Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

BECOMING AN 
INFORMED CONSUMER 
of Psychology
Lowering the Risks of Date Rape
R E C A P / E V A L U A T E / R E T H I N K
R E C A P 
What is “normal” sexual behavior?
• There are a number of approaches to determining nor-
mality: deviation from the average, comparison of sexual 
behavior with some standard or ideal, and consideration 
of the psychological and physical consequences of the 
behavior to the person and to others. (p. 363)
How do most people behave sexually?
• The frequency of masturbation is high, particularly for 
males. Although attitudes toward masturbation are 
increasingly liberal, they have traditionally been 
negative even though no negative consequences have 
been detected. (p. 364)
• Heterosexuality, or sexual attraction to members of the 
other sex, is the most common sexual orientation. (p. 365)
• The double standard by which premarital sex is thought 
to be more permissible for men than for women has 
declined, particularly among young people. For many 
people, the double standard has been replaced by 
endorsement of “permissiveness with affection,” the 
view that premarital intercourse is permissible if it 
occurs in the context of a loving and committed relation-
ship. (p. 365)
• The frequency of marital sex varies widely. However, 
younger couples tend to have sexual intercourse more 
frequently than older ones. In addition, most men and 
women do not engage in extramarital sex. (p. 367)
• Homosexuals are sexually attracted to members of 
their own sex; bisexuals are sexually attracted to people 
of the same sex and the other sex. No explanation for 
why people become homosexual has been confi rmed; 
among the possibilities are genetic or biological factors, 
childhood and family infl uences, and prior learning 
experiences and conditioning. However, no relationship 
exists between sexual orientation and psychological 
adjustment. (p. 367)
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