The act of sexual intercourse, typically involves the insertion of the penis into the vagina. It is also called vaginal intercourse or vaginal sex. There are several theories underlying the act of sexual intercourse.
In this article, we will discuss the Cognitive, Emotional, and Sociological models of sexuality.
Incapacitation
Incapacitation during a sexual act is when an individual lacks the capacity to consent. For example, a person under the age of eighteen cannot give consent to an act of sexual intercourse if the other party is an authority figure or is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Incapacitation during a sexual act can result from alcohol or drug use, and it can occur at any point during the act. In some cases, a person is asleep or unconscious, or may not even realize that they are being sexually intercoursed. Whatever the reason, it is illegal for an incapacitated individual to consent to sexual intercourse.
If the respondent thinks the reporting party consented, it may be difficult to prove that they were unaware of the other party’s incapacitation. However, if the respondent knows the incapacitation, the evidence will point to a lack of consent.
Sociological model of sexuality
Sociological models of the sexual act focus on the power differentials in sexual relationships. According to this model, males are more aggressive than females when initiating sex. These assumptions have consequences for sexual behavior and are a source of social injustice. For example, Alfred Kinsey’s claim that males are more aggressive when initiating sex is not objective scientific information, but reflects the power differential between men and women in society. This is why critical analysis of so-called scientific claims about human sexuality is important. We need to be aware of the power imbalances in society, and consider whether such assumptions contribute to injustices.
In addition to focusing on the power imbalances between males and females, the sociological model of the sexual act also focuses on the role of meanings and symbols in sexual encounters. According to this theory, sexual behaviour is learned and not spontaneous; it requires clues and meanings in order for it to be effective. It is also critical of the tendency to focus only on the biological aspects of desire.
Cognitive model of sexuality
The Cognitive model of sexuality has numerous implications. For example, it can explain how men and women react to a particular situation. It also can explain why couples may not be able to achieve sexy results. In this model, the family exerts a powerful influence on a person’s sexual life. The family socializes its children and, consequently, affects their sexuality. The other side of the coin is the medicalization of sexuality, which defines certain sexual behaviours and conditions as ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’.
This model is based on a meta-analysis that examined the relation between sexual orientation and cognitive performance. The model predicts that men and women should behave more like heterosexual people. The findings support this notion.
Emotional model of sexuality
An emotional model of sexuality is one where the brain processes associated with sexuality are linked with those related to emotion. For example, studies suggest that a hormone called kisspeptin affects the emotional, psychological, and physiological processes involved in sex. This hormone also influences the amount of libido that is felt during sex.
The emotional model of sexuality believes that emotion is an integral part of the response to sex. However, whether this emotional component is unique to each sex and whether it is best explained by dimensional or discrete emotion theories is still up for debate. Nevertheless, studies involving participants have shown that sexuality is a highly emotional experience.
Previous studies have shown that a healthy emotional response to sex may improve sexual function. Similarly, a healthy response to sex may improve one’s self-control. Hence, the emotional model of sexuality emphasizes the importance of emotion regulation in regulating sexual behavior.
Biological model of sexuality
The Biological model of sexuality is a way to conceptualize sexuality. It has historically been a source of controversy. It has often been misinterpreted as a fundamentalist approach to gender. Its implications for sexuality have also been challenged. For instance, the New Left has advocated an approach in which sexuality is not regulated by gender. In this view, sexuality should be an unfettered experience of liberation from patriarchy and power. This perspective is essentially essentialist, akin to evolutionary psychology. In the 1960s and 1970s, radical sex movements erupted, leading to the internalisation of male ideas about sex and gender roles. In the following decades, capitalist forces seized on this idea and built massive sex industries based on prostitution and pornography.
Until the 1980s, the biological model of sexuality was the dominant paradigm in sex studies. It is still a significant theoretical influence in sex research, but it is currently under attack from various quarters. A new model of sexuality, called the cultural model, has emerged in response to the biological model.