W4D1

Sexuality is essential to the way one conceives oneself. It may depend on one’s experiences and considerations that often fluctuate throughout his or her lifespan. It gets impacted by different biopsychosocial, economic, cultural, religious, and spiritual factors.

The textbook states that with the passing time, the emotional, intellectual, and physical aspects of sexual desire and expression become fairly stable in both genders. The Western views have equalized aging with dying, so most of the people probably have a confined view of aged adults as sexually active individuals. Unfortunately, our healthcare providers are also not exempted from these stereotypical attitudes.

Using the South University Online Library, the Internet, or the course readings, conduct a research on sexuality in men and women. Based on your research, answer the following question:

Regardless of sexual orientation, how are men and women similar and different in terms of their attitudes toward sex and love?
Describe Sternberg’s Triangular theory of Love. Can you compare a relationship you have experienced to Sternberg’s theory?
How does a social cultural message add to the stereotypes toward sexuality in aging population?
Are there changes in the sexual behavior of the aged population?
Describe the changes in sexuality from puberty through late adulthood. Describe how a person’s definition and experience of sexuality and intimacy often fluctuates throughout his or her lifespan. What are some of the influences as it relates to “changes in sexuality from puberty to late adulthood”?
You may use the following article for your research:

Sternberg, R. J. (1986). A Triangular Theory of Love. Psychological Review, 93(2),
119–135.

Part 2

Buss, Larsen, Westen, & Semmelroth (1992) studied the differences between the sexes as it related to feelings of jealousy and found that that neither sex was more jealous than the other. However, women get more distressed when they feel emotional infidelity and men get more upset with sexual infidelity.

Do you agree or disagree? Why?
What is jealousy and what are the different types of jealousies?
What are the psychological dimensions of jealousy? Is jealousy always irrational? Can jealousy be based on fears?
How does jealousy hurt or help a relationship? How should you effectively deal with jealousy? What suggestions might you offer a friend to assist with managing one’s jealousy?
Your textbook presents two theoretical ideas about love that you may use when evaluating relationships. The sociologist, John Lee, describes six styles of love. What are these styles? Are there differences between the styles of women and men? How?
References:

Buss, D. M., Larsen, R. J., Westen, D., & Semmelroth, J. (1992). Sex differences
in jealousy: Evolution, physiology, and psychology. Psychological Science,
3(4), 251–255.