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Explore the concept of erotic plasticity, examining how female sexuality is more responsive to social forces, evolving over time with greater flexibility and vulnerability. Investigate predictions and implications of this phenomenon, including societal impacts, cultural influences, and behavioral attitudes in social psychology.
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Chapter 6 Erotic Plasticity
Nature & Nurture • Sexual revolution • Dramatic change in sexual climate • Bigger change for females - why? • Nurture: Social constructivists • Nature: Essentialists • Mix may differ for males & females
Erotic Plasticity • Responsivity of sex drive to social forces • Cultural, political, situational forces change sex • Female sex drive more erotically plastic • Flexibility • Adaptive • Increases vulnerability
Erotic Plasticity • Predictions • 1. Females will change more over time • 2. Social Vs have stronger impact on females • 3. Less consistency between attitudes-behavior among females
Prediction 1: Changes Over Time • Kinsey, Masters & Johnson • ‘discontinuities in total outlet’(Kinsey, 1948) • ‘mercurial tendency to shift rapidly from peak to valley’ (Masters & Johnson, 1966) • Masturbation & orgasm • Male: Consistent activity • Female: Inconsistent (high v. NO activity)
Prediction 1: Changes Over Time • Sexual orientation • 4/5 lesbians had heterosexual sex (1/2 gays) • More bisexual females than males • Mate swapping (75% females have sex, 1% males) • More females adopt a lesbian orientation in prison • Overall extant data supports prediction 1
Prediction 2: Social & Cultural Influences • Sexual revolution • Female virginity, promiscuity more impacted • 20% increase in females w/ > 5 partners (11% for males) • Education increases liberal sexuality • Effects much larger for females • Educated women 2x more likely to have performed oral sex (educated males 1/3x more likely) • College education 9x increased chance of being gay for females, 2x for males
Class data (03) (N = 102) • Pearson correlation • Linear association between 2 Vs • Positive = higher/lower scores on 1 V associated w/ higher/lower scores on other V • EX: Studying hours & GPA • Correlated age year w/ views of sex • Expect older, more education less wrong
Class data (03) (N = 102) Higher sores < wrongAgeYear Sex < 16 .00 .21* Homosexual .04 .23** Prostitution .26** .24** * p < .05. **p < .01. • More educated less wrong one viewed sex! • Stronger among females?
Class data (03) (Females = 73) Year Higher sores < wrong Males Females Sex < 16 .54** .01 Homosexual .07 .35** Prostitution .08 .40** Pornography .00 .20† †p < .08. **p < .01.
Prediction 2: Social & Cultural Influences • Peers, parents more strongly impact female • Genes should more strongly predict male • Heritability for age of first intercourse • 72% for males, 40% for females • Homosexuality: Genetic evidence stronger for males • Overall extant data supports prediction 2
Prediction 3: Attitudes & Behavior • Consistency an issue in Social Psychology • A-B problem, situational features intervene • Erotic plasticity suggests less consistency • Infidelity • Correlation attitudes &behavior weaker for females • Homosexual behavior • Males who desire: 85% did, only 1/2 females • Overall extant data supports prediction 3
Summary • Males less erotically plastic as adults • Exception: More impacted by social factors as children • Females more erotically plastic in adolescence & throughout adulthood • Why?
Erotic Plasticity: Male Power • Women have to adapt to male sexuality • Supportive evidence WOULD be greater flexibility in other aspects of functioning also • No clear evidence yet
Erotic Plasticity: Female Changes • Female sexual role involves more changes • Females more cautious & initial attitude is NO • Human reproduction depends on female changing her mind • Psychological capacity for sexual change evolved • Submission fantasies common & arousing among females • NO! -> pleasurable YES!
Implications • Easier to change female sexuality • AIDS, sex therapy • Sexual self-understanding hard for females • Sexual decision making harder for females • Relationships challenging & flexible • Homosexuality • Males (self-acceptance) • Females (continual revision)
Conclusion • Females are more erotically plastic than men • Their sexuality more responsive to social influences, changes more over time & yields weaker A-B connections • Unclear why • May be due to male power or evolved change-ability in female sexuality • Implications