Chapter 8 Sexuality and Intimate Relationships

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Chapter 8Sexuality and Intimate Relationships
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Sexuality

• Simultaneous expression of mind and body
• Physical gratification
• Expression of emotions
• Form of interpersonal communication

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Dimensions of Sexuality

• Physical Organs and systems that create erotic
  experiences
• Psychological Emotions and beliefs
• Orientation Attraction to members of a
  particular sex
• Behavioral Sexual activities
• Relationship Love, intimacy, and close relating

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Sexual Characteristics of Men and Women
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Sexual Biology

• Sexual drive and gender identity originally
  evolved primarily for reproduction.
• Males produce sperm.
• Females produce ova and bear children.
• Gender is determined by sex chromosomes.
• XY pair of sex chromosomes determines maleness.
• XX pair of sex chromosomes determines femaleness.

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Female Sexual Anatomy

• Ovaries Produce ova and sex hormones
• Fallopian tubes Transport ova and sperm
• Uterus Receptacle for sperm and is the organ in
  which the fetus develops
• Cervix Lower part of the uterus. Secretes mucus
• Vagina Normally narrow, but can widen,
  especially during childbirth

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Female Sexual Anatomy
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Female Sexual Anatomy

• Vulva Encompasses all external female genitals
• Clitoris Small, sensitive organ located in front
  of the vaginal opening the center of sexual
  pleasure
• Labia minora Smaller, inner pair of folds of
  skin
• Labia majora Larger, outer pair of folds

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Female Sexual Anatomy
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Female Sexual Anatomy

• Urethra Relatively short exit tube for urine
• Breasts Network of milk glands and ducts
  embedded in fatty tissue secondary sexual
  characteristic

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The Menstrual Cycle

• Each month or so, women usually produce one ovum
  that could be fertilized.
• When the ovum is being produced, many changes
  occur in the body to prepare the body for
  pregnancy if the ovum is fertilized.
• During this time, the endometrium, or lining of
  the uterus, begins to thicken to support the
  first stages of pregnancy, and blood vessels
  increase in size.

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The Menstrual Cycle

• If the ovum is not fertilized, the endometrium
  and blood vessels are shed, causing a discharge
  called menstruation.
• The length of the menstrual cycle varies from
  woman to woman cycles generally vary between 24
  and 35 days, with 28 days being the most common.
• The cycle is controlled by a number of hormones.

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The Menstrual Cycle

• Hormones from the hypothalamus, called
  gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH), are
  secreted and influence the release of other
  hormones from the pituitary gland.
• The pituitary gland produces two
  gonad-stimulating hormones
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)

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The Menstrual Cycle

• Menarche is the first menstruation of a young
  woman, experienced typically between 12 and 13
  years of age.
• Menopause is the normal and gradual cessation of
  ovulation and menstruation that occurs between
  the ages of 50 and 52 years (usually).

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Male Sexual Anatomy

• The principal reproductive role of male sexual
  organs is to make numerous viable sperm cells and
  to deliver them to the female reproductive tract
  during sexual intercourse.
• Testes Two produce sperm and sex hormones
• Sperm ducts Transport sperm from testes to penis
• Scrotum Location of testes

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Male Sexual Anatomy
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Male Sexual Anatomy

• Ejaculation Sperm is forcefully propelled
  through the sperm ducts and out of the body.
• Semen Made up of sperm and seminal fluids from
  the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and
  Cowpers gland.
• Seminal fluid Makes up 95 or more of semen
  volume. There are about 300 million sperm per
  ejaculation.
• Penis Becomes erect when a male is sexually
  excited.

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Sexuality The Psychological Dimension

• Emotions Joy, excitement, pleasure, love,
  affection
• Beliefs Self-worth, sexual values
• Socialization The process by which groups
  inculcate values and attitudes in their members

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Gender Identity and Role

• How individuals come to think and behave sexually
  is almost entirely a product of what they learn
  as very young children about the kinds of
  behaviors that are expected of members of one sex
  or the other.
• Gender identity is awareness of being either male
  or female.

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Gender Identity and Role

• The gender role is made up of gender-specific
  behaviors.
• Sexual attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors are
  almost entirely the product of learning.

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Sexuality The Orientation Dimension

• A persons sexual orientation is his or her
  attraction toward and interest in members of one
  or both sexes.
• Heterosexual Attracted to a person of the other
  sex.
• Homosexual Attracted to a person of the same
  sex.
• Bisexual Attracted to members of either sex.

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Sexuality The Behavioral Dimension

• Sexual experience is holistic, involving body,
  mind, emotions, spirit, and the relationship with
  a partner.
• Involves
• Sexual interest
• Sexual desire or motivation
• Sexual decision making
• Sexual participation

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Sexual Arousal and Response

• Sexual interest in both men and women is
  influenced by androgen levels (principally
  testosterone).
• Creating a sexual experience involves two kinds
  of decisionscontext and participation.
• Certain regions of the body (erogenous zones) are
  sexually sensitive in nearly all people.

