Deck 2: Theoretical Approaches to Studying Human Sexuality

Question 1

What issue arose from Sigmund Freud's ideas about sex?

A) His theories incorrectly identified psychosocial problems.
B) His theories caused sexual dysfunctions to be looked down on by the medical community.
C) His theories pathologized adults, especially females.
D) Sex became a more taboo topic.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What is one evolutionary explanation for homosexual behaviour?

A) Homosexuals are less likely to help biological relatives with their survival needs.
B) Homosexuals help biological relatives with their survival needs.
C) In the past, groups of people could not sustain large numbers of offspring so homosexuality was necessary.
D) Homosexuals adopt unrelated children who often times grow up to reproduce.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The early modern era was a time of great scientific breakthroughs related to sex and sexuality, particularly with the discoveries of sperm cells and eggs, as well as the studies of mate selection. What perspectives were the most important and scientifically rigorous in advancing knowledge about sexuality at this time?

A) Physical and environmental perspectives
B) Statistical and pathological perspectives
C) Biological and evolutionary perspectives
D) Sociological and cultural perspectives

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to Vasey and VanderLaan, what is a possible adaptive advantage of same-sex sexual orientation?

A) Fixation
B) Inclusive fitness
C) Self-efficacy
D) None of the above

Question 5

Who was the first theorist to present a theory of human psychosexual development?

A) John Harvey Kellogg
B) William Masters
C) Alfred Kinsey
D) Sigmund Freud

Question 6

Dr. Hamish is conducting an experiment to see if religious affiliation affects the frequency of sex between married partners. What aspect of the research project is the prediction that religious affiliation affects the frequency of sexual encounters?

A) The hypothesis
B) The conclusion
C) The psychodynamic theory
D) The theory

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a feature of scientific theory?

A) Provide absolute truths about human sexual behaviour
B) Communicate about sexuality
C) Develop research ideas and methods
D) Organize, self-correct, and generate knowledge

Question 8

Which theory is best for studying human sexuality?

A) Sociobiology is grounded in empirical evidence and therefore provides the best insight into human sexual behaviour.
B) Human sexuality is complex and no one theory can capture all aspects.
C) Social constructionist views can predict human behaviour based on cultural norms and therefore offer the best scientific theory.
D) Evolutionary psychology has been proven to be the best theoretical orientation for capturing the wide range of sexual expression among humans.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT part of an individual's personality, according to Freud?

A) Id
B) Libidinal energy
C) Superego
D) Ego

Question 10

According to Freud's view of personality, which of the following would be responsible for sexual desire?

A) The ego
B) The ego and the superego
C) The id
D) The id and the ego

Question 11

Psychic energy associated with mental desires and drives is known as ___________.

A) motivational factors
B) libidinal energy
C) erogenous energy
D) castration anxiety

Question 12

Which term was NOT coined by Sigmund Freud?

A) Castration anxiety
B) Oedipus complex
C) Electra complex
D) Penis envy

Question 13

Areas of the body that have heightened sensitivity associated with erotic touch are known as __________.

A) erogenous zones
B) libidinal zones
C) phallic zones
D) fixation zones

Question 14

According to Freud's psychodynamic theory, in what stage is a boy between the age of about six and puberty?

A) Oral stage
B) Latency stage
C) Anal stage
D) Phallic stage

Question 15

Freud's superego is most closely associated with which of the following?

A) Social norms learned throughout a lifetime
B) Individual personality
C) The unconscious
D) Biological urges

Question 16

Jimmy has trouble with delaying gratification. According to Freud's psychodynamic theory, in which stage did he have trouble developing?

A) Oral stage
B) Genital stage
C) Phallic stage
D) Latency stage

Question 17

What is one major criticism of Freud's psychodynamic theory?

A) It is falsifiable.
B) It was developed by a man.
C) It was developed before any research on the physiology of sex had been conducted.
D) It is not falsifiable.

Question 18

Which process is most associated with Ivan Pavlov's famous work with dogs?

A) Biological theory
B) Classical conditioning
C) The dual control model of sexuality
D) Operant conditioning

Question 19

According to Freud's psychodynamic theory, at puberty, boys reach which stage?

A) Oral stage
B) Genital stage
C) Anal stage
D) Phallic stage

Question 20

Jessica is obsessed with cleaning her apartment and making sure that everything is always in order. She has great difficulty maintaining a romantic relationship because she gets frustrated that she cannot control her partner's behaviours. According to Freud's psychodynamic theory, Jessica likely did not successfully pass through which stage of development?

