Deck 11: Sexuality

Question 1

What is the best way to conceptualize adolescent sexual development?

A) as gradual stages of increasing intimacy
B) with the first event being intercourse
C) as an isolated behavior
D) as a series of events with no systematic pattern

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of these is an example of one of the four aspects of positive sexual development according to recent research?

A) Ella chooses to have sex with her boyfriend when she decides she is ready.
B) Joshua hates his body because he believes he is underweight, but he comes up with a plan to gain weight quickly by drinking nutrition shakes.
C) Brian uses a condom almost every time he has sex.
D) Bronwyn considers her sexual desires strange and embarrassing.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

How does the average age of first intercourse vary by geographical region?

A) It doesn't-the average age of first intercourse is similar around the world.
B) The average age of first intercourse varies considerably around the world.
C) The average age of first intercourse is roughly the same in industrialized countries.
D) Because societies differ in their terminology, the average age of first intercourse is extremely difficult to compare across nations.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Jack, who is 9 years old, is curious about his own sex organ. What would a psychologist say that Jack lacks?

A) the ability to gain pleasure from his sex organ
B) the understanding that other humans also have sex organs
C) the ability to understand what a sex organ is
D) the ability to reflect on his behavior related to his sex organ

Question 5

Which of these is likely to happen to an adolescent who has successfully negotiated the four aspects of positive sexuality development?

A) He will wish to return to an earlier time when his body looked different.
B) She will understand that sometimes it is necessary to have sex with someone to keep that person from breaking up with you.
C) He will understand that not all types of birth control protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
D) She will have a plan for how to make her body look different so that she is comfortable with it.

Question 6

Which of these points should psychology students keep in mind as they examine research results on generational and historical differences in attitudes toward adolescent sexuality?

A) The developmental progression of sexual behaviors has not changed much in the past century.
B) The developmental progression of sexual behaviors has changed dramatically over the past 60 years.
C) Data vary widely depending on which area of the country was surveyed.
D) Data vary widely depending on how questions are phrased.

Question 7

Estimates of the prevalence of sexual intercourse among adolescents

A) are consistent across time.
B) are consistent across samples.
C) depend on the wording of the questions.
D) depend on the gender of the researcher.

Question 8

In the context of adolescent sexuality, the term "noncoital activity" refers to

A) vaginal intercourse.
B) anal intercourse.
C) touching or kissing a partner's body.
D) oral sex.

Question 9

Sex play that is innocuous during childhood is no longer innocuous during adolescence because

A) children report erotic feelings before puberty.
B) sexual feelings are activated during puberty.
C) children are not capable of kissing, petting, masturbating, or sexual intercourse before puberty.
D) with puberty, pregnancy becomes a serious possibility.

Question 10

Research into sexual activity among adolescents has found that

A) most adolescents only consider an activity that culminates in an orgasm to be sex.
B) almost all adolescents define vaginal intercourse as sex, but very few consider other forms of intercourse to be sex.
C) there is wide variation in what activities adolescents think count as sex.
D) adolescents largely agree that any activity that involves genital touching counts as sex.

Question 11

Much of the task of dealing with adolescent sexual desires and incorporating sex appropriately and successfully into an intimate relationship is ________ in nature.

A) hormonal
B) cognitive
C) physical
D) biological

Question 12

Which of the following is considered an aspect of positive sexual development that the majority of adolescents face?

A) becoming comfortable with one's maturing body
B) reconciling feelings of sexual arousal with one's religious beliefs
C) understanding that sex is a biological imperative
D) preparing oneself or one's partner for an upcoming pregnancy

Question 13

Which of the following is typically considered to be autoerotic behavior during adolescence?

A) sexual activity experienced with others
B) sexual fantasies
C) romantic fantasies
D) sexual intercourse

Question 14

Which of the following would most researchers list as a reason sexuality in adolescence is particularly important?

A) Adolescence is the time when erotic feelings first emerge.
B) Puberty postpones the physical changes that allow for sexual reproduction.
C) Sexual encounters among adolescents are rare.
D) In adolescence, sexual activity begins to take on the social meaning it will have in adulthood.

Question 15

One of the aspects of positive sexuality is the belief that feelings of sexual arousal are

A) appropriate for adults but not for adolescents.
B) normal and appropriate.
C) typical even though they are not appropriate.
D) abnormal but not atypical.

Question 16

Which of the following adolescents is more likely to have intercourse at an earlier age than most American adolescents?

