WHAT I LEARNED IN PYSCH 2012
Got_isaiah
Chapter10Psychology.pptxGender and Sexuality
Ana Izquierdo
James Lester
Luke Kramer
Isaiah Morales
Usaamah Kadery
Introduction: Gender and Sexuality
Gender and Sexuality
The word ‘sex’ can be described as an action, but it is also used to describe if someone is male or female
Sex refers to biologically determined psychical characteristics, such as difference in genetics, reproductive anatomy, and function
Gender refers to the cultural, social, and psychological meanings that are associated with maleness and femaleness
Gender Roles consist of the behavior, attitude, and personality
Gender Identity is a person's psychological sense of self as either male or female
Sexual Orientation is the persons direction of emotion towards a person, opposite sex, same sex, both sexes, or neither
Gender - Role Stereotypes
The beliefs and expectations that people hold about the characteristics and behaviors of each sex.
Gender & Sexuality
Gender Roles consist of the behaviors, attitudes, and personality traits that are given as either masculine or feminine
Gender identity refers to one’s psychological sense of self as male or female
Sexual orientation refers to the direction of a person’s emotional and erotic attraction to a certain sex
Types of Stereotypes
Female Stereotype
Stereotype established early on in childhood
If a baby was a girl they tend to gravitate to more girlish things, like wearing pink and playing with dolls
Parents are the most contributive factor for this stereotype
Some examples of stereotypes about women:
Not as strong as men
Suppose to have “clean jobs” like educators, secretaries, and nurses
Belong in the kitchen
Are the caretakers
Types of Stereotypes
Male Stereotype
From the beginning since they were small, boys are taught to be tough, to be protective, and to defend themselves aggressively
Their outfits are more of a neutral color
When little, they most likely played with trucks and action figures
Usually more aggressive than females when playing
Some examples of stereotypes about men:
Do not do housework and they are not responsible for taking care of children
Men do “dirty jobs” such as construction, mechanical work
Do not cook
The Effect of Gender Stereotypes
Negative stereotypes impact performance
Research
Spencer Al, 1999
Telling women that males usually perform better (before the test) led to a decrease in performance scores.
Steele & Aronson, 1995
African Americans scored less on a difficult verbal task if they were asked to state their race before the task
Gender Development
Key Questions:
What gender differences develop during childhood?
What are the major theories that explain gender development?
Color-Coding and Gender
In the US, newborn babies are color-coded within moments of their birth; typically, by being wrapped in blue or pink blankets to represent their gender.
Research has found that little girls don’t acquire their preference for pink objects—and little boys their aversion for pink objects—until they are between the ages of two-and-a-half and three years old. That’s also the age at which they are becoming aware of gender labels and their own gender identity, suggesting that their color preferences are shaped by social expectations.
Gender Differences in Childhood Behavior
Most toddlers begin using gender labels between the ages of 18 and 21 months; roughly between the ages of 2-3, children can identify themselves and other children as boys or girls.
Roughly between the ages of 2 and 3, preschoolers start acquiring gender stereotypes for toys, clothing, household objects, games, and work. Gender-related preferences for toys have been found in children as young as 9 months.
From the age of about 3 on, there are consistent gender differences in preferred toys and play activities. Boys play more with balls, blocks, and toy vehicles. Girls play more with dolls and domestic toys and engage in more dressing up and art activities. By the age of 3, children have developed a clear preference for toys that are associated with their own sex.
Children also develop a strong preference for playing with members of their own sex—girls with girls and boys with boys. Boys learn to assert themselves within a group of male friends. Girls tend to establish very close bonds with one or two friends. Girls learn to maintain their close friendships through compromise, conciliation, and verbal conflict resolution.
Gender Differences in Childhood Behavior
Children are far more rigid than adults in their beliefs in gender stereotypes. Children’s strong adherence to gender stereotypes may be a necessary step in developing a gender identity. As girls grow older, they become even more flexible in their views of sex-appropriate activities and attributes, but boys become even less flexible.
Girls’ more flexible attitude toward gender roles may reflect society’s greater tolerance of girls who cross gender lines in attire and behavior. A girl who plays with boys, or who plays with boys’ toys, may develop the grudging respect of both sexes. But a boy who plays with girls or with girls’ toys may be ostracized by both sexes. Girls are often proud to be labeled a “tomboy,” but for many boys, being called a “sissy” is still the ultimate insult.
Social Learning Theory
Contends that gender roles are learned through reinforcement, punishment, and modeling
According to this theory, from a very young age, children are reinforced or rewarded when they display gender-appropriate behavior and punished when they do not. A little boy may be praised for not crying when he’s hurt, while a little girl is comforted if she does.
Children are exposed to many sources of information about gender roles, including television, video games, books, films, and observation of same-sex adult role models.
Children also learn gender differences through modeling: They observe and then imitate the sex-typed behavior of significant adults and older children. By observing and imitating such models—whether it’s Mom cooking, Dad fixing things around the house, or a male superhero rescuing a helpless female on television—children come to understand that certain activities and attributes are considered more appropriate for one sex than for the other .
Gender Schema Theory
Contends that children actively develop mental categories (or schemas) for masculinity and femininity. That is, children actively organize information about other people and appropriate behavior, activities, and attributes into gender categories. Saying that “trucks are for boys and dolls are for girls” is an example of a gender schema.
Gender schemas can be subtle. For example, a carefully designed study of almost 60 different children’s coloring books found that gender stereotypes were widespread. Male characters were more likely than female characters to be depicted as animals or superheroes, whereas female characters were more likely than male characters to be depicted as people. Regardless of the character type, males tended to be adults, and females tended to be children.
Evolutionary Theories
Some researchers use primarily biological explanations to explain gender differences in behavior and personality. Perhaps the most prominent of the biological explanations are those that cite evolution as the primary cause of many gender differences
According to the evolutionary approach, gender differences are the result of generations of the dual forces of sexual selection and parental investment.
Evolutionary explanations have been explored for gender differences in a number of areas, including cognitive skills. For example, women seem to be better than men at spatial skills. Evolutionary researchers attribute this gender difference to a need for women to have foraging expertise in generations past.
The evolutionary explanation of sex differences, whether in mate preferences or other areas, is controversial. Some psychologists argue that it is overly deterministic and does not sufficiently acknowledge the role of culture, gender-role socialization, and other social factors.
Interactionist Theories
Researchers encourage the development of interactionist theories that explain a given observation using a combination of explanations.
Men tend to be physically larger and stronger than women; and women are biologically responsible for reproduction. These biological differences mean that it can be more efficient for men to be responsible for some activities—like heavy lifting—and women to be responsible for others—like those that involve nurturing an infant.
Biology plays a role in what women and men do, but both women and men might be prevented from taking part in certain activities for reasons other than biological or physical limitations. Psychological and socially driven beliefs about talents and abilities can also limit opportunities and choices. From the interactionist perspective, it is the interplay of biological constraints and psychological and social constraints that drives the division of labor.
Variations in Gender Identity (Intersex)
An intersex individual, also referred to as a person with a disorder of sex development, is someone whose biological sex is ambiguous.
With a disorder of sex development, reproductive structures may be partly male and partly female, tissues may be insensitive to the effects of hormones, or tissues may be exposed to hormone levels that are inconsistent with the person’s genetic sex.
Until recently, there was little general awareness of the condition. What is most likely the first U.S birth certificate listing “intersex” instead of “male” or “female” was only granted in 2016, to 55-year-old Sara Kelly Keenan. In past years, most infants who were born with ambiguous genitals were surgically “corrected” so as to have the appearance of one sex or the other.
Intersex individuals are not always identified at birth. In a high-profile example, several women were discovered to be intersex only when they were challenged as elite athletes with masculine appearances.
