The term "sexual response" is used to refer to the sequence of events that occur when a person moves from a state of non arousal to a state of resolution following orgasm. Although researchers disagree about how to describe sexual responses, most models incorporate the following four aspects: 1. sexual drive/motivation, 2. arousal, which involves the brain, central nervous system and cognitions, 3. genital responses, e.g., vaginal lubrication and penile erection, and 4. peripheral arousal, e.g., increased heart rate and blood pressure.
What stimulates our sexual response; becoming "turned on" as in the turning the ignition key in a car, or the switch on a light? The answers in sexual arousal are not the same for all, but involve fantasy, kissing, sex toys, aphrodisiacs, and...
In this section, we will consider the physiology of sexual response to a variety of sexual stimulations.

1. To identify three models of the sexual response cycle.
2. To compare and contrast the physiological changes that occur in females and males, as per the Masters and Johnson model of sexual response.
3. To analyze the controversy about whether or not there are two types of orgasm for females.
4. To identify various erogenous zones for males and females.
5. To evaluate the role of fantasy in sexual arousal.
6. To define the term "aphrodisiac".
 

TEXTBOOK
Read Chapter  8 Sexual Arousal

As Anna Freud stated: "...the sexual instincts of man (sic) do not suddenly awaken between the thirteenth and fifteenth year, i.e., at puberty, but operate from the onset of the child's development, changes gradually from one form to another, progresses from one state to another, until at last adult sexual life is achieved as the final result of this long series of developments." Today, we concede that sexuality develops/changes over roughly seventy-five years, from conception to death. Adult sexual development is just as important as child/adolescent sexual development.
In this Section, the changes and complexities of a life time of sexual development are considered.

1. To identify sexual behaviors associate with infancy and childhood.
2. To describe and evaluate some of the physical and psychological changes that characterize adolescence.
3. To identify various psychological, social and physical sexual changes experienced by men and/or women during early adulthood.
4. To identify various psychological, social and physical sexual changes experienced by men and/or women during middle adulthood.
5. To identify various psychological, social and physical sexual changes experienced by men and/or women during late adulthood.
6. To know and understand everything about human sexuality.

TEXTBOOK
Read Chapter 9 Sexuality and the Life Cycle: Childhood
Read Chapter 10 Sexuality and the Life Cycle: Adulthood

VIDEO:  The Human Sexes: Passages of Life
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2752309082554657749#

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So far as love is concerned, psychologists have failed in knowing what love is or is not. Perhaps all one can do is describe the phenomena, list the ingredients, the variations and complexities. Just as everyone has experienced the qualities, flavor, and enjoyment of ice cream, so do we all have to experience love in our own way to know what love is. It is apparent that love and sex may coexist, but one is not the requisite for the other.
In this section, we will explore the various theories of love, and attempt to distinguish between a variety of love-types, as in romantic love, companionate love, and erotic love.
The terms "sex" and "gender" are often used synonymously; however sex is more accurately refers to the biological distinction of being male or female, while gender refers to the social and psychological characteristics of being male or female. Some individuals experience gender dysphoria, which is a condition in which one's gender identify does not match one's biological sex, i.e., transsexuals

1. To identify and contrast three different theories of love.
2. To differentiate between love, infatuation and sexual desire.
3. To define romantic love.
4. To evaluate the concept of "addictive love".
5. To identify the biological components of love.
6. To define the terms masculine and feminine.
7. To identify the concepts of gender and sexual identity
8. To identify and evaluate various theories of gender role development.
9. To define the term androgyny
10. To compare and contrast the concepts sex and gender.
11. To identify and evaluate various therapies regarding transsexualism.

TEXTBOOK
Read Chapter 11Attraction, Love and Communication
Read Chapter 12 Gender and Sexuality

 VIDEOS:The Human Sexes: The Language of the Sexes and   The Patterns of Love
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7929239502246828110#
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-167114454762304025#

Ignorance of the biology of sexual functions is mild compared to the ignorance of the psychology of sexuality. Although reams of material have been written about the psychology of sex, conviction is generally more apparent than facts. Describing sexual behavior is relatively easy compared with the task of assessing sexual behavior.
There are many way of defining what is normal. Technically, the term normal is a statistical concept which refers to the frequency of a given occurrence/behavior, as in norm(al) being equal to most of a given population. There is also a sociological view in which normal references fall within the acceptable customs of a society; a biological view, where what is natural or healthy for the body is normal; a psychological perspective, that considers normal to be non-dysfunctional behavior regarding a state of well being. Most people think behavior is either normal or it is not. Actually, a behavior is but part of a spectrum of behaviors that occur in varying social/psychological contexts, at various times.
This section will examine sexual behavior from orientation to sexual lifestyles, e.g., heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual.

