Psychology 2075 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Human Sexual Activity, Sociological Perspectives, Electra Complex

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2075
• Professor: Corey Isaacs

Document Summary

You are sitting in a bedroom watching two people make love. These people would view the scene in the following ways: Freud marveling at how the biological sex drive, libido, expresses itself so strongly and directly in the couple. Wilson (sociobiologist) would be thinking how mating behaviour in humans is similar to such behaviour in other species, and how it is the product of evolutionary selection for behaviours that lead to successful reproduction. Bandura thinking how sexual arousal and orgasm act as powerful positive reinforcers that will lead the couple to repeat the act frequently, and how they are imitating a technique watched in an x-rated movie. Gagnon thoughts about the social scripting of sexuality this couple starts with kissing, then fondling, and finishes with intercourse. Evolutionary perspectives use principles from evolutionary biology to explain why certain patterns of social behaviour and psychological mechanisms have evolved in animals, including humans.