A) Sotoko, an Asian American adolescent
B) Miranda, a Latina adolescent
C) Richard, a Black adolescent
D) Torrie, a White adolescent

Question 17

When Ken is alone, he fantasizes about beautiful women and masturbates. Researchers refer to this type of behavior as

A) nocturnal stimulation.
B) autoerotic.
C) sociosexual.
D) sensual stimulation.

Question 18

Most research with respect to oral sex between adolescents has indicated that

A) in general, most teenagers are more likely to engage in vaginal intercourse than oral sex.
B) many teenagers give and receive oral sex promiscuously.
C) there is a large proportion of adolescents who exclusively engage in oral sex.
D) the majority of teenagers who engage in oral sex also engage in vaginal intercourse.

Question 19

Which of the following statements best characterizes the nature of research into adolescent sexuality?

A) Until the late 1990s, it was taboo to study adolescent sexuality.
B) Researchers have always studied the normative aspects of adolescent sexuality, just as they have with identity, autonomy, and intimacy.
C) Until recently, researchers focused mostly on the problematic aspects of adolescent sexuality (precocious sex, promiscuous sex, unsafe sex, etc.).
D) Until recently, most researchers were preoccupied with understanding adult sexuality, so they neglected the important topic of adolescent sexuality.

Question 20

Which of the following illustrates the typical sequence of sexual behavior among adolescents?

A) masturbation; kissing; sexual intercourse; oral intercourse
B) kissing; masturbation; touching genitals through clothes; sexual intercourse
C) holding hands; feeling breasts through clothes; feeling a penis under clothes; sexual intercourse
D) kissing body parts; making out; sexual intercourse; oral intercourse

Question 21

For adolescent girls, which of the following is the most important factor in determining the onset of sexual intercourse?

A) increased levels of androgens
B) availability of birth control
C) being in a social group that is permissive about sex
D) participation in formal sex education classes

Question 22

Jeannette, a 17-year-old, has decided to engage in sexual intercourse with her boyfriend. Tammy, also 17, has decided to abstain from sex until she is older. Which adolescent is more likely to experience psychological disturbances?

A) Jeannette
B) Tammy
C) Neither is likely.
D) Both are likely.

Question 23

Researchers have found that with respect to reporting adolescents' sexual activity,

A) if they are assured of confidentiality, it is unlikely that adolescents will give misinformation.
B) males tend to overstate their level of activity.
C) females tend to overstate their level of activity.
D) males and females both tend to understate their level of activity.

Question 24

Which of the following is associated with risky sexual behavior in adolescents?

A) having parents who engage in intense parental monitoring
B) committing incidents of minor delinquency
C) having a weaker orientation toward independence
D) being exposed to pornography

Question 25

The greatest increase in the prevalence of premarital intercourse has been among which group?

A) males
B) females
C) minority males
D) females from higher socioeconomic backgrounds

Question 26

According to research, members of which of the following racial groups are most likely to become sexually experienced at earlier ages?

A) White adolescents
B) Hispanic adolescents
C) Asian-American adolescents
D) Black adolescents

Question 27

Which of the following is a peak month for adolescents in a romantic relationship to have their first intercourse?

A) January
B) March
C) September
D) December

Question 28

Which of the following is the most likely scenario for adolescent sexual activity?

A) It takes place in the boy's home on a weekday after school.
B) It takes place in the back of the boy's car on a weekend evening.
C) It takes place in the girl's home on a weekend evening.
D) It takes place at a friend's home on a weekday after school.

Question 29

Compared with studies conducted in the 1980s in the United States,

A) more of today's American high school students are having romantic relationships.
B) a higher percentage of today's American high schoolers are having intercourse.
C) fewer of today's American high school students are having romantic relationships.
D) a lower percentage of today's American high schoolers are having intercourse.

Question 30

People who wait to have sex until they are in their twenties tend to

A) have a strong religious commitment.
B) live with a romantic partner before marrying.
C) have lower marital satisfaction.
D) marry at an earlier age.

Question 31

Research assessing parent-adolescent communication about sex has found which of the following to be true?

A) Although adolescents may indicate that they talked to their parents about a topic, such as sexually transmitted diseases, their parents are likely to say they have not.
B) Parents believe that their adolescents will be sexually active even if the parents express their disapproval of sexual activity.
C) Parent-adolescent communication about sex significantly lowers adolescents' likelihood of being sexually active.
D) Parent-adolescent communication about contraception lowers the rate of risky sex.

