PSYC 3480 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Clitoral Hood, Sexual Script Theory, Vasocongestion

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3480
• Professor: Noreen Stuckless

Document Summary

Essentialism: gender is basic, stable characteristic that resides within an individual (all women share same psychological characteristics) Social constructionist approach: individuals and cultures construct or invent their own versions of reality based on prior experiences, social interactions and beliefs. These stages are not programmed to move mechanically from one stage to another : excitement phase: women become sexually aroused by touching and erotic thoughts. Blood rushes to genital region, causing vasocongestion (swelling) from the accumulation of blood. Vasocongestion causes clitoris and labia to enlarge as they ll with blood, produces droplets of moisture in the vagina: plateau phase: clit shortens and draws back under clitoral hood and is extremely sensitive. Clitoral hood moves through thrusting of penis or other touching, stimulating the clit: orgasmic phase: uterus and outer part of vagina contact strongly at intervals a second apart. During an orgasm experience 3-10 of these rapid contractions: resolution phase: sexual organs return to earlier unstimulated size.