1. Sexual Motivation and Social Affiliation Modules 39 and 40

2. Physiological Response
The Physiology of Sex
Masters and Johnson (1966) describe the human sexual response cycle as consisting of four phases:
Phase
Physiological Response
Excitement
Genitals become engorged with blood. Vagina expands secretes lubricant. Penis enlarges.
Plateau
Excitement peaks such as breathing, pulse and blood pressure.
Orgasm
Contractions all over the body. Increase in breathing, pulse & blood pressure. Sexual release.
Resolution
Engorged genital release blood. Male goes through refractory phase. Women resolve slower.
Preview Question 8: What are the stages of the human sexual response cycle?

3. Sexual Problems
Men generally suffer from two kinds of sexual problems: premature ejaculation and erectile disorder. Women may suffer from orgasmic disorders.
These problems are not due to personality disorders and can be treated through behavior therapy and drugs such as Viagra.

4. Sexual Problems
Paraphilias: Abnormal sexual impulses in which the person experiences sexual arousal
Exhibitionism, fetishism, pedophilia
DSM V classifies paraphilias as disordered IF:
A person is distressed by their unusual sexual interest
The sexual desire/behavior is harmful or potentially harmful to someone else

5. Hormones and Sexual Behavior
Sex hormones effect the development of sexual characteristics and (especially in animals) activate sexual behavior.
Male
Testes
Testosterone
(Small amounts of estrogen)
Female
Ovaries
Adrenals
Estrogen
(Small amounts of testosterone)
Preview Question 9: How do sex hormones influence human sexual development and arousal?

6. Estrogen
Female animals “in heat” express peak levels of estrogen. Female receptivity may be heightened with estrogen injections.
Sex hormones may have milder affects on humans than on animals. Women are more likely to have sex when close to ovulation (increased testosterone), and men show increased testosterone levels when socializing with women.

7. Testosterone
Levels of testosterone remain relatively constant in males, so it is difficult to manipulate and activate sexual behavior. Castration, which reduces testosterone levels, lowers sexual interest.

8. The Psychology of Sex
Hunger responds to a need. If we do not eat, we die. In that sense, sex is not a need because if we do not have sex, we do not die.
Preview Question 10: How do internal and external stimuli contribute to sexual arousal?

9. Erotic material can have adverse effects.
External Stimuli
It is common knowledge that men become sexually aroused when browsing through erotic material. However, women experience similar heightened arousal under controlled conditions.
With repeated exposure, response to erotic stimuli usually lessens (habituation).
Erotic material can have adverse effects.

10. Imagined Stimuli
Our imagination in our brain can influence sexual arousal and desire. People with spinal cord injuries and no genital sensation can still feel sexual desire.
Sotographs/The Gamma-Liaison Network/ Getty Images

11. The Need to Belong
“[Man] is a social animal,” (Aristotle). Separation from others increases our need to belong.
Preview Question 14: Why do some psychologists believe we have a need to belong-to affiliate with others?
20th Century Fox/ Dreamworks/ The Kobal Collection
“Cast Away,” Tom Hanks, suffers
from social starvation.

12. Aiding Survival
Social bonds boosted our ancestors’ survival rates. These bonds led to the following:
Protecting against predators, especially for the young.
Procuring food.
Reproducing the next offspring.

13. Belongingness
Wanting to Belong: The need to belong colors our thinking and emotions.
Combined with autonomy and competence we experience well-being and high self-esteem
Social Acceptance: A sense of belonging with others increases our self-esteem. Social segregation decreases it.
Maintaining Relationships: We resist breaking social bonds, even bad ones.
Ostracism: Social exclusion leads to demoralization, depression, and at times nasty behavior.

14. Social Isolation Effects
Insecure attachments in childhood show up later
Insecure Anxious Attachment: craving acceptance but remaining vigilant to signs of objection
Insecure Avoidant Attachment: discomfort over getting close to others that person avoids interaction
Social isolation puts us at risk for mental and physical health decline

15. Social Isolation Effects
Ostracism—social exclusion
Brain interprets social ostracism as physical pain
Tylenol lessens intensity of social pain (just like physical pain)

16. Effects of Social Networking
Serves as a social amplifier
Less likely to know real-life neighbors
Diversified social networks
Typically electronic communication users are less inhibited
Can be positive or negative
Generally reveal people’s true personalities
Narcissism—promoted by social media’s focus on self, competition with others, accumulation of “friends” or followers