A) Phallic
B) Anal
C) Latent
D) Oral

Question 21

Jules is in sex therapy for his obsession with bananas in the bedroom. He has been instructed to imagine becoming sexually aroused by his unwanted or problematic fetish; when he actually becomes aroused, he is then instructed to smell ammonia salt capsules, which will make him feel extremely nauseated. Which approach is being used in this treatment?

A) Mere exposure therapy
B) Classical conditioning
C) Aversion therapy
D) Conversion therapy

Question 22

Which of the following was a major contribution attributed to Sigmund Freud?

A) He discovered the importance of natural selection in determining one's mate preferences.
B) He presented one of the most egalitarian theories for men and women.
C) He was one of the first people to understand the role of womb development in relation to sexual development.
D) He was one of the first to highlight the importance of childhood sexuality in relation to personality development.

Question 23

Which approach to human sexuality in Chapter 2 has been challenged for not being falsifiable, and therefore not actually a theory?

A) Pavlov's classical conditioning
B) Freud's psychodynamic theory
C) Bandura's social learning theory
D) Skinner's operant conditioning

Question 24

Which of Freud's assertions has been completely refuted?

A) Children between six years of age and puberty undergo the latency stage.
B) A child can experience fixation if his or her libidinal energy is blocked during development.
C) An individual's personality is divided into the id, the ego, and the superego.
D) In order to sexually mature, women must move from clitoral to vaginal orgasm.

Question 25

In operant conditioning, sex is ___________.

A) a primary reinforcer
B) a punishment
C) paired stimulus
D) fun

Question 26

Pavlov described his theory of classical conditioning when he paired a ringing bell (the __________) with his dogs' food (the unconditioned stimulus). Initially, the dogs would salivate at the sight of the food (the unconditioned response) but not in the response to the sound of the bell. However, with repeated presentation of both the bell and the food at the same time, the dogs began to salivate at the sound of the bell (___________), even when the food was not present.

A) the conditioned stimulus; the unconditioned response
B) the conditioned stimulus; the neutral response
C) the neutral stimulus; the conditioned response
D) the positive reinforcement; the unconditioned stimulus

Question 27

In Daryl Bem's "exotic becomes erotic" theory, same-sex sexual orientation can develop when children engage more in activities typical of the opposite gender, causing which of the following?

A) The opposite-sex gender to be viewed as exotic, and therefore a source of non-specific arousal that would not be interpreted as romantic attraction
B) The opposite-sex gender to be viewed as exotic, and therefore no attraction would develop
C) The same-sex gender to be viewed as exotic, and children are attracted to their opposites
D) The same-sex gender to be viewed as exotic, and therefore a source of non-specific arousal that can be interpreted as romantic attraction

Question 28

Operant conditioning may be related to sexual behaviour in which of the following ways?

A) Sex is a primary reinforcer.
B) Sex is a secondary reinforcer.
C) Orgasm is an unconditioned response.
D) People develop fetishes when items are associated with sexual arousal.

Question 29

Which type of sex therapy often has a strong educational element and uses behavioural rehearsal to increase successful outcomes?

A) Operant conditioning
B) Motivational therapy
C) Classical conditioning
D) Behavioural therapy

Question 30

In Daryl Bem's (1996) theory of the origins of homosexual feelings, what is the term for non-specific arousal in the presence of a same-sex peer?

A) A conditioned stimulus
B) An unconditioned stimulus
C) An unconditioned response
D) A conditioned response

Question 31

When Paul Fedoroff first applied for ethics clearance for a study on the effect of masturbation frequency on sexual urges in convicted sex offenders, the ethics review board eliminated the part of the design that included which of the following?

A) Asking sex offenders about their urges to reoffend
B) Keeping masturbation rates the same
C) Preventing masturbation altogether
D) Increasing masturbation frequency

Question 32

What did Paul Fedoroff find when he studied the effect of manipulating masturbation frequency in convicted sex offenders?

A) There was no difference in the self-reported "likelihood of reoffending" when sex offenders were prevented from masturbating than when they were not.
B) Some offenders thought that their risk of reoffending actually increased when they were prevented from masturbating.
C) Sex offenders reported they felt like they were more likely to reoffend when masturbation was allowed.
D) Offenders had fewer sexual urges after the "no masturbation" condition.

Question 33

Which theory uses the principles of operant conditioning but also recognizes the importance of social context and environmental factors and posits that human behaviour is learned by observing other people's behaviours, attitudes, and outcomes?

