
Excitement/arousal
Plateau
Orgasm
Resolution
refractory period – resting period after orgasm (few minutes to a day or more), during which a man cannot achieve another orgasm
Human Sexuality: The Physiology of Sex
Sexual Response Cycle
Sexual Response Cycle
A – Multiple orgasm
B – Anorgasmic
C- Rapid orgasm (no plateau)
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Sex is physical/biological and/or psychological
You can achieve full sexual response strictly psychologically without physical stimulation
You can achieve full sexual response purely biologically
Excitement/arousal is parasympathetic
Fear/anxiety is sympathetic and cuts off arousal
Orgasm is sympathetic
Human Sexuality: The Physiology of Sex
| Aspect | Males | Females |
| Peak of Sensitivity | ||
| Sensual Interest | ||
| Hormones | ||
| Intensity on 0-100 scale | ||
| Intensity area |
Human Sexuality: The Physiology of Sex
Sexual Dysfunctions – problems that consistently impair sexual arousal or functioning
sexual motivation, lack of energy and arousability
Males:
erectile dysfunction (ED)
premature ejaculation
Females:
pain
female orgasmic disorder – distress due to infrequently or never experiencing orgasm
Human Sexuality: The Physiology of Sex
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
1 million ppl worldwide acquire an STI a day
Be smart! Use condoms!!!
Significantly reduce chance of bacterial STIs
80% effective in preventing transmission of HIV
If you don’t use condoms, you always have a risk unless neither partner has ever had sex before.
Risk increases with the number of sexual partners
Human Sexuality: The Physiology of Sex
Exposure to sexually explicit material can have adverse effects
Rape acceptance
Devaluing partner
Diminished satisfaction
Socio-cultural factors such as religious/family values and expectations also affect sexual motivation and behavior
Human Sexuality: The Psychology of Sex
Teen Pregnancy
Contributors
Minimal communication about birth control
Guilt related to sexual activity
Alcohol use
Mass media norms of unprotected promiscuity
Social script – culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations
Ways to reduce it
Assertiveness
Information about sexuality, reproduction, and contraception
Human Sexuality: The Psychology of Sex
def – an enduring sexual attraction toward members of one’s own sex (homosexual orientation), the other sex (heterosexual), or both sexes (bisexual)
Orientation is generally seen as a continuum ranging from exclusive male-female relations to exclusive same-sex relations (not either/or)
There are millions of sexual orientations
3-4% of men and 2% of women are homosexual; 3.4% LGBT; 1% bisexual
Homosexuality used to be considered a disorder in the DSM, but now psychologists recognize that sexual orientation is not something we choose and cannot change
There seems to be no environmental factors that influence orientation, but other research suggests:
Orientation is likely determined by a combo of genetic, hormonal, cognitive, and environmental factors
Sexual Orientation
Greater relationship satisfaction and stability and better sex occurs when partners have developed a deep commitment first
“Sex at its human best is life uniting and love renewing.” –p.196
Social Influences on Human Sexuality
