Human Sexuality - Factors Impacting The Self

Human Sexuality
Professor Henry Schissler

Factors Impacting “The Self”

Motivation – the factors that direct and energize behavior

Motives – the desired goals that underlie behavior; self-definition is a key motivator because it acts as the internal green light to move forward, yellow light to feel anxious or uncertain, red light to choose to not act

Instinct – Inborn pattern of behavior that is biologically determined, rather than learned

Incentive – an external stimulus anticipated as a reward that directs and energizes behavior

Drive – a motivational tension or arousal that energizes behavior in order to fulfill a need

Primary Drives – basic kinds of drives, such as hunger, thirst, pleasure seeking, sleepiness, which are related to biological needs of the body or of the species as a whole

Secondary Drives – drives in which no obvious biological need is being fulfilled; instead, the needs are brought about by prior experience and learning (e.g., need for achievement)

The Need for Achievement – a stable, learned characteristic in which satisfaction comes from striving for and achieving a level of excellence

The Need for Affiliation – a need to establish and maintain relationships with other people

The Need for Power – a tendency to want to make an impression or have an impact on others in order to be seen as a powerful individual

Domination – ability to impose values and behavioral expectations on subordinates; holding power and authority over others

Emotions – feelings (such as happiness, despair, and sorrow) that generally have both psychological and cognitive elements and that influence behavior




Outside Looking In


Western society promotes status symbols and other outward appearances of self-reliance, character, and success. We learn that we are assessed and judged, and our personal prestige determined, by these pieces of material culture.

Automobiles, homes and home furnishings, and affiliations with certain groups, including career, to convey higher or enhanced status are all defined by society.

Society promotes this “success definition” as an affirmation of a person’s strength and competence.


Self-Definition requires Self-Acceptance
But Society Strives to Minimize Self-Acceptance

• I am a fundamentally flawed person

• I should never feel pain or discomfort

• I must be successful

• I should expect tasks or changes to be easy and quick.

• I deserve “it”