A) Social learning theory
B) Social exchange theory
C) Cognitive theory
D) Sociobiology theory

Question 34

Which term refers to a theory based on the idea that learning occurs through modelling of observed behaviour?

A) Social learning theory
B) Operant conditioning
C) Social exchange theory
D) Psychodynamic theory

Question 35

What was the finding of a 2010 study by Prentky that looked at Internet access (and thus access to pornography) and rates of known offences among known sex offenders in the US?

A) Offenders with more access to the Internet were more likely to have known offences.
B) Offenders with more access to the Internet were less likely to have known offences.
C) Offenders with less access to the Internet were equally likely to have known offences.
D) The trends were inconsistent.

Question 36

Why, according to research, is losing one's virginity a very influential event?

A) It can affect one's sexual self-efficacy.
B) It often ends in unwanted pregnancy.
C) Sexually transmitted infections can never be fully cured.
D) The first sexual partner shapes one's view of who is sexually attractive.

Question 37

Research by social learning theorists has found that a person's thoughts about losing their virginity can either increase or decrease their sense of what?

A) Sexual self-efficacy
B) Sexual identity
C) Gender identity
D) Dyspareunia

Question 38

After learning about condom use in sex education class, Marillia goes home and practices using a condom. Practicing using a condom increases Marillia's confidence until it is used in a real-life situation. After using condoms successfully a number of times, Marillia feels very confident in her ability to use condoms and could potentially teach others about them. Marilla's belief that she can use condoms is best described as ___________.

A) self-proclaimed ability
B) self-efficacy
C) self-loathing
D) self-reliance

Question 39

In a coupled relationship, one partner feels as though they are contributing more to the relationship and the other partner is reaping all the benefits. The partner who feels they are contributing more becomes unhappy and seeks additional rewards outside of the relationship in an attempt to re-establish a balance. This is an example of __________.

A) social mores
B) social learning theory
C) social exchange theory
D) social cultural influences

Question 40

Cognitive theories are associated with a number of researchers who describe how our thinking affects how we feel and behave. These theories recognize that our thoughts are subject to a number of misconceptions, distortions, false assumptions, and errors in evaluating situations or information. These errors can result in __________.

A) inappropriate or harmful behaviours
B) psychological disorders
C) distress
D) All of the above

Question 41

Social exchange theories explain behaviour in sexual relationships by suggesting partners consider which of the following?

A) Costs and benefits
B) The social status of their partner and trying to maximize it
C) What other people do in relationships and copying it
D) The self-efficacy of their partner

Question 42

What is dyspareunia?

A) A common cause of premature ejaculation in men
B) The word for when a person is disappointed with the loss of their virginity
C) Pelvic pain during intercourse experienced by some women
D) The experience of feeling that the costs in a relationship outweigh the benefits

Question 43

Dr. Maruk is a sex therapist who tries to uncover her clients' misconceptions in the hopes that correcting misconceptions can help them. To which perspective is Dr. Maruk most likely to ascribe?

A) Social exchange
B) Social learning
C) Psychoanalytic
D) Cognitive theory

Question 44

According to social exchange theory, when is an individual more likely to stay in a relationship?

A) When the comparison levels are low
B) When the comparison levels for alternatives are high
C) When the comparison levels are high
D) When the comparison levels for alternatives are low

Question 45

Ruoshan has been in a relationship with Kevin for several years, but Kevin recently lost his job and hasn't been actively searching for new employment. He also hasn't helped out more around the house. Ruoshan is considering ending the relationship. Which theory is coming into play here?

A) Social script theory
B) Social exchange theory
C) Sociobiological theory
D) Sociological theory

Question 46

Katelyn has trouble reaching orgasm when she has sexual intercourse. She perceives this as a failure on her part, and becomes less and less interested in having sex. Which theory might help to explain this?

A) Cognitive theory
B) Self-efficacy
C) Sociobiological theory
D) Social-learning theory

Question 47

Joanne experiences pain in her vagina during every sexual intercourse. What might she be suffering from?

A) Dyspareunia
B) Amenorrhea
C) Endometriosis
D) Mucosa

Question 48

Timothy has sparse body hair, a lanky build, and is infertile. Which of the following theories is most likely to explain his infertility?

A) Evolutionary theory
B) Genetic theory
C) Sociobiological theory
D) Cognitive theory

Question 49

Studies examining genetic factors related to sexuality have found what trend in the concordance rate of same-sex sexual attraction between identical twins and fraternal twins?