Hanne Gabey Odiele, intersex supermodel
Variations in Gender Identity (Transgender)
In contrast to intersex individuals, transgender individuals’ biological sex is not ambiguous—they are biologically male or female. However, their gender identity is in conflict with their biological sex.
A transgender man is an anatomical female who identifies with or wishes to become male. A transgender woman is an anatomical male who identifies with or wishes to become female.
Across multiple countries, less than 0.5 percent of people describe themselves as transgender. And in the United States, data suggest that the rate of transgenderism has been constant for decades.
Researchers are not yet certain what causes people to be transgender. But most researchers point to biological factors, in part because transgender people’s brains seem to be neither completely like those of cisgender women nor like those of cisgender men in terms of structure and processes.
Human
Sexuality
First Things First
William Masters and Virginia Johnson were the first people to map out the sexual response cycle
They observed hundreds of people engaging in more than 10,000 episodes of sexual activity
Masters and Johnson discovered that sexual response has 4 stages. Excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.
Phase 1: Excitement
This phase is the beginning of a sexual arousal
Sexual arousal occurs by sexual fantasies, physical contact or masturbation
Phase prior to orgasm where physical arousal builds
Both sexes have increased sexual pleasures and increased stimulation
Phase 2: Plateau
Phase 3: Orgasm
An orgasm is considered the sexual response cycle which is considered the shortest phase
The muscle in the vaginal wall and uterus contract rhythmically also known as involuntary muscle contraction
Following an orgasm the man and woman feel a sense of well-being following the ograsm
After a man has an orgasm they are incapable of having another erection right away this is called, refractory period
Phase 4: Resolution
Which Americans have the most active sex lives?
The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior focuses on sexual practices of Americans
Most people that have an active sex life are married or cohabiting couples
A sexually active life happens across someones lifespan. People ages 60 to 85 are still sexually active
What motivates sexual behavior?
In most animals sexual behavior is biologically determined and triggered by hormonal changes in the female.
The hormonal changes in the female animal is known as the estrus, the female animal will signal her willingness to engage in a sexual activity, which is when the female animal is in heat
Unlike in other sophisticated animals like apes or monkeys, sexual activity can occur at any time, not just when the female is fertile
The Bonobos
Bonobos are another species of chimp like apes from the Democratic Republic
Most nonhuman animals copulate with the male mounting the female from behind, bonobos copulate face-to-face, intense tongue kissing, and oral sex
Sexual interaction between the bonobos increases group cohesion, avoids conflict, and decreases tension
Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation refers to whether a person is sexually attracted to members of the opposite, the same , both, or neither sexes
A heterosexual person is sexually attracted to individuals of the other sex.
A homosexual person is sexually attracted to the same sex. And a bisexual person to both sexes.
Some people do not identify under any of the following and they are considered asexual
What determines sexual orientation?
Genetics play a role in determining sexual orientation, studies compare the incidence of homosexuality among pairs of identical twins, fraternal twins, and non twin siblings. The more likely one sibling is homosexual the other is homosexual as well
Nonshared environmental factors are influences that are experienced by not both, but one twin
Sexual orientation is determined before adolescence and long before the beginning of sexual activity
Researchers believe sexual orientation is established as early as 6 years old
Sexual Orientation
Compared to heterosexual men, gay men remembered playing with girl toys and disliked rough playing
Study shows that lesbians show an even greater degree to gender nonconformity than gays
A retrospective study is that the participants may be biased in their recall of childhood events
A prospective study involved systematically observing a group of people over time to discover what factors are associated with development of a trait, characteristic, or behavior
16,000 highschool students found that gay, lesbian, and bisexual students are more likely to be depressed or to be victims of bullying or violence
Sexual Disorders and Problems
Sexual Dysfunctions
Is a consistent disturbance in sexual desire, arousal, or orgasm, and sexualpain that causes psychological distress and interpersonal difficulties
Almost every sexaully active adult experinces from sexual dysfunction
Women are more likely to experience Sexual dysfunctions
Causes may come from anxiety, including anxiety over your sexual performance, can interfere with sexual functioning.
