Chapter 13: Adult Sexual Behaviors & Attitudes

1. Chapter 13: Adult Sexual Behaviors & Attitudes For use with Human Sexuality Today (4th Ed.) Bruce King Slides prepared by: Traci Craig

2. Chapter Overview • What is normal? • Masturbation • Nocturnal Orgasms • Sexual Fantasies • Coital Positions and Locations • Oral-Genital Sex • Anal stimulation • Preferred Sexual Behaviors • Sexually Healthy

3. What is normal? • It changes from generation to generation and within the lifespan of an individual. • Statistically normal—large number of people engage in it • Normal encompasses a range of behaviors • If it does not cause physical or psychological damages and does not interfere with activities of daily lifenormal

5. Masturbation: Attitudes • Myths of blindness, deafness, heart murmurs, acne, hair on the palms, insanity. • Hippocrates—Excessive sex could be harmful; Ancient Chinese—waste of yang (male essence); Hebrews—spillage of seed • Victorian era children—chastity belts, metal gloves, castration, circumcision, and clitoridectomy to prevent masturbation

6. Masturbation: Attitudes • Kellog—cornflakes curb youthful lust • Graham—graham crackers curb lust • Negativity about masturbation is culture specific. • Ancient Egyptians believed the world was the result of the God Atum’s ejaculation • Surgeon General Elders fired in 1994 for discussing masturbation

7. Masturbation: Incidence • 92% of men and 33% of women in 1974 • Better educatedmore likely to masturbate • Women and men have similar attitudes towards masturbation • Considered a perfectly normal human behavior

8. Masturbation: Methods • Men vary less in method: • rhythmically stroking up and down the penis with one hand, • stimulate testicles or other body parts, fantasize and/or view explicit materials. • 75% fantasize about intercourse with a loved person.

9. Masturbation: Methods • autoerotic asphyxiation (primarily adolescent boys): very dangerous, 500-1,000 people die each year • Women stimulate the clitoris, labia minora, and/or entire vulva • Fewer than 20% insert fingers or anything else.

10. Masturbation: Methods • Women have more varied methods, face up, face down, with one finger, entire hand, stimulate breasts (11%), some use vibrators. • Women also fantasize during masturbation.

11. Masturbation: Functions • It feels good • Sexual release • 72% of men and 68% of women continue to masturbate after marriage • More sex=More masturbation • Masturbation increases marital and sexual satisfaction

12. Masturbation: Functions • Therapists today prescribe masturbation • Treatment for women who have orgasm problems • Treatment for men with ejaculatory control problems • Not masturbating is not abnormal, but those that have the desire to do so should not feel guilty or be concerned about their health.

13. Nocturnal Orgasms • REM sleep—many physiological events • Penile erection in men and Vaginal lubrication in women • If this does not occur, there may be something physiologically wrong. • Most nocturnal orgasms not assoc. with sexual dreams

14. Nocturnal Orgasms • Historically: sinful in some religions • Spermatorrhea rings Victorian era • 83% of men report wet dreams, more common in teenage boys • Not under voluntary control • 36% of women report nocturnal orgasm; no morning after proof, orgasmic contractions wake them up. • Sexual Dreams are also common for both sexes

15. Sexual Fantasies • Both men and women have fantasies. • Women’s fantasies tend to be more romantic and emotional; men’s fantasies are more explicit and visual. • Frequency, length, and explicitness are related to level of sexual experience. • Men have more fantasies during nonsexual activity

16. Sexual Fantasies • Most common: Replacement fantasies • Sharing fantasies with a partner can enhance intimacy, sexual interest, jealousy, or self-doubt. • Content Categories • Exploratory • Intimacy • Impersonal • Dominance-Submission themes

17. Sexual Fantasies • Common in those individuals with the fewest number of sexual problems. • Not indicative of wanting to go through with those fantasy behaviors • Acting out may be disappointing • 25% of people nevertheless feel guilty

18. Coital Positions • Missionary position • Face-to-face • Christian missionaries thought it was ‘proper’ • American preference • Women may have trouble breathing, little touching or fondling, man is in control.

19. Coital Positions • Woman on top is often recommended for optimal sexual arousal • Easier for a man to support the woman • Manual stimulation of the clitoris • Gives women greater freedom and involvement, and eye contact.

20. Coital Positions • Rear entry positions also may be preferable for women who are pregnant • Stimulation of clitoris and more stimulation of the G-spot

21. Coital Positions • Sitting face-to-face positions allow face to face contact • Also allows for more touching of partner’s body by both individuals.

22. Coital Locations • Anywhere is fine. • No children, privacy • Contraception/STD protection (if necessary) • Spontaneity is important • Variation keeps sex exciting and satisfying • Sexual satisfaction contributes to overall well-being

23. Oral-Genital Sex • Fellatio and Cunnilingus • Foreplay or Preferred sexual behavior • Taking turns or “69” • More pleasurable/intense than intercourse • Many enjoy stimulating their partner orally, represents extreme intimacy • 70-90% of sexually active teens and young adults engage in oral-genital sex

24. Oral-Genital Sex • Positively associated with education and negatively associated with religiosity • Some think it is disgusting and no one should ever be pressured to do something they do not want to do. • Double standards are problematic. Especially, when one partner refuses to give and only receives • Hygiene is important and should be observed if one expects their partner’s to reciprocate.

25. Anal Stimulation • Many people enjoy manually stimulation of the anus with fingers during sexual intercourse. • Anal intercourse— • 20-26% of young adults have tried anal sex • 10% of women do so regularly • Power/Dominance or ‘Tighter’ • Typically younger, more erotophilic

26. Anal Intercourse • Precaustions • Anal sphincter contracts in response to penetration—forced entryinjury • Lubrication necessary • 30-60 seconds of initial discomfort then muscle spasms relax • Some rupture of small capillaries • Condoms, and never go from anus to vagina without changing condoms / washing genitals

27. Preferred Behavior

28. Preferred Sexual Behaviors • Vaginal intercourse is the most preferred. • White Americans • Receiving oral sex, watching partner undress, giving oral sex. • African Americans • Watching partner undress, receiving oral sex, giving oral sex

29. Preferred Sexual Behaviors • Latino Men • Watching partner undress, receiving and giving oral sex. • Latino Women and Asian Americans • Receiving oral sex, watching partner undress, giving oral sex

30. Sexually Healthy • Feeling comfortable with your own sexuality • Not viewing sex as naughty, bad, improper, or sinful, no guilty or anxiety • Feels free to choose what sexual behaviors they want to do. • Viewing partners that have sex with you as healthy (not dirty or bad for doing so)