Sexuality. Chapter 4

Transcription

1 Sexuality Chapter 4

2 Meaning of Sex Sex is social and biological Most people are heterosexual, preferring malefemale sexual relations A small minority of people are homosexual, preferring only those of their own sex Small percentage are bisexual, finding gratification with both sexes and having no strong preference for either

3 How many people are homosexual? According to a national survey of Americans 18 to 44 years old, 2.3% of men identified as homosexual, 1.8% as bisexual 1.3% of women identified as homosexual, 2.8% as bisexual Why are some people homosexual?

4 Sex as Physical: The Response Cycle Excitement Phase Plateau Phase Orgasmic Phase Resolution Phase

5 Excitement Erections in men Vaginal lubrication and genital swelling in women Muscle tension and increases in heart rate in both males and females Sex flush is a reddish rash that may appear on the chest or breasts late in the excitement phase

6 Plateau Increases in vasocongestion, muscle tension, heart rate and blood pressure Orgasmic platform, which is the thickening of the walls of the outer third of the vagina, due to vasocongestion Sex skin, which is the reddening of the labia minor Rapid breathing and heart rate, blood pressure increases

7 Orgasmic Male orgasms consist of two stages of muscular contractions 1.) contractions push seminal fluid into urethral bulb 2.) Ejaculation

8 Female orgasms manifest as 3 to 15 contractions of the pelvic muscles surrounding the vaginal barrel Spacing of contractions more variable in women than in men Uterus and anal sphincter contract rhythmically

9 In both men and women, muscle spasms occur throughout the body and blood pressure and heart rate peak Orgasm is a subjective experience A high percentage of women have never reached orgasm

10 Resolution Body gradually returns to its pre-aroused state Resolution takes longer when people do not reach orgasm Blood is released from engorged areas, myotonia dissipates and blood pressure, heart rate and respirations return to normal

11 Refractory Period for Men Period of time following an orgasm during which an individual is no longer responsive to sexual stimulation Men experience in varying degrees

12 Controversies over Orgasms Multiple Orgasms: One or more additional orgasms following the first, which occur within a short period of time and before the body has returned to a pre-plateau level of arousal Women are more capable of multiple or grams, by definition, than men are because they do not experience a refractory period Men may experience multiple orgasms if they are dry orgasms

13 Making Sense of Sex All the senses can be responsive to stimuli that enhance or diminish one s sexual arousal

14 Vision Visual stimuli are very important to human sexual arousal and response Men appear to be more responsive to visual stimuli Both men and women can be sexually aroused by mediated erotica Men are more interested

15 Smell Odors can be sexually attractive or offputting Play a role in selection of sex partners Pheromones are odorless chemicals detected by the nose Contributes to menstrual synchrony in women

16 Skin Sense Sense of touch has most direct effect on arousal Erogenous zones are areas of the body that are especially sensitive to stimulation, such a strokes and caresses Primary erogenous zones are particularly sensitive because they are richly endowed with nerve endings Secondary erogenous zones are areas of the body that become especially sensitive through experience

17 Taste Tastes seem to play a minimal role in sexual arousal and response Some people are aroused by taste of genital secretion

18 Hearing Auditory stimuli can have a strong influence on sexual arousal and behavior A person s voice, certain music, certain dirty words, etc: can be turn-on or turnoff