Question 32

Ann, a 19-year-old, is a virgin. Based on research, what race or ethnicity is Ann most likely to be?

A) Black
B) Asian American
C) Native American
D) White

Question 33

Based on what researchers have found, if Nicky's parents want her to be well-educated about sex, which of her parents should talk to her about sex?

A) her mother
B) her father
C) Both of her parents should talk to her at the same time.
D) Neither of her parents should talk to her about sex.

Question 34

Tim and Carol are upset because they recently discovered that their 13-year-old daughter has already engaged in sexual intercourse. What other characteristics is their daughter likely to have?

A) a willingness to experiment with drugs and alcohol
B) a weaker orientation toward independence
C) higher levels of religious involvement
D) average interest in academic achievement

Question 35

In addition to parental supervision, what else might help decrease the probability of adolescent sexual activity?

A) insisting that adolescents come home right after school
B) having adolescents participate in after-school programs
C) having their fathers talk to them about the dangers of sexual involvement
D) providing them with books on the risks of sexual involvement

Question 36

Adolescent females who had sex for the first time when they were younger than 13 are especially likely to report that

A) they were sexually curious.
B) they were in love with their partner.
C) their first sexual experience was involuntary.
D) their sex partner was approximately the same age as they were.

Question 37

Current research suggests that sexual intercourse during the high school years

A) has been slowly but steadily increasing over the past decade.
B) is part of the normative experience of adolescence in America.
C) has become increasingly traumatic for adolescents in the United States.
D) is more likely among girls than among boys.

Question 38

Approximately what percentage of American adolescents have had heterosexual vaginal intercourse by the time they finish their sophomore year of high school?

A) 20%
B) 35%
C) 55%
D) 75%

Question 39

The most common reasons that adolescents give for abstaining from sex are

A) fear of disease and fear of pregnancy.
B) parental and religious restrictions.
C) concerns about their reputation and parental disapproval.
D) a lack of interest in sex and romantic relationships.

Question 40

According to national surveys of adolescents, sexual activity that is not intercourse is occurring ________ it has in past decades.

A) later than
B) earlier than
C) at the same time as
D) earlier for boys but later for girls than

Question 41

Boys' and girls' initial interest in sex is influenced primarily by the surge in levels of

A) progesterone.
B) estrogen.
C) melatonin.
D) testosterone.

Question 42

Which of the following statements about boys' first sexual experience is true?

A) A boy's first sexual experience is rarely through masturbation.
B) In their first sexual encounter, boys typically view sex as recreation.
C) A boy's first sexual partner is likely to be someone he's in love with.
D) Boys are less likely than girls to keep sex and intimacy separate.

Question 43

Kayleigh, age 13, tells her psychologist about sexual fantasies she has been having about a female classmate. Which of these would most likely be the psychologist's reaction?

A) "You are probably homosexual or bisexual."
B) "Have you been sexually abused?"
C) "That's fairly common."
D) "This may be a symptom of a larger psychological issue."

Question 44

An analysis of "virginity pledges" that encourage adolescents to promise to abstain from premarital sex has found that

A) pledging works equally well for adolescents of all ages.
B) pledging has a significant positive effect, even in schools in which few students take the pledge.
C) pledging works well in schools in which nearly everyone takes the pledge.
D) a large majority of adolescents who take a virginity pledge will deny having done so five years later.

Question 45

Which of these statements about boys' sexual socialization would researchers most likely agree with?

A) Boys often feel anxious or uneasy about their first sexual encounter.
B) Most boys fear negative reactions from peers when describing their first sexual encounter.
C) Like girls, boys usually see their first sexual encounter as a chance for emotional connection.
D) At first, boys tend to keep matters of sex and intimacy separate.

Question 46

Based on social science research, we can predict that Hannah, a 16-year-old female, is most likely to have her first sexual encounter with a

A) younger partner.
B) classmate.
C) casual acquaintance.
D) steady boyfriend.

Question 47

Which of the following statements about parent-adolescent communication about sex is true?

A) Adolescents are more receptive to having one "big talk" about sex than having multiple conversations over a period of time.
B) Sexually active adolescents overestimate their parents' disapproval of sexual activity.
C) Parents assume that if they disapprove of sexual activity, their adolescent is not likely to be sexually active.
D) What parents say they have discussed with their adolescent child generally matches what adolescents say they have discussed with their parents.

Question 48

For adolescent boys, which of the following is the most important factor in determining the onset of sexual intercourse?

