Chapter 1—Perspectives on Sexuality
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Understanding oneself sexually and having interpersonal sexual skills and integrity are two
characteristics we consider to be part of:
a. sexual IQ.
b. sexual orientation.
c. gender identity.
d. sexual intelligence.
ANS: D REF: Sexual Intelligence OBJ: 01-01
MSC: TYPE: Factual
2. The textbook primarily stresses the role of which of the following in shaping human
sexuality?
a. evolutionary factors
b. social conditioning and psychological factors
c. sociobiological factors
d. anthropological factors
ANS: B REF: A Psychosocial Orientation OBJ: 01-02
MSC: TYPE: Application
3. Which of the following best defines the psychosocial approach to understanding human
sexuality?
a. The belief that biology plays a large role in human development and sexual orientation
b. The theory that similarities and differences between people are best explained in terms of
their culture
c. The view that our peer groups have little influence on our values and beliefs
d. The view that emotions, attitudes, motivations, and social conditioning have a strong
impact on sexual attitudes, values and behaviors
ANS: D REF: A Psychosocial Orientation OBJ: 01-02
MSC: TYPE: Factual
4. Which of the following statements MOST accurately reflects the authors' perspectives in this
book?
a. Our behaviors or feelings are biologically innate.
b. An examination of sexuality in other periods of Western history or in other societies
reveals a narrow range of acceptable behavior.
c. Our sexual attitudes and behaviors are strongly shaped by our society.
d. Not all societies have rules regulating the conduct of sexual behavior.
ANS: C REF: A Psychosocial Orientation OBJ: 01-02
MSC: TYPE: Factual
,5. Two of the themes from our cultural legacy that have had a profound impact on our current
views of sexuality are:
a. the idea that male promiscuity is the norm and that procreation is the only legitimate
reason for sex.
b. the idea that procreation is the only legitimate reason for sex and the rigid distinction
between male and female roles.
c. the idea that Americans are more liberal in their sexual attitudes than other countries and
that there is a strong blurring of gender roles in U.S. culture.
d. the idea that sexual nonmonogamy is the norm for all mammals and the belief in rigid
gender roles.
ANS: B REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Factual
6. Which of the following would be a negative consequence of the belief that penile-vaginal
intercourse is the primary definition of sex?
a. It perpetuates the notion that sexual response and orgasm are supposed to occur during
penetration.
b. It excludes certain groups (e.g., gays and lesbians) from the definition.
c. It devalues nonintercourse sexual intimacy.
d. All of the above.
ANS: D REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-04 MSC: TYPE: Application
7. With which of the following statements would the authors of your text MOST likely agree?
a. Emphasizing penile-vaginal intercourse as the focus of sexual expression can maximize
orgasmic response in men and women.
b. Having sex for reproductive purposes is the most legitimate reason for sexual activity.
c. A clear distinction between male and female roles and expectations results in more
creative and pleasurable sexual expression.
d. Masturbation, oral sex, and engaging in sexual fantasy are viable options for people who
choose them.
ANS: D REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Application
8. Several possible consequences have stemmed from the view that reproduction is the only
legitimate reason for sexual activity. Which of the following is NOT suggested as one of
these?
a. Kissing and manual manipulation of genitals are devalued.
b. The view that orgasm is supposed to occur during vaginal penetration is prevalent.
c. The notion that a man’s penis is the primary source of satisfaction for his partner is
perpetuated.
d. The frequency of intercourse outside of marriage is decreased.
ANS: D REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Factual
, 9. The American Life League promotes:
a. the right of women to legally obtain abortions.
b. the idea that when a couple has intercourse they have committed themselves to having a
baby.
c. the idea that sexual intercourse is sacred and may be practiced to celebrate marriage.
d. the rights of same sex couples to enter into legal unions.
ANS: B REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Application
10. Sexual behaviors that provide pleasure without the possibility of procreation have been
viewed at various times as:
a. immoral
b. sinful
c. perverted
d. all of the above
ANS: D REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Factual
11. Thinking of intercourse as the only “real sex”:
a. is a view that is supported by the authors.
b. has its roots in Buddhist religious philosophy.
c. may devalue sexual behaviors other than intercourse.
d. lifts the performance pressures on both women and men.
ANS: C REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Factual NOT: NEW
12. The sex for procreation legacy is MOST clearly shown in which of the following statements?
a. Jorge believes that foreplay is an essential part of a sexual encounter.
b. Midori thinks she is still a virgin because she has not yet had intercourse, although she has
engaged in oral sex and mutual masturbation.
c. Sheila likes to initiate sexual activity with her partner.
d. Mike enjoys masturbating and does not feel guilty about it.
