Gynecomastia in adolescence is a benign condition that mostly disappears spontaneously within approximately two years from onset. When it is associated with hypogonadism, it may suggest a disorder of ...sexual differentiation. We report the case of a young man (18 years old) with gynecomastia associated with azoospermia, small testes, hyperestrogenism and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. A karyotype 46,XX was found, and searching for SRY (sex-determining region Y) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) highlighted the presence of the gene on the terminal region of the short arm, with breakpoints likely in Xp22.3 and Yp11.3. Implications of testosterone replacement therapy with respect to sex differentiation disorder and to physical performance are discussed.
Sexual arousal (SA) is a multidimensional experience that includes cognitive, emotional, motivational and physiological components. Texts with erotic content have been used to generate a state of SA. ...Erotic texts often include aggressive content that has not been evaluated in relation to SA. The aim of this work was to compare cortical functionality in women when reading a sexually explicit text (SET) and a sexually explicit text with aggression (SETA). Twenty-seven women participated. The EEG activity of the frontal, temporal and parietal locations was recorded during the reading of both texts. The participants found the SET to be more pleasant than the SETA. Both texts were identified as triggers of general and SA. While reading the SETA, there was an increase in absolute power in the frontal and parietal locations, a higher intrahemispheric correlation between the left frontal and temporal locations in fast frequency bands and a greater interhemispheric correlation between the frontal locations in the delta and alpha1 bands. These findings indicate that cortical functionality during SA in women differs based on the content and context of the erotic material being read, possibly associated with mechanisms that underlie the processing and incentive value assignment of stimuli with sexual and aggressive connotations.
Sexual assault and relationship violence are a public health issue on college campuses. In order to prevent gender-based violence, it is important to understand the multiple protective factors that ...could be utilized in university prevention programming. Self-efficacy has not been thoroughly explored as a factor that could influence whether people recognize healthy romantic and sex relationship behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine whether self-efficacy has a significant relationship with recognizing consent and healthy relationships and whether it impacts a person’s likelihood to practice active consent. The results of this study demonstrated that self-efficacy has a significant relationship with a person’s confidence in their ability to recognize consent behaviors, practice consent behaviors, and recognize when they are in a healthy relationship. Future research should further explore how self-efficacy can be a protective factor in preventing sex and relationship violence.
The intersection of religious beliefs and sex work has long been a subject of debate, with varying perspectives on the moral, social, and legal implications. This qualitative systematic review aimed ...to review the nuanced relationship between religious beliefs and sex work by synthesizing the existing literature and providing insights into the diverse perspectives and experiences. The rationale for this research is to understand how religious beliefs influence societal attitudes, policies, and the experiences of sex workers in order to inform more effective and culturally sensitive interventions and support mechanisms. This review focused on articles pertaining to female-identified sex workers, as the gendered discussion happens heavily in religious interpretations and in current anti-trafficking legislation, which now genders men as customers and not as sex workers. Five stages of systematic review were followed in this review. The following peer-reviewed electronic databases from 2000 to 2023 were utilized: Google Scholar, Scopus database, Science Direct, and PubMed. The search strategy focused on identifying studies that investigated the impact of religious beliefs on various aspects of sex work, including attitudes towards sex work within religious communities and the influence of religious teachings on the behavior and practices of sex workers. Inclusion criteria were defined based on population, exposure, study design, and outcomes, while exclusion criteria were established to ensure the relevance and rigor of the included studies. Only 25 relevant studies resulted from this research. Four themes emerged from this study: (1) religious attitudes towards sex work; (2) experiences of sex workers, including stigmatization and marginalization within religious contexts; (3) social control; and (4) empowerment and advocacy. The relationship between religious beliefs and sex work is complex and multifaceted, influenced by cultural, social, and historical factors. Recognizing and understanding these perspectives is essential for developing more inclusive and effective interventions and policies that address the needs and rights of sex workers within the context of their religious beliefs and communities.
Physical features that are desired by the opposite sex may drive competition between members of the same sex to gain access to potential mates. Women’s breasts are considered sexually attractive to ...men, and it has been shown that women may engage in competitive tactics to compete with or derogate women with ideal physical traits (i.e., physically attractive features). In the current online study, we investigated Hispanic women’s (n = 114) perceptions of breast stimuli that had been manipulated to display four levels of breast size (A-, B-, C-, and D-cup) and three levels of ptosis (i.e., levels of sagginess: non, low, and high) and their likelihood of engaging in rival derogation tactics, such as verbal and indirect aggression. The findings demonstrated that women were more likely to engage in rival derogation towards women with larger breast sizes. Women’s dispositional level of intrasexual competition did not play a role in rival derogation tactics. The results are in line with previous research suggesting that women’s rival derogation tactics are likely to be targeted towards women with attractive features that are desired by men.
The aim of the article is to determine which countries show the most homophobic attitudes and understand the profile of homophobia in Europe. This article analyses data from the survey “European ...Values Study” and focuses on three of its questions: “Do you think homosexual people can be good parents”; “the degree of justification of homosexuality”, and “the attitude towards the possibility of having a homosexual neighbour”. For this, we have used a quantitative methodology (mean comparison analysis and multiple correspondences. The sample consists of 56,451 people from 34 European countries. One of the main conclusions is that homophobic attitudes are highest in the eastern countries, former Soviet republics, and, on the contrary, residents in Nordic countries have more inclusive attitudes.