A) increased levels of androgens
B) availability of birth control
C) the attitudes of friends toward sexual activity
D) receiving sex education in school

Question 49

Which aspect of parent-adolescent communication about sex is likely to have a meaningful effect on the adolescent's behavior?

A) parent-child communication specifically focused on the topic of contraception and risky sex
B) parent-child discussion about whether the adolescent should have sex at all
C) parent-child communication that involves an authoritarian approach with specific, rigid rules with respect to sexual activity
D) parent-child communication that directly cautions their teenager against sex but avoids implying that sex is a moral or religious issue

Question 50

Based on research, which adolescent is more likely to be sexually active: Ingrid, who lives in a single-parent home, or Leanne, who lives in a two-parent home?

A) Ingrid
B) Leanne
C) Ingrid, but only immediately following her parents' divorce.
D) Both girls are equally likely to be sexually active.

Question 51

Which of the following is a good predictor of whether adolescents will engage in sexual activity?

A) the adolescent's opportunity to have sex
B) parent-adolescent communication
C) having few friends
D) abstaining from alcohol and other drugs

Question 52

"Sexual socialization" refers to

A) a person's sexual orientation.
B) a person's social skills in sexual relationships.
C) the way in which an individual is exposed to and educated about sexuality.
D) the degree to which an individual is comfortable with his or her sexuality.

Question 53

The sexual ________ of males and females may be similar, but the sexual ________ of males and females is quite different.

A) behavior; socialization
B) socialization; behavior
C) attitudes; experiences
D) experiences; attitudes

Question 54

Amy, a 15-year-old, lost her virginity to her boyfriend last night. Which of the following is Amy most likely to say?

A) "I'm so in love with him!"
B) "He's not worried about pregnancy, so why should I worry?"
C) "I told my friends, and they all celebrated with me."
D) "It felt good, but I'm not that serious about him."

Question 55

Boys' initial interest in sex is motivated by ________, whereas girls' initial interest in sex is motivated by ________.

A) testosterone; estrogen
B) androgens and estrogen; estrogen
C) androgens; androgens and estrogen
D) estrogen; testosterone

Question 56

Early sexuality for males is tinged with elements of ________, whereas for females it is more linked to feelings of ________.

A) intimacy; recreation
B) recreation; intimacy
C) enjoyment; guilt
D) guilt; enjoyment

Question 57

Which of these statements about girls' sexual socialization is true?

A) A majority of girls report more positive feelings than negative feelings about their first sexual encounter.
B) Unlike boys' sexual socialization, girls' sexual socialization has changed very little over time.
C) Girls are less sexually oriented than previous studies suggested.
D) Peers generally greet the news of a girl's first sexual encounter with celebration.

Question 58

What do researchers believe explains why some individuals who engage in precocious, promiscuous, or unprotected sex are also highly likely to engage in other types of delinquent behavior?

A) It is likely that risky sexual behavior causes other types of risky and delinquent behaviors.
B) It is likely that risky and delinquent behaviors cause risky sexual activity.
C) It is likely that both types of behavior are symptoms of a certain behavioral profile.
D) These two behaviors are likely related by a third, unrelated (and unmeasured) variable.

Question 59

Which of the following is likely to explain why growing up in a single-parent home affects girls' sexual behavior more than boys' sexual behavior?

A) Social influences on sexual behavior are weaker for girls than for boys, thereby leading to fewer restraints on girls' sexual activities.
B) Single mothers may be dating, thereby inadvertently acting as role models of sexual activity for their adolescent daughters.
C) Single parents, especially single fathers, are more likely than two-parent households to supervise adolescents closely.
D) Growing up in a single-parent home actually has the same impact on boys' sexual behavior and girls' sexual behavior.

Question 60

What family factor appears to predict adolescent sexual involvement, especially among girls?

A) household composition
B) mother's employment
C) number of siblings
D) father's employment

Question 61

Which of these is a risk factor for sexual abuse?

A) living apart from one's parents before age 16
B) living in a major city
C) living in a rural area
D) living apart from one's parents after age 16

Question 62

Dr. Akitunde is a school psychologist at a high school. What percentage of students at his school are likely to identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual?

A) 2%
B) 5%
C) 8%
D) 11%

Question 63

According to researchers, which group is most likely to describe their fathers as distant and rejecting?

A) bisexual males
B) bisexual and homosexual adults
C) bisexual and homosexual adolescents
D) transgender females

Question 64

According to experts, what advice is best for a school that wants to dramatically and permanently reduce sexual harassment and sexual abuse?

