Play-solicitation behavior in juvenile male and female rats

Play-solicitation and social investigatory behaviors were observed in male and female juvenile rats exposed to playful and nonplayful juvenile social stimuli. A nonplayful state was induced by treatment with scopolamine HBr. In Experiment 1, the play-solicitation behavior of males exposed to nonplayful stimuli was reliably greater than that of females; social investigation did not differ by gender. In Experiment 2, males and females were exposed to nonplayful male and female stimuli. Male subjects engaged in more soliciting than did female subjects, and male social stimuli were subjected to more soliciting than were female social stimuli. Experiment 3 compared the influence of varying social deprivation intervals on play soliciting by male juveniles. Although social investigation did not vary reliably with interval of social deprivation, play soliciting increased reliably with longer intervals of isolation. In Experiment 4, play-soliciting behavior of males exposed to nonplayful males correlated positively and reliably with play fighting behavior upon exposure to normally playful males. The results support the proposal that some specific behaviors functionally provoke interactive play fighting.     

Regulation of social contact by the female rat during the postejaculatory interval

Mating behavior of male and estrous female rats was observed in a large cage through three ejaculatory series. Movement, 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations, sexual behavior, and distance between animals were studied during the postejaculatory interval (PEI) to help establish how copulatory contact is maintained and reinitiated for successive ejaculations. Females moved more than males throughout the three series. The duration of vocalization by the male during the PEI increased in the presence of an experienced female. During the male’s vocalization, the rats exhibited a period of immobility that usually began with the experienced female’s terminating contact by moving away from the male and ended when the female reinitiated contact by moving toward the male. Virgin females did not show this pattern of movement. Experienced females maintained a greater distance from the male during the PEI than did virgin females. We conclude that the behavior of the experienced estrous female assures both considerable spatial separation during the male’s refractory period and the reinitiation of contact.     

Attraction to mobile and immobile conspecifics

Male and female laboratory rats invariably investigate a novel conspecific placed in their home cages. In Experiment 1, mature male rats were exposed in their home cages to active and inactive juvenile males. Inactive juveniles were pretreated with haloperidol to induce behavioral stasis in a normally upright, quadrupedal stance. In repeated daily observations, males exposed to active juveniles displayed significantly longer intervals of investigation than did males exposed to inactive juveniles. In Experiment 2, mature males and females were repeatedly exposed to active and inactive castrate females. Males investigated significantly longer than did females, active female castrates were investigated significantly longer than were inactive female castrates, and sex of subject interacted significantly with activity-nonactivity of the social stimulus animal. In Experiment 3, mature males and females were repeatedly exposed to active and inactive castrate males. Males investigated significantly longer than did females, active male castrates were investigated significantly longer than were inactive male castrates, and sex of subject interacted significantly with activity-nonactivity of the social stimulus animal. The results demonstrate that sexual dimorphism in persistence of social investigation may be interpreted as a sex difference in response to normal movement cues of a stimulus complex characterizing a conspecific.     

Influences of social isolation during development on sexual behavior of the rat

Male and female rats were weaned at 14 days of age and raised in social isolation or with three other animals. At maturity the male isolates displayed less male sexual behavior than the socially reared Ss. Female isolates, after ovariectomy and injection with androgen, exhibited much less male sexual behavior than control females similarly tested. After being brought into estrus by injections of estrogen and progesterone, the female sexual behavior of female social and isolate Ss did not differ. Data were interpreted as indicating that social isolation during development deprives rats of critical experiences necessary for development of appropriate responses to social stimuli eliciting male copulatory behavior in both sexes.     

Effects of rearing condition,gender, and sexual experience on odor preferences and urine marking in Long-Evans rats

Two experiments investigated the effects of isolation rearing on olfactory communication in rats. In Experiment 1, there were significant rearing and gender effects on the time spent investigating conspecific odors, the preferences for these odors, and the amount of urine marking over these odors by sexually naive male and female rats. Experiment 2 found significant effects of rearing condition and sexual experience on the responses of male rats to conspecific odors. In general, isolation rearing increased the time spent investigating conspecific odors, but reduced the amount of urine marking over these odors and altered the odor preference scales. These results suggest that the responses of both male and female rats to the odors of conspecifics are modified by rearing experience. The importance of learning conspecific odor signals for the development of normal social behavior is discussed.     