ANS: B REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Application
13. Jamal believes that a "real" man always makes the first sexual advance in a relationship.
Jamal's thinking BEST reflects:
a. adherence to rigid gender roles.
b. principles of courtly love.
c. a lesser degree of acculturation.
d. heterosexism.
ANS: A REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-06 MSC: TYPE: Application
, 14. Foreplay includes all of the following EXCEPT:
a. penile-vaginal intercourse.
b. kissing.
c. oral-genital contact.
d. manual genital stimulation.
ANS: A REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-06 MSC: TYPE: Factual
15. Which of the following is the BEST example of a potential effect of rigid gender-role
conditioning?
a. A woman may feel reluctant to express her sexual desires to her male partner.
b. A man may feel uncomfortable if his female partner prefers oral sex to intercourse.
c. As a result of her religious affiliation, a woman feels guilty having sex for pleasure.
d. A man enjoys sex the most when his female partner initiates it.
ANS: A REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-06 MSC: TYPE: Application
16. Which of the following scenarios BEST illustrates the effects of rigid gender-role
conditioning?
a. A man learns to associate spirituality with sexual abstinence and decides to becomes
celibate.
b. A man prefers to have his partner initiate and be sexually aggressive with him, but he
hesitates to tell her this for fear of her rejecting him.
c. A woman prefers the manual stimulation of her partner to having intercourse, and he
thinks this is highly abnormal.
d. A woman would like to spend some intimate time with her partner just touching and
kissing, but he refuses to do this unless it culminates in intercourse.
ANS: B REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-06 MSC: TYPE: Application
17. If you were a person born in ancient China, you would be:
a. encouraged to practice celibacy as a path to spiritual growth.
b. encouraged to participate in a range of sexual activities within marriage for spiritual
growth as well as pleasure.
c. discouraged from engaging in masturbation.
d. severely punished for engaging in nonreproductive sex.
ANS: B REF: Controversy and Diversity in Human Sexuality
OBJ: 01-07 MSC: TYPE: Factual
18. Which of the following is true regarding Islamic beliefs about polygamy?
a. Polygamy did not exist prior to Islam.
b. War led to a disproportionate numbers of women compared to men, so polygamy provided
husbands for widows.
c. The Qur’an prohibits polygamy.
d. A Muslim man is allowed to have as many wives as he wishes.
ANS: B REF: Controversy and Diversity in Human Sexuality
OBJ: 01-07 MSC: TYPE: Factual
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Understanding oneself sexually and having interpersonal sexual skills and integrity are two
characteristics we consider to be part of:
a. sexual IQ.
b. sexual orientation.
c. gender identity.
d. sexual intelligence.
ANS: D REF: Sexual Intelligence OBJ: 01-01
MSC: TYPE: Factual
2. The textbook primarily stresses the role of which of the following in shaping human
sexuality?
a. evolutionary factors
b. social conditioning and psychological factors
c. sociobiological factors
d. anthropological factors
ANS: B REF: A Psychosocial Orientation OBJ: 01-02
MSC: TYPE: Application
3. Which of the following best defines the psychosocial approach to understanding human
sexuality?
a. The belief that biology plays a large role in human development and sexual orientation
b. The theory that similarities and differences between people are best explained in terms of
their culture
c. The view that our peer groups have little influence on our values and beliefs
d. The view that emotions, attitudes, motivations, and social conditioning have a strong
impact on sexual attitudes, values and behaviors
ANS: D REF: A Psychosocial Orientation OBJ: 01-02
MSC: TYPE: Factual
4. Which of the following statements MOST accurately reflects the authors' perspectives in this
book?
a. Our behaviors or feelings are biologically innate.
b. An examination of sexuality in other periods of Western history or in other societies
reveals a narrow range of acceptable behavior.
c. Our sexual attitudes and behaviors are strongly shaped by our society.
d. Not all societies have rules regulating the conduct of sexual behavior.
ANS: C REF: A Psychosocial Orientation OBJ: 01-02
MSC: TYPE: Factual
,5. Two of the themes from our cultural legacy that have had a profound impact on our current
views of sexuality are:
a. the idea that male promiscuity is the norm and that procreation is the only legitimate
reason for sex.
b. the idea that procreation is the only legitimate reason for sex and the rigid distinction
between male and female roles.
c. the idea that Americans are more liberal in their sexual attitudes than other countries and
that there is a strong blurring of gender roles in U.S. culture.
d. the idea that sexual nonmonogamy is the norm for all mammals and the belief in rigid
gender roles.
ANS: B REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Factual
6. Which of the following would be a negative consequence of the belief that penile-vaginal
intercourse is the primary definition of sex?
a. It perpetuates the notion that sexual response and orgasm are supposed to occur during
penetration.
b. It excludes certain groups (e.g., gays and lesbians) from the definition.
c. It devalues nonintercourse sexual intimacy.
d. All of the above.