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Sexual Response Cycle

• Sexual arousal creates physiological changes
• Tightening of the muscles (myotonia)
• Changes in blood flow, producing swelling in the
  penis and pelvic areas (vasocongestion)
• Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and
  respiratory rate
• Increased level of excitement

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Sexual Response Cycle

• Phase 1 ExcitementErection of the penis,
  vaginal lubrication, swelling of the clitoris,
  sexual flush in both males and females.
• Phase 2 PlateauPhysiological changes of the
  excitement phase level off.
• Phase 3 OrgasmBuilt-up tensions during the
  excitement and plateau phases are released.
• Phase 4 ResolutionThe body returns
  physiologically to the nonstimulated state.

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Sexual Response Cycle
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Orgasm

• When sexual arousal builds to a certain point,
  the associated tensions are released in an
  orgasm.
• Associated with rhythmic contractions of the
  pelvic muscles tightening of the muscles of the
  face, hands, and feet and feelings of pleasure.
• Orgasmic experiences vary greatly from person to
  person and from encounter to encounter.

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Masturbation

• Masturbation is self-stimulation to produce
  erotic arousal.
• Masturbation is widely practiced.
• People masturbate for many reasons.
• It can be a means of self-exploration to help
  understand better what is sexually pleasurable.

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Sexual Abstinence

• People practice sexual abstinence for many
  reasons
• Religious beliefs
• Fear of intimacy
• Strong negative feelings about sex
• Healing of emotional wounds
• Opportunity to develop personal relationships
  without sexual pressures

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Sexual Difficulties

• There are many reasons why someone may have
  sexual difficulties
• Lack of interest
• Erection problems
• Ejaculation control
• Painful intercourse
• Orgasm difficulties

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Developing Positive Sexual Relationships

• People need intimacy, that is, the feeling of
  closeness, trust, and openness with others.
• Intimate relationships greatly affect ones sense
  of well-being in both positive and negative ways.
• Lack of intimacy can adversely affect physical
  health.

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Intimacy

• Intimacy is a feeling, not an act.
• Although each intimate relationship has unique
  qualities, intimacies have certain common
  characteristics.
• Mutual consent
• Greater depth and richness over time
• Meaningful experiences that foster trust and
  caring
• Complex interconnection of personalities

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Life Cycle of Intimate Relationships

• Intimate relationships tend to go through stages
• Selecting a partner
• Developing intimacy
• Establishing commitment

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Life Cycle of Intimate Relationships

• Proximity You are likely to become intimate with
  someone within close proximity.
• Similarity Aspects of similarity, including
  similar race, age, religion, education, social
  background, attitudes, values, and interests,
  affect intimacy.
• Physical appearance Physical appearance provides
  cues that indicate who among the eligible pool is
  a desirable intimate partner.

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Developing Intimacy

• Develops over time
• Is a tendency to be affected positively or
  negatively by the information that is disclosed
• Includes a tendency for self-disclosure to lead
  to reciprocal self-disclosure.

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Establishing Commitment

• After a period of self-disclosure, the
  relationship may progress to a state of
  us-ness, which has three aspects.
• An action, pledge, or promise
• A state of being obligated or emotionally
  compelled
• An unwillingness to consider any partner other
  than the current one

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Endings

• Endings often mark the start of a new and better
  future.
• Endings occur for a variety of reasons.
• People handle breakups differently
• Some feel tired, lethargic, depressed, helpless,
  and hopeless.
• Some are relieved.
• Some are euphoric and self-confident.

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Communicating in Intimate Relationships

• The basis of every communication act is the
  senders reasons for the message.
• Messages are made up of symbols.
• The receiver takes in the symbols and decodes
  them.
• Every communication act carries two types of
  meaningliteral and metamessage.

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Communicating in Intimate Relationships

• Clear messages are best delivered with
  I-statements, which are sentences that begin with
  I.
• You-statements, which begin with the pronoun
  you, are often put-downs or character
  assassinations.

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Effective Listening

• Effective listening is important because the
  receiver takes in the senders message and helps
  establish the physical and emotional context for
  the communication.
• The listener needs to communicate to the sender
  that the senders message was receivedthis is
  called feedback.

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Effective Listening

• Techniques for effective receiving are
• Give the sender your full attention.
• Make eye contact.
• Just listen, and be empathic.
• Be an open channel for receiving the message.
• Give verbal feedback.
• Acknowledge the senders emotions.
• Praise the senders effort.
• Be unconditional.

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Expressing Anger Constructively

• Tensions, disagreements, and anger are common in
  intimate relationships.
• Anger is sometimes highly appropriatewhen a
  partner does something self-destructive, when
  someone hurts you.
• You have an obligation to tell intimate friends
  and partners that youve been hurt by them
  because it gives them important information about
  you and helps the relationship develop.

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Expressing Anger Constructively

• Anger can communicate caring it is a message
  that the relationship is important and that
  improvement is desired.