M39: sexual motivation

William Masters

recorded physiological response of volunteers who masturbated/had intercourse

1. excitement phase

genital area becomes engorged with blood

vagina expands & secretes lubricant

breasts & nipples may enlarge

2. plateau phase

excitement peaks as breathing, pulse & blood pressure rates continue to increase

penis becomes fully engorged & fluid appears at tip

vaginal secretion continues

3. orgasm

muscle contractions all over body

accompanied by further increase in breathing, pulse, blood pressure rates (70-110 bpm)

woman’s arousal & orgasm facilitate conception by positioning uterus to receive sperm & draws sperm inward

4. resolution phase

body gradually return to unaroused state as engorged genital blood vessels accumulated blood (quickly if orgasm happens)

refractory period

resting period where men cannot achieve another orgasm, period of inactivity after neuron fired

sexual dysfunction

problem that impairs sexual arousal or functioning

erectile disorder

inability to have/maintain erectionfe

male orgasmic disorder

distress over infrequently/never experiencing orgasm

paraphilias

experience sexual arousal in unusual ways

sex hormones effects:

direct physical development of sex characteristics & activate sexual behavior

estrogens

sex hormones, secreted in greater amounts by females, contributes to female sex characteristics

levels peak during ovulation, promoting sexual receptivity

testosterone

important male sex hormones, additional stimulates growth of sex organs & development of sex characteristics during puberty

external stimuli

men become aroused when see, hear, read erotic material, emotion response to erotic stimuli habituates with repeated exposure, sexually ecplicit material have adverse effects

imagined stimuli

imagination influences sexual arousal & desire, no genital sensation can still feel sexual desire, dreams with sexual imagery leads to orgasm