Sexual Behavior - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

The sexual behavior allows the reproduction animal species Sexué are. One observes that the sexual behavior changes a Espèce with the other, because of the differences of the organization of the Nervous system.

At the majority of the animal , there exists a behavior of reproduction (the goal is the Copulation), but in the primates hominoïdes, there exists rather an erotic behavior (the goal is the stimulation of the body and the genitals, activities which get intense feelings of pleasures).

Introduction

At the Mammalian , the sexual behavior is a fundamental Comportement which allows the reproduction and thus the survival of the species. It makes it possible, during the copulation, to transmit the Spermatozoïde S of the Urètre of the male to the Vagin of the female, which allows the Fécondation Ovule S.

Biological factors at the origin of the behavior

In the mammals, the sexual behavior depends on five biological independent factors: the sexual Reflex S, the sexual sex hormones, Phéromone S, the cognitive process of reinforcement and processes .

the sexual reflexes (vaginal lubrication, erection, ejaculation, pelvic pushes of the male, lumbar lordosis of the female, etc) allow the realization of the Coït vaginal, necessary for the Fécondation and the reproduction.
Compared to the sexual behavior, the sex hormones are implied in the sexual Motivation (Testostérone), the seasonal control of the coupling (Mélatonine), and controls it phéromones.
the phéromones cause the release of a sexual state of excitation and allow the identification of the sexual partner of the other sex. In fact the phéromones are at the origin of the Sexual orientation lower mammals (rodent, canidés, félidés, Bovidae, etc). For example, the female emits sexual phéromones which are detected only by the male, which starts a behavior heterosexual.
the processes of reinforcement (or reward system) are at the origin of the motivation and the Apprentissage of driving sequences intended to stimulate the genitals. For example, at the Man, like the stimulation of the Pénis or the Clitoris more erotic Plaisir gets (intense reward) that the stimulation of the legs, the human beings thus prefer rather to stimulate their genitals regularly.
the cognitive processes , especially in the mammals which have a developed Cerveau (Primate S and especially primates hominoïdes) make it possible to work out sexual strategies, beliefs, values and symbols. At the Man, the cognitive processes are at the origin of the cultural aspects of the Sexualité.

Phylogenetic modifications of the structure of the brain

These five factors exist in all the mammals, because the physiological processes and the general organization of the Nervous system is very similar.

But, of the Souris to the Man, certain structures of the brain evolved/moved, which caused modifications of the control of the sexual behavior at each species of mammal.

At the Rongeur S, the olfactive structures occupy a third of the nervous system, which explains the great importance of the phéromones in these animals. On the contrary, at the Man, the Organe voméronasal is developed less and especially the olfactive part represents nothing any more but some pourcents brain. For these reasons, the phéromones have nothing any more but one minor role in the human behaviors.

In the rodents, the areas of the nervous system which have receiving S with the sex hormones (Mésencéphale and Diencéphale) represent most of the brain, which explains the major effects of these hormones. On the other hand, like the cerebral Cortex, which does not have receivers with the sex hormones, represents the three-quarters of the human brain, the sex hormones have only one weak effect at the mankind.

It is also this very significant development of the cerebral cortex which explains the important role of cognition, not only in sexuality, but in all the human behaviors.

Behavior of reproduction

In the rodents, the hormones and the phéromones are the independent factors which control the sexual behavior.

The Mélatonine inhibits the sexual behavior during all the year, except in general in spring, period favorable to the reproduction. The phéromones allow the release of the sexual behavior, which is especially a copulation, between a male and a female.

This behavior, of which the goal is mainly the copulation, is a behavior of reproduction.

See the detailed article " behavior of reproduction ".

Erotic behavior

At the Man, if the Hormone S still play an important role, the phéromones are supposed not to more fulfill but one minor role in the sexual behavior. The cognitive process of reinforcement and processes became dominating, which modified the dynamics of the sexual behavior.

In fact the processes of reinforcement (or of reward) are at the origin of the human sexual behavior. All stimulations of the erotogenic zones, and especially the Penis/Clitoris, are reinforced (or rewarded, by the Perception of a intense Sensation of pleasure). The human being seeks, learns and repeats body stimulations which get the most reinforcements to him (than it perceives like erotic Plaisir).

Some estimate, that the phéromones having hardly of effect, the only really important factor at the Man would be the research of the reinforcement (or the pleasure) by the stimulation of the erotogenic zones, and the application of roles and models learned and transmitted by education (and maintaining the image, the film). There would not thus exist any more behavior of reproduction heterosexual, but an erotic behavior of which the principal goal is the stimulation of the body.

The cognitive processes are at the origin of beliefs, symbols and values relative to sexuality. According to these sexual beliefs, which evolve/move with the liking of the times and according to the companies and individuals (according to the age of the life for example), there exist values, obligations, developed or prohibited behaviors. And it this “cultural” context to influence the final form of the erotic behavior.

If there exists little of social rules formulated concerning sexuality (as in the preindustrial small firms), it is observed that the individuals seek all the erotic types of stimulations, and their erotic behavior will be especially autosexuel (masturbation) and bisexual (it is what one observes at the chimpanzees bonobos, animal specie nearest to the Man). If, as in the Western company, the Homophobie seems less widespread, the heterosexual couple is socially developed, one observes that the majority of the individuals do not test, do not learn and seek only one erotic behavior said heterosexual.

See the detailed article " erotic Behavior ".

At the Man, sexuality is not limited to the behavioral aspect. The erotic activities cause Plaisir S, Affect S and intense emotion S, like a whole ethical reflection , artistic and cultural having for object the pressure of the bodies and passions of the hearts.

See the detailed article " human Sexuality ".

References

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