Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

Human Sexuality333Female Sexual Responses: Three Basic VariationsTypical Male Sexual ResponseOrgasmOrgasmPlateauExcitementResolutionResolution2PlateauExcitementRefractoryPeriodResolutionResolution12 3 31Stage 3: OrgasmOrgasm is the third and shortest phase of the sexual response cycle. During orgasm,blood pressure and heart rate reach their peak. The muscles in the vaginal walls andthe uterus contract rhythmically, as do the muscles in and around the penis as themale ejaculates. Other muscles may contract as well, such as those in the face, arms,and legs. Both men and women describe the subjective experience of orgasm insimilar—and very positive—terms.The vast majority of men experience one intense orgasm. But many women arecapable of experiencing multiple orgasms. If sexual stimulation continues followingorgasm, women may experience additional orgasms within a short period of time.Stage 4: ResolutionFollowing orgasm, both sexes tend to experience a warm physical “glow” and asense of well-being. Arousal slowly subsides and returns to normal levels in the resolutionphase. The male experiences a refractory period, during which he is incapableof having another erection or orgasm. The duration of the male’s refractory periodvaries. For one man it may last a matter of minutes, for another several hours. Asmen age, the duration of the refractory period tends to increase.Figure 8.8 The Male and Female SexualResponse Cycles The figure on the left depictsthe three basic variations of the femalesexual response. Pattern 1 showsmultiple orgasms. Pattern 2 shows sexualarousal that reaches the plateau stage butnot orgasm, followed by a slow resolution.Pattern 3 depicts brief reductions inarousal during the excitement stage, followedby rapid orgasm and resolution. Thefigure on the right depicts the most typicalmale sexual response, in which orgasm isfollowed by a refractory period.Source: Masters & Johnson (1966).What Motivates Sexual Behavior?In most animals, sexual behavior is biologically determined and triggered by hormonalchanges in the female. During the cyclical period known as estrus, a female animal isfertile and receptive to male sexual advances. Roughly translated, the Greek word estrusmeans “frantic desire.” Indeed, the female animal will often actively signal herwillingness to engage in sexual activity—as any owner of an unneutered female cat ordog that’s “in heat” can testify. In many, but not all, species, sexual activity takes placeonly when the female is in estrus.As you go up the evolutionary scale, moving from relatively simple to more sophisticatedanimals, sexual behavior becomes less biologically determined and moresubject to learning and environmental influences. Sexual behavior also becomes lesslimited to the goal of reproduction (Buss, 2007a, 2007b). For example, in some primatespecies, such as monkeys and apes, sexual activity can occur at any time, notjust when the female is fertile. In these species, sexual interaction serves importantsocial functions, defining and cementing relationships among themembers of the primate group.One rare species of chimplike apes, the bonobos of the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, exhibits a surprising variety of sexualbehaviors (de Waal, 2007; Parish & de Waal, 2000). Although mostanimals copulate, or have sex, with the male mounting the femalefrom behind, bonobos often copulate face to face. Bonobos also engagein oral sex and intense tongue kissing. And bonobos seem tolike variety. Along with having frequent heterosexual activity,whether the female is fertile or not, bonobos also engage in homosexualand group sex.The Bonobos of the Congo Bonobosdemonstrate a wide variety of sexual interactions,including face-to-face copulation,kissing, and sexual interaction amongsame-sex pairs (Fruth & Hohmann, 2006;Parish & de Waal, 2000). Sexual behavior isnot limited to reproduction; it seems toplay an important role in maintainingpeaceful relations among members of thebonobo group. As Frans de Waal (1995)wrote, “For these animals, sexual behavioris indistinguishable from social behavior.”