Describe common assumptions regarding sex differences in sexual trajectories (i.e., when women and men reach their sexual peaks). What evidence exists to support these assumptions? What evidence conflicts with them? Cite as least one research finding for and against sex differences in sexual trajectories. How does the research on sexual trajectories conflict with common assumptions about relevant sex differences?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

It is commonly assumed that men reach their peak 10 years younger than women do. In other words, people tend to believe that men desire sexual contact most strongly at an earlier age than women do. On a biological level, there is little evidence that hormone levels of men and women follow different trajectories or that women’s hormones peak at an older age than men’s. However, when examining self-reports of sexual desire, men report their highest levels of lust in their late 20s and women report their highest levels of lust in their early to mid 30s. Thus the evidence between biological and self-report data conflict with one another and the evidence from self-report data points to a smaller difference than a 10 year gap in sexual peaks (as described by common assumptions).