Lecture 1
Introduction and History
Sexuality = encompasses sex, gender identities, roles, sex orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and
reproduction
Sexual Health = the ability to sexually adapt and self-manage in the face of life’s physical, psychological and
social challenges
Sexual rights
Bio-psycho-social model of sexuality
History of sexology
o Masturbation:
Tissot (1766) book Onanism, the disorders produced by masturbation
Heiman & Piccolo (1988) book directed masturbation, treatment for female orgasmic disorder
o Sigmund Freud
First to make transition to scientific study of sexuality
Human behaviour determined by LIBIDO (physical need for sex; fuelled by sexual
instincts/drives) and THANATOS
Psycho-sexual development Pre-genital stages (1-6 years) - oral, anal, phallic; Latency
stage (6-12 years); Genital stage (12+ years)
“mature female sexuality” healthy woman experiences vaginal orgasm; clitorial orgasm as
sign of mental problems
o Haldan’s clitoris relocation
o Early 1900:
Havelock Ellis: Liberal view on female sexuality and deviations
Krafft-ebbing: Classification of deviations (psychopathia sexualis)
Bloch: methods and insights of sexology must correspond with natural and cultural sciences
o Magnus Hirschfeld: institute of sexual research; pioneer of gay rights
o 20th century:
Clinical methodology based on case studies
Need for scientific research
Belief in universal sexual instinct
Divergencies result of (medical) disease
o Alfred Kinsey: Institute of Sex Research course on marriage, interviews about sexual behaviour
o John Money: study of development of gender identity in children
Nature-Nurture Controversy genes / environment as determinator of gender identity
Masters & Johnson (1960-70): first to conduct psychophysiological lab research
o “human sexual response cycle”
o basis for new behavioural therapy: “sensate focus”
restore natural sexual response with (surrogate) partner (non-genital touching, genital
touching, coitus position and movement)
Helen Singer Kaplan: concept of “desire phase”, integration of psycho-dynamic orientation with behavioural
therapy
Key themes in sexology
o Sex = biological function
o Sexually normal = consenting partners
o Different dimensions of sex (behaviour, gender, sex. Orient., sexual response)
, o Empirical methodology and interdisciplinary approach
Homosexuality was disorder in DSM-3 (1970ies)
Sexual Myths (e.g. men always want sex; arousal makes men lose self-control and responsibility; sooner orgasm
as predictor of masculinity, bigger penis = better; both partners have to have simultaneous orgasm)
Sexual Scripts influenced by social role behaviour, specified roles and actions
o Interpersonal dimension (interaction)
o Intrapsychic dimension (psychological schema, „love map“)
Evolutionary Psychology: Sexual Strategy Theory
o Sex- and gender-specific qualities give evolutionary benefits as they are attractive to opposite sex
Media
o Cultivation (people think what they see represents reality and mainstream)
o Agenda setting (reporters select what they show)
o Social learning (imitation and identification)
(Bio)medical approach to sexuality
o medication for dysfunction (e.g. Viagra for erectile problems)
Religion & Culture
culture and religion influence social components of bio-psycho-social approach to sexuality
religion ≠ culture
religion has various subcultures
Abramic religions
o Monotheistic (one god)
Dharmic religions
o Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism
Taoist religions
o “Tao”/ yin-yang, follow fate, flow of life
Different opinions/norms regarding sex between religions and cultures
o Sex out of marriage, homosexuality, sex during menstruation, abortion, sex bw teenagers
Judaism:
Catholicism:
Islam:
Hinduism:
(kama sutra)
Professionals need to be aware and consider cultural and religious differences
o Cultural Formulation Interview
Introduction and History
Sexuality = encompasses sex, gender identities, roles, sex orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and
reproduction
Sexual Health = the ability to sexually adapt and self-manage in the face of life’s physical, psychological and
social challenges
Sexual rights
Bio-psycho-social model of sexuality
History of sexology
o Masturbation:
Tissot (1766) book Onanism, the disorders produced by masturbation
Heiman & Piccolo (1988) book directed masturbation, treatment for female orgasmic disorder
o Sigmund Freud
First to make transition to scientific study of sexuality
Human behaviour determined by LIBIDO (physical need for sex; fuelled by sexual
instincts/drives) and THANATOS
Psycho-sexual development Pre-genital stages (1-6 years) - oral, anal, phallic; Latency
stage (6-12 years); Genital stage (12+ years)
“mature female sexuality” healthy woman experiences vaginal orgasm; clitorial orgasm as
sign of mental problems
o Haldan’s clitoris relocation
o Early 1900:
Havelock Ellis: Liberal view on female sexuality and deviations
Krafft-ebbing: Classification of deviations (psychopathia sexualis)
Bloch: methods and insights of sexology must correspond with natural and cultural sciences
o Magnus Hirschfeld: institute of sexual research; pioneer of gay rights
o 20th century:
Clinical methodology based on case studies
Need for scientific research
Belief in universal sexual instinct
Divergencies result of (medical) disease
o Alfred Kinsey: Institute of Sex Research course on marriage, interviews about sexual behaviour
o John Money: study of development of gender identity in children
Nature-Nurture Controversy genes / environment as determinator of gender identity
Masters & Johnson (1960-70): first to conduct psychophysiological lab research
o “human sexual response cycle”
o basis for new behavioural therapy: “sensate focus”
restore natural sexual response with (surrogate) partner (non-genital touching, genital
touching, coitus position and movement)
Helen Singer Kaplan: concept of “desire phase”, integration of psycho-dynamic orientation with behavioural
therapy
Key themes in sexology
o Sex = biological function
o Sexually normal = consenting partners
o Different dimensions of sex (behaviour, gender, sex. Orient., sexual response)
, o Empirical methodology and interdisciplinary approach
Homosexuality was disorder in DSM-3 (1970ies)
Sexual Myths (e.g. men always want sex; arousal makes men lose self-control and responsibility; sooner orgasm
as predictor of masculinity, bigger penis = better; both partners have to have simultaneous orgasm)
Sexual Scripts influenced by social role behaviour, specified roles and actions
o Interpersonal dimension (interaction)
o Intrapsychic dimension (psychological schema, „love map“)
Evolutionary Psychology: Sexual Strategy Theory
o Sex- and gender-specific qualities give evolutionary benefits as they are attractive to opposite sex
Media
o Cultivation (people think what they see represents reality and mainstream)
o Agenda setting (reporters select what they show)
o Social learning (imitation and identification)
(Bio)medical approach to sexuality
o medication for dysfunction (e.g. Viagra for erectile problems)
Religion & Culture
culture and religion influence social components of bio-psycho-social approach to sexuality
religion ≠ culture
religion has various subcultures
Abramic religions
o Monotheistic (one god)
Dharmic religions
o Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism
Taoist religions
o “Tao”/ yin-yang, follow fate, flow of life
Different opinions/norms regarding sex between religions and cultures
o Sex out of marriage, homosexuality, sex during menstruation, abortion, sex bw teenagers
Judaism:
Catholicism:
Islam:
Hinduism:
(kama sutra)
Professionals need to be aware and consider cultural and religious differences
o Cultural Formulation Interview
