Friday, October 12, 2018

Psychology 277 - Midterm Exam


Midterm Exam Questions
PSY 277
Fall 2018

The following questions are representative of Chapters 5-8. Remember to cite the text in the body of your response (per APA), and use quotes and introductory phrasing to set up your quotes. You will also cite the outside sources, for question 1, concerning a topic that really has been around for decades.
Note: After you cite the author(s) once, use (p. 234) there after – there is no need for redundancy in writing. (e.g. citing authors, date of publication, and page over-and-over again).  Research on question 1 will reflect the interviewer by name, and page to the interview.

11.       Sexual Fluidity is a concept most used in relation to Miley Cyrus, along with the concept of “pansexual” that was used in an interview (2015). Read the interview she gave to Paper magazine and elaborate on her comments. (Little discovery learning here). Ms. Cyrus seems to have embraced her sexuality, and how she is defined. The question arises, “Have you embraced your sexuality, or are you still exploring your sexual orientation? (Research these two concepts, sexual fluidity and pansexual to formulate your answer. (8 points).

Miley Cyrus stated in her interview with Paper Magazine, “I don't relate to being boy or girl, and I don't have to have my partner relate to boy or girl.”  (Petrusich, 2015, page 6) I can agree with this statement.  While my identity is more stable as female than fluid, my sexuality, like Miley’s, is, “I’m down with any adult – anyone over the age of 18 who is down to love me.” I don’t consider myself pansexual; I consider myself to be openly bisexual and I shy away from the term “pansexual” because I face enough stigma as an openly bisexual woman.  Though I probably am more pansexual than bisexual, as I have met trans people that I find sexually attractive, but I have never pursued it beyond finding them sexually attractive.  In most respects, I probably am Pansexual.  However, there is enough of a stigma in the LGBTQ+ community for bisexuals, and being a vocal advocate, I prefer to stand with the Bisexual flag because it’s so heavily disregarded in both the gay world and the straight world.

Like Miley, I came out to my family when I was 14. (p. 6) It was never an issue in my family.  I liked boys and I liked girls, and that was totally normal for my family.  As I got older, I started to realize that I tended to like girls more than boys when it came to sex, but I preferred relationships with men far more than women (this is called “heteroromantic”).  I also very strongly identify as female, lacking the gender fluidity of Ms. Cyrus.  I feel that how one dresses or presents is an individual choice, and one that every person has a right to decide for themselves.  I wear jeans.  I swear like a sailor.  I tend to have masculine behaviors and dressing styles at times (though I’m from the Pacific Northwest, home to hoodies and gender neutral clothing).  But I am also very female and very strong in my identity as a woman.  I have friends who are nonbinary and I love them dearly.  Their struggles are very real and very challenging.  Because of my love for them and my compassion for their struggle in the world, I could never claim to be nonbinary (which is really just another name for Gender Fluidity).  I am a loud and proud bisexual woman.

22.       In Seidman, it is Foucault who advocates “a politics against sexuality – against sexualizing selves, identities, and acts (Seidman, 2015, p. 34). Moreover, he goes on to say the “if society did not assign a moral meaning (moral or abnormal), to adult, consensual sexual desires and behaviors, individuals would be subject to considerably less social regulation” (p. 34). Using the examples given in the text and your own views of the political forces that act on our sexual conduct, at least for some, however, the past history of some in the news, and those political figures, who have a less than stellar account of their sexual history, reflects on either a failure of human decency, or that the female body (an object) is nothing more than something for certain men to possess, either by using their power to who they are in the context of being privileged.

Thus, (1) do you agree with Foucault’s analysis? And (2) If Judge Kavanaugh is voted on and wins a majority of votes for SCOTUS, what does this say about past behavior and should he be accountable, and denied his place on the highest court of our country? Use your own experience, observations, or views on the subject, to Seidman’s reference to Foucault, to answer question 2, and the text and Seidman, to answer question 1. (8 points)

Foucault’s assumption that “if society did not assign a moral meaning (moral or abnormal), to adult, consensual sexual desires and behaviors, individuals would be subject to considerably less social regulation” (Seidman, 2015, p. 34) is completely correct in my own personal view.  The sheer fact that we have to legitimize consensual sexual relations with legislation aimed at protecting rights of the non-heterosexual population should further this idea.  Society as we know it has been puritan and heteronormative for so long that we now have to legislate what should be common sense.  Let consenting adults do what they want. 

