FMST 316 Midterm Test Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
Theory - Answers Way of organizing a set of observations or facts into a comprehensive
explanation of how something works
- use theories to try to explain sexual behaviour
- no 1 perfect theory, always evolving
Psychodynamic Theory (Sigmund Freud) - Answers Development & behaviour are the result of
the interplay of our inner drives, memories, and conflicts that shape human personality,
motivation, and behaviour.
- human (all) sexual bhvr explained by physical gratification at dif ages
Components of Freud's Theory - Answers - we transition through 5 Specific Stages of Life
- Oedipus and Electra Complexes
-very heterocentric, cisgender
- absence of stages = grow up abnormal (ie homosexual)
Oral (0-2), mouth, sucking, biting, chewing
Anal (2-4), anus, bowel and bladder control
Phallic (4-6), genitals, masturbation
Latency (6-puberty), none, repression of sexual feelings
Genital (puberty-onwards), genitals, sexual masturbation
Learning Theories - Answers - Sexual behaviour is learned via the physical and social
environment (can be unlearned)
- Classical Conditioning
- Operant Conditioning
- Social Learning Theory
- Social Exchange Theory
Classical Conditioning Ivan Pavlov - Answers assoc unrelated/unconditioned stimulus w/ smth
else
,- Pavlov's dog
- Used to explain fetishes (make connection w/ smth that sexually aroused indv that wouldn't
typically arouse others)
Operant Conditioning BF Skinner - Answers Behaviour becomes more or less probable
depending on its consequences
- Reinforcement
- Punishment
Social Learning Theory Albert Bandura - Answers Observational Learning: People learn through
observing and imitating models
Social Exchange Theory - Answers Four Components
1. Balance of Costs and Rewards
2. Equity/Equality (want to be in same place as other indv (= benefits/costs) more applicable IN
rltshp)
3. Comparison Level (comparing what you have to what you thought you'd have)
4. Comparison Level for Alternatives (is there smth better out there)
Biological Theories - Answers -Genetic theory: role of genes influencing bhvr
-Sociobiological theory: uses evolutionary biology to explain bhvr
Genetic Theory - Answers role of genes in
influencing behaviour
-ie role in sexuality (hormonal production, disorders related to abnormal genes (ie gay gene
maybe?)
- ie intersex (chromosomes)
Sociobiological Theory - Answers Uses evolutionary biology to explain behaviour
- reproductive costs (women vs men)
- grounded in evolutionary biology (but we don't only have sex to reproduce)
Reproductive Costs - Answers Women
- more reproductive costs
, - explains womens bhvr in social relationships
- can only have 20 kids in lifetime (1 child every 2 years)
-more selective— wants partner w/ good genes (will survive) and will give to & can support child
-value love over sex
Men
- reproductive capacity for 60 years = can produce 20-25 thousand children
- could reproduce everyday, less picky
Social Constructionist Theories - Answers about particular group (ie culture) in a society;
created ideas of how/why ppl interact & do what they do, make meaning of life through exps w/
others & interpret that through own lens
1. social script theory
2. feminist theory
3. queer theory
social= not genetic, biological, learning
no single theory will explain all of sexual behaviour
Social Script Theory - Answers Our interactions follow a pre-determined sequence
men: initiate sex, gradually get more intimate during sexual exp & determined by when
Feminist Theory - Answers Examines women's experiences from their point of view
prior to this, all womens experiences were described by men (all researchers men)
Queer Theory - Answers Seeks to understand sexual experiences outside the dominant
perspective
-Cisgender
-Gender Binary
Theory - Answers Way of organizing a set of observations or facts into a comprehensive
explanation of how something works
- use theories to try to explain sexual behaviour
- no 1 perfect theory, always evolving
Psychodynamic Theory (Sigmund Freud) - Answers Development & behaviour are the result of
the interplay of our inner drives, memories, and conflicts that shape human personality,
motivation, and behaviour.
- human (all) sexual bhvr explained by physical gratification at dif ages
Components of Freud's Theory - Answers - we transition through 5 Specific Stages of Life
- Oedipus and Electra Complexes
-very heterocentric, cisgender
- absence of stages = grow up abnormal (ie homosexual)
Oral (0-2), mouth, sucking, biting, chewing
Anal (2-4), anus, bowel and bladder control
Phallic (4-6), genitals, masturbation
Latency (6-puberty), none, repression of sexual feelings
Genital (puberty-onwards), genitals, sexual masturbation
Learning Theories - Answers - Sexual behaviour is learned via the physical and social
environment (can be unlearned)
- Classical Conditioning
- Operant Conditioning
- Social Learning Theory
- Social Exchange Theory
Classical Conditioning Ivan Pavlov - Answers assoc unrelated/unconditioned stimulus w/ smth
else
,- Pavlov's dog
- Used to explain fetishes (make connection w/ smth that sexually aroused indv that wouldn't
typically arouse others)
Operant Conditioning BF Skinner - Answers Behaviour becomes more or less probable
depending on its consequences
- Reinforcement
- Punishment
Social Learning Theory Albert Bandura - Answers Observational Learning: People learn through
observing and imitating models
Social Exchange Theory - Answers Four Components
1. Balance of Costs and Rewards
2. Equity/Equality (want to be in same place as other indv (= benefits/costs) more applicable IN
rltshp)
3. Comparison Level (comparing what you have to what you thought you'd have)
4. Comparison Level for Alternatives (is there smth better out there)
Biological Theories - Answers -Genetic theory: role of genes influencing bhvr
-Sociobiological theory: uses evolutionary biology to explain bhvr
Genetic Theory - Answers role of genes in
influencing behaviour
-ie role in sexuality (hormonal production, disorders related to abnormal genes (ie gay gene
maybe?)
- ie intersex (chromosomes)
Sociobiological Theory - Answers Uses evolutionary biology to explain behaviour
- reproductive costs (women vs men)
- grounded in evolutionary biology (but we don't only have sex to reproduce)
Reproductive Costs - Answers Women
- more reproductive costs
, - explains womens bhvr in social relationships
- can only have 20 kids in lifetime (1 child every 2 years)
-more selective— wants partner w/ good genes (will survive) and will give to & can support child
-value love over sex
Men
- reproductive capacity for 60 years = can produce 20-25 thousand children
- could reproduce everyday, less picky
Social Constructionist Theories - Answers about particular group (ie culture) in a society;
created ideas of how/why ppl interact & do what they do, make meaning of life through exps w/
others & interpret that through own lens
1. social script theory
2. feminist theory
3. queer theory
social= not genetic, biological, learning
no single theory will explain all of sexual behaviour
Social Script Theory - Answers Our interactions follow a pre-determined sequence
men: initiate sex, gradually get more intimate during sexual exp & determined by when
Feminist Theory - Answers Examines women's experiences from their point of view
prior to this, all womens experiences were described by men (all researchers men)
Queer Theory - Answers Seeks to understand sexual experiences outside the dominant
perspective
-Cisgender
-Gender Binary