Copulatory behavior of Syrian golden hamsters in a one-male two-female test situation

Eighteen male hamsters each completed two tests of copulatory behavior: one with one female present and one with two females. Males displayed only relatively small, quantitative alterations of their typical copulatory pattern in the two-female vs. the one-female situation. All males mated with both females. Shifts between females tended to occur at predictable times-particularly after ejaculations and those long intromissions that did not immediately precede ejaculations. When mating in the two-female situation, males sired more offspring than with one female. Females in the two-female situation received less copulatory stimulation than in the one-female situation, but there were no detectable deleterious effects of this reduced stimulation on reproduction. Should copulation occur between one male and two females in the natural habitat, it would appear to be of reproductive advantage to the male, with no detriment to the female.     

Out in school: talking about sexual orientation and challenging homophobia across the Key Stage 4 curriculum

Rates of sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancy amongst the under-16s are causing increasing concern. There is limited evidence about the sexual behaviour and sex education preferences of this age group, especially of those from Black and minority ethnic groups. This study aimed to provide data on early heterosexual risk behaviour, and to examine preferences for the content and delivery of sex and relationships education (SRE), across ethnicity, gender and school year to inform priority setting and sex education strategies. A cross-sectional study of 3334 13–17-year-olds from 10 English urban and suburban secondary schools was conducted. Multivariate analysis was performed to examine the independent effect of demographic variables on sexual experience and preferences for sex education. A number of important differences in the sexual experience and condom use of males and females across the ethnic groups were identified. Differences in preferences for the content and delivery of sex education were also identified, particularly between male and female pupils. The findings indicate the potential for quite wide variation in sexual experience and preferences within school classrooms. The challenge for educators is therefore to develop SRE curricula that are inclusive within the constraints of school teaching.     

Sex pheromones and aggressive behavior in male rats

Two experiments were performed to examine the relationships among the sexual cycle of the female, sex pheromones, and the agonistic behavior of male rats. Data suggest that the presence of an inaccessible sexually receptive female provokes increased intermale fighting. The present research investigated the possibility that a sex pheromone from the female mediates the change in male hostilities. In Experiment 1, a combination between-subject and within-subject design was used to expose half the males to the female by several sensory modalities. The other males were exposed to the female primarily by olfaction. In Experiment 2, a completely between-subject design was used to expose some males only to the soiled bedding of the female. The results suggest that olfaction is sufficient to increase the male’s aggressiveness in the presence of an estrous female, although additional sensory input, such as the female’s movements, may be necessary to produce the full aggression-inducing effect.     

Second-order sexual conditioning in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Second-order conditioning of social approach to a female conspecific in male Japanese quail was investigated in four experiments. Subjects that received paired first- and second-order trials acquired second-order conditioning in both Experiments 1 and 2. In contrast, subjects that received paired first-order but unpaired second-order trials, and subjects that received unpaired first-order but paired second-order trials, did not acquire second-order conditioning. In Experiment 3, subjects for whom the first-order conditioned stimulus was presented in extinction showed second-order conditioning comparable to that shown by subjects in a control group that did not receive the extinction procedure. In Experiment 4, subjects approached a second-order stimulus less when sexually satiated than when sexually deprived. These findings suggest that second-order sexual conditioning in quail is mediated by an association of the second-order stimulus with a representation of the unconditioned stimulus.     

A social learning theory comparison of the sexual victimization of adolescent sexual offenders and nonsexual offending male delinquents

OBJECTIVE: This paper tests hypotheses based on Garland and Dougher's (1990) formulation of the "victim to victimizer" relationship which is a social learning theory etiological approach to adolescent sexual offending. METHOD: Two hundred sixteen adolescent sexually victimized sexual offenders and 93 adolescent sexually victimized nonsexual offending delinquents from three Michigan sexual offender treatment facilities participated in an anonymous cross-sectional survey regarding their sexual victimization and offending as well as a social desirability measure. RESULTS: When comparing the two groups, nonsexually offending delinquents and sexually offending delinquents, the latter were found to have: closer relationships with their perpetrators; a higher chance of having a male perpetrator(s); a longer duration of sexual victimization; more forceful sexual victimization; and the experience of penetration as part of their sexual victimization. Logistic regression showed that the gender of the perpetrators being both male and female and the forcefulness of the perpetrators were the best predictors of being in the sexual offender group. CONCLUSIONS: The social learning theory hypotheses were generally supported. Further multivariate research on this theory is warranted.     