This paper is a review of the recent literature on attitudes toward consensual non-monogamy (CNM). These attitudes are constrained to evaluations of people who practice CNM, CNM relationships, and ...CNM concepts; willingness to engage in or personal interest in practicing CNM is not included in this review. Relevant published research was located through database searches, as well as by perusing references and citations. Based on over two dozen investigations, it is concluded that average attitudes toward CNM are around neutral, with some slightly negative and some slightly positive. Studies taking a comparative perspective—whereby monogamous couples are pitted against CNM couples—overwhelmingly find more favorable attitudes toward monogamy. This literature supports assertions of the prevalence of monocentrism/compulsory monogamy. Further, some researchers investigated sociodemographic and psychological variables as predictors of CNM attitudes. Considering demographic characteristics, those who identify as monogamous and heterosexual tend to be more negative toward CNM relative to their counterparts, and most of the research suggests there are no gender differences in CNM attitudes. In terms of psychological variables, those reflecting authoritarian ideological values tended to predict CNM attitudes the best. The psychological variables are interpreted within the broader dual-process motivational model of prejudice with attention to authoritarianism and social dominance. To conclude, measurement issues are discussed, existing instruments are critiqued, and recommendations are made for which instruments are appropriate for different research goals. Specifically, the Attitudes towards Polyamory scale is a concise, unidimensional instrument with sound psychometric properties, making it a good general assessment of polyamory or CNM. Created using excellent test construction techniques, the Multidimensional Measurement of Attitudes toward Consensual Non-Monogamy (MACS) is a very promising belief-based CNM attitudes scale with three factors. Finally, directions for future research are discussed with an emphasis on differentiating between beliefs and attitudes as suggested by attitude theory, with most CNM attitude scales conflating the former with the latter.
Research has extensively studied adult attachment theory, a fundamental psychological framework, particularly regarding its implications for adult attachment and sexual dynamics. The previous ...literature has established relationships between adult attachment and various sexual behaviours as well as communication patterns. Specifically, individuals with secure attachment styles typically engage in open communication and cautious sexual behaviours, whereas individuals with anxious or avoidant attachment styles exhibit less sexual communication and engage in riskier sexual activities. That said, limited research has explored the relationship between adult attachment style and perceived knowledge regarding partner sex history. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating how adult attachment style relates to perceived knowledge about partner sexual experiences. A sample of 237 undergraduate students completed surveys assessing attachment style and their perceived awareness of their partner’s sexual past. Attachment style was evaluated using the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) and perceived knowledge was measured using the Partner Sexual History Scale (PSHS). The results indicated a significant correlation between adult attachment style and perceived knowledge of a partner’s sexual history. Specifically, individuals with secure and avoidant attachment styles demonstrated greater perceived awareness of their partner’s sexual experiences compared to those with an anxious attachment style. This research contributes to our comprehension of the complex interplay among adult attachment, sexual knowledge, sexual communication, and relationship dynamics in young adult populations.
Japanese and Canadian laws regarding sexual assault vary in the degree to which they incorporate the concept of sexual consent, with Japanese law being less consent-oriented than Canadian law. ...Although the Japanese law has incorporated the concept of sexual consent in the 2023 amendment, the public understanding of the concept is still limited. Reflecting such difference, it could be expected that the general public in both countries also differ in their perceptions and attitudes regarding punishment of sexual crime and sexual consent. The present study aimed to test these expectations and further examine the mediational mechanism that explains the national difference between Japan and Canada. The data from 1125 Japanese and 1125 Canadian respondents showed that Japanese respondents were less likely to perceive the imposition of punishment on an alleged perpetrator described in scenarios as appropriate. In contrast, the difference in the perceived victim’s consent was significant only in three out of seven scenarios. The relation between nations (Japan vs. Canada) and perceived appropriateness of punishment was mediated by the perceived victim’s consent.
Surveys of the Italian population typically assess general sexual behaviors (e.g., oral, vaginal and anal intercourse). However, little is known about other sexual behavior such as rough sexual ...behaviors, choking and slapping. Thus, an online cross-sectional survey of 4618 Italian participants was conducted. In the past month, the most prevalent sexual behaviors were solo masturbation (93.6%), partner masturbation (80.0%), oral sex (71.4% received, 75.9% performed), penile–vaginal intercourse (75.7%) and anal intercourse (12.5% received, 7.1% performed). Regarding rough sexual behaviors, the most common behaviors performed were spanking (23.3% received, 55.5% performed), choking (13.2% receive, 60.0% performed), slapping (30.1% received, 20.9% performed) and name calling (44.5% received, 37.0% performed). Our results suggest a gender difference where men and transgender/non-binary individuals perform more rough sexual behaviors compared to women. Moreover, regarding the role of consent in behaviors such as choking and slapping, our results highlight the importance of sexual and affective education to implement sexual assertiveness. In conclusion, this study adds knowledge to the limited literature on this topic, especially with respect to the Italian population.
