Thesis (M.A.)--State University of New York at New Paltz, 2007. / Also issued in electronic version. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 29-31). Online version available via the SUNY New Paltz Sojourner Truth Library : http://hdl.handle.net/1951/39633

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-148).

Androphilia refers to sexual attraction and arousal to adult males, whereas gynephilia refers to sexual attraction and arousal to adult females. Prehistoric artifacts such as art and pottery indicate that male-male same sex behaviour has existed for millennia. Bearing this in mind, and considering that male androphilia has a genetic component yet androphilic males reproduce at a fraction of the rate than do gynephilic males, how the genes for male androphilia have been maintained in the population presents an evolutionary puzzle. This thesis tests two hypotheses that attempt to address this Darwinian paradox. Chapter one reviews the current literature on the kin selection hypothesis and the sexually antagonistic gene hypothesis. In addition, rationales for testing these hypotheses in Canada are provided. Chapter two tests the kin selection hypothesis for male androphilia within a Canadian population. Results and implications are discussed. Chapter three tests the sexually antagonistic gene hypothesis within a Canadian population. Results and implications are discussed. Chapter four summarizes the results of the two studies and discusses how these findings may be interpreted from an evolutionary perspective. The impacts of gene-environment interaction on the functional behavioral expression of traits are emphasized. / viii, 113 leaves ; 29 cm

Thesis (M.A.)--State University of New York at New Paltz, 2007. / Also issued in electronic version. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-74). Online version available via the SUNY New Paltz Sojourner Truth Library : http://hdl.handle.net/1951/42568

The thesis deals with sexually psychological factors of what makes males attracive. The theoretical part is based on the theory of evolutionary psychology. We are interested in heterosexual women's strategy when choosing a partner. Of the factors that may affect their partner choice, we have focused on one physical attribute, the penis. The attribution of the importance of penis size depends on the individual. However, we try to find a connection between penis perception as a significant factor of what makes male attractive and other aspects, not only sexuality. For the purpose of our research, we have developed a specific questionnaire which, through a series of questions, examines the attitude towards the importance of penis size. The second part of the questionnaire is more intimate, identifyinf the relationship status, sexual experience, phase of the cycle and the use of hormonal contraception. The questionnaire was simply called "Does Size Matter?". The administration was online and we addressed women through social networks. We received responses from 276 respondents. We found several differences in penis perception as an important factor. Women who have a friend with benefits (they meet a man just for sexual satisfaction) are more likely to consider penis size more important. Women who feel...

The current research evaluated individual differences and contextual effects on men’s robust sexual overperception bias and on women’s tendency to be misperceived. Study 1 pioneered the use of a “speed-meeting” methodology which allowed for a direct calculation of sexual misperception by comparing measures of actual interest to measures of estimated interest across five interactions. As predicted, men demonstrated a robust sexual over-perception bias, a bias that was influenced by their mating strategy and physical attractiveness. Women, on the other hand, consistently underestimated men’s sexual interest in them, and physical attractiveness was a key predictor of their likelihood of being overperceived. Study 2 replicated the prediction tests from Study 1 and narrowed down the exploratory regression models to the most specific and robust effects, namely mating strategy and physical attractiveness. Study 3 examined the effects of testosterone (T) on men’s sexual misperception by manipulating intrasexual competition in the lab. Men engaged in a computer game, which randomly assigned them to win or lose, against an unseen male competitor. After the game, each participant interacted with a trained female confederate posing as a participant, after which they rated her on multiple traits, including interest in her and his estimate of her interest in him. Salivary assays for T were collected before and after the game, and after interacting with the confederate. The results of the experiment demonstrated that although the competition outcome did not affect men’s T, changes in T during the interaction with the woman predicted men’s sexual misperception. The more attractive the man found her, and the more interested he was in her, the more his T increased during their interaction and the more he overperceived her interest. Taken together, these studies indicate that far from a simple sex difference, men’s overperception bias is predictably nuanced and specific. / text

