1. Sexual Motivation

2. The Biology of Desire Hormones and Sexual Response Arousal and Orgasm
Testosterone is associated with sexual activity
Sexual Activity is associated with testosterone
Arousal and Orgasm
Alfred Kinsey
Pioneer of sexual research dispelling myths about women’s sexuality.
Women and men are alike in their anatomy and sexuality.
Women have a lesser sexual capacity due to biology

6. The Biology of Desire II
Arousal and Orgasm (continued)
Masters and Johnson
Confirmed male and female similarities in biology
Identified Four Phases of Human Sexual Response Cycle (see following slides
Excitement
Plateau
Orgasm
Resolution
Women’s capacity for sexual response “infinitely surpassed that of men.
They overestimate women’s capacity while Kinsey underestimated
Debates about biological differences continue today between biological and environmental psychologists

12. Evolution and Sex Sex is adaptive to the species survival
Males compete for fertile young females to continue species.
Females try to attach to dominate males with resources, status, and “superior” genes.
Critique of Evolutionary View
After the fact argument of a stereotype
Women have sex even when they aren’t ovulating
What people say and what they do differ
Mate choice is often just proximity and similarity

13. The Psychology of Desire
Brain as a sex organ
Perception
Many Motives for Sex
Enhancement (emotional satisfaction and pleasure)
Intimacy (emotional closeness with the partner)
Coping (dealing with negative emotions)
Self-affirmation (reassurance)
Partner Approval (desire to please or appease)
Peer Approval (with to impress friends
Extrinsic motives are more associated with high risk sexual behavior
50% women and 26% men reported consenting to unwanted sex (O’Sullivan & Allgeier, 1998)
Peer pressure, fear of rejection, etc..

15. Sexual Coercion and Rape
Laumann et. al., 1994 Study
25% women reported that a man- usually a husband or boyfriend- had forced them to do something sexually that they did not want to.
3% of men reported they had ever forced a women into a sexual act.
Obviously what many women regard as coercion is not always seen as coercive by men
How do you explain these findings?
What motivates individuals to rape?
Peer approval, anger or desire to dominate, personality traits, sadistic pleasure, etc…

16. The Culture of Desire Culture Influences are Sexual Desire
Kissing
Body Parts as Erotic
Joyful or Dirty
How does your culture influence our desire?
Sexual Scripts
Gender Roles- rules that determine proper attitudes and behavior for men and women
Sexual Scripts are sets of implicit rules that specify proper sexual behavior for a person in a given situation, varying with the person’s age, culture, and gender.
What are the sexual scripts of your culture?

17. Sexual Dysfunction
Definition- Impairment either in the desire for sexual gratification or in the ability to achieve it.
Four Phases of Human Sexual Response
Excitement / Desire
Plateau
Orgasm
Resolution

18. Sexual Dysfunction: Prevalence
Altogether 45% of men and 55% of women reported some dysfunction during the last year.
Women
33% report lack of sexual interest
24% report inability to experience orgasm
Men
29% reported climaxing to early
17% reported sexual anxiety
16% reported lack of sexual interest

19. Sexual Disorders Sexual Desire Disorders Hypoactive, Sexual Aversion
Sexual Arousal Disorders
Male Erectile Disorder- Persistent or recurrent inability to attain, or maintain until completion of the sexual activity, an adequate erection.
Female Sexual Arousal Disorder- Attain or maintain lubrication.
Orgasmic Disorders
Premature Ejaculation- Persistent and recurrent onset of orgasm and ejaculation with minimal sexual stimulation, occurring before, at, or shortly after penetration and before the man wants it to.
Female Orgasmic Disorder- Persistent or recurrent delay in or absence of orgasm following a normal sexual excitement phase.
Sexual Pain Disorders
Vaginismus- involuntary spasms of the musculature of the outer third of the vagina that interferes with sexual intercourse