PSY 302 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Human Sexual Activity, Sexual Dimorphism

• School: University of Arizona
• Department: Psychology Main
• Course: PSY 302
• Professor: Jean- Marc Fellous

Document Summary

What makes sexual behaviors different between adult males and females? hypothesis: activational effect of hormones (during development) Rats: hormones (estradiol and progesterone) control the behavior (e. g. lordosis) and the. Primates: hormones don"t control the behavior, but perhaps the motivation. Female motivation/initiation is highest when estradiol is high. In primates: corresponds to period of high male selectivity, females select males. Testosterone controls both physiology (sperm production, erection) and motivation (initiation, overall interest) Gnrh blocker in men leads to loose sperm/erection and loose sexual interest. Gnrh in monkeys loss depends on rank (i. e. previous experience, low ranking have largest loss) Explains why decrease in libido testosterone levels increase with psychological anticipation. Testosterone involved in other male behaviors (aggression) testosterone levels decrease with age. Sexual orientation: gender of preferred sexual partner, homosexuality v heterosexuality. Other dimensions of sexual preferences: monogamy, polygamy, age . No single evidence to this but prenatal exposure to androgens and genetic factors.