Understanding Human Sexuality: Introduction, Research, and TheoriesChapter 1What is sexuality?Sexuality- sexual attitudes, feelings, and behaviorsHumans have a lot of rituals and laws that go with sexualitySome researches believe “sexuality” is uniquely humanSexuality in the USContradictory, confusing messagesMany sexual images in media: most are unrealistic, misleading, inaccurateThere are no mention of contraceptionThe partners don’t talk to each other before/afterDespite sexualized media, US still fairly repressive sexually: same sex relationships, prostitution, pornographyEthnocentrism: regarding one’s own ethnic group, culture as superior- what we do/believe sexually is the only thing that’s rightBelieving your culture’s norms, customs should be the standard used to judge culturesSexuality Around the WorldWide variations in attitudes, behaviors2 extremes illustrate variety:Inis Beag- extremely sexually repressiveMangaia- extremely sexually permissiveIn between these, a whole world of diversityEven within the US, large variations in behavior, attitudesOral sexThe more education people have, the more diverse their sexual relations areSo, is everything normal/healthy?Sexuality researchers believe:Human sexuality is diverse, and diversity is normalSexual attitudes/behaviors exist on a continuumSexuality researchers evaluate sexual behaviors for abnormality using three criteria:Does it involve coercion or force?- if the sexual behavior involves either of these it is considered unhealthyDoes it have the potential for serious harm to self or others?Does it cause personal distress?Chapter 2: Research MethodsEthical ConcernsThe IRB approves the research initiallyInformed consent: study must be explained to participant before they agree to participateCould possibly affect the resultsVoluntary Participation: participant must be allowed to withdraw at any timeMinimize harm or distress- all ethical concerns center around thisAnonymityUsing deception: must be justifiable and explained afterwardDebriefing: must give participants info about study after it is completedCollecting DataSampling: selecting members of the population to be in your studyWant sample to be representative: as much like population as possibleBest way to select sample is randomly: every person in population has equal chance of being in sampleMost samples in sexuality research are limitedVolunteer bias: sample is not truly random because it relies on volunteersVolunteers for sexuality research:More permissive attitudes about sexMore sexually experiencedMore likely to be maleLess religiousMore likely to be politically liberalMore likely to be college studentsMethods of Collecting DataSelf –report: ask participants about sexual attitudes and behavior directlyDesign Concerns:Limited choicesAmbiguous questionsWording of questionsOrder of questionsParticipant Concerns:Purposeful distortion (enlargements—exaggerating, concealments—hiding something)Problems with memoryDifficulties with estimatesTypes of Self ReportSurveys/QuestionnairesWrittenExample: National Survey of Sexual Health and BehaviorErotophobia vs. ErotophiliaPros: Quick and cheap, greater anonymityCons: No chance to clarify, get extra info, build rapportInterviewsVerbalExample: KinseyPros: Develop rapport, clarify, elicit more infoCons: More purposeful distortion, more time and money, characteristics of interviewer may influence resultsPeople tend to have more of a rapport with someone who is like themCombo of a survey/questionnaire and interview may be best!Lecture 3 (January 12)Describe observation and participant observation.Observation: directly watching or recording behavior of interestExample: Masters and Johnson- watched couples have sex and studied their reactions as well as watched people masturbate and study their reactionsPenile strain gauges: measure erectionPhotoplethysmographs: measure vaginal blood flowPros: more accurate- removes problems with distortion, estimates, and memoryCons:Increased problems with volunteer biasProblems generalizing to real worldExpensive, time consumingParticipant Observation:Special type of observation in which experimenter becomes part of observation- in the real world as opposed to the laboratoryExample: Moser and S/M partiesPros:Provides context of behaviorsGeneralizable because not being observed in a laboratoryGives access to “hidden” people/behaviors/communitiesCons:Presence of researcher may affect participantsParticipation by researcher may bias perceptionRaises ethical concerns because at times participants may not know that there is a researcher involved: undisguised vs. disguisedLecture 4 (January 14)What is the definition theory? Describe the two types of conditioning. What are the different theories about Human Sexuality? Define and describe them.Theories about Human SexualityTheory: set of assumptions, principles, or methods that help researchers organize and interpret information about a phenomena; a lens we can look through Behavioral TheoryOnly observable behavior should be studiedAlways exactly the same- everything about us is learnedSexuality/gender roles developed through:Operant Conditioning: learning due to reinforcement or punishmentClassical Conditioning: neutral stimulus is paired with one that causes a reaction, until those things become linkedUsed in sexual therapy to help people change unwanted sexual desires or behaviorsExample- aversion therapy: reduces frequency of maladaptive behavior by associating it with unpleasant stimuliSocial Learning TheoryBelieve we also learn through identification and imitation of other peopleSee ourselves as like another person in some way so we imitate them to learn social roles, normsWhether we continue imitation depends on whether we are reinforced or punished itCognitive TheoryProposes that our thoughts influence how we feel and actMost important sexual organ is the brainHow we perceive and evaluate sexual events has a large impact on our feelings and future behaviorsCognitive therapists help people change the way they interpret and evaluate sexual experiencesBiological TheoryEmphasizes biological processes when examining human sexualitySexual problems are due to biological causes and medical intervention is used to treat themEvolutionary TheoryIncorporates evolution and sociology, looks for trends in behavior over timeBelieve sexuality exists for the purpose of continuing the speciesSexual behaviors and attitudes have evolved to