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Chapter 6

Chapter 6. Erotic Plasticity. Nature & Nurture. Sexual revolution Dramatic change in sexual climate Bigger change for females - why? Nurture: Social constructivists Nature: Essentialists Mix may differ for males & females. Erotic Plasticity. Responsivity of sex drive to social forces

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Chapter 6

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  1. Chapter 6 Erotic Plasticity

  2. Nature & Nurture • Sexual revolution • Dramatic change in sexual climate • Bigger change for females - why? • Nurture: Social constructivists • Nature: Essentialists • Mix may differ for males & females

  3. Erotic Plasticity • Responsivity of sex drive to social forces • Cultural, political, situational forces change sex • Female sex drive more erotically plastic • Flexibility • Adaptive • Increases vulnerability

  4. Erotic Plasticity • Predictions • 1. Females will change more over time • 2. Social Vs have stronger impact on females • 3. Less consistency between attitudes-behavior among females

  5. Prediction 1: Changes Over Time • Kinsey, Masters & Johnson • ‘discontinuities in total outlet’(Kinsey, 1948) • ‘mercurial tendency to shift rapidly from peak to valley’ (Masters & Johnson, 1966) • Masturbation & orgasm • Male: Consistent activity • Female: Inconsistent (high v. NO activity)

  6. Prediction 1: Changes Over Time • Sexual orientation • 4/5 lesbians had heterosexual sex (1/2 gays) • More bisexual females than males • Mate swapping (75% females have sex, 1% males) • More females adopt a lesbian orientation in prison • Overall extant data supports prediction 1

  7. Prediction 2: Social & Cultural Influences • Sexual revolution • Female virginity, promiscuity more impacted • 20% increase in females w/ > 5 partners (11% for males) • Education increases liberal sexuality • Effects much larger for females • Educated women 2x more likely to have performed oral sex (educated males 1/3x more likely) • College education 9x increased chance of being gay for females, 2x for males

  8. Class data (03) (N = 102) • Pearson correlation • Linear association between 2 Vs • Positive = higher/lower scores on 1 V associated w/ higher/lower scores on other V • EX: Studying hours & GPA • Correlated age year w/ views of sex • Expect older, more education less wrong

  9. Class data (03) (N = 102) Higher sores < wrongAgeYear Sex < 16 .00 .21* Homosexual .04 .23** Prostitution .26** .24** * p < .05. **p < .01. • More educated less wrong one viewed sex! • Stronger among females?

  10. Class data (03) (Females = 73) Year Higher sores < wrong Males Females Sex < 16 .54** .01 Homosexual .07 .35** Prostitution .08 .40** Pornography .00 .20† †p < .08. **p < .01.

  11. Prediction 2: Social & Cultural Influences • Peers, parents more strongly impact female • Genes should more strongly predict male • Heritability for age of first intercourse • 72% for males, 40% for females • Homosexuality: Genetic evidence stronger for males • Overall extant data supports prediction 2

  12. Prediction 3: Attitudes & Behavior • Consistency an issue in Social Psychology • A-B problem, situational features intervene • Erotic plasticity suggests less consistency • Infidelity • Correlation attitudes &behavior weaker for females • Homosexual behavior • Males who desire: 85% did, only 1/2 females • Overall extant data supports prediction 3

  13. Summary • Males less erotically plastic as adults • Exception: More impacted by social factors as children • Females more erotically plastic in adolescence & throughout adulthood • Why?

  14. Erotic Plasticity: Male Power • Women have to adapt to male sexuality • Supportive evidence WOULD be greater flexibility in other aspects of functioning also • No clear evidence yet

  15. Erotic Plasticity: Female Changes • Female sexual role involves more changes • Females more cautious & initial attitude is NO • Human reproduction depends on female changing her mind • Psychological capacity for sexual change evolved • Submission fantasies common & arousing among females • NO! -> pleasurable YES!

  16. Implications • Easier to change female sexuality • AIDS, sex therapy • Sexual self-understanding hard for females • Sexual decision making harder for females • Relationships challenging & flexible • Homosexuality • Males (self-acceptance) • Females (continual revision)

  17. Conclusion • Females are more erotically plastic than men • Their sexuality more responsive to social influences, changes more over time & yields weaker A-B connections • Unclear why • May be due to male power or evolved change-ability in female sexuality • Implications

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