A) Change how teachers interact with students and how students interact with one another.
B) Implement school-based programs such as Safe Dates.
C) Focus educators' attention on male and female students who physically mature earlier than their peers.
D) Focus educators' attention on male and female students who physically mature later than their peers.

Question 65

According to studies, what percentage of homosexuals describe their parents in negative terms?

A) less than 10%
B) about 25%
C) about 50%
D) more than 60%

Question 66

Suzanne has just found out that her 13-year-old daughter had been sexually abused by her piano teacher. According to research, what type of problems is Suzanne's daughter most likely to face?

A) dissociative disorders
B) psychopathic disorders
C) academic difficulties
D) infertility

Question 67

Which of these have researchers found to be a consistent predictor of which adolescents will identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual later in life, as opposed to being exclusively heterosexual as an adult?

A) the adolescent's characterization of his or her parents as cold and distant
B) same-sex sexual encounters
C) same-sex attraction
D) Researchers have found no such predictor.

Question 68

Professor MacTavish is conducting research on sexual harassment of adolescents. He is likely to learn which of the following?

A) Sexual harassment is no longer widespread within American public schools.
B) A significant number of adolescents report having been sexually harassed by their teachers.
C) School-based programs aimed at reducing sexual harassment, such as a program called Safe Dates, have had long-term success.
D) The majority of adolescents who have been sexually harassed do not harass others.

Question 69

Which of the following is strongly associated with increased contraceptive use among adolescents?

A) having a conservative religious orientation
B) adopting a virginity pledge
C) having access to a free, confidential family planning service
D) requiring parental approval for access to contraceptives

Question 70

Sexual activity in the United States is ________ other industrialized countries, and the rate of pregnancy is ________.

A) higher than in; higher
B) lower than in; the same
C) comparable to; the same
D) comparable to; higher

Question 71

The following adolescents are all sexual minorities. Which of them is likely to be subject to the most to hostility and harassment at school over their sexuality?

A) Emily, a 16-year-old who attends a large, urban school
B) Vikki, an 18-year-old who attends a school where almost all the students are Black
C) Carlos, a 13-year-old who attends a small, rural school
D) Joe, a 14-year-old who attends a school with an explicit student code of conduct

Question 72

According to research, which of these options probably makes the most sense for preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases?

A) taking a virginity pledge
B) using birth control pills and either an intrauterine device or a contraceptive implant
C) using condoms and the withdrawal method
D) using condoms and either birth control pills or another long-acting form of birth control

Question 73

Which of the following sexually transmitted diseases is caused by a virus?

A) gonorrhea
B) herpes
C) chlamydia
D) trichomoniasis

Question 74

Studies suggest which of the following are antecedents of homosexuality?

A) biological factors
B) social and religious factors
C) biological and social factors
D) environmental factors

Question 75

Todd would rather date men than women. A psychologist would describe this as Todd's

A) bisexuality.
B) sexual orientation.
C) sex-role behavior.
D) transgender behavior.

Question 76

What is the most common method of birth control among sexually active adolescents?

A) condoms
B) birth control pills
C) withdrawal
D) contraceptive implants

Question 77

Sexual coercion is more likely to occur when

A) the person being coerced has signed a purity pledge.
B) there is a large age difference (3 or more years) between a girl and her partner.
C) the girl and her partner are approximately the same age and have known each other for many years.
D) the parents of the coerced teen use an authoritarian style of parenting.

Question 78

Which of the following statements about sexual orientation in adolescence is true?

A) More boys than girls report having had same-sex attractions, a non-heterosexual orientation, or same-sex activity during adolescence.
B) Approximately 2% to 5% of adolescents identify themselves as transgender.
C) Researchers have been able to identify consistent predictors for adolescents who will later identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
D) Most gay, lesbian, and bisexual adults engaged in some heterosexual activity during adolescence.

Question 79

The main reason that many adolescents rely on the withdrawal method is that it

A) prevents sexually transmitted diseases but not pregnancy.
B) does not require advance planning.
C) is often more effective than birth control pills.
D) is about as effective as condoms in "real world" conditions because so many adolescents use condoms incorrectly.

Question 80

Researchers would most likely agree with which of these statements about sexual orientation?

A) Sexual orientation is an "either-or" attribute: people are either homosexual or heterosexual.
B) More study is needed into the development of homosexuality among women.
C) Few gays and lesbians engage in heterosexual activity during adolescence.
D) More study is needed on the issue of why homosexuality is shaped exclusively by social behaviors.