As of this writing, Kavanaugh has been confirmed as a justice for SCOTUS.  For me, this only serves to prove that if you are a white, heterosexual man, you can basically do anything you want to anyone of a lesser privileged class (be that female, people of color, non-heterosexual or nonbinary) without it affecting your life in a meaningful way at all.  Kavanaugh wailed about how the accusations of Dr. Blasey Ford had completely damaged his life, yet there were absolutely no consequences for his actions.  He faced no jury, there was no trial, the grand jury (who “would indict a ham sandwich”) passed down no indictment, and the scope of the FBI investigations was so limited that he was protected from the multiple accusations.  I genuinely believe he doesn’t remember assaulting Dr. Blasey Ford.  But that doesn’t excuse him from being an assailant.  As a victim myself, with an assailant who admitted fault, I have seen that there is no justice when you are assaulted by a white heterosexual man in America.  We’re all out to “damage that good boy’s reputation” (as my mother said when I told her that I was raped) and none of us are ever taken seriously when we are assaulted by a white, heterosexual man.   All that matters is that HE is okay.  Not that his victims are okay.  It’s disgusting.


33.       Identify the three stereotypes attributed to females and males in our culture. Elaborate on each by identifying with anyone of two stereotypes (or not) as a female/male. (5 points)

Women are seen as emotional and hormonal (i.e. Serena Williams), while men in the same situation are seen as passionate and driven (John McEnroe).  Women in positions of power are seen as frigid ice queens (Anna Wintour) while men in the same position are focused, strong leaders (Donald Trump).  Women are seen as weak and illogical, while men are seen as strong and logical. 


44.       Which of the following perspectives on sex typing focuses on the importance of social experience and observational learning? (5 points)

One of the main types of sex typing is that women are more maternal (thus being better homemakers) and men are more suited for the office. Children learn this from an early age when boys prefer to play with trucks and girls prefer to play with baby dolls. Female children are encouraged to take care of baby dolls while boys who express interest in dolls are shunned as not being male enough.  They are constantly told that homemaking and child rearing are “women’s work” while girls are generally discouraged from the traditionally male STEM fields. Girls are reared learning how to care for younger siblings and do chores, while boys are expected to be more rough and tumble than girls.  There is some evidence in Evolutionary Psychology that this is the natural order of things. (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2014, p. 129) However, these are gender roles that society further encourages in children.  (p. 132)



Multiple Choice and Other Type of Questions:

5. The term that describes the direction of one’s romantic interests and erotic attractions is __________.
A) homosexual
B) heterosexual
C) sexual orientation
D) sexual behavior

6. A Gallup Poll in 2012 found which age group most likely to identify themselves as homosexual?
A) 18–29 year olds
B) 30–49 year olds
C) 50–64 year olds
D) 65 year olds and older

7. Which of the following statements is true?
A) Bisexuality is a “cover” for gay males or lesbians.
B) Many bisexuals have a stronger attraction to people of one sex than another.
C) Bisexuals are equally attracted to people of both sexes.
D) None of the above statements are true.

8. Which of the following early societies was the most tolerant of male–male sexual behaviors?
A) Early Christians after the fall of Rome
B) Florence during the Renaissance
C) Ancient Greece
D) All of the above were highly intolerant of male–male sexual behaviors.

9. Homosexuality in   __________ culture is seen as a rejection of traditional cultural roles and a threat to the continuity of the family line.
A) African American
B) Latino and Latina American
C) Asian American
D) Native American

10. Researchers have found evidence linking a region on  __________ to a gay male sexual orientation.
A) the X sex chromosome
B) the Y sex chromosome
C) both the X and Y sex chromosomes
D) neither the X nor Y sex chromosomes


11. Research from Sweden reports evidence that gender identity and sexual orientation can develop __________.
A) prior to conception.
B) during the intrauterine period.
C) during the birth process.
D) during the first two years of life.

