Question 1

A psychologist argues that pornographic materials often model inaccurate and potentially damaging "rape myths," such as the incorrect assumption that women enjoy being dominated and coerced into sex. This psychologist's assumptions are most consistent with the views of
A)humanistic psychology
B)social learning theory
C)psychoanalysis
D)evolutionary psychology

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory suggests that behaviors and attitudes can be learned through observing and imitating others. The psychologist's argument that pornographic materials can model and thereby teach inaccurate and potentially harmful beliefs aligns with the idea that people can learn and internalize behaviors and attitudes through exposure to media, consistent with social learning theory.

Question 2

According to the text, occasionally fantasizing during sexual intercourse
A)is a symptom of sexual dysfunction
B)is a sign of dissatisfaction with your partner
C)is something usually done by people who lack interest in sex
D)is relatively common for most sexually active people

Accepted Answer

Fantasizing during sexual intercourse is relatively common and does not necessarily indicate a problem or dissatisfaction with one's partner. It's a part of human sexuality and can be a normal aspect of sexual activity for many people.

Question 3

According to one psychodynamic perspective, male homosexuality is promoted by
A)the failure to adequately repress unconscious same-sex urges
B)being raised by a weak ineffectual father and a domineering mother
C)differing adult levels of sex hormones
D)the association of adolescent sexual urges with same-sex peers

Accepted Answer

The psychodynamic perspective, particularly theories derived from Freudian thought, suggests that male homosexuality can be influenced by family dynamics, including being raised by a weak, ineffectual father and a domineering mother. This perspective posits that these family dynamics can impact an individual's psychosexual development.

Question 4

Many modern sexual orientation theorists point out that people may experience attraction to people of the same gender, but may not identify themselves as homosexuals. Such a statement makes an important distinction between
A)homosexual behaviour and heterosexual behaviour
B)self-identity and sexual attraction
C)homosexual behaviour and bisexual behaviour
D)sexual attraction and sexual behaviour

Accepted Answer

The statement highlights the difference between how individuals identify themselves (self-identity) and the attractions they experience (sexual attraction).

Question 5

Scientific research on sexual orientation supports which of the following conclusions?
A)Heterosexual and homosexual males differ in their adult levels of sex hormones.
B)Homosexuality can be adequately explained by the use of classical conditioning principles during parenting.
C)Homosexual men tend to have ineffectual fathers and seductive mothers.
D)Homosexual men and women are more likely to engage in gender-nonconforming behaviours during childhood.

Accepted Answer

Current scientific research does not support the idea that differences in adult levels of sex hormones between heterosexual and homosexual males are significant in determining sexual orientation (A), nor does it uphold the notion that homosexuality can be adequately explained by classical conditioning principles during parenting (B) or by having ineffectual fathers and seductive mothers (C). However, there is evidence suggesting that homosexual men and women are more likely to engage in gender-nonconforming behaviors during childhood (D), indicating a correlation between early gender-nonconforming behaviors and adult sexual orientation.

Question 6

Researcher Heiman (1975) found that both women and men were aroused by listening to tape-recorded erotic stories. She also found that the strongest arousal occurred when the stories focused on _________.
A)a passive female character
B)an assertive male character
C)an assertive female character
D)a passive male character

Accepted Answer

Heiman's research indicated that the strongest arousal in both women and men occurred when the erotic stories focused on an assertive female character.

Question 7

The issue of classifying people's sexual orientations is made difficult by the fact that
A)there are substantially more people who self-identify as homosexual than as bisexual
B)there are substantially more people who self-identify as bisexual than as homosexual
C)a relatively high percentage of people report same-gender attraction, yet do not identify themselves as homosexual or bisexual
D)homosexuals and bisexuals constitute such a small proportion of the population and there is an identification stigma

Accepted Answer

C) is correct because it highlights the complexity in classifying sexual orientations due to the discrepancy between sexual attraction and self-identification. Many people may experience same-gender attraction but do not necessarily label themselves as homosexual or bisexual, which complicates classification efforts.

Question 8

Actions taken to release the tension created by aggressive and sexual impulses serve to temporarily return people to a more balanced state. This is the concept of _____________.
A)catharsis
B)regression
C)functional discharge
D)adaptive significance

Accepted Answer

Catharsis refers to the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions, often through particular activities or experiences. This concept is often linked to the release of aggressive and sexual impulses, aiming to bring individuals back to a more balanced emotional state.

Question 9

Though researchers still debate the potential impact of pornography, it is generally agreed that the strongest negative effects occur when the pornography involves
A)men initiating sex
B)violence
C)highly explicit material
D)women enjoying being dominated

Accepted Answer

Violence in pornography is generally agreed upon to have the strongest negative effects, as it can perpetuate harmful attitudes and behaviors towards others.

Question 10

"Real-world" correlational evidence gathered on the effect of pornography on behaviour
A)provides clear support for the social learning theory position
B)provides clear support for the psychoanalytic position
C)does not clearly support either the social learning theory or the psychoanalytic position
D)provides clear support for the behavioural learning position

Accepted Answer

Real-world correlational evidence on the effect of pornography on behavior does not clearly support either the social learning theory or the psychoanalytic position. This is because correlational studies often reveal mixed results and are limited in their ability to establish causation, making it difficult to conclusively support one theoretical position over another.

Question 11

The fact that both men and women rate watching their partner undress as very appealing was discussed in the text as an example of how _______________ can affect sexual arousal.
A)biological factors
B)cultural factors
C)personality factors
D)environmental stimuli

Accepted Answer

Environmental stimuli, such as watching a partner undress, can influence sexual arousal by providing visual cues that enhance attraction and desire.

Question 12

The catharsis principle predicts that viewing pornography will __________ men's sexual aggressive behaviour towards women.
A)delay
B)negate
C)increase
D)decrease

Accepted Answer

The catharsis principle suggests that viewing pornography could serve as an outlet for sexual frustrations and thus decrease men's sexual aggressive behavior towards women.

Question 13

According to the results of a study conducted by Edward Laumann et al. (1994), about 50 percent of men and about _________ of women fantasize about sex at least once a day.
A)20 percent
B)95 percent
C)80 percent
D)50 percent

Accepted Answer

Edward Laumann et al.'s study found that about 50 percent of men and about 20 percent of women fantasize about sex at least once a day.

Question 14

The way that cultural factors can have an impact on sexual behaviour was made most clear in which of the following examples?
A)The sexual attitudes of people on the island of Inis Beag
B)The sex research of William Masters and Virginia Johnson
C)The fact that 20 percent of American men say that sex is not pleasurable
D)The fact that 20 percent of American women fantasize about sex at least once a day

Accepted Answer

The example of the sexual attitudes of people on the island of Inis Beag is a clear illustration of how cultural factors can significantly impact sexual behavior. This case study highlights the influence of cultural norms and values on individuals' attitudes towards sex and sexual practices, demonstrating the variability of sexual behavior across different societies.

Question 15

Which of the following was discussed as one of the psychological factors than can increase sexual arousal?
A)Increased levels of androgen
B)Performance anxiety
C)Sexual fantasy
D)Stress

Accepted Answer

Sexual fantasy is a psychological factor that can increase sexual arousal by stimulating the imagination and enhancing the sexual experience.

Question 16

A study by Donnerstein and Berkowitz demonstrated that men who were exposed to a film depicting a rape myth were more likely later to ______________.
A)act aggressively
B)feel guilty
C)act passively
D)demonstrate no effect

Accepted Answer

The study by Donnerstein and Berkowitz found that men exposed to a film depicting a rape myth were more likely to act aggressively afterwards.

Question 17

A person's emotional and erotic preference for partners of a particular sex is referred to as
A)gender
B)gender identity
C)sexual response cycle
D)sexual orientation

Accepted Answer

Sexual orientation refers to an individual's emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to other people, which can be towards the same sex, opposite sex, both, or more, distinguishing it from concepts like gender identity, which is one's personal sense of their own gender.

