Overview of the Summary
Lecture 1: Introduction of Sexology and Cultural diversity
Lecture 2: Anatomy and Physiology of the Male and Female
Lecture 3 : Sexual development and Sexual identity
Lecture 4: Sexual abuse; perpetrators and victims
Lecture 5 : Research in the field and Female sexual problems
Lecture 6: Male sexual problems
Lecture 7 : Paraphilia, Gender dysphoria and Paraphilic disorders
Lecture 8 : Research in the field and Female sexual problems.
Chapter 1: Sexuality in Perspective
Chapter 2 : Theoretical perspectives on sexuality
Chapter 3 : Sex Research
Chapter 8 : Sexual arousal
Chapter 4: Sexual Anatomy
Chapter 5: Sex Hormones, Sexual differentiation and the Menstrual Cycle
Chapter 9: Sexuality and the Life Cycle: Childhood and Adolescence
Chapter 10: Sexuality and the Life Cycle: Adulthood
Chapter 13: Sexual Orientation: Gay, Straight or Bi
Chapter 19: Ethics, Religion and Sexuality
Chapter 15: Sexual Coercion
Chapter 17: Sexual Disorders and Sex Therapy
Chapter 12: Gender and Sexuality
Chapter 14: Variations in Sexual Behavior
,Lecture 1: Introduction of Sexology and Cultural diversity
Sexuality is a central aspect of human being throughout life and encompasses sex,
gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction.
Sexual Health: is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in
relation to sexuality. It is the ability to adapt and self-manage in the face of life’s physical,
psychological and social challenges.
Sexual rights: Basic inalienable rights regarding sexuality both positive and negative
so as right to reproductive self-determination and sexual self-expression and freedom from
sexual abuse and violence.
Bio-psycho-social model of Sexuality:
- Biological: Medical, Illnesses, Menopause, Nerves.
- Psycho: Body image, anxiety, depression, personality
- Social: Norms and values, Relationship, Religion, Communication.
History of sexology
- Sigmund Freud was the first to study sexology somewhat scientific. Human
behavior is motivated by Libido and Thanatos. Libido is the subjective experience
of a physical need of sex. Freud believed libido was fueled by sexual instincts.
- Stages of psycho-sexual development:
o 1. Pre-genital stages, 1-6 years
o 2. Latency stage, 6-12 years
o 3. Genital stage, 12+ years.
- ‘Mature’ Female Sexuality: A healthy woman experiences a vaginal orgasm,
when only clitoral orgasm, there is a sign of fixation and intrapsychic problems.
- 1900: focus on clinical methodology based on case studies. Need for scientific
research. There was a belief in a universal sexual instinct. Divergences are the
result of a disease and should be treated by a physician.
- 1950: Institute of Sex Research offered a course on Marriage. And there were
interviews about sexual behavior.
- John Money was a psychologist, and studied the development in gender identity
in children.
- Nature-nurture controversy. Twinboys were circumcised, while one was
reconstructed and raised as a girl
- Masters and Johnson found out about the Human sexual response cycle, which
was the basis for a new therapy for sexual problems. Behavioral exercises to
restore the natural sexual response with: non-genital touching, touching with
genitals, coitus position and movement.
- Lonnie Barbach: has Self-Help books and gives therapy for women with orgasm
problems.
- Bernie Zilbergeld: Self-help with male sexuality and dysfunctions.
- 1973 Sexual Scripting Theory: Sexual behavior is social role behavior, generated
by culturally determined scripts. It has a interpersonal dimension and a
intrapersonal dimension. The latter is about the psychological interpretation of
sexuality.
- Sexual Strategy Theory: Sex-specific qualities that confers evolutionary benefits
which are thus attractive to the opposite sex. These can be divided in short-term
and long-term strategies, and differs between genders.
- Role of the mass media
o Cultivation: people think what is shown on the media represents the
mainstream
o Agenda setting: Reporters select what they ignore and what they emphasize
, o Social learning: People learn about sex and gender in part by imitation and
identification.
- 1998-present: influence of the medical approach to sexuality. There is Viagra for
erectile dysfunction.
Religion, Culture and Sexuality.
Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological system’s theory:
- Microsystem: People close to the child (immediate environment)
- Mesosystem: connections and interactions with child that aren’t as close
- Exosystem: Political, legal and educational systems
- Macrosystem: values, beliefs, culture and stigma
- Chronosystem: Time, history, generations.
3 types of religions: can have various subcultures.
- Abramic religions; Christianity, Islamic, Judaism.
o Judaism: Sexuality is a gift to be used in Gods will. Sex may only happen
inside a marriage and is deep and intimate. Abortion is only permitted
when the life of the women is in danger. A Mikvah is a ritual bath after
menstruation
o Catholicism: Sex can only happen in marriage and is a gift of God. Chasity
is a virtue. Contraception is not allowed. Homosexuality is not a sin unless
acted upon. Pleasure is not the purpose of sex.
o Islamic: Sexual fulfillment for both parties is ideal, if dissatisfaction there is
ground for divorce. Abortion is permitted when life is in danger.
Contraception is permitted and encouraged.
- Dharmic religions; eastern religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, includes
sexual pleasure.
- Taoic religions; based on the tao doctringe, achieving harmony.
Cultural and religious sensitivity: being aware of cultural and religious differences between
people, without assigning them a value. Healthcare professionals must provide a culturally
and religiously informed approach, be respectful. We also have to be aware of micro-
aggressions.
, Lecture 2: Anatomy and Physiology of the Male and Female
Sex exits of: Desire, Excitement/arousal and Orgasm
The skin is the biggest sexual organ. Here comes arousal from
Sexual development:
- Everyone develops as female as default, with the presence of the SRY gene we will
develop to a male.
- This is depended on androgen
Puberty:
- Hypothalamus -> GnRH -> pituitary -> FSH & LH. In males they stimulate the testes
to produce sperm.
- Brain is connected to spinal cord, which connects to genitals.
The brain:
- Limbic system: controlling behavior of survival
- Hypothalamus: autonomic regulation, (para)sympathic nervous system. To be sexual
aroused the parasympathic nervous system needs to be activated, while with
ejaculation the sympathic nervous system is necessary.
o Adrénaline : fight/flight
o Cortisol : stress
o Testosterone : motivator
o Dopamine : pleasure and wellbeing
o Serotonin : obsession
o Oxytocin : released when breastfeeding, love hormone, bonding, attraction,
arousal
- Software: hormones and neurotransmitters
- Hardware : Neurons and neuronal networks
Sexual desire: a balance between inhibitory and excitatory factors
- Excitatory factors: testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, dopamine
- Inhibitory factors: Serotonin, Prolactin, Opioids.
The penis:
- Two functions: sexual functioning and urethra. The urethra is surrounded by the
corpus spongiosum. The corpus cavernosum is most important for erection, because it
fills with blood.
- Penis Size: about 13 centimeters when erect. The urethra is longer, because it goes all
the way into the bladder. It is about 9,16 when stretched.
- Micropenis. Less than 4 cm flaccid and less than 7,5 cm erect. The cause is
insufficient androgen in early life.
- Innervation. The dorsal nerve is responsible for the feeling.
- Vascularisation. The pudental artery takes care of the bloodflow.
Erection types:
- Psychogenic erection. The brain controls the bloodflow, through desire, of visual and
auditive stimuli
- Reflexogenic erection. A direct genital stimulation leads to reflex of erection
- Nocturnal erection: reflexogenic during REM sleep.
Enemies of an erection are smoking, drugs, stress and obesity. Physical activity is great for
penis health.
