Human Sexuaality

Sexual literacy

The knowledge skills and actions needed to achieve sexual wellbeing

Sexual wellbeing

A state of positive sexual health pleasure and satisfaction

Sexual literacy vs sexual wellbeing

Sexual literacy is the journey while sexual wellbeing is the destination

Holistic sexuality

Understanding sexuality through its physical emotional psychological social and cultural aspects

Sexual selfhood

Understanding your own sexual identity values feelings and desires

Sexual negotiation

Communicating about sexual boundaries desires and safety

Sexual empowerment

Having the knowledge and confidence to make healthy sexual decisions

Pleasure

Experiencing joy and satisfaction while accepting yourself

Protection

Maintaining mental and physical safety during sexual activity

Focus

Concentration and a heightened sense of being alive during sexual experiences

Purpose

A basic sense of sexual identity and meaning

Sexology

The scientific study of sexual interests functions and behaviors

Historical view of sexuality

Sex was often viewed as immoral unhealthy or abnormal rather than a normal part of human life

Historical view of homosexuality

Homosexuality was once considered a mental illness

Historical view of masturbation

Masturbation was once considered a mental illness

John Harvey Kellogg

He believed sex was harmful and should be controlled or cured

Charles Darwin

His theory of evolution helped establish sexuality as part of biological development

Richard von Krafft-Ebing

He studied unusual sexual behaviors and promoted treatment over incarceration

Psychopathia Sexualis

Krafft-Ebing's book about unusual sexual behaviors

Fetishism

A sexual interest focused on a specific object or body part

Magnus Hirschfeld

He used surveys to study sexuality and supported homosexual rights in Germany

Havelock Ellis

He studied sexuality and supported the free love movement

Sigmund Freud

He developed psychoanalysis and viewed sexuality as a fundamental part of human nature

Freud and repression

Freud believed repressed sexual feelings could contribute to psychological problems

Psychoanalysis

A method developed by Freud that focuses on unconscious thoughts and experiences

Biological bisexuality

The idea that humans are naturally capable of attraction to both sexes

Erogenous zones

Areas of the body that are especially sensitive to sexual stimulation

Margaret Mead

She emphasized the influence of culture on sexuality especially during adolescence

Margaret Mead and adolescence

She viewed adolescence as a time for positive sexual feelings love and experimentation

Sex research in the 20th century

Sex increasingly became viewed as a normal part of human life rather than a disease or immoral behavior

Alfred Kinsey

He challenged Freud and used surveys to study sexual behavior

Kinsey's research

His research examined sexual behavior including masturbation female sexuality and bisexuality

Mary Calderone

She promoted contraception family planning sex education and positive views of sexuality

Masters and Johnson

They studied sexual arousal orgasm and sexual functioning

Sexual response cycle

The physical and psychological changes that occur during sexual arousal and sexual activity

Sexual dysfunction

Problems that interfere with sexual functioning or satisfaction

Refractory period

The period after orgasm when a person temporarily cannot reach another orgasm

National Health and Social Life Survey

A major survey examining sexual behavior and health in the United States

Random sample

A sample in which members of a population have a chance of being selected

Nature vs nurture

The debate over whether behavior is influenced more by biology or environment

Social construction

The idea that society and culture shape how sexuality is understood and experienced

Sex and social justice

The study of sexuality can help identify inequalities and violations of sexual rights

Me Too movement

A movement that brought attention to sexual harassment and sexual assault

Interdisciplinary perspective

Using multiple fields of study to understand human sexuality

Goals of sexuality research

To understand sexual behavior predict behavior and influence laws and policies

Intersectionality

The study of how multiple identities and systems of inequality interact

Sexuality research and health

Research can contribute to lower STI rates lower unintended pregnancies and better mental and physical health

Ethics of sexual research

Principles that protect research participants and ensure responsible research

Confidentiality

Protecting participants' personal information from being revealed

Informed consent

Ensuring participants understand the research and voluntarily agree to participate

Research and harm

Researchers must protect participants from physical psychological and social harm

Quantitative research

Research using numerical data to measure variables and test hypotheses

Qualitative research

Research using nonnumerical data to identify patterns themes and meanings

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about the relationship between variables

Variable

A characteristic or factor that can be measured or changed

Independent variable

The variable that is changed or controlled by the researcher

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured to determine the effect of the independent variable

Correlation

A relationship between two variables that does not prove causation

Case study

A detailed examination of one person group or situation

Case study advantage

Provides detailed information about complex or unusual situations

Case study disadvantage

Findings may not generalize to larger populations

Survey

A research method that collects standardized information from many participants

Survey advantage

Can efficiently collect information from many people

Survey disadvantage

Responses may be biased inaccurate or lacking in depth

Interview

A research method that collects information by directly questioning participants

Interview advantage

Allows detailed responses and follow up questions

Interview disadvantage

Can be time consuming and affected by interviewer bias

Human sexual rights

Rights related to sexual health autonomy and freedom from coercion discrimination and violence

Sexual rights violations

Violations can seriously harm physical mental and social wellbeing

Sexual coercion

Forcing or pressuring someone into sexual activity against their will

Forced abortion

Forcing someone to end a pregnancy against their wishes

Forced sterilization

Preventing someone from having biological children without their consent