The human voice might have been shaped by sexual selection. Hence, voice fundamental (F0, or pitch) and formant frequencies (Fn, or timbre) are proposed to convey fitness cues germane to rivals and potential mates. First, I confirm the independent effects of F0 and Fn on listeners’ assessments of speaker size, masculinity, and attractiveness. Second, I quantify the just-noticeable differences in both vocal features and then place F0 and Fn cues in conflict by equally discriminable amounts to test their relative influence on such voice-based social judgments. Results revealed a greater relative role of Fn in listeners’ ratings of all three dimensions, suggesting that these dimensions might all be cued more reliably by Fn than F0. Alternatively, given post-hoc principal component analyses that revealed considerable overlap in ratings of size, masculinity, and attractiveness, listeners’ conceptions of these dimensions may not be independent despite a research tradition that assumes they are. / xi, 102 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

It was long believed that humans were unable to utilise the odours of conspecifics to co-ordinate social interactions in ways in which other species appear to be capable. However, a surge in interest in human social olfaction has recently challenged this view. The numerous studies conducted in this area have found that multiple state and trait related cues can be detected in body odour. Furthermore, many studies indicate that women are often more sensitive to these cues, and that sensitivity can be associated with fertility, findings that are consistent with sex differences in reproductive effort and benefits of choosiness in mate-searching. Since previous studies in this area have usually addressed the potential for humans to use olfactory communication in a comparable manner to other mammals, they typically involve collection and assessment of ‘natural’ odour. That is, they explicitly exclude the possibility of ‘contamination’ of odour samples by artificial fragrances. However, humans have used artificial fragrances for millennia, across many different cultures. This raises the question of whether widespread fragrance use may affect or disrupt the detection of this information in modern humans. The first aim of this thesis was to address this question by investigating how fragrance use may mediate the detection of olfactory information in humans. As well as providing further evidence for sex differences in the assessment of olfactory cues, and for the role of olfaction in real world partner choice, the findings herein suggest that fragrance may act differently on different information being assessed, potentially masking accurate assessment of certain traits (such as masculinity), while fragrance choice and preferences may be important in complementing other olfactory information (such as the general distinguishability of an individuals’ odour profile). A second aim of the thesis was to develop a scale in order to more accurately describe the varying perceptual qualities of human body odour – in other words to map human body odours. This work was conducted alongside perfumers in order to benefit from their expertise in olfactory perception and semantic labelling of odours. The development of such a scale could enable improved understanding of the perceptual qualities of human odour, making it possible to link specific perceptual qualities to specific cues (e.g. symmetry, masculinity, sex) or to manipulate odours based on perceptual qualities in experimental settings, and has direct practical implications for fragrance designers and for improving the ability of individuals to choose fragrance products that suit their odour profile. The second section of the thesis focuses on the effects of odours on the individual wearer as well as on perceivers in the environment. One study is presented which investigates the role of malodour reduction compared to the addition of fragrances in perceptions of confidence and attractiveness, finding that both the reduction of malodour and the addition of fragrance appear to be important for confidence as rated by others in the environment. The final study presented in the thesis examines a hitherto un-investigated role of olfaction during human pregnancy. The rationale for the study is based on evidence suggesting that in certain non-human species, which also show bi-parental care of offspring, there may be a role for chemical, or odour based, communication which underpins behavioural and endocrinological changes related to infant care behaviours in males. The study found little evidence to support the presence of analogous olfactory signalling during human pregnancy, though the findings are discussed in light of methodological changes which, if made in future studies, may result in different outcomes. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the importance of continuing to investigate various forms of olfactory communication, as well as improving our understanding of odours through the mapping of their perceptual qualities, and finally further examining the ways in which various fragranced products, which are widely used in society, may affect all of this. Future directions for this area of research are discussed. This line of investigation will, I argue, enable us to finally establish the true role of olfaction in contemporary social environments.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sexual relationships in the psychotherapeutic setting have always been regarded as unethical and sexual attraction between therapist and client has generally proved to be awkward and anxiety provoking for those involved. Although research indicates that these relationships do occur, and that sexual feelings between therapists and clients are not infrequent, there is little conceptual clarity on the dynamics thereof. Consequently, the available guidelines and ethical rules regulating such sexual contact generally take the form of “thou shalt not…” and provide limited assistance to therapists in managing such situations in a manner that protects the integrity of the therapeutic relationship. This review assumes the presence of the psychodynamic phenomenon of transference in all psychotherapeutic relationships, and constructs sexual attraction and contact as the product of the sub-concept of erotic transference. Against this background, the review presents the dynamics of erotic transference in terms of its nature, impact and management. On this basis, current ethical codes and training issues are reviewed, guidelines for proper prevention and management are suggested and important directions for future research are identified.

