Psychology of Sexuality
Lecture 1: Introduction
What is sex?
Sex:
- Sex (noun): biological state of male or female, usually assigned at birth (assigned
male at birth or assigned female at birth), and not always congruent with gender
(man, woman, both or neither)
o E.g., you do identify as a man but biologically you are a male
o E.g., intersex (both female and male genitals), transgender, non-binary
- Sex: the act of having sex
Sex is everywhere:
- Talking about sex feels awkward (e.g., sexual fantasies), yet sex is all around us
- Some explicit videos/pictures are banned, it is taboo
- Almost in all cultures perform sex in a relationship (universal)
Students’ associations with the word sex:
,Positive associations with sex:
- In this course 84% have sex
- In this course the average grade of sex life is 7.17
- In line with Dutch research: 75% of young women and 85% of young men say they
enjoy sex very much
- Most young people are satisfied with their sex life
,But what is sex?
- Wikipedia: human sexual activity, human sexual practice or human sexual behaviour
is the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality
- Oxford dictionary: sex is a sexual activity, including specifically sexual intercourse
- Yourdictionary: sex is any function or behaviour involved with reproduction
o Sex is not only to reproduce
- Go ask Alice: sex is the birds and the bees
How do people have sex?
How do people have sex?
- Not
o Asexuality (versus allosexuality): lack of desire to have sex/ a sexual partner
▪ It is a sexual orientation
▪ Asexual people may masturbate non-directed
▪ Some asexual people do have sex and enjoy it, but do not feel intrinsic
need/ desire
o Voluntary celibacy: have a sexual desire but don’t act on it
▪ About 20% of the population
▪ E.g., for religious or moral reason, because of age
o Involuntary celibacy: want sex but not getting it (think they are entitled to
have sex, feel resentment)
▪ E.g., cannot find partner or lack access to desired partner, separation,
institutional restrictions, physical/ mental disabilities, partner loses
interest in sex
, - Solitary sexual behaviours
o Sexual fantasy: any mental picture that comes to mind while you’re awake,
that generates sexual arousal
▪ Small gender differences for having sexual fantasies
o Masturbation: solo form of sex stimulation focused on genitals
▪ Being sexual aroused can be dangerous (more risk taking)
- Partnered sexual behaviours
o Kissing
▪ Well socially accepted, normal behaviour in most cultures (not
universal)
▪ Evolutionary benefits (e.g., good for your health/ immune system)
o Touching: sexual sense
▪ Any part of your body can be an erogenous zone
▪ Sex can be done without touching the genitals
o Manual sex: involves touching the genitals
▪ Tribadism: rubbing genital area against partner
o Oral sex (fellatio/ cunnilingus): stimulation of genitals with the mouth
▪ Quite a recent trend
▪ Not considered unhealthy
▪ Can also be done simultaneously
o Anal sex (intercourse or anilingus): oral stimulation of anus (rimming)
▪ More and more common
▪ Often associated with gay sex (but not most common behaviour
among gay men)
▪ Health risks associated with anal sex (damage, no natural lubrification)
o Vaginal intercourse (coitus)
▪ Most common form of partnered sexual activity
Top 3 most common fantasies:
Lecture 1: Introduction
What is sex?
Sex:
- Sex (noun): biological state of male or female, usually assigned at birth (assigned
male at birth or assigned female at birth), and not always congruent with gender
(man, woman, both or neither)
o E.g., you do identify as a man but biologically you are a male
o E.g., intersex (both female and male genitals), transgender, non-binary
- Sex: the act of having sex
Sex is everywhere:
- Talking about sex feels awkward (e.g., sexual fantasies), yet sex is all around us
- Some explicit videos/pictures are banned, it is taboo
- Almost in all cultures perform sex in a relationship (universal)
Students’ associations with the word sex:
,Positive associations with sex:
- In this course 84% have sex
- In this course the average grade of sex life is 7.17
- In line with Dutch research: 75% of young women and 85% of young men say they
enjoy sex very much
- Most young people are satisfied with their sex life
,But what is sex?
- Wikipedia: human sexual activity, human sexual practice or human sexual behaviour
is the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality
- Oxford dictionary: sex is a sexual activity, including specifically sexual intercourse
- Yourdictionary: sex is any function or behaviour involved with reproduction
o Sex is not only to reproduce
- Go ask Alice: sex is the birds and the bees
How do people have sex?
How do people have sex?
- Not
o Asexuality (versus allosexuality): lack of desire to have sex/ a sexual partner
▪ It is a sexual orientation
▪ Asexual people may masturbate non-directed
▪ Some asexual people do have sex and enjoy it, but do not feel intrinsic
need/ desire
o Voluntary celibacy: have a sexual desire but don’t act on it
▪ About 20% of the population
▪ E.g., for religious or moral reason, because of age
o Involuntary celibacy: want sex but not getting it (think they are entitled to
have sex, feel resentment)
▪ E.g., cannot find partner or lack access to desired partner, separation,
institutional restrictions, physical/ mental disabilities, partner loses
interest in sex
, - Solitary sexual behaviours
o Sexual fantasy: any mental picture that comes to mind while you’re awake,
that generates sexual arousal
▪ Small gender differences for having sexual fantasies
o Masturbation: solo form of sex stimulation focused on genitals
▪ Being sexual aroused can be dangerous (more risk taking)
- Partnered sexual behaviours
o Kissing
▪ Well socially accepted, normal behaviour in most cultures (not
universal)
▪ Evolutionary benefits (e.g., good for your health/ immune system)
o Touching: sexual sense
▪ Any part of your body can be an erogenous zone
▪ Sex can be done without touching the genitals
o Manual sex: involves touching the genitals
▪ Tribadism: rubbing genital area against partner
o Oral sex (fellatio/ cunnilingus): stimulation of genitals with the mouth
▪ Quite a recent trend
▪ Not considered unhealthy
▪ Can also be done simultaneously
o Anal sex (intercourse or anilingus): oral stimulation of anus (rimming)
▪ More and more common
▪ Often associated with gay sex (but not most common behaviour
among gay men)
▪ Health risks associated with anal sex (damage, no natural lubrification)
o Vaginal intercourse (coitus)
▪ Most common form of partnered sexual activity
Top 3 most common fantasies:
