Functional and dysfunctional sexual behavior [[electronic resource] ] : a synthesis of neuroscience and comparative psychology / / Anders Ågmo

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910784652203321
• Autore: Ågmo Anders
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Amsterdam [Netherlands] ; ; Boston [Mass.], : Elsevier/AP, 2007
• ISBN: 1-281-02879-7; 9786611028794; 0-08-054938-1
• Edizione: [1st ed.]
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (512 p.)
• Disciplina: 612.6
• Soggetti: Sex (Biology); Sexual behavior in animals; Sexual disorders
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Description based upon print version of record.
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Front Cover; Functional and Dysfunctional Sexual Behavior; Copyright Page; Contents; Preface; Introduction; Chapter 1 On the purpose of sex and some notes on scientific explanations; 1 On the definition of sexual behavior; 2 The relationship between biological function and the causation of behavior; 2.1 Teleology; 2.2 Cause-effect relationships; 3 The coincidence between Darwinian and Judæo-Christian views on human sexual behavior; 3.1 The biological analysis of sexual behavior in the context of evolution and natural selection; 3.2 Saint Augustine and sex: the poena reciproca and the role of love4 If sex is not for reproduction, what is it for?; 5 The high cost of the imposed association between sexual behavior and reproduction; 6 Differences and similarities between sex and other primary needs like food and drink; Chapter 2 An incentive motivational framework and the description of sexual behaviors; 1 Sexual motivation: theoretical framework; 2 Copulatory behaviors; 2.1 On the importance of the distinction between approach behaviors and the execution of copulatory reflexes; 2.2 Male copulatory behavior; 2.3 Female copulatory behavior2.4 Copulatory behavior in men and ; women; 2.5 The relationship between sexual desire (motivation) and excitation (arousal); Chapter 3 The stimulus control of sexual incentive motivation: non-human mammals; 1 Introduction; 2 Detection of a potential mate and the activation of sexual incentive motivation: behavioral considerations; 2.1 The incentive stimulus; 2.2 Auditory sexual incentive stimuli in rats and mice; 2.3 Conclusions concerning auditory sexual incentive stimuli (ultrasonic vocalizations) in rodents; 3 Olfactory sexual incentive stimuli; 3.1 The accessory olfactory system3.2 The main olfactory system; 3.3 Other potentially chemosensitive structures in the nose; 4 Visual incentive stimuli; 5 General conclusion concerning sexual incentive stimuli in non-human animals; Chapter 4 The stimulus control of sexual incentive motivation: the human; 1 Introduction; 2 Human sexual incentive stimuli: visceral reactions; 2.1 General comments; 2.2 Endocrine responses to sexual incentives; 2.3 Enhanced genital blood flow; 3 Human sexual incentive stimuli: approach behaviors; 3.1 Visual incentive stimuli; 3.2 Chemicals as human sexual incentives4 Human sexual incentives outside of the laboratory; 4.1 General; 4.2 Dorothy Tennov's concept of limerence as an approximation to sexual incentive motivation; 4.3 Human sexual incentives and social learning; 5 An unkind note on sociobiology or evolutionary psychology; Chapter 5 Endocrine control of sexual behavior; 1 Males; 1.1 The importance of testicular hormones in men; 1.2 The importance of testicular hormones in non-human males; 1.3 The role of testosterone metabolites in non-human males; 1.4 The role of aromatization in men; 1.5 Conclusion concerning the role of aromatization
• Sommario/riassunto: This book explores the full consequences of the dissociation between sexual behaviors and reproduction. Among the themes covered is the difference between the stereotyped sexual behaviors in non-human mammals and the astounding variety of human sexual behaviors. The role of learning in shaping sexual behaviors is explained, and it is shown how particular sexual experiences may be at the origin of common human sexual dysfunctions. Chapters on sexual incentives and a summary of the endocrine and central nervous control of sexual behaviors are included. Analyzes the origin and foundation