Drinking too much alcohol can disrupt the ability to achieve sexual arousal or orgasim.
Some problems are temporary vs persistent problems
Main Categories of Sexual Dysfunctions
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder(HSDD) - a sexual dysfunction characterized by little or no sexual desire.
Female orgasmic disorder- in women, sexual dysfunction characterized by consistent delays in achieving orgasm or the inability to achieve orgasm.
Erectile Disorder(ED)- in men, sexual dysfunction characterized by a recurring inability to achieve or maintain an erect penis.
Premature Ejaculation- in males, sexual dysfunction characterized by orgasim occuring before its desired, often immediately or shortly after sexual stimulation or penetration.
Causes of Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual dysfunctions may be caused by physical or medical conditions or by psychological factors.
Erectile Disorder(ED) - is often a symptom underlying medical condition that impairs the body blood flow, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, or obesity.
Premature Ejaculation - often involve psychological factors, such as anxiety about sex, sexual performance, or unpleasant past sexual experiences
Many sexual dysfunctions can be treated by psychologist and physicians who are specially trained in sex therapy
Men vs Women
The Paraphilic Disorders
Unusual sexual fantasies,urges or behaviors
Paraphilic Disorder
-A sexual disorder in which a person engages in a paraphilia that causes distress or harm to that person or to someone who is the target of their paraphilia.
When a person sexual gratification is highly or completely dependent on fantasies, urges, or behaviors that fall out outside the socially accepted range of sexual behavior that person is said to have paraphilia.
Most Common Paraphilic Disorders
Exhibtionstic disorder- sexual arousal achieved by publicy exposings ones genitals to shocked strangers.
No sexual contact involved
Pedophilic disorder- sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a child (generally age 13 or younger)
Most Common Paraphilic Disorders
Transvestic disorder- In heterosexual males, sexual arousal from crossdressing in womens clothes
No desire to be the opposite sex
Derive sexual gratification from wearing clothes usually worn by the opposite sex
Sexual Masochism disorder- the urge or behavior of wanting to be humiliated, beaten, bound, or otherwise made to suffer.
Includes use of physical restraints with punishment, pain.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Also known as STDs, Any of several infectious diseases that are transmitted primarily through sexual intercourse or other intimate sexual contact
An estimated 19 million cases of STIs are diagnosed annually in the United States.
Young People aged 15 to 24 account for almost half of those cases
Major Sexually Transmitted Infections
| Bacterial | Symptoms |
| Gonorrhea | Men: yellowish penile discharge;burning or painful urination Women: often no early symptoms; vaginal discharge; burning or painful urination |
| Syphilis | Painless chancre, or sore swollen lymph nodes |
| Chlamydia | Men: many are symptom free; burning or painful urination Women: most are symptom free:painful urination and vaginal discharge |
| Viral | |
| Genital Herpes | Painful blisters on or inside the genitals; sometimes accompanied by fever, bodily aches and pains |
| (HPV) | Often no early symptoms; genital warts in some cases; can lead to cancer in rare cases. |
| AIDS | Initial HIV infection may be accompanied by mild flulike symptoms; HIV virus can be dormant for years; AIDS is characterized by severe weight loss and increased suspectibility to other diseases and infections |
HIV and the AIDS Epidemic
AIDS- is a disease that gradually depletes and weakens the human immune system. Its caused by HIV, which enters the bloodstream through the exchange of infected bodily fluids, primarily semen, vaginal fluids, and blood
HIV can also be transmitted by having unprotected sexual intercourse or by sharing needles or syringes with an infected mother to her infant during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding,
Less commonly, it can be transmitted by receiving a transfusion of infected blood