12. In which year did the Supreme Court of the United States rule that people of the same sex have a constitutional right to get married?
A) 1986
B) 1992
C) 2001
D) 2015

13. According to the FBI, how many hate crimes in the United States are directed against gay males and lesbians?
A) one in every five
B) one out of every two
C) one out of every ten
D) one out of every seven

14. Researchers by and large found a   __________ gap between initial attraction to members of one’s own gender and disclosure of one’s orientation to other people, which usually occurred at about age 18.
A) 6-year
B) 8-year
C) 10-year
D) 12-year

15. Which of the following statements about Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is true?
A) DOMA was signed into law by Barack Obama.
B) DOMA passed in the House of Representatives but, failed in the Senate.
C) DOMA prevented states from legalizing same sex marriage.
D) DOMA denied federal marriage benefits to same-sex couples.

16. T/F. Most gay men have a gender identity that is inconsistent with their anatomic sex.

17. T/F. Women’s sexual orientations are more flexible than males.

18. Explain what DOMA is. What are some of the legal rulings that DOMA has gone through? (5 points)

DOMA was an act passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton that amended the federal judicial code to deny federal benefits to gay couples, as the act defined marriage as “between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” (GovTrack, 2018) Since 1996, it has gone through several changes and challenges.  In 2013, United States v. Windsor struck down section 3 of the Act, declaring DOMA to be unconstitutional under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.  (2018)

19. Swelling of the genital tissues with blood, which causes erection of the penis and engorgement of the area surrounding the vaginal opening is called __________.
A) congestion.
B) vasocongestion.
C) sex flush.
D) myotonia.

20. The phase of the sexual response during which the body gradually returns to its prearoused state.
A) excitement phase
B) plateau phase
C) orgasmic phase
D) resolution phase

21. Which of the following statements is true regarding Master and Johnson and Kaplan’s view on sexual response?
A) Master and Johnson treat the phases as relatively independent components of sexual response.
B) Master and Johnson view the sequence of the phases to be somewhat variable.
C) Kaplan views sexual response as composed of successive stages; the order is crucial and invariant.
D) Kaplan treats the phases as relatively independent components of sexual response.

22. The practice of withdrawing the penis prior to ejaculation during sexual intercourse is called __________.
A) fellatio.
B) coitus interruptus.
C) escaping.
D) the retreat method.

23. In the Book of Genesis, Onan “sinned” because he did not follow the Biblical law requiring a younger brother to __________.
A) marry his brother’s widow and father children if the elder brother died without an heir.
B) raise the elder brother's children if he died.
C) financially support his elder brother’s wife and children if he died.
D) give his first-born child to the widow of his elder brother to raise as his elder brother’s son.

24. In the 19th century, graham crackers and corn flakes were advocated as __________.
A) foods to improve circulation.
B) measures to prevent colon cancer.
C) anti-masturbation foods.
D) sexual stimulants.

25. According to several studies, women who had masturbated in adolescence were more likely as adults to __________.
A) have difficulty achieving orgasm with a partner.
B) be sexually promiscuous.
C) find marital intercourse gratifying.
D) replace intercourse with masturbation in their marriages.

26. In female masturbation, most women __________.
A) use their fingers or objects to simulate a penis.
B) insert a finger in the anus to heighten orgasmic sensations.
C) use a circular motion to massage the glans of the clitoris until orgasm.
D) massage the mons, labia minora, and clitoral region in circular or back-and-forth motions.

27. Which statement is true regarding sexual foreplay?
A) Women around the world require at least some foreplay prior to engaging in intercourse.
B) In the United States, women desire longer periods of foreplay than men.
C) The pattern and duration of foreplay is largely uniform across cultures.
D) Kissing is an important part of sexual foreplay in all cultures.

