Introduction
English Literature (Discovering Human Sexuality)
Chapter 2 - box 2.3
Chapter 5 - P 133 - 152
Chapters 10, 11 - Sexuality across the lifespan (only the key points, focus on summary)
English articles
- Elaut, E. (2017). Why a biopsychosocial approach is needed when studying the sexual
effects of hormonal contraception. The European Journal of Contraception and
Reproductive Health Care, 22, 156-158.
- Both, S., Everaerd, W., Laan, E. (2007). Desire emerges from excitement: A
psychophysiological perspective on sexual motivation. In Janssen E. (ed), The
Psychophysiology of Sex. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 327-339.
- Basson, R. (2002). The female sexual response: a different model. Journal of Sex and
Marital Therapy, 26, 51-65.
- Petersen, J.L., & Hyde, J.S. (2011). Gender Differences in Sexual Attitudes and
Behaviors: A Review of Meta-Analytic Results and Large Datasets. Journal of Sex
Research, 48, 149-165.
- Diamond, L.M. (2007). A Dynamical Systems Approach to the Development and
Expression of Female Same-Sex Sexuality. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2,
142-161.
- Minkin, MJ. (2016). Sexual health and relationships after age 60. Maturitas, 83, 27-
32.
- Dialmy, A. Sexuality and Islam (2010). The European Journal of Contraception and
Reproductive Health Care, 15, 160–168.
Discovering Human Sexuality
Chapter 2 – box 2.3
The feedback loop that controls female hormone production
Ovulation and hormone secretion are regulated by a three-
segment control loop that involves the passage of hormones
between the brain, the pituitary gland, and the ovaries.
1. A small region at the base of the brain – the
hypothalamus – secretes GnRH into local vessels. These
local vessels carry it to the nearby pituitary gland.
In the pituitary grand, it activates cells that manufacture
and secrete 2 more hormones, FSH and LH.
o FSH stimulates the development of ovarian follicles to the point that they are
capable of ovulation.
o LH triggers ovulation itself, and it also causes the release of sex steroids by
the ovaries.
These two hormones act on the gonads/ovaries. They are called gonadotropins,
which means gonad-influencing substances.
, 2. These two hormones enter the general blood circulation and reach their targets.
3. Ovarian hormones pass via the general circulation system to the hypothalamus en
pituitary gland. Here, they influence the release of GnRH, FSH and LH. GnRH causes
the release of FSH and LH.
This feedback influence is inhibitory at low estrogen levels but switches to
stimulation at high levels. This switch occurs late in the preovulatory phase of the
menstrual cycle and is a key trigger for ovulation.
Chapter 5 – p.133-152
Familiarity may increase or decrease attraction
The mere fact of having seen a face before makes us judge it as more attractive than if we
are seeing it for the first time. But familiarity can also reduce attractiveness. It is reversed for
men.
- Coolidge effect: the revival of sexual arousal caused by the presence of a novel
partner.
- Habituation: a psychological/physiological process that reduces a person’s response
to a stimulus or drug after repeated or prolonged exposure.
Composite faces are rated as more attractive than the faces that contributed to the
composite.
Perceived attractiveness varies around the menstrual cycle
Woman prefer men with more masculine faces near the time of ovulation,
They prefer less masculine faces at other times. This may be because masculine men are
most likely to possess genes conferring health and strength.
Woman prefer deep-voiced men near the time of ovulation.
Judgments of attractiveness change as people get to know each other
The more people knew each other, the more person-specific judgments dominated
consensus judgments—with regard to not just physical attractiveness but a broad spectrum
of personality traits. Thus, to the extent that intimate relationships develop between people
who already know each other, people are not competing for the “hottest” partners so much
as they are searching for their own individual soul mates.
Asexual woman and men do not experience sexual attraction
Asexual = a person who does not experience sexual attraction.
The difference between asexual and sexual men does not lie in the pleasure that genital
stimulation and orgasm provide. But it lies in the interpersonal aspect of sexual desire.
Demisexual = experiencing sexual attraction only in the context of a strong emotional bond.
Fantasy is a common mode of sexual arousal
Fantasy = an imaged experience, sexual or otherwise.
Men engage in sexual fantasies more than woman, but woman increase the frequency of
their sexual fantasies near the time of ovulation.
, Testosterone levels influence sexual arousability in adult men. Men who have a profound
reduction in testosterone levels suffer a gradual decline in sexual desire and activity, and this
decline can be reversed by testosterone replacement therapy.
Testosterone is one of the substances used as aphrodisiacs = a substance believed to
improve sexual performance, enhance sexual pleasure, or stimulate desire or love.
In woman, there are at least two groups of hormones involved:
- Androgens; o.a. testosterone
Testosterone levels in woman are quite low compared with those in men.
Testosterone is more important than estrogens in influencing female sexual
arousability. It also contributes to changes in woman’s sex drive and sexual activity at
different times in the menstrual cycle.
- Endrogens
A reduction in estrogen levels may lead to vaginal dryness and hence to painful
intercourse, which may cause a decline of interest in sex.
These levels vary around the menstrual cycle.
Conditioning may influence arousal
Classical conditioning influences sexual arousal.
It may increase the sexual arousal that individuals learn to associate with people, body parts,
and other things that have been linked with sexual behaviour in the past.
Sexual arousal follows a response cycle
This cycle goes forward in a fairly similar way regardless of how arousal occurs.
- Excitement: sexual arousal begins here.
Boven = mannen
Onder = vrouwen
- Plateau: state of high arousal
- Orgasm: subjective experience of intense
pleasure and release at sexual climax.
Subjective experience of orgasm is similar
in woman and men.
