Motivation and emotion/Book/2024/Gender differences in sexual motivation

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Gender differences in sexual motivation:
What are the key differences in sexual motivation between genders and what causes these differences?

Overview

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Case study: Emma and James

Emma and James have been together for seven years. Initially, their sexual relationship was passionate and frequent, with both feeling equally motivated. However, as time passed, Emma noticed her desire for sex became more infrequent, especially after having their first child. She found herself needing emotional connection and relaxation before feeling sexually motivated, whereas James’ desire remained consistent, driven largely by physical attraction and routine. This difference led to frustration for James, who felt rejected, and guilt for Emma, who worried she was not fulfilling her partner's needs. They both began to avoid the topic, which only increased the emotional distance between them.

Sexual motivation is a fundamental aspect of human relationships, yet it manifests differently across genders due to a complex mix of biological, psychological, and social factors. Gender differences in sexual motivation demonstrates variations in sexual capacity, sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction. While men often experience a more direct connection between physical arousal and sexual desire, women’s sexual motivation is frequently intertwined with emotional intimacy and relationship quality. These differences are not just individual traits but reflect patterns influenced by psycholgoical, biological, and societal factors. Understanding these gender-specific motivations is crucial as challenges such as relationship breakdown, unsatisfied sexual gratification, psychological consequences and cultural implications.

Understanding gender differences in sexual motivation can be emphasised by applying specific motivation and emotion theories. The Dual Control Model shows how variations in sexual excitation and inhibition impact desire, while Social Role Theory explains how societal expectations shape sexual behaviors. Self-Determination Theory demonstrates how autonomy and relatedness influence motivation. Looking at the biological explanation for the differences show the importance in hormonal regulation within humanbeings. Integrating these theories provides a comprehensive framework for identifying and addressing differences in sexual motivation, specifically between the male and female genders.

Focus questions

  • What are the key differences in sexual motivation between genders?
  • What are the causes of these differences?
  • What are the consequences of different genders on sexual motivation?
  • What strategies can be used and implemented to address these consequences?

Introduction to sexual motivation

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[Include at least an introductory paragraph before branching into sub-headings]

What is sexual motivation?

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Definition of sexual motivation

  • Also known as sex drive or Libido
  • Refers to the natural and instinctive urge or desire to engage in sexual activities (Calabrò et al., 2019).

Types of sexual motivation

  • The desire to engage may stem from different factors
  • Intimacy
  • To procreate
  • Obligation?
  • Different desires- spontaneous vs responsive

What is the role of gender?

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Note that this focuses on relationships and male and female gender types

Important to discuss the role of gender in sexual motivation as men and women differ

  • significant to understanding biological, social, psychological and social factors
  • considering gender helps identify issues with sexual motivation which can vary between men and women
  • able to explore the diffreences and the causes of differences

Differences in sexual motivation between genders

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Sexual capacity

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Definition of sexual capacity

  • the ability to voluntarily make a reasoned decision whether or not to engage in sexual activities

Differences

  • sexual arousal- mens arousal is more sponaneous
  • sexual thinking- males evoke more sexual thinking, even if not wanted/ uncontrolled
  • stimulation- visual (male) vs auditory, olfactory, touch and emotional stimuli (female) (Waaramaa, 2016)

Sexual frequency

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Definition of sexual frequency:

  • how often one engages in sexual actitivites

Frequency of sex is an important measure of sexual motivation

Differences

  • how often do men vs women think about sex
  • men places more emphasis on the importance of sexual frequency as a measure of relationship satisfaction (Park et al., 2023)
  • frequency of sexual activity for women increases with emotional intimacy, connection, and relationship satisfaction
  • women may prioritize quality over quantity when it comes to sexual activity
    Figure 2. Working with Sexual Dissatisfaction

Sexual satisfaction

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Definition of sexual satisfaction:

  • subjective measure of the fulfillment, pleasure, and contentment an individual experiences in their sexual life (Grover & Shouan, 2020)

Differences:

  • orgasms are closely linked to sexual satisfaction- men report higher rates during sex than women (Mahar et al., 2020)
  • men have a more straightforward path to sexual satisfactionm whereas women require more extended periods of arousal, foreplay and emotional connection to reach sexual satisfaction
  • for women satisfaction is deeply tied with emotional intimacy and connection with their partner
  • do men focus on their own satisfaction while women prioritise their partners?

