Close Adult Relationships – Week 6 Lecture Notes
WEEK 6
Long-term and quality relationships are important for the health and well-being of men and
women.
Intimacy is known as contributing to relationship quality.
Emotion is known for enhancing intimacy between partners, women are much more likely
than men to do this kind of emotional work between both genders.
Studies have suggested that women are more likely than men to view emotional intimacy as
essential for positive sexual interactions.
We know less about intimacy in long-term gay and lesbian couples than in heterosexual
couples, however, evidence suggests that differences exist between couples involving two
women and two men.
Women in same-sex relationships place greater emphasis on emotional intimacy and the
importance of intimacy for positive sexual interactions.
Men in same-sex relationships are more likely to approve of and have sexual relationships
outside of their committed relationship and to separate sex from emotional intimacy.
Evolutionary theory suggests that the primary function of all human sexual activity is
reproduction.
Social constructionism: sexual acts only have significant and meaning in a cultural context.
We assume that what we feel and think is real and don’t realise that we interpret our
emotions and desires through what we know about the world and ourselves.
Flibanserin - medication approved for the treatment of pre-menopausal women with
hypoactive sexual desire disorder so low sex drive.
The ripple - masturbation aid for people with disabilities.
Love is an emotion and sensation but not something that can be measured empirically. Its
subjective, however its also a culturally scripted phenomenon.
There is no pure form of love that allows people to escape power embedded in social
relationships, love always occurs in a social context.
WEEK 6
Long-term and quality relationships are important for the health and well-being of men and
women.
Intimacy is known as contributing to relationship quality.
Emotion is known for enhancing intimacy between partners, women are much more likely
than men to do this kind of emotional work between both genders.
Studies have suggested that women are more likely than men to view emotional intimacy as
essential for positive sexual interactions.
We know less about intimacy in long-term gay and lesbian couples than in heterosexual
couples, however, evidence suggests that differences exist between couples involving two
women and two men.
Women in same-sex relationships place greater emphasis on emotional intimacy and the
importance of intimacy for positive sexual interactions.
Men in same-sex relationships are more likely to approve of and have sexual relationships
outside of their committed relationship and to separate sex from emotional intimacy.
Evolutionary theory suggests that the primary function of all human sexual activity is
reproduction.
Social constructionism: sexual acts only have significant and meaning in a cultural context.
We assume that what we feel and think is real and don’t realise that we interpret our
emotions and desires through what we know about the world and ourselves.
Flibanserin - medication approved for the treatment of pre-menopausal women with
hypoactive sexual desire disorder so low sex drive.
The ripple - masturbation aid for people with disabilities.
Love is an emotion and sensation but not something that can be measured empirically. Its
subjective, however its also a culturally scripted phenomenon.
There is no pure form of love that allows people to escape power embedded in social
relationships, love always occurs in a social context.
