SOME THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN SEXUALITY I Psychoanalytic

SOME THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN SEXUALITY I. Psychoanalytic Theory Sigmund Freud II. Biological Functionalism (Sociobiology) III. Motivational Theories

SOME THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN SEXUALITY IV. Learning Theories A. Operant Conditioning B. Classical Conditioning C. Social Learning V. Cognitive Theories

SOME THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN SEXUALITY VI. Sociological Approaches VII. Anthropological Approaches

I. Psychoanalytic Theory The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) Perhaps Freud’s most influential idea - the unconscious mind Childhood sexuality? Sigmund Freud

I. Psychoanalytic Theory 3 Divisions of the Personalitya. ID -the reservoir of psychic energy -pleasure principle -unconscious -biological part of personality

I. Psychoanalytic Theory 3 Divisions of the Personalityb. EGO -psychological part of personality -reality principle -mostly conscious

I. Psychoanalytic Theory 3 Divisions of the Personalityc. SUPEREGO -social part of personality -idealism principle (conscience) -partially conscious

I. Psychoanalytic Theory Stages of Psycho-Sexual Development oral (0 - 1) anal (2) phallic (3 - 5 or 6) latency (7 - puberty) genital (Adolescence - Adulthood)

I. Psychoanalytic Theory Stages of Psycho-Sexual Development Phallic Stage for boys - Oedipus Complex, castration anxiety Phallic Stage for girls - Electra Complex, penis envy

I. Psychoanalytic Theory Freud female on women sexuality is inherently passive & masochistic distinguished between vaginal (mature) orgasm and clitoral (immature) orgasm

II. Biological Functionalism • Sexual behavior is viewed as a product of evolution and natural selection. • Sexual behaviors which lead to the passing on of one’s genes to healthy offspring tend to be selected. Charles Darwin "descent with modification"

Evidence of Evolution: The Fossil Record A geological cross section of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah shows layers of sedimentary rock. These layers reveal deposits laid down over millions of years. Older fossils are found in the lower layers, revealing the succession of organisms over time

Evidence of Evolution: Common Structures imply common ancestors Inferences about common descent derived from paleontology are reinforced by comparative anatomy. For example, the skeletons of humans, mice, and bats are strikingly similar, despite the different ways of life of these animals and the diversity of environments in which they flourish.

Evidence of Evolution: The Distribution of Species Biogeography also has contributed evidence for descent from common ancestors. Evolutionary theory explains that biological diversity results from the descendants of local or migrant predecessors becoming adapted to their diverse environments.

Evidence of Evolution: Similarities During Development Imply Common Ancestors

Evidence from Molecular Biology The unifying principle of common descent is reinforced by the discoveries of modern biochemistry and molecular biology. The code used to translate nucleotide sequences into amino acid sequences is essentially the same in all organisms. Moreover, proteins in all organisms are invariably composed of the same set of 20 amino acids.

Biological Functionalism Another important process in evolution is sexual selection- • Competition among members of one gender (usually males) for mating access • Preferential choice of one gender (usually females) for certain members of the other gender

II. Biological Functionalism Robin Fox “. . . a great deal that can be said about human sexuality can be disposed of as the sexual behavior to be expected from a large-bodied, large -brained, slow-breeding omnivorous mammal. ”

II. Biological Functionalism Lionel Tiger “There’s something intrinsically sensible in the idea that what pleases nearly all people must have helped most of their ancestors endure. ”

Biological Functionalism in Contemporary Evolutionary Psychology • 3 Examples: 1) the nuclear family 2) beauty 3) the double standard

Biological Functionalism The Nuclear Family. Women have evolved to be sexually receptive as a way of keeping the men around.

Biological Functionalism BEAUTY Attributes men find attractive in women are related to fertility

BEAUTY? Which of these women do you find most attractive?

BEAUTY? Which of these men do you find most attractive?

Dr. Dev Singh of the University of Texas manipulated the waist/hip ratios of these 7 Barbees

Biological Functionalism Basic symmetry is associated with general health

Biological Functionalism The Double Standard