A) The concordance rate for identical twins was about 20 per cent higher than for fraternal twins.
B) The concordance rate for identical twins was about 10 per cent lower than for fraternal twins.
C) The concordance rate for identical twins was about 30 per cent higher than for fraternal twins.
D) The concordance rate for identical twins was about 50 per cent higher than for fraternal twins.

Question 50

Individuals with Klinefelter's syndrome, which is characterized by sparse body hair and broader than average hips, have which combination of sex-linked chromosomes?

A) YY
B) XO
C) XXY
D) XYY

Question 51

Which theory of human sexuality would use a study of twins to determine the concordance rates of same-sex sexual orientation?

A) Social learning theory
B) Dual control model of sexuality
C) Genetic theory
D) Sociobiological theory

Question 52

Sociobiological theory is the application of which of the following to explain social behaviours?

A) Brain structures
B) Evolutionary biology
C) Morphology
D) Biochemistry

Question 53

Which term refers to a specific evolutionary process favouring traits that allow a member of a sex to out-perform another member of the same sex for sexual partners?

A) Sexual strategy
B) Intersexual selection
C) Sexual selection
D) Intrasexual selection

Question 54

Which process is at work when a female peacock picks the most colourful male to mate with?

A) Intersexual selection
B) Sexual strategy
C) Mating assessment
D) Intrasexual selection

Question 55

Theorists who support the dual control model of sexuality suggest that which of the following are the best predictors of current and lifetime sexual satisfaction in women?

A) Excitatory factors
B) Inhibitory factors
C) Religious beliefs
D) Olfactory issues

Question 56

Competition between members of the same sex for access to breeding with a member of the opposite sex is known as ___________.

A) sexual selection
B) natural selection
C) intrasexual competition
D) interpersonal selection

Question 57

In sociobiology theory, who invests more time in the reproductive process?

A) Males
B) Females
C) Both males and females equally
D) Neither males nor females invest time in this phenomena.

Question 58

What is the application of evolutionary theories to understand emotional and psychological processes, mainly in human beings?

A) Sociological theory
B) Psychological theory
C) Genetic theory
D) Evolutionary psychology

Question 59

Which term refers to a specific evolutionary process favouring traits that make a member of one sex more likely to attract a member of the opposite sex?

A) Sexual selection
B) Sexual strategy
C) Intrasexual selection
D) Intersexual selection

Question 60

In a species of bird where there are significant physical differences between males and females, which of the following is true?

A) Males only help rear male offspring.
B) Both the males and females participate equally in rearing offspring.
C) Males guard the offspring of multiple female partners.
D) Males are rarely or never involved in rearing offspring.

Question 61

Which theory of human sexuality would determine mate selection based on sexual strategies such as the likelihood of a mate to produce healthy offspring?

A) Psychodynamic theory
B) Social exchange theory
C) Dual control model of sexuality
D) Sociobiological theory

Question 62

Which of the following would most likely be stated by a proponent of the dual control model of sexuality?

A) Oliver likes relationships with multiple partners, while his brother Brad has chosen to raise his kids.
B) Greg and Stacey started kissing, then began touching, then eventually had intercourse.
C) Hailey is attractive to one type of men for one-night stands and to a different type of men for long-term relationships.
D) Luke's sexual responses are influenced by the balance between neurobiological, environmental, and cultural processes that activate and suppress sexual responses.

Question 63

Why do male peacocks have vibrant plumage?

A) For flight
B) Because of intrasexual selection
C) Because of intersexual selection
D) To scare away rival birds

Question 64

Which theory of human sexuality suggests that each person's sexual responses involve an interaction between sexual excitatory and sexual inhibitory neurobiological processes?

A) Dual control model of sexuality
B) Psychodynamic theory
C) Sociobiological theory
D) Social exchange theory

Question 65

What does the evolutionary theory, applied in the dual control model of sexuality, say about gender and sexual inhibition?

A) Women and men exhibit equal propensity toward sexual excitation and inhibition.
B) Women exhibit a greater propensity toward sexual inhibition and men towards excitation.
C) Women exhibit a greater propensity toward sexual excitation and men towards inhibition.
D) Women exhibit a greater propensity toward sexual excitation during menstruation, but their male partners experience inhibition at those times.

Question 66

Abby is concerned that her family religion is different from her current partner's. Her family and their religious background are very important to her, and she believes that she may not be able to commit to her partner because of their differing religious beliefs. Which theory of human sexuality best explains Abby's situation?

A) Psychodynamic theory
B) Dual control model of human sexuality
C) Sociological theory
D) Social exchange theory

Question 67

The influence of kinship and religion on sexual behaviour can be explained by which theory?