English Literature (Discovering Human Sexuality)
Chapter 2 - box 2.3
Chapter 5 - P 133 - 152
Chapters 10, 11 - Sexuality across the lifespan (only the key points, focus on summary)
English articles
- Elaut, E. (2017). Why a biopsychosocial approach is needed when studying the sexual
effects of hormonal contraception. The European Journal of Contraception and
Reproductive Health Care, 22, 156-158.
- Both, S., Everaerd, W., Laan, E. (2007). Desire emerges from excitement: A
psychophysiological perspective on sexual motivation. In Janssen E. (ed), The
Psychophysiology of Sex. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 327-339.
- Basson, R. (2002). The female sexual response: a different model. Journal of Sex and
Marital Therapy, 26, 51-65.
- Petersen, J.L., & Hyde, J.S. (2011). Gender Differences in Sexual Attitudes and
Behaviors: A Review of Meta-Analytic Results and Large Datasets. Journal of Sex
Research, 48, 149-165.
- Diamond, L.M. (2007). A Dynamical Systems Approach to the Development and
Expression of Female Same-Sex Sexuality. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2,
142-161.
- Minkin, MJ. (2016). Sexual health and relationships after age 60. Maturitas, 83, 27-
32.
- Dialmy, A. Sexuality and Islam (2010). The European Journal of Contraception and
Reproductive Health Care, 15, 160–168.
Discovering Human Sexuality
Chapter 2 – box 2.3
The feedback loop that controls female hormone production
Ovulation and hormone secretion are regulated by a three-
segment control loop that involves the passage of hormones
between the brain, the pituitary gland, and the ovaries.
1. A small region at the base of the brain – the
hypothalamus – secretes GnRH into local vessels. These
local vessels carry it to the nearby pituitary gland.
In the pituitary grand, it activates cells that manufacture
and secrete 2 more hormones, FSH and LH.
o FSH stimulates the development of ovarian follicles to the point that they are
capable of ovulation.
o LH triggers ovulation itself, and it also causes the release of sex steroids by
the ovaries.
These two hormones act on the gonads/ovaries. They are called gonadotropins,
which means gonad-influencing substances.
, 2. These two hormones enter the general blood circulation and reach their targets.
3. Ovarian hormones pass via the general circulation system to the hypothalamus en
pituitary gland. Here, they influence the release of GnRH, FSH and LH. GnRH causes
the release of FSH and LH.
This feedback influence is inhibitory at low estrogen levels but switches to
stimulation at high levels. This switch occurs late in the preovulatory phase of the
menstrual cycle and is a key trigger for ovulation.
Chapter 5 – p.133-152
Familiarity may increase or decrease attraction
The mere fact of having seen a face before makes us judge it as more attractive than if we
are seeing it for the first time. But familiarity can also reduce attractiveness. It is reversed for
men.
- Coolidge effect: the revival of sexual arousal caused by the presence of a novel
partner.
- Habituation: a psychological/physiological process that reduces a person’s response
to a stimulus or drug after repeated or prolonged exposure.
Composite faces are rated as more attractive than the faces that contributed to the
composite.
Perceived attractiveness varies around the menstrual cycle
Woman prefer men with more masculine faces near the time of ovulation,
They prefer less masculine faces at other times. This may be because masculine men are
most likely to possess genes conferring health and strength.
Woman prefer deep-voiced men near the time of ovulation.
Judgments of attractiveness change as people get to know each other
The more people knew each other, the more person-specific judgments dominated
consensus judgments—with regard to not just physical attractiveness but a broad spectrum
of personality traits. Thus, to the extent that intimate relationships develop between people
who already know each other, people are not competing for the “hottest” partners so much
as they are searching for their own individual soul mates.
Asexual woman and men do not experience sexual attraction
Asexual = a person who does not experience sexual attraction.
The difference between asexual and sexual men does not lie in the pleasure that genital
stimulation and orgasm provide. But it lies in the interpersonal aspect of sexual desire.
Demisexual = experiencing sexual attraction only in the context of a strong emotional bond.
Fantasy is a common mode of sexual arousal
Fantasy = an imaged experience, sexual or otherwise.
Men engage in sexual fantasies more than woman, but woman increase the frequency of
their sexual fantasies near the time of ovulation.
, Testosterone levels influence sexual arousability in adult men. Men who have a profound
reduction in testosterone levels suffer a gradual decline in sexual desire and activity, and this
decline can be reversed by testosterone replacement therapy.
Testosterone is one of the substances used as aphrodisiacs = a substance believed to
improve sexual performance, enhance sexual pleasure, or stimulate desire or love.
In woman, there are at least two groups of hormones involved:
- Androgens; o.a. testosterone
Testosterone levels in woman are quite low compared with those in men.
Testosterone is more important than estrogens in influencing female sexual
arousability. It also contributes to changes in woman’s sex drive and sexual activity at
different times in the menstrual cycle.
- Endrogens
A reduction in estrogen levels may lead to vaginal dryness and hence to painful
intercourse, which may cause a decline of interest in sex.
These levels vary around the menstrual cycle.
Conditioning may influence arousal
Classical conditioning influences sexual arousal.
It may increase the sexual arousal that individuals learn to associate with people, body parts,
and other things that have been linked with sexual behaviour in the past.
Sexual arousal follows a response cycle
This cycle goes forward in a fairly similar way regardless of how arousal occurs.
- Excitement: sexual arousal begins here.
Boven = mannen
Onder = vrouwen
- Plateau: state of high arousal
- Orgasm: subjective experience of intense
pleasure and release at sexual climax.
Subjective experience of orgasm is similar
in woman and men.
