Combination Motives II - Sex

In animals sexual behaviour is demonstrably influenced by physiological factors like hormones and bodily rhythms (eg. the estrous cycle of females preparatory to mating). For nonhumans sex could be considered a physiological drive. 

For humans however sex does not function as a clearly physiological drive. While survival of the species depends on sexual behaviour and reproduction, survival of the individual does not. Human sexual behaviour is motivated by learned and individual as well as physiological factors. 

In both males and females testosterone is the hormone that influences sexual behaviour. It does not appear to 'drive' sexual behaviour, however, although testosterone levels are correlated with such activity. 

Many animals have been found to secrete pheromones, scented glandular substances that may externally influence sexual response in the opposite sex. Although some research supports similar effects among humans, the role of such substances is yet unclear. 

The number and nature of stimuli that can activate human sexual behaviour is almost infinite. Although cultural norms exist for sensory impressions that are considered erotic (sexually arousing), no specific formuals have been identified as having aphrodisiac effects. 

Gender differences have been identified. Men respond more than women to visual stimuli. Women are aroused by similar stimuli at a slower rate than men. Women are influenced more by the mood and setting of material, while men favour close-ups of sexual acts. Gender differences in sexual behaviour, like other gender differences, may be fewer than similariteis. They are likewise explained better by a combination of biology and cultural influences than by either set of factors alone.


Sand And Stone

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE."

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After the friend recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE."

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND, AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE