Steven Crane Compiled Section Handouts. Human Behavioral Biology 2012

Sexual Behavior (lecture 1 of 2)

Things to know for sexual behaviors

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  How sexual behavior must be very similar, but not identical across species.
  
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  A few features of human sexual behavior that may or may not be uniquely human.
  
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  Some brain regions that are relevant to sexual behavior that are unique to one gender, and ones common to both.
  
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  Dopamine as fueling goal-directed behavior; vasopressin interactions with dopamine systems and social bonding.
  
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  Some examples of pheromone effects on reproductive physiology and behavior within gender and between gender; evidence regarding humans.
  
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  The effects of menstrual cyclicity on sexual behavior and motivation in various species, including humans.
  
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  What testosterone has to do with promoting sexual behavior.
  
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  Development not refining the features of the FAPs of sexual behavior but, instead, teaching appropriate social context.
  
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  Why the neurobiology of testicular feminized males supports a strong role of environment in causing sexual identification.
  
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  Some features of inter-sexual competition in the realm of reproduction.
  
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  Some alternative strategies to male-male competition exploited by males in various species.
  
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  Some of the theorizing about the evolution of homosexuality.
  
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  Attractiveness: the roles of symmetry, conspicuous markers of health and fertility.
  
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  How to make sense of homogamy in an evolutionary context.
  

What do sexual behaviors look like?

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  FAPs: orgasm, lordosis, pelvic thrusts, erections
  
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  FAPs serve as releasing stimuli for other FAPs and back and forth
  
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  Have to interview in animal's own language! Ethological examination of sexual behavior is key.
  

Why do animals do it?

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  Because it feels good! Primacy of sensation.
  

Why are FAPs so conserved similar among species?

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