Letters to the editor

This study examines editorial photography in nine major erotica magazines to determine how pictures vary as a function of the social class, gender and sexual preference of the intended readership. The analysis reveals that upwardly‐mobile, heterosexual men are treated to idealized images, whereas working‐class, heterosexual men are presented with more mundane yet highly‐sexualized images. Heterosexual women are provided with photographs of nude males in a low‐sexual context. Magazines for homosexual men present images, except for gender, very similar to those created for upwardly‐mobile, heterosexual men. These patterns are discussed from a functionalist perspective to show how erotica magazines contribute to social‐order maintenance.     

Child sexual abuse: A study of prevalence in Great Britain

Of 2019 men and women (aged 15 years and over) interviewed as part of a MORI Survey of a nationally representative sample of Great Britain, 10% reported that they had been sexually abused before the age of 16 (12% of females; 8% of males). There was no increased risk associated with specific social class categories or area of residence. For all types of sexual abuse, the mean age of victims when first abused was significantly lower for females. Subjective reports of the effects of sexual abuse indicated that the majority (51%) felt harmed by the experience, while only 4% reported that it had improved the quality of their life. We estimate that there are over 4.5 million adults in Great Britain who were sexually abused as children, and that a potential 1,117,000 children will be sexually abused before they are 15 years of age. At least 143,000 of these will be abused within the family. The social and mental health implications are enormous, and the authors suggest that an effective intervention and prevention policy is urgently required.     

Responses of sexually experienced and naive male rats to cues from receptive vs. nonreceptive females

In order to learn more about their reaction to the female sex attractant, 61 male Norway rats were given two-choice preference tests in which they reacted to cues from receptive vs. non-receptive females. In the first experiment, 16 heterosexually experienced males showed a reliable preference (p < .01) for receptive over nonreceptive anesthetized females, as did 15 naive males (p < .02) which later proved to be copulators. Ten naive males which later proved to be noncopulators showed no reliable preference for either type of female. In the second experiment, 15 naive males which later proved to be copulators showed no reliable preference for the odors from receptive vs. nonreceptive females. From these experiments, we conclude that naive males which later prove to be sexually vigorous are attracted to the composite bodily cues from receptive females, and that this attraction is not mediated by olfactory cues alone.     

Risk factors for a New Zealand sample of sexually abusive children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to understand variables contributing to the occurrence of sexual offending in children and adolescents. METHOD: Twenty youngsters who had engaged in coercive sexual behavior involving other children were compared to a matched group of clinic-referred youngsters with conduct disorders. Assessments included family histories, interviews, and psychometric measures. RESULTS: There was no group difference in the frequency of experiencing sexual abuse. However, sexually abusive youngsters were more often exposed to adult caregivers with known histories of being sexually abusive. These children had been subjected to multiple distortions of adult attachment, tended to internalize distress, and failed to use available social supports. They were likely to have experienced physical and verbal abuse; children with behavior disorders were more likely to have a parent with a psychiatric illness and to have experienced parental conflict. CONCLUSION: Severely disrupted attachment, in conjunction with family experiences of inappropriate sexual expression, place children and adolescents at risk for sexual offending. Sexually abusive youngsters had less social supports and their offending occurred after a negative emotional experience, when there was opportunity in the form of younger victims. The study suggests an interaction among developmental pathways, coping skills, and immediate proximal variables for the perpetration of sexual abuse by young people.     

大学生感受社会烦恼行为的认知结构与影响因素

通过对849名在校大学生的问卷调查,得出了大学生感受社会烦恼行为的5个认知结构:一般交往中的社会烦恼行为、异性交往中的社会烦恼行为、公共场所中的社会烦恼行为、私人交往中的社会烦恼行为和课堂上的社会烦恼行为.同时探讨了影响大学生感受5类社会烦恼行为的4种因素:首先是性别差异,女大学生在前4类行为上感受困扰较重,最后一个行为相反;非独生子女比独生子女在5类行为上均表现为困扰程度更重;非学生干部在第1种、第3种和第4种社会烦恼行为上比学生干部感受困扰程度重;没有恋爱经历的大学生在第2种和第5种社会烦恼行为上比有恋爱经历的大学生感受困扰程度重.     