Submitted by Edineia Teixeira (edineia.teixeira@unioeste.br) on 2018-03-02T14:50:51Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Adriana_Walerius2017.pdf: 932754 bytes, checksum: cc0c99130f89646094f3b4fee12e13b8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-02T14:50:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Adriana_Walerius2017.pdf: 932754 bytes, checksum: cc0c99130f89646094f3b4fee12e13b8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Gyropsylla spegazziniana (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is considered an important pest of the yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), causing considerable economic losses. Most insects use chemical, visual, or acoustic signals in interspecific communication. Sex pheromones are the main signals involved in mating behavior. In this sense, this work aimed to describe the mating behavior of G. spegazziniana, to verify the attractiveness between males and females in Y olfactometer bioassays, and to identify the sex pheromone of this species. To describe the mating behavior virgin couples were placed in cages containing a yerba mate seedling. The insect behavior during the photophase and scotophase was observed. For behavioral tests in Y-olfactometer, virgin males or virgin females and a branch of yerba mate were used as odor source. To verify the presence of a sexual pheromone, body extracts of virgin males or virgin females were obtained and were analyzed by using gas chromatograph coupled to mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Mating occurred only during the photophase, in the scotophase the couples remained immobile in the abaxial surface of the leaves. The mating sequence showed that the female walks on the new leaves and the male goes to meet her, standing face to face with her. After a brief antennal touch between the couple, the male turns the abdomen and attaches to the female. As a result of Y olfactometer bioassays, males and females were attracted to females in the olfactometer but were not attracted to males, suggesting a presence of volatiles released by females for sexual attraction. There was a presence of a single female-specific compound, identified as 2-nonadecanone, that may act as sex pheromone.The results suggest that G. spegazziniana females release sex pheromone to attract males for mating. The compounds released by the females can interact with the volatiles emitted by the yerba mate, resulting in the attractiveness of G. spegazziniana males. / Gyropsylla spegazziniana (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) é um psílideo considerado uma das principais pragas da cultura da erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis), causando grandes prejuízos econômicos. A maioria dos insetos utiliza sinais químicos, visuais ou acústicos na comunicação interespecífica. Os feromônios sexuais são os principais sinais envolvidos no acasalamento. Neste sentido, este trabalho teve como objetivo descrever o comportamento de acasalamento de G. spegazziniana, verificar a atratividade entre machos e fêmeas em bioensaios com olfatômetro em Y e identificar o feromônio sexual da espécie. Para a descrição do acasalamento, casais virgens foram colocados em gaiolas contendo uma muda de erva-mate. Foi observado o comportamento dos casais durante a fotofase e escotofase. Para os ensaios de atratividade em olfatômetro em Y, foram utilizados insetos vivos (machos e fêmeas virgens) e um ramo de erva-mate como fonte de odor. Para analisar a presença do feromônio sexual foram feitos extratos do corpo de machos e fêmeas virgens, que foram analisados em cromatógrafo gasoso acoplado à espectrômetro de massas (CG-MS). Foi verificado que a cópula ocorreu somente durante a fotofase, sendo que na escotofase os casais permaneciam imóveis na parte abaxial da folhas. A sequência de acasalamento demonstrou que a fêmea caminha principalmente pela brotação e o macho vai ao seu encontro, ficando frente a frente com a mesma; após um breve toque de antenas entre o casal, o macho vira o abdome e rapidamente ocorre a cópula. Nos bioensaios de atratividade, machos e fêmeas foram atraídos para fêmeas vivas no olfatômetro, porém não foram atraídos para machos vivos, o que sugere a presença de voláteis liberados pelas fêmeas para atração sexual. Foi constatada a presença de um composto fêmea-específico, identificado como 2-nonadecanona, com o possível papel de feromônio sexual. De acordo com os resultados, sugere-se que as fêmeas de G. spegazziniana liberam feromônios sexuais para atrair machos para o acasalamento. Os compostos liberados pelas fêmeas podem interagir com os voláteis emitidos pela erva-mate, resultando na atratividade dos machos de G. spegazziniana.