Book Title: Neuroscience and Karma
Author(s): Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 119
________________ Loving and Attachment Though individual sexual attachments are related in some way to those formed in childhood, we are still without certain knowledge of the foundations of adult sexuality because we still lack adequate studies of the development of brain. The overlaps between attachment behavior, parental behavior and sexual behavior are commonplace and quite often one treats a sexual partner as a parent and the reverse. 4. The Gonads (Sex Glands) and Sex Hormones 81 To appreicate the basis for sexual urges, it is useful to have knowledge of the genetic and hormonal factors that influence it. The genetic difference between the sexes lies in the chromosomes. Out of the 46 Chromosomes, only two are responsible for determining the sex. Thus, while a male will have X and Y, the female will have X and X. This difference will result in anatomical distinction between their respective reproductive systems. The term gonads literally means 'seed' and the male and the female sex organs (the gonads) produce the 'seed' of the new generation. The gonads of the female are the ovaries and in the male they are testes. Their principal function is to produce germ cells, ova and sperm, respectively that can fuse together to produce a new life. They also double as potent endocrine glands, secreting hormones that condition the functional state and influence the psychic biological phenomena involved in the sexual act. The major female hormones estrogen and progesterone are produced by the ovaries. Similarly the main male hormone testosterone is produced by the testes. However, adrenal glands produce both male and female hormones and both are present in every individual but in different amounts. Thus the difference between the sexes are quantitative rather than absolute. Every individual is a human first and a male or female as it was, only secondarily. Thus, if the resultant sex is a balance of maleness and femaleness, though it will be tipped more or less strongly in different individuals, it is natural for every one to show some characteristics of the opposite sex, both physically and emotionally. This is why the woman may like to be dominated but also want sometimes to dominate and the man can find that he also wants it this way.

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172