Human Sexuality Terms From Chapter 2 Of Human Sexuality

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Sexuality

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Sensual pleasure that comes from the stimulation of the body, often with the anticipation of an enjoyable, erotic feeling. Sexual behaviors may or may not involve the desire to procreate.

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Carnal

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The sensual aspects of physical intimacy.

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Erotic

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Associated with sensual and/or sexual pleasures.

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Libido

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A primitive, motivational force in the personality, usually associated with powerful aggressive and sexual inclinations.

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Epicureanism

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An ancient Roman philosophy in which the highest human pleasures are thought to be associated with intellectual understanding and mastery of the use of information, often mistakenly associated with an uncontrolled pursuit of physical, sensual pleasures.

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Stoicism

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A Roman philosophy that suggests that the highest good lies in living in harmony with nature and accepting whatever life offers with a sense of dignity and poise.

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Gender role

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The beliefs and behaviors a person acts out in accordance with their thoughts about being a male or female person.

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Masculinity

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Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors often associated with male roles.

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Femininity

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Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors often associated with female roles.

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Gender identity

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One's self-perceptions as either a female or male person according to the customs and traditions of a particular culture.

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Transsexuality

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A phenomenon in which a person's physical sexual characteristics are different from their psychological, gender-based characteristics.

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Mechanistic perspective

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The belief that the human body (and mind) are "machines" and can best be understood by comprehending the nature and interrelationships of their parts.

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Reductionism

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An approach to explaining something in which a complex idea is broken down into simple components.

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Psychobiological approach

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A way of analyzing and interpreting behavior that is based on an understanding of the functions of the nervous and endocrine systems.

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Vicarious learning

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A type of learning in which a person can acquire information, remember it, and use it through the observation of others.

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Clinical study

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Research mehtod that usually combines observation with in-depth interviewing.

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Naturalistic study

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Research method in which consenting subjects agree to being observed behaving in their own settings in a comfortable, un-selfconscious way.

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Double-blind study

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Research investigation in which neither the researcher nor the subject knows what treatment (if any) is being administered to the subject.

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Anatomy

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The systematic study of the structure of an organism's body and the names and relationships of its various parts.

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Physiology

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The systematic study of the functions and interrelationships of the major organ systems of animals and plants.

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Embryology

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The scientific study of the growth and development of animals before birth.

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Ethnocentrism

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The belief that the standards, norms, and customs of one's own culture are right and superior to those of other cultures.

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Pederasty

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Physical sexual expression between an adult male and male child or adolescent. (Commonly practiced and accepted among ancient Greeks. Being chosen by an important older man enhanced the young man's esteem and popularity.)

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Coitus interruptus

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A highly ineffective attempt at avoiding conception, also called "withdrawal." A man attempts to withdraw his uncovered penis from his partner before he ejaculates but usually still leaves significant numbers of sperm in the vagina.

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Masochism

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A sexual inclination in which a person derives erotic gratification from experiencing physical or psychological pain or humiliation.

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Sadism

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Deriving enjoyment from inflicting emotional or physical pain on another person.

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Erogenous zones

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According to Freud, parts of the body that when stimulated yield keen sensual pleasures; thought to include the mouth, anus, and genitals.

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Determinism

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The belief that adult thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are the result of events that happened in infancy and childhood.

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Pleasure principle

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Sigmund Freud's belief that humans are powerfully motivated to pursue pleasures and avoid pain and frustrations.

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Reality principle

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A Freudian notion attributed to a part of the personality called the ego that suggests that we try to deal with the realistic aspects of our daily lives while balancing sexual and aggresive impulses against our moral beliefs and conscience.

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Psychoanalysis

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A method of psychotherapy invented by Sigmund Freud in which the client's subconscious is made conscious, in the anticipation that this knowledge will eliminate anxiety and associated abnormal behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.

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Psychotherapy

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A form of treatment for behavioral, emotional, or cognitive disorders that usually involves counseling, the disclosure of personal information, and an attempt to change maladaptive psychological habits.

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Sexual response cycle

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A sequence of physical changes accompanying sexual arousal, orgasm, and the return to a pre-arousal state of excitement.

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Sexual dysfunctions

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Physical, psychological, and/or interpersonal problems that might impair sexual desire, arousal, or response.