Important data because it provides way to test nature v. cultural explanations
Netherlands (65% homosexuality not wrong at all)
Rate of homosexuality higher than less permissive countries suggests cultural influence
Desirability bias absent (likely to tell truth in permissive culture)
Same rate supports nature (& validates earlier data)
Class Data 03 (N = 102, Female = 73)
Wrong?
Always Almost Sometime Not at all
Pre 11.7% 9.7% 35% 43.7%
< 16 36/71 32 28 3.9
Extra 81/80 11.9 4 3
Homo 19.4/70 8.7 19.4 52.4/19
Bold = Widmer USA data
Why the difference?
Widmer et al. (1998)
US conservative attitudes but not behavior
Extramarital affairs estimated at 50%
80% Americans view this as ‘always wrong’
Why?
Attitudes
Attitudes contain 3 components:
Cognitions, beliefs (cheating is wrong!)
Emotions (Anger, disgust)
Behavior tendencies (I intend never to cheat)
Attitudes can predict behavior: No cheating!
Not always...
Attitudes
Attitudes don’t predict behavior when
Components inconsistent (cognition v emotion)
Believe pornography is wrong but feel excited
Levels of analysis mixed (broad-> specific)
Sex is good (broad) v. masturbating to Victoria Secret
Norms/Vested interest
Desirability bias impacts Rs (homosexuality)
Gain by behaving in ways inconsistent with attitudes
Reaction Paper II: Cultural Morality
Upon learning of the great variability in sexual attitudes across cultures many take a moral absolutist stance, arguing that cultures that disagree with our own are simply morally WRONG. Do you take this view with regards to sexual behaviors like homosexuality? Or do you take a moral relativistic stance, believing that moral absolutes don’t exist & each culture defines what is and is not right for them? Explain your position.
Nature Influences
Hormones prenatally impact brain development & sexual behavior later in life
Masculinizing hormones masculinize behavior
Feminizing hormones feminize behavior
Nature Influences
Sex Hormones (androgens) impact sexual behavior
Erotica increases T levels
T +rd w/ sexual behaviors, attitudes
Sex offenders treated by chemically reducing T & erectile dysfunction by increasing T
Follicular stage of menstrual cycle +rd w/ arousal
Nature Influences
Sex on the brain video
How did early exposure to testosterone impact female rat behavior?
How did early exposure to estrogen impact male rat behavior?
Can this happen with humans?
YEP!
Nature Influences
Cross-cultural consistencies suggest nature
Sexual behavior - little variation
Kamasutra, medieval times, 2002
We have been doing same things for millennia
Love & jealousy - ubiquitous in human culture
Female infidelity more condemned
Nature impacts sexual development & behavior
Nature Influences
Jealousy (expect no cultural variation)
Males: Sexual
Females: Emotional
Why?
Evolutionary pressures
Males have uncertainty of paternity
Males preventing sexual infidelity pass > genes
Males > power in all known societies
Statistical Significance
t = inferential statistic indicating difference between groups in population
p = significance level (how likely difference would occur if TRUE, population difference = 0.0)
< .05 traditional significance level (1/20)
2/1000 if true difference = 0.0
Assume difference is real
Class Data 03 (N = 102, Female = 73)
Upset over partner having sex with another?
Mean
Male 4.76
Female 4.76 t(101) < 1, ns
Upset over partner falling in love with another?
Mean
Male 3.72
Female 4.31 t(101) = 3.01, p < .003
Nature Influences
Promiscuity
Greater investment of female than male
More costs for females than males
Selection pressures lead females to be less promiscuous
Men more interested in causal sex
Women want to know their partner longer
Class Data 03 (N = 102, Female = 73)
Frequency of viewing & purchasing pornography/year
Item Male Female t p
VIDEOFREQ 45.39 4.05 4.38 .000
BOOKFREQ 80.44 12.43 2.99 .01
BUYFREQ 2.39 .41 2.95 .004
Nature Influences
Evolutionary theory is a biological account
Connections between humans, mammals, primates
Emphasizes biological processes like reproduction
Evolution theory is a functional account
Behaviors, characteristics that served an adaptive function were passed on via natural selection
Many present day behaviors evolutionary artifacts
Not necessarily conscious, willful behavior
Distal not proximal cause
Nature & Culture
Guttentag & Secord (1983)
Culture changes as a result of ratio of males:females
Sexual morality reflects minority gender
Male surplus/female scarcity = women highly valued & sexually restrictive/prudish morals
Female surplus/male scarcity = women devalued & sexually permissive morals
Why?
Guttentag & Secord (1983)
Supply & demand: Scarcity confers power
Women/men are precious, valuable and powerful when rare