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Understanding Sexual Responses: Similarities and Differences in Measurement and Experience

This chapter explores the measurement and understanding of sexual responses in both men and women. It discusses the methods used by Masters and Johnson to record sexual episodes and the phases of sexual response identified by various models. It also delves into controversies surrounding orgasms, female genital cutting, penis size preferences, and the use of aphrodisiacs.

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Understanding Sexual Responses: Similarities and Differences in Measurement and Experience

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  1. Chapter 4 Similarities and Differences in our Sexual Responses

  2. Measurement of Sexual Responses Masters and Johnson recorded over 10,000 sexual episodes leading to orgasm in the 1960s. How did they do that?

  3. Were subjects’ responses affected by the equipment?

  4. Personal Reflections Do you think it is important that we know the physiological responses that normally occur during sexual arousal? Is it important that physicians and therapists have this information? What do you think about studies that require observing and recording individuals engaged in sex?

  5. Models of Sexual Response Masters and Johnson – four phases Helen Kaplan – three phases Feminist Scholars – singular focus on genitals

  6. Male Sexual Response Models

  7. Male Sexual Response begins… Desire Vasocongestive response Excitement phase (men)

  8. Neural Mechanisms of Erection • Reflex center receives input caused by stimulation to penis • Smooth muscles of penis relax, allowing for vasocongestion • Second erection center receives input from brain

  9. More About Male Excitement Myotonia Heart rate and blood pressure increases Scrotum thickens and spermatic cord shortens Testicles engorge with blood Nipple erections occur in some men

  10. Plateau Phase in Men High sexual arousal Penis and testicles become larger Cowper’s glands secrete clear fluid 25% of men experience sex-tension flush

  11. Male Orgasm: Intense Physical Sensation and Pleasure Emission stage Expulsion (ejaculation) stage

  12. Is orgasm just a genital thing? What do you think?

  13. Male Resolution Phase Return to unaroused state Physiological responses drop below plateau levels and into excitement level Refractory period

  14. Women’s Sexual Response Cycle For many women, sexual desire is motivated less by biological urges than it is by relationship and intimacy needs! Individual differences

  15. Models of Female Sexual Response

  16. Excitement Phase in Women Vaginal lubrication from vasocongestion Labia engorges and vaginal walls balloon Cervix and uterus pull upward Clitoris engorges Nipples react

  17. Plateau Phase in Women “Orgasmic platform” Outer vagina narrows Sex flush of skin Clitoris pulls back beneath clitoral hood. Breast areola swells Secretion of vaginal lubrication slows

  18. Orgasm and Resolution in Women Subjective feelings of orgasm similar to male Rhythmic contractions of specific tissues Some women experience true multiple orgasms

  19. Internal View of Female Sexual Response

  20. Variability of Female Sexual Response

  21. Personal Reflections Do you judge your sexual experiences by your ability to reach orgasms or your frequency of orgasm? Your partner’s orgasm? Why? Many women do not experience orgasm during sexual intercourse. How do you think they feel about it? How would you feel if it were you? Is it necessary to have an orgasm to enjoy sex?

  22. Controversies About Orgasms Non-orgasm percentage Orgasms with simultaneous clitoral stimulation Biological and psychological effects and subjective feelings of intensity and pleasure

  23. The Grafenberg “Spot” and Female Ejaculation

  24. The “Liberated Orgasm”: Any Orgasm a Woman Likes Types of orgasm: Tenting; resulting from clitoral stimulation A-frame, resulting from G-Spot stimulation Blended Cervical

  25. Female Genital Cutting Prevalence WHO estimates Type Sunna circumcision or excision Infibulation (phraonic circumcision) Rationale Patriarchal culture; elimination of female sexual desire; reduction of infidelity

  26. Personal Reflections What was your reaction to reading about female genital mutilation in some African and Islamic cultures? What is your view about male circumcision in the United States? What about breast augmentation operations? We do not mutilate women’s genitals in this country to deny them their sexuality. Do we deny women’s sexuality in other ways? How?

  27. Can men have multiple orgasms? Masters and Johnson model “Mini-orgasms” by withholding ejaculation Wet and dry orgasms Individual variability

  28. Penis Size: Does It Matter? Women’s preferences (or non-preferences) X-rated entertainment and insecurity in normal men Penis size and ethnicity

  29. Personal Reflections (men) Do you wish you had a different-sized or different-shaped penis? How would you like it to be different? Why? Should the size of a man’s penis be an important factor in sexually pleasing a partner?

  30. Aphrodisiacs and Anaphrodisiacs

  31. More about Drugs Taken for Their Supposed Aphrodisiac Effects… XTC (MDMA) “Sextasy” (Viagra plus XTC) Yohimbine Pheromone perfumes

  32. People with Disabilities

  33. Personal Reflections If you were to have an accident and become physically disabled, do you think you would still want to hug, hold, kiss, and share affection (and have sex, if possible) with your partner? How do you presently react when you see a person with disabilities engaging in these behaviors?

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