ANS: D REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-04 MSC: TYPE: Application
7. With which of the following statements would the authors of your text MOST likely agree?
a. Emphasizing penile-vaginal intercourse as the focus of sexual expression can maximize
orgasmic response in men and women.
b. Having sex for reproductive purposes is the most legitimate reason for sexual activity.
c. A clear distinction between male and female roles and expectations results in more
creative and pleasurable sexual expression.
d. Masturbation, oral sex, and engaging in sexual fantasy are viable options for people who
choose them.
ANS: D REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Application
8. Several possible consequences have stemmed from the view that reproduction is the only
legitimate reason for sexual activity. Which of the following is NOT suggested as one of
these?
a. Kissing and manual manipulation of genitals are devalued.
b. The view that orgasm is supposed to occur during vaginal penetration is prevalent.
c. The notion that a man’s penis is the primary source of satisfaction for his partner is
perpetuated.
d. The frequency of intercourse outside of marriage is decreased.
ANS: D REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Factual
, 9. The American Life League promotes:
a. the right of women to legally obtain abortions.
b. the idea that when a couple has intercourse they have committed themselves to having a
baby.
c. the idea that sexual intercourse is sacred and may be practiced to celebrate marriage.
d. the rights of same sex couples to enter into legal unions.
ANS: B REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Application
10. Sexual behaviors that provide pleasure without the possibility of procreation have been
viewed at various times as:
a. immoral
b. sinful
c. perverted
d. all of the above
ANS: D REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Factual
11. Thinking of intercourse as the only “real sex”:
a. is a view that is supported by the authors.
b. has its roots in Buddhist religious philosophy.
c. may devalue sexual behaviors other than intercourse.
d. lifts the performance pressures on both women and men.
ANS: C REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Factual NOT: NEW
12. The sex for procreation legacy is MOST clearly shown in which of the following statements?
a. Jorge believes that foreplay is an essential part of a sexual encounter.
b. Midori thinks she is still a virgin because she has not yet had intercourse, although she has
engaged in oral sex and mutual masturbation.
c. Sheila likes to initiate sexual activity with her partner.
d. Mike enjoys masturbating and does not feel guilty about it.
ANS: B REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-05 MSC: TYPE: Application
13. Jamal believes that a "real" man always makes the first sexual advance in a relationship.
Jamal's thinking BEST reflects:
a. adherence to rigid gender roles.
b. principles of courtly love.
c. a lesser degree of acculturation.
d. heterosexism.
ANS: A REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-06 MSC: TYPE: Application
, 14. Foreplay includes all of the following EXCEPT:
a. penile-vaginal intercourse.
b. kissing.
c. oral-genital contact.
d. manual genital stimulation.
ANS: A REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-06 MSC: TYPE: Factual
15. Which of the following is the BEST example of a potential effect of rigid gender-role
conditioning?
a. A woman may feel reluctant to express her sexual desires to her male partner.
b. A man may feel uncomfortable if his female partner prefers oral sex to intercourse.
c. As a result of her religious affiliation, a woman feels guilty having sex for pleasure.
d. A man enjoys sex the most when his female partner initiates it.
ANS: A REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-06 MSC: TYPE: Application
16. Which of the following scenarios BEST illustrates the effects of rigid gender-role
conditioning?
a. A man learns to associate spirituality with sexual abstinence and decides to becomes
celibate.
b. A man prefers to have his partner initiate and be sexually aggressive with him, but he
hesitates to tell her this for fear of her rejecting him.
c. A woman prefers the manual stimulation of her partner to having intercourse, and he
thinks this is highly abnormal.
d. A woman would like to spend some intimate time with her partner just touching and
kissing, but he refuses to do this unless it culminates in intercourse.
ANS: B REF: Our Cultural Legacy: Sex for Procreation and Rigid Gender Roles
OBJ: 01-06 MSC: TYPE: Application
17. If you were a person born in ancient China, you would be:
a. encouraged to practice celibacy as a path to spiritual growth.
b. encouraged to participate in a range of sexual activities within marriage for spiritual
growth as well as pleasure.
c. discouraged from engaging in masturbation.
d. severely punished for engaging in nonreproductive sex.
ANS: B REF: Controversy and Diversity in Human Sexuality
OBJ: 01-07 MSC: TYPE: Factual
18. Which of the following is true regarding Islamic beliefs about polygamy?
a. Polygamy did not exist prior to Islam.
b. War led to a disproportionate numbers of women compared to men, so polygamy provided
husbands for widows.
c. The Qur’an prohibits polygamy.
d. A Muslim man is allowed to have as many wives as he wishes.
ANS: B REF: Controversy and Diversity in Human Sexuality
OBJ: 01-07 MSC: TYPE: Factual
