Erotic Plasticity

Definition

Erotic plasticity refers to the degree to which the sex drive is shaped by social, cultural, and situational factors. The sex drive refers to the motivation (desire) to have sex. High plasticity indicates that the person's sexual desires are strongly influenced by social and cultural factors (including meaningful aspects of the immediate situation), and it can be reflected in changes in behavior and in feelings. Thus, someone with high plasticity might potentially learn to desire and enjoy different kinds of sexual activities and different kinds of partners. The intensity of sexual desire might also be subject to external influence.

The term plasticity is used in the biological sense, meaning subject to change and able to be molded into different shapes. The other meaning of plasticity, as in [Page 310]being phony or artificial, is not relevant to erotic plasticity and is in no way implied.

Context and Importance

Erotic plasticity lies at the center of one of the most far-reaching and fundamental debates in the study of human sexuality, namely, the relative influence of nature versus culture. Theory and research in sexuality in recent decades have clustered around two very different views. One is that biological factors such as evolution and genetics are centrally important in determining the sexual feelings and actions of individuals. The other view emphasizes cultural and social factors, such as socialization, political influences, and local norms. For example, theories of homosexuality have ranged from claiming there is a “gay gene,” which signifies a biological, innate tendency to become homosexual, to attempts to explain homosexuality in terms of personal experiences, such as growing up with an intrusive, controlling mother and a distant, critical father.

Low plasticity signifies that nature and biology are the main factors; high plasticity indicates a greater scope for culture and other social factors. Differences in plasticity also indicate differences in the type of causality. Biological factors such as genes influence sexual behavior by virtue of physical and biochemical processes, such as how different molecules would create tendencies to act in particular ways. In contrast, social and cultural factors depend on meaning, in the sense of how the person interprets and understands events. A great many animals engage in sexual behavior that is essentially and primarily driven by biological factors, such as hormones and genetic tendencies. Human beings are the only species for whom sex depends partly on what it means and who recognize a distinction between meaningful and meaningless sex. High plasticity indicates that sexual responses depend on meaning. Conversely, a sexual response that is mainly guided by hormones and genes would be lower in plasticity.

Gender

There is ample evidence that women have higher erotic plasticity than men. This is not necessarily either a good or a bad thing, but it may be helpful in understanding sexual differences between men and women.

The reason for women's greater plasticity is not known. One view is that it derives from lesser drive strength. That is, to the extent that women's sexual desires are milder than men's, they may be more amenable to the civilizing and transforming influence of social and cultural factors.

...