Final answer:
Sexual cognitions are thoughts about sex and include a range of mental activities related to sexuality, such as fantasy and desire. Research by Alfred Kinsey, and Masters and Johnson, provided foundational understanding of the diversity of human sexuality, exploring the sexual response cycle and the distinctions between sexual orientation and gender identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sexual Cognitions Explained
Sexual cognitions are predominately thoughts about sex. These include a broad array of mental activities ranging from fantasy and desire, to considerations about sexual identity or assessments of a partner's sexual performance. Understanding sexual cognitions is essential for recognizing the diverse spectrum of human sexuality, which encompasses not just these cognitions but also behaviors, orientations, and sociocultural identities.
Alfred Kinsey's pioneering research and the later work of William Masters and Virginia Johnson illuminated the incredible diversity present in human sexual experiences. Their research explored everything from the sexual response cycle, which includes phases such as excitement and orgasm, to the motivations behind engaging in sexual activity. This would also touch upon how aspects like sexual orientation and gender identity, while related, remain distinct facets of an individual's sexuality.
The complexity of sexual cognitions can also be influenced by biological mechanisms, such as those regulated by the hypothalamus and the limbic system which play significant roles in sexual behavior and motivation. Furthermore, these thoughts and desires are highly personal and subjective, varying significantly from one individual to another in their frequency, intensity, and content.