Causes of gender differences in sexual motivation

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Dual control model of sexual response

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Developed by John Bancroft and Erica Frommer (Janssen & Bancroft, 2007)

Sexual motivation is governed by two systems: the sexual excitation system and the sexual inhibition system

Can potentially explain why men and women have different thresholds for sexual excitation and inhibition

Hormonal regulation and age

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Sexual behaviour and overall motivation is strongly regulated by hormones which differ betwen genders: androgens vs estrogens

Testosterone is higher in men and is closely linked to consistent sexual motivation (Ågmo & Laan, 2022)

Women's sexual desires and motivation is influenced by hormones that flunctuates throughout the menstrual cycle

Ageing effect sexual motivation?

Cultural expectations

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Social role theory

  • propsed by Eagly and Wood (Eagly & Wood, 1999)
  • how does societal roles and expectations shape sexual motivation
  • the gender differences is partly a result of societal norms and roles

Traditional/ religious culture- sexual pleasure is judged more than that of men (Hall, 2019)

  • women pleasure is not directly related to reproductive sucess
Figure 3. Self Determination Theory Visual

Western societies- women are less sexually inclined than men

  • societal conditioning has resulted in women findng it more challenging to express sexual needs "stigma"

Psychological factors

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Self determination theory

  • proposed by Deci and Ryan (Deci & Ryan, 2013)
  • sexual motivaion is infuences by intrinsic values and needs

Reduced coginitive dissonance

  • women tend to down play the importance of sexual actvities compared to men (Laan et al., 2021)

Consequences of gender differences in sexual motivation

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Case study: Emma and James

As the gap in their sexual motivation grew, several consequences began to emerge. The emotional connection that had once been the foundation of their relationship started to weaken. James, feeling increasingly rejected, became more withdrawn, which led to less communication and further isolation within the relationship. He also began to question his attractiveness and desirability, leading to decreased self-esteem. Emma, on the other hand, felt immense guilt and anxiety, worrying that she was failing as a partner. This exacerbated her stress levels, making it even more difficult for her to feel sexually motivated.

Relationship breakdown

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Infidelity

Communication difficulties

Impact on sexual gratification

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Pressures to perform

Unequal satisfaction

Psychological consequences

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Reduced self esteem

Mental health concerns

Cultural implications

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Reinforcment[spelling?] of stereotypes

Stigmitisation and judgement Conclusion

Conclusion

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Summary of findings

Why it is important

Implications?

ADD FINAL QUIZ


Take home message:

See also

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References

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Ågmo, A., & Laan, E. (2022). Sexual incentive motivation, sexual behavior, and general arousal: Do rats and humans tell the same story? Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 135, 104595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104595

Calabrò, R. S., Cacciola, A., Bruschetta, D., Milardi, D., Quattrini, F., Sciarrone, F., Rosa, G., Bramanti, P., & Anastasi, G. (2019). Neuroanatomy and function of human sexual behavior: A neglected or unknown issue? Brain and Behavior, 9(12). https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1389

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2013). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Springer Science & Business Media.

Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (1999). The Origins of Sex Differences in Human behavior: Evolved Dispositions versus Social roles. American Psychologist, 54(6), 408–423.

Grover, S., & Shouan, A. (2020). Assessment Scales for Sexual Disorders—A Review. Journal of Psychosexual Health, 2(2), 263183182091958. https://doi.org/10.1177/2631831820919581

Hall, K. S. K. (2019). Cultural Differences in the Treatment of Sex Problems. Current Sexual Health Reports, 11(1), 29–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-019-00189-9

Janssen, E., & Bancroft, J. (2007). The dual control model: The role of sexual inhibition and excitation in sexual arousal and behavior. The Psychophysiology of Sex. Indiana University Press. https://kinseyinstitute.org/pdf/Janssen_Bancroft_2006.pdf

Laan, E. T. M., Klein, V., Werner, M. A., van Lunsen, R. H. W., & Janssen, E. (2021). In Pursuit of Pleasure: A Biopsychosocial Perspective on Sexual Pleasure and Gender. International Journal of Sexual Health, 33(4), 516–536. https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2021.1965689

Mahar, E. A., Mintz, L. B., & Akers, B. M. (2020). Correction to: Orgasm Equality: Scientific Findings and Societal Implications. Current Sexual Health Reports, 12(1), 33–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-020-00254-8

Park, H. G., Leonhardt, N. D., Johnson, M. D., Muise, A., Busby, D. M., Hanna-Walker, V. R., Yorgason, J. B., Holmes, E. K., & Impett, E. A. (2023). Sexual Satisfaction Predicts Future Changes in Relationship Satisfaction and Sexual Frequency: New Insights From Within-Person Associations Over Time. Personality Science, 4, 1–28. https://doi.org/10.5964/ps.11869

Waaramaa, T. (2016). Gender differences in identifying emotions from auditory and visual stimuli. Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology, 42(4), 160–166. https://doi.org/10.1080/14015439.2016.1243725

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