Transcript Lecture39-PPT - UBC Psychology`s Research Labs

Psychology 320:
Psychology of Gender
and Sex Differences
Lecture 39
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Office Hour Invitations
January 25th, 1:30-2:30, Kenny 2517
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Announcement
CV workshop: Friday, January 25th, 2:30-3:30.
Presented by Drs. Sunaina Assanand and Michael Souza.
Jointly sponsored by the PSA and Psychology
Department (2012/13 Learning Smackdown Series).
RSVP to [email protected]. Provide your
first and last name and e-mail address.
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Romantic Relationships and Sexuality
1. What research findings have emerged regarding
romantic relationships among individuals who identify
as lesbian or gay? (continued)
2. What methods do researchers use to study human
sexuality?
3. Are there sex differences in attitudes about sex?
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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:
1. compare and contrast romantic relationships among
individuals who identify as heterosexual and
individuals who identify as lesbian or gay.
2. review the findings of Masters and Johnson’s
observational research on human sexuality.
3. identify methodological problems associated with
self-report research on human sexuality.
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4. identify sex similarities and differences in attitudes
about sex.
5. discuss the relationship between gender equality and
sex differences in attitudes about sex.
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What research findings have emerged regarding
romantic relationships among individuals who identify as
lesbian or gay (continued)?
(d) Factors that determine relationship satisfaction
(continued):
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Relationship Quality Over 10 Years Among
Lesbians, Gay Men, Heterosexuals (Kurdek, 2008)
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 The factors associated with relationship satisfaction
among heterosexuals are also associated with
relationship satisfaction among lesbians and gay men
(Herek, 2006; Kurdek, 2006, 2008; Kurdek & Scmitt,
1986; Peplau & Beals, 2001):
 gender roles
 equity
 female vs. female characteristics/male vs. male
characteristics
 relationship conflict
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 Same-sex couples display more constructive conflict
management than heterosexual couples (e.g., use of a
positive tone, demonstration of affection and humour,
few displays of dominance; Gottman et al., 2003).
 Gay men and lesbians are less likely than
heterosexuals to exhibit the demand/withdraw pattern
(Kurdek, 2004).
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What methods do researchers use to study human
sexuality?
• Observational research is rarely conducted in the
study of human sexuality due to the sensitivity of the
subject matter.
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• Notable exception: Masters and Johnson (1966)
 Identified four phases of the sexual response in
humans: Excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution.
 Dispelled the “myth” of the vaginal orgasm; a
continued subject of debate.
 Demonstrated the occurrence of multiple orgasms in
females.
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• The bulk of contemporary research on human
sexuality employs self-report data. Self-report research
on sexuality is susceptible to several problems:
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1. Inaccurate recall of events.
2. Inaccurate estimation of frequencies.
3. Biased samples.
4. Socially desirable responding: 17% of female and 21%
of male students report responding dishonestly to
questions regarding sexuality (Siegal et al., 1998).
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Are there sex differences in attitudes about sex?
• Recent meta-analyses have identified sex similarities
and differences with respect to attitudes about sex.
1. Peterson and Hyde (2010)
 Examined data from 834 papers; approximately 1.5
million participants worldwide:
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Sex Comparisons for Attitudes About
Sex (Peterson & Hyde, 2010)
Attitude
d
Extramarital sex
.01
Intercourse—engaged
.02
Homosexuality: Lesbians
-.02
Masturbation
.02
Acceptability of double standard
.10
Premarital sex
.17
Intercourse—committed
-.18
Homosexuality: Gay men
-.18
Anxiety, fear, guilt
-.19
Gay rights
-.20
Sexual permissiveness
.21
Intercourse—casual
.45
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 Also found that:
(a) sex differences are larger for older samples than
younger samples.
(b) measures of gender equality (e.g., GEM) are
negatively correlated with sex differences in attitudes
about sex.
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Romantic Relationships and Sexuality
1. What research findings have emerged regarding
romantic relationships among individuals who identify
as lesbian or gay? (continued)
2. What methods do researchers use to study human
sexuality?
3. Are there sex differences in attitudes about sex?
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