Clitoral Vs. Vaginal Orgasm

1. Clitoral Vs. Vaginal Orgasm The misinformation of Sigmund Feud By Spencer Glines for FHS 2450-044 Summer 2013

2. Sigmund Freud • Austrian Psychologist • (1856-1939) • Arguably the most famous psychologist in history • Father of Psychoanalysis • Greatest contributions are in the area of the unconscious • Id, Ego, and Super Ego • Had many erroneous ideas on sexuality

3. Mature vs. Immature Orgasm • Freud argued that orgasm through clitoral stimulation was immature • He also stated that orgasm through vaginal stimulation was the only mature orgasm • This led many women to think that they were sexually maladjusted

4. Why Immature? • In Freud’s time, the clitoris was seen as an undeveloped penis • This undeveloped penis was thought to be masculine • Because of this, clitoral orgasm wasn’t feminine and was dubbed “immature”

5. In Reality • Everybody starts out in an undifferentiated state (pic 1) • The sex organs will either turn male or female depending on the presence of androgens • The existence of androgens will cause the body to exhibit male genitalia (pic 3) • For the most part, absence of androgens will cause female genitalia (pic 2) Pic 1 Pic 3 Pic 2

6. American’s Views On Sex • American culture focuses heavily on vaginal orgasm • Many acts are not considered “sex” because of lack of penile-vaginal intercourse • How much of this is due to the influence of Freud?

7. My Research Project • I don’t believe Freud’s sexual theories still have this much influence. • Even if his ideas are this long lasting, I don’t believe people know where they originated. • I conducted a survey that tested people’s knowledge on this specific theory of Freud’s

8. Survey Question • I asked men (5) and women (11) • 16 total • “Freud hypothesized that there were two types of female orgasm. One which he called mature, one which he called immature. Can you tell me the difference?”

9. Results • Out of the 16 people I asked, only 1 knew the answer • This strengthens my hypothesis that people aren’t aware of Freud’s theory • There were a couple of interesting responses that deserve special mention

10. The Correct Answer • I questioned the respondent that gave the correct answer as to the background of her knowledge • She replied that she learned it in a class like this one • She would not have known if she depended on family or society to tell her

11. Most Common Wrong Answer • The most common incorrect answers all concerned a woman’s ability to have multiple orgasms • Interestingly, men can experience multiple orgasms too • Not nearly as common • This shows that the sparse sexual knowledge that is communicated, is well known

12. Responses to the Correct Answer • When told the correct answer, most people blew it off as just another part of Freud’s kooky theories • Most people were also surprised to learn that most female orgasm result from direct or indirect stimulation of the clitoris • This also shows a lack of societal sexual knowledge

13. Conclusion • I was unable to find evidence, either for or against, Freud’s influence • I was able to show that, even if the influence is from Freud, his part in it is unknown • I also found weak evidence of the problems that come from lack of healthy sexual communication in society