Question 18

In terms of predicting the effects of viewing pornography that contains aggressive or violent content, according to the catharsis principle it should provide a safe outlet for releasing sexual and aggressive tensions, while according to _________________ it should reinforce beliefs in rape myths and increase aggression.
A)constructivist theory
B)operant conditioning theory
C)social learning theory
D)classical conditioning theory

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory suggests that individuals can learn behavior through observing and imitating others. In the context of viewing pornography with aggressive or violent content, this theory would argue that such exposure could lead to the reinforcement of beliefs in rape myths and an increase in aggression, as viewers may imitate the aggressive behaviors they see.

Question 19

John admits that he sometimes feels attracted to other men, but he does not identify himself as a homosexual and he has never engaged in any same-gender sexual behaviour. According to modern sexual orientation theorists
A)John would be viewed as similar to homosexuals in terms of sexual attraction but not in terms of self-identity or sexual behaviour
B)John would be viewed as similar to homosexuals in terms of self-identity but not in terms of sexual attraction or sexual behaviour
C)John would be classified as bisexual
D)John would be classified as homosexual

Accepted Answer

Modern sexual orientation theorists recognize that sexual orientation encompasses attraction, behavior, and identity. John's situation, where he feels attraction to the same gender but does not identify as homosexual nor engages in same-gender sexual behavior, aligns with being similar to homosexuals in terms of sexual attraction but not in terms of self-identity or sexual behavior.

Question 20

A man who has difficulty maintaining an erection or a woman who has difficulty lubricating or becoming aroused may have what is called a sexual dysfunction, which is caused _______________.
A)by psychological factors
B)by a multitude of biological, environmental, and psychological factors
C)by injuries and diseases
D)by anxiety to perform

Accepted Answer

Sexual dysfunction can be caused by a complex interplay of biological, environmental, and psychological factors, not just a single cause.

Quiz 11: Motivation and Emotion

A psychologist argues that pornographic materials often model inaccurate and potentially damaging "rape myths," such as the incorrect assumption that women enjoy being dominated and coerced into sex. This psychologist's assumptions are most consistent with the views of

According to the text, occasionally fantasizing during sexual intercourse

According to one psychodynamic perspective, male homosexuality is promoted by

Many modern sexual orientation theorists point out that people may experience attraction to people of the same gender, but may not identify themselves as homosexuals. Such a statement makes an important distinction between

Scientific research on sexual orientation supports which of the following conclusions?

Researcher Heiman (1975) found that both women and men were aroused by listening to tape-recorded erotic stories. She also found that the strongest arousal occurred when the stories focused on _________.

The issue of classifying people's sexual orientations is made difficult by the fact that

Actions taken to release the tension created by aggressive and sexual impulses serve to temporarily return people to a more balanced state. This is the concept of _____________.

Though researchers still debate the potential impact of pornography, it is generally agreed that the strongest negative effects occur when the pornography involves

"Real-world" correlational evidence gathered on the effect of pornography on behaviour

The fact that both men and women rate watching their partner undress as very appealing was discussed in the text as an example of how _______________ can affect sexual arousal.

The catharsis principle predicts that viewing pornography will __________ men's sexual aggressive behaviour towards women.

According to the results of a study conducted by Edward Laumann et al. (1994) , about 50 percent of men and about _________ of women fantasize about sex at least once a day.

The way that cultural factors can have an impact on sexual behaviour was made most clear in which of the following examples?

Which of the following was discussed as one of the psychological factors than can increase sexual arousal?

A study by Donnerstein and Berkowitz demonstrated that men who were exposed to a film depicting a rape myth were more likely later to ______________.

A person's emotional and erotic preference for partners of a particular sex is referred to as

John admits that he sometimes feels attracted to other men, but he does not identify himself as a homosexual and he has never engaged in any same-gender sexual behaviour. According to modern sexual orientation theorists

A man who has difficulty maintaining an erection or a woman who has difficulty lubricating or becoming aroused may have what is called a sexual dysfunction, which is caused _______________.