1. To compare the different connotations of the terms "sexual preference" and "sexual orientation".
2. To define the term homophobia
3. To identify and evaluate the theoretical accountabilities as to why persons are homosexual.
4. To evaluate if sexual orientation should or can be changed.
5. To compare religious and scientific viewpoints on non-heterosexual orientations.
6. To identify and contrast three interpretations of the term "normal".
7. To explain and understand why/how persons develop various variations of sexual behaviors.
8. To define such sexual behaviors as: fetishism, transvestitism, exhibitionism, sadism
9. To define and understand the term "parahilias".

TEXTBOOK
Read Chapter 13. Sexual Orientations
Read Chapter 14 Variations in Sexual Behavior

INTERNET SITES:

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#8.  "Ads Sell Sex?"
A number of women’s and men’s magazines, paying special attention to advertisements for perfume and cologne.  Is it beauty, cleanliness, sexiness, self-confidence, or playfulness that gets the reader’s attention?  What other personal qualities seem promised if you only buy the item?

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Section Five: The Life Cycle
#9. "Sexual Issues in High School"
In your opinion, are there any sexual issues high school freshmen are just not ready for?

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#10. "Female Infidelity"
Researchers have shown that in recent years, females under the age of 25 have shown markedly increased rates of infidelity, especially in comparison with women and  men in other age groups.  Speculate on reasons for this trend and the motives or justifications that may be involved.

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Section Six:  Love and Gender
#11. "Jealousy and Temorary Insanity"
No doubt you have read accounts in which women or men assaulted or even killed their partner after finding them sexually involved with someone else.  In your opinion, is extreme jealousy grounds for a plea of “temporary insanity?”

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#12. "The Missionary Position"
Some women believe that the man-on-top intercourse position is a symbolic manifestation of their historically submissive role in male-dominated societies.  What do you think about this idea?

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#13. "Who is Gay?"
Here are a few well-known historical and contemporary figures known or thought to have their homosexual and/or bisexual preferences:

Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky                         Leonardo da Vinci
Oscar Wilde                                               Michelangelo
Martina Navratilova                                T.E. Lawerence (of Arabia)
Noel Coward                                             Gertrude Stein
Rosie O’Donnell                                       Elton John

Do you think any of these people were so stigmatized by their homosexuality or bisexuality that the quality and/or quantity of their work were adversely affected?  In which cases might an alternative lifestyle have had a positive influence on their careers?

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#14. "Free Condoms"
In some areas, high school and college clinics make condoms available to students at low or no cost.  What is your opinion of this practice?  Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this practice.

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2. The sex flush begins during the _____ phase.
1. desire
2. excitement
3. resolution
4. plateau
 

3. Which of the following is not common to both genders after orgasm?
1. a resolution phase
2. a refractory period
3. de tumescence of the corpora
4. release of muscular tension
 

4. According to the text, fantasizing about other persons and activities while having sex with one's partner is:
1. a sign of disloyalty
2. a sign of dissatisfaction
3. a desire to be unfaithful
4. a way to add sexual variety to a relationship
 

5. About 80 percent of both males and females:
1. never fantasize during sexual intercourse
2. fantasize during masturbation but not during intercourse
3. fantasize about masturbation during intercourse
4. fantasize at least some of the time during intercourse

6. According to the mere-exposure effect:
1. repeated exposure to someone leads to boredom
2. repeated exposure to someone leads to increased liking
3. repeated exposure to someone leads to decreased liking
4. repeated exposure to someone has no effect on liking
 

7. _____ refers to a solid friendship or liking between friends.
1. Agape
2. Storge
3. Philia
4. Ero
 

8. Most females begin masturbating:
1. at about age 9
2. between the ages of 9 and 11
3. at about the time of puberty
4. as adults
 

9. "Body-centered sex" is most likely to occur in females who are in their:
1. teens
2. thirties
3. forties
4. fifties
 

10. Which of the following is not accurate concerning the typical transvestite?
1. he is a father
2. he is gay
3. he is married
4. he has a fetish

ANSWERS: (1) 3, (2) 2, (3) 2, (4) 4, (5) 4, (6) 2, (7) 3, (8) 4, (9) 1, (10) 2