1. Intimate Relationships and Sexuality

2. Chapter 4 Intimate Relationships and Sexuality
Learning Outcomes
Describe the formation of intimate relationships
Discuss contemporary lifestyles, from being single to cohabitation to marriage and parenting
Discuss factors in unhealthy relationships
Describe female and male sexual anatomy and related health issues
Discuss sexual orientation
Discuss different types of sexual behaviors
Discuss sexual dysfunctions and sex therapy

3. Intimate Relationship Formation
Typically begin with feelings of attraction (finding one another appealing or enticing)
Physical appearance is the key factor in determining initial attraction
Attraction-similarity hypothesis: tendency for people to develop romantic relationships with those who are similar to themselves in physical attractiveness

4. Intimacy
Involves a sense of trust, caring, acceptance, and willingness to share innermost thoughts and feelings with a partner
Not necessary to be sexually intimate to have an emotionally intimate relationship
Factors that build intimacy
Knowing and liking yourself
Self-disclosure: You tell me and I’ll tell you… carefully
Trust and Caring
Honesty
Commitment

5. Love Robert Sternberg: Love has three components Consummate love
Intimacy
Feelings of closeness ; sharing innermost feelings
Passion
Intense romantic or sexual desire
Commitment
The commitment to maintain the relationship through good times and bad
Consummate love
A complete love consisting of all three components

6. Love

7. Contemporary Lifestyles
Singlehood
Most common lifestyle among people in their 20s
Postponing marriage due to educational/career goals
Most, not all, singles are sexually active, many practice serial monogamy; some have “friends with benefits”
Cohabitation
Living together as though married but without legal sanction
Many reasons for cohabitation

8. Marriage Most common adult lifestyle in the United States
Meets various psychological and cultural needs
Legitimizing sexual relationships
Proving a social structure in which children can be supported and reared
Permits orderly transmission of wealth from one family to another and one generation to another
Homogamy
Practice of marrying people who are similar in social background and standing
Young adults similar to their chosen mates in race, age, height, weight, personality traits, intelligence, alcohol and tobacco use

9. Parenthood
People delaying parenthood, couples choosing to have children for reasons of personal happiness or fulfillment, not out of a sense of obligation
Single Parenthood
More than 1 in 4 children are being raised by a single parent.
5 out of 6 single parents are mothers
Nearly half are separated or divorced, and 1/3 have never married
Single parents usually survive on one income

10. Factors in Unhealthy Relationships
Jealousy
One of most commonly mentioned reasons for relationships failing
Other factors include:
Failure to share power
Failure to provide emotional support,
Reluctance to discuss innermost feelings
Lack of satisfaction

11. Divorce 40-50% of American marriages end in divorce
Often associated with financial difficulties and health problems such as anxiety, depression, physical ailments
Most divorced persons remarry
Children of Divorce
health related problems of their own

12. Female Sexual Anatomy External Organs
Vulva
Collective term for external female genitalia
Mons Veneris
Labia Majora
Labia Minora
Clitoris
Urethral Opening
Hymen
Vaginal Opening
Perineum
Anus

13. Female Sexual Anatomy Internal Organs
Vagina
Cervix
Uterus
Fallopian Tubes
Ovaries

14. Health Issues
Proximity of urinary opening to the vaginal opening (introitus) increases risk of infections
Endometrium – inner lining of the uterus. If endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus – endometriosis – can cause pain and if left untreated can lead to infertility
Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) – 2nd most common surgery performed in the U.S.

15. The Menstrual Cycle
Four cycles ending with menstruation – the shedding of the endometrium when the egg goes unfertilized

16. Menstrual Related Conditions
Amenorrhea: absence of menstruation
Sign of infertility
Various causes
Menstrual Discomfort
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
A combination of physical and psychological symptoms that afflicts many women during 4-6 day interval prior their menstruation
Menopause: cessation of menstruation
Perimenopause
Climacteric

17. Male Sexual Anatomy External Organs: penis and scrotum
Internal Organs: testes, epididymis, vas deferens, prostate gland, ejaculatory duct, seminal vesicle

18. Sexual Response Four phases Excitement Plateau Orgasmic Resolution
Refractory Period (men)

19. Sexual Orientation Directionality of one’s sexual or erotic interests
Heterosexual: opposite sex
Homosexual: same sex
Bisexual: both sexes
Origins unclear: not a single factor – interaction of genetic, hormonal factors, and environmental influences

20. Varieties of Sexual Expression
Masturbation
Kissing
Touching
Oral Sex (fellatio, cunnilingus)
Sexual Intercourse
Anal Sex
Celibacy

21. Sexual Dysfunction Problems with sexual interest, arousal, or response
Sexual desire disorders
Sexual arousal disorders
Orgasmic disorders
Sexual pain disorders
Caused by biological , psychosocial factors, or combination of both
Sex therapy has two main goals
Reducing performance anxiety
Fostering sexual skills or competencies