Sex Love.pptVIP

Sex Love Objectives: To introduce sex and love as topics in psychological science To illustrate the variety of basic processes the contribute to sexual arousal and mate selection To demonstrate the value of research with laboratory animals in psychologists’ efforts to understand sex and love Related Readings Online resource on sex and learning: /avc/akins/default.htm Fisher, H. (2004). Why we love. New York: Henry Holt Co. Scientific American articles: “The brain in love,” 2004 “Sex differences in the brain,” 2002 * Learning: Many animals learn to associate cues, such as the place where a mating encounter occurred, with a mate. People, for instance, may learn to associate a song or the smell of a particular perfume with a loved one. In the absence of the person, these cues may trigger a memory of that person and associated bodily responses. Neuroscience: Brain chemicals influence people to seek things they want, such as romantic love. These brain chemicals are also important for the pleasure that is experienced when we satisfy those wants. Developmental: During development, hormones influence when people (or animals) become attracted to a potential mate. For example, at puberty, the hormone testosterone increases male-typical mating behaviors such as approaching a potential mate (though females do this also). *