Hormones and Sexual Behavior Sex hormones have two effects Sex hormones direct the development of male and female sex characteristics. They activate sexual behavior Estrogen influences female sexual responsiveness. Testosterone influences male sexual responsiveness. The Psychology of Sex External stimuli can trigger sexual arousal in both men and women. Sexually explicit materials may also lead people to perceive their partners as comparatively less appealing and to devalue their relationships.
Many people have sex because of psychological pressures.
While there are few gender differences in the basic processes of sexual arousal and orgasm, women and men often attribute different meanings to sexual activity. Culture and gender roles affect the ways in which motivation is expressed and interpreted in the work setting. Also, cultures differ in how they organize time, which can lead to misinterpretations of behavior. Sexual Dysfunction and Therapy Sexual dysfunction, such as premature ejaculations and orgasmic dysfunction are being successfully treated by methods, which assume that people learn and can modify their sexual responses. We express the direction of our sexual interests in our sexual orientation - our enduring sexual attraction toward members of a particular gender.