28. T/F. Masters and Johnson’s sexual response model can only occur during intercourse, not masturbation.

29. T/F. By Master and Johnson’s definition, men are not capable of achieving multiple orgasms because they enter a refractory period following ejaculation.

30. T/F. The hypothalamus and adrenal glands regulate gonadal secretion of sex hormones, specifically testosterone in males and estrogen and progesterone in females.

31. List the four phases of the Master’s and Johnson’s sexual response cycle. (5 points)
Excitement
Plateau
Orgasmic
Resolution


32. According to the text, a major component in people’s ratings of attraction is__________.
A) intelligence.
B) physical appearance.
C) personality.
D) family background.

33. Which of the following statements is accurate regarding how female weight is viewed?
A) Slender figures are as attractive by females and males.
B) Most societies value plump women.
C) Wide hips were not found appealing in any culture.
D) In our culture, anorexic thinness is the ideal.

34. Cross-culturally, men tend to place greater emphasis on __________ in their preferences for a mate, and women tend to place greater emphasis on __________ in their preferences for a mate.
A) earning capacity; intelligence
B) physical attractiveness; youth
C) youth; physical attractiveness
D) youth; earning capacity

35. In addition to physical features, men’s and women’s ratings of each other’s attractiveness appears to depend on __________.
A) personality.
B) honesty.
C) gender-role expectations.
D) dominance.


36.  Almost universally, women prefer __________.
A) younger men.
B) muscular men.
C) older men.
D) men with large penises.

37. In terms of mate selection, the attraction-similarity hypothesis proposes that people tend to develop romantic relationships with people who are similar in __________.
A) physical attractiveness.
B) cultural background.
C) interests.
D) All of the above

38. According to the text, the preferred age differences between marriage partners is when __________.
A) husbands are 5–10 years older than wives.
B) husbands are 2–5 years older than wives.
C) husbands are the same age as wives.
D) wives are 1–2 years older than husbands.

39. Your instructor suggests that many students in the class will find their mates in their classrooms, dorms, or neighborhoods. Your instructor’s observation is referring to research findings for __________.
A) the validation hypothesis.
B) the neighborhood hypothesis.
C) the association hypothesis.
D) propinquity, or proximity.

40. The type of love that binds friends, parents, and children through attachment or deep friendship is called __________.
A) agape.
B) storge.
C) philia.
D) eros.

41. According to Sternberg’s Triangular Theory, which type of love is a relationship in which the components of love are absent?
A) Nonlove
B) Liking
C) Empty love
D) Fatuous love

42. According to Sternberg’s Triangular Theory, which type of love is a relationship the combination of passion and intimacy but, not commitment?
A) Infatuation
B) Empty love
C) Romantic love
D) Fatuous love

43. T/F. Studies found that men rated lighter areolae as being more attractive in women with larger breasts, but preferred dark pigmented areolae in women with smaller breasts.

44. T/F. Highly feminine women are more likely to be attracted to dominant, “macho” men.
Answer: True

45. T/F. Cross-culturally, women have more romantic ideals of what is attractive in a mate than do men.

46. A non-committed “casual” sexual relationship in which a couple also does nonsexual things together is called __________.
A) friends with benefits
B) a hookup
C) a booty call
D) serious romantic relationship

47. A relationship characterized only by repeated sexual episodes without commitment of deep emotional feeling is called __________.
A) friends with benefits
B) a hookup
C) a booty call
D) serious romantic relationship

48. Which of the following best describes the relationship between sexual intimacy and emotional intimacy in a relationship?
A) Although they can go together, a couple can have one and not the other.
B) Emotional intimacy only develops after sexual intimacy.
C) Sexual intimacy usually develops after emotional intimacy.
D) Sexual and emotional intimacy are two aspects of one process and usually go together.

49. Which of the following statements accurately describes what level of disclosure is necessary for intimacy in an ongoing relationship?
A) In order to build intimacy, both partners need to be able to disclose fully to each other (i.e., to be “open books” for the partner to read).
B) It is important for women to disclose fully and completely to a partner, but intimacy does not suffer if men hold back and simply listen.
C) Disclosure is not necessary for intimacy to develop.
D) It is important to share honestly for intimacy to intensify, but it is not necessary to disclose all thoughts and feelings.