A) Sociological theory
B) Psychodynamic theory
C) Sociobiological theory
D) Dual process theory

Question 68

Despite its being a relatively new theory, what is one key feature of the dual control model of sexuality?

A) It contradicts years of research aimed at the influence of sociocultural factors on sexual behaviour.
B) It attempts to combine biological and psychological theories in one unified theory of sexual behaviour.
C) It is rarely useful in the clinical setting and can therefore be applied to a theoretically-driven approach to human sexuality.
D) It builds on Freud's notion of psychosocial sexual development to bring to light new information about childhood sexuality.

Question 69

Which of the following may be a sexual inhibitory factor for a woman?

A) Agreeable sexual power dynamics
B) Olfactory factors
C) Worries over sexual functioning
D) Agreeable situational factors

Question 70

In Quebec, common-law marriage is more commonly viewed as an acceptable institution for regulating sexuality than other parts of Canada. Which theory may help to explain this phenomenon?

A) Sociological theory
B) Sexual strategies theory
C) Social exchange theory
D) Sexual script theory

Question 71

Which of the following would most likely be stated by someone applying the social script theory of sexual behaviour?

A) Ulrich prefers multiple sexual partners in order to increase the likelihood that his genes will be passed on.
B) Juan's preference for submissive women in sexual relationships is the result of a history where heterosexual men controlled what developed into a cultural norm.
C) Tim's erectile dysfunction is the result of anxiety about not performing sexually.
D) Paige's dissatisfaction with her sex life is the result of rigid sexual conventions.

Question 72

Which theory would suggest that women in China are at a distinct advantage in selecting a mate because they are underrepresented and can therefore choose the mate that best fits their optimal partner?

A) Sociobiological theory
B) Dual control model of sexuality
C) Sexual strategies theory
D) Social exchange theory

Question 73

What did Wentland and Reissing find when they studied attitudes about casual sexual relationships among university aged men and women?

A) Men and women had different definitions of casual relationships.
B) Women would consider a long-term relationship with men they had had casual sex with repeatedly while men would not.
C) What women considered an attempt at assessing a mate for a long-term relationship men considered a "booty call."
D) Men and women had similar definitions for all types of casual sexual encounters.

Question 74

Based on results of Wentland and Reissing's 2011 study of the sexual strategies theory in casual sexual interactions, what would young women most likely look for in their male one-night-stand partners?

A) The ability to satisfy them sexually
B) Their suitability as a father of their children
C) The ability to defend them from other men
D) The ability to pay for dinner and buy them gifts

Question 75

Which of the following is NOT a tenet of a sexual strategies theory?

A) Men and women choose partners based on values of institutions such as family and religion.
B) Men and women pursue short-term mating and long-term mating when reproduction benefits outweigh costs.
C) The adaptive problems that men must solve are different from those that women must solve because of differences in reproduction opportunities and constraints.
D) Men and women evolved specific psychological mechanisms to solve problems associated with short-term and long-term mating.

Question 76

Sexual theorists believe that the low birth rate in Quebec compared to the rest of Canada is the result of what?

A) Better job security for women of childbearing ages
B) Inability of women in Quebec to demand the same amount of support from the father of a child born out of wedlock as women in other parts of Canada
C) A rejection of the culture of the Catholic Church following the "Quiet Revolution" that took place in the 1960s
D) Quebecers' concerns about having children with someone to whom they may be related

Question 77

In which Canadian province are common-law unions most common?

A) Quebec
B) Alberta
C) British Columbia
D) Ontario

Question 78

Raelyn and Abbas were out on their first date. About halfway through their date at an ice skating rink, Raelyn leaned over and kissed Abbas on the cheek and I said "I love you." Abbas was taken aback and did not know how to respond. Abbas ended the date as quickly as possible and never spoke to Raelyn again. Which theory best explains Abbas' reaction?

A) Dual control model of human sexuality
B) Psychodynamic theory
C) Social exchange theory
D) Social script theory

Question 79

The province of Quebec has the highest rate of common-law unions in Canada. What reason does the textbook suggest for this rate?

A) Rejection of traditional Catholic values
B) Different tax laws for married and common-law couples
C) Attempt to differentiate themselves from the rest of Canada
D) Influence of the republican movement in France

Question 80

What is one potential drawback of rigid sexual scripts in long-term relationships?

A) Difficulties with arousal and desire
B) Boredom
C) Low satisfaction
D) All of the above