Effects of social isolation and crowding upon active-avoidance performance in the rat

Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats reared in social isolation and in crowded conditions were tested on their active-avoidance performance. Only males appeared to be affected by the treatments; no housing-condition effect was found on the performance of females. The most severe housing-condition effect was that of social isolation; the isolated males showed impaired acquisition of the avoidance response. We have previously reported diminished adrenocortical flexibility in male isolates, which might account for the present results. A possible failure of the inhibition mechanisms of isolates is also taken into account.     

Treatment Effectiveness of a Self-Help Manual for Dating Anxiety

The treatment effectiveness of a self-help manual for dating anxiety was evaluated with college males. Forty-six males reporting dating anxiety were divided by a median split into two groups of high and low frequency daters and randomly assigned to a treatment group or a delayed treatment group. The dating frequency of the low frequency daters in the treatment group. The dating frequency of the low frequency daters in the treatment group increased significantly in comparison to the low frequency daters in the control group. Self-perceived heterosexual avoidance in the treatment group decreased significantly in comparison to the control group. A delayed treatment control group after receiving the dating manual also significantly increased their dating. An 8 month follow-up indicated treated subjects were able to maintain their gains. No differences were found on self-report measures of general social anxiety or number of casual interactions. The changes on dating frequency and self-perceived heterosexual avoidance suggested that this self-help manual can provide assistance for males with dating anxiety who want to resolve this problem by themselves.     

恭维语应答的变异调查与分析

通过对不同性别、不同年龄人群对恭维语应答方式的调查发现：接受恭维的人比拒绝的多，其中女性更喜欢明确、直接地接受；在女性群体中，年龄越小，接受恭维的方式就越直接；老年男性更愿意含蓄地接受他人的恭维。     

Male-female associations in the domestic guinea pig

Male courtship of nonreceptive females and male-male agonistic encounters were monitored daily for eight heterosexual groups of guinea pigs. Typically, one male (the associating male) accounted for much more courtship of a given female during her pregnancy than did any of the other males. Associating males were high ranking animals but were not always the group’s normal alpha male. Nonalpha associating males invariably ranked higher on the day of the female’s litter and postpartum estrus than their modal daily rank during her pregnancy. In 10 of the 18 cases, a nonalpha associating male took over the alpha position on the day of the litter. The courtship of females by associating males was found to differ from that by nonassociating males in that associating males displayed circling, rumping, swaying, and pursuit in a significantly higher percentage of the total number of courtship bouts.     

Childhood sexual victimization,pedophilic interest,and sexual recidivism

Objective

The goal of the current study was to examine the extent to which child sexual abuse (CSA) and particular characteristics of CSA are associated with pedophilic interest and sexual recidivism.

Methods

Subjects were 462 adult male sexual offenders who had been incarcerated in Canadian federal prisons.

Results

Compared to sexual offenders who had not been sexually abused, those who had been sexually abused before age 16 sexually offended against significantly younger victims and had significantly more indicators of pedophilic interest. This was the case whether we examined self-reported or officially documented CSA. Offenders who had been sexually abused exclusively by a male had significantly more indicators of pedophilic interest than those who had been sexually abused exclusively by a female. These findings are consistent with past research and theory suggesting that CSA may play a role in pedophilia and sexual offending against children. CSA exclusively by a female abuser predicted higher rates of sexual recidivism than abuse by a male or both a male and female abuser. Among offenders with victims 15 years old or younger, a closer relationship between offender and abuser predicted higher rates of sexual recidivism. The relationship between CSA and sexual recidivism was significantly moderated by actuarial risk. More specifically, CSA predicted higher rates of sexual recidivism among higher risk offenders, but CSA did not predict sexual recidivism among lower risk offenders. This novel finding raises the possibility that CSA may play a role in sexual recidivism for some offenders.

Conclusion

If future research replicates this CSA by risk interaction and identifies the constructs and processes involved, CSA may be worth considering in risk assessment and treatment.