50. In healthy committed relationships, __________.
A) couples spend the majority of their time together.
B) all decisions are joint decisions.
C) friends of each individual become friends of the “couple.”
D) each partner maintains his/her individual interests and needs.

51. Which of the following can contribute to the deterioration of a relationship?
A) Boredom
B) Bickering
C) Jealousy
D) All of the above

52. Jealousy leads to feelings of __________.
A) security.
B) satifaction
C) anxiety.
D) happiness

53. Researchers have found gender differences in jealousy. Males seem to be most upset by __________, whereas females seem to be more upset by __________.
A) sexual infidelity; time spent away from home and family
B) emotional infidelity; sexual infidelity
C) sexual infidelity; emotional infidelity
D) psychological infidelity; emotional infidelity

54. Which of the following is not noted to be a cause of loneliness?
A) Lack of social skills
B) An internal locus of control
C) Lack of empathy
D) General pessimism

55. Which of the following statements is most accurate in describing the relationship between
communication and satisfaction between partners?
A) Love is all you need.
B) Too much communication can damage the mystery that fuels love.
C) Better communication helps enhance relationships.
D) Communication is not as important as passion.

56. Which statement represents a common irrational belief about relationships and sex?
A) Men naturally know what to do to please their partners sexually.
B) Even in intimate relationships, partners need to discuss what pleases them.
C) Women may hesitate to let partners know what their sexual needs are.
D) Couples know that they cannot read each other’s minds.

57. Which statement best represents the communication skill of asking for or giving permission to talk?
A) “You can tell me anything you want, but it annoys me when you don’t come to bed when I do.”
B) “I’ve always found it rather awkward to talk about sex.”
C) “How come you never say anything when we’re making love?”
D) “I know you don’t want to hurt my feelings, but I’m wondering if I’m doing anything that you would prefer I not do.”

58. A loving couple is attempting to be more effective in their communication with one another when a problem arises. Which of the following will improve that ability?
A) Talk nonstop until the problem is resolved
B) Focus only on the problem
C) Determine who is at fault and make them acknowledge their guilt
D) Not talk about what makes them uncomfortable

59. T/F. People cannot have intimate relationships without being sexually intimate.

60. T/F. Obsessional jealousy consumes a person with fear of interference in the relationship.

61. T/F. An external locus of control implies that people do not see themselves as capable of taking their lives into their own hands and achieving goals.

62. Discuss how one’s self-esteem may impact his/her ability to form intimate relationships. (3 points)
Often, people with low self esteem sabotage good relationships because of an external locus of control.  Rather than admit they are struggling with empathy, social skills, cynicism, and more, they blame everything outside of the relationship for destroying the relationship rather than own their own issues.  They can be jealous.  They may demand too much upfront.  But unless they own their garbage, they will be forever stuck in an endless loop of unfulfilling relationships. 

63. List five of the causes of loneliness offered by the text authors. (5 points)
Lack of social skills
Lack of empathy
Failure to disclose personal information to potential friends
General pessimism
An external locus of control







References
Rathus, S. A., Nevid, J. S., Fichner-Rathus, L. (2018). Human Sexuality in a Changing World.
     (Tenth Edition). New York, NY: Pearson North America.

GovTrack.us. (2018). H.R. 3396 — 104th Congress: Defense of Marriage Act. Retrieved from

Seidman, S. (2015). The Social Construction of Sexuality. (Third Edition). New York, NY: W.
     W. Norton & Company.

Petrusich, A. (2015). “Free to be Miley.” Paper Magazine. Retrieved from



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Grade: 87/100
Professor Comments: You should have had 6 more points but you didn't cite the source of the short essays per instructions at the top of the page. Instead of giving the class a zero for plagiarizing - I deducted only 2 points. Next time I will post the zero to the essays not cited per APA and the college's position on plagiarism.

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