1. Chapter 12 Sexual Variants, Abuse, and Dysfunctions
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY, SIXTEENTH EDITION James N. Butcher/ Jill M. Hooley/ Susan Mineka
Chapter 12
Sexual Variants, Abuse, and Dysfunctions
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2. Sociocultural Influences on Sexual Practices and Standards
Important points!
Some aspects of sexuality are universal; others are quite variable
Sexual attitudes vary greatly across cultures and across time
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3. Sociocultural Influences on Sexual Practices and Standards
Cases on upcoming slides exemplify variety of sexual standards
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4. Case 1: Degeneracy and Abstinence Theory
Degeneracy theory (1750s) Semen loss cause men to lose masculine characteristics
Abstinence theory (1830s) Masturbation threatened public health and caused insanity
In the 1750s, degeneracy theory held that loss of semen caused men to lose masculine characteristics
Masturbation and patronizing prostitutes were seen as problematic
In the 1830s, abstinence theory held that masturbation threatened public health and caused insanity
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5. Case 2: Ritualized Homosexuality in Melanesia
Ritualized homosexuality is practiced in some societies in Melanesia
Male initiation rituals
Young males exchange semen with each other
Ingested semen protective against “female pollution”
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6. Case 3: Homosexuality and American Psychiatry
Up to 1970, homosexuality widely regarded as sickness
Current evidence shows that homosexuality is compatible with psychological normality
Homosexuality is no longer listed as a disorder in the DSM-5
Significant status of homosexuality during last half-century
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7. Paraphilias Gender Dysphoria Causal factors Treatments
Gender identity disorders
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8. The Paraphilias
Paraphilias
Group of persistent sexual behavior patterns in which unusual objects, rituals, or situations are required to fulfill sexual satisfaction
Can be diagnosed even if person does not experience distress or impairment
This is rare among mental disorders
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9. Transvestic fetishism
The Paraphilias
Paraphilias
Fetishism
Transvestic fetishism
Voyeurism
Exhibitionism
Sadism
Masochism
Pedophilia
Frotteurism
Paraphilias
Fetishism (arousal by nonliving objects)
Transvestic fetishism (arousal by cross-dressing)
Voyeurism (“peeping Tom”)
Exhibitionism (indecent exposure)
Sadism (arousal by pain to others)
Masochism (arousal by pain to self)
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10. Causal Factors and Treatments for Paraphilias
Gender
Multiple paraphilias
Nearly all people with paraphilias are male
People with paraphilias often have more than one paraphilia
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11. Causal Factors and Treatments for Paraphilias
True or false?
Other than sex offenders, most people with paraphilias do not seek treatment
Other than sex offenders, most people with paraphilias do not seek treatment
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12. Gender Dysphoria
Gender Dysphoria
Discomfort with assigned gender or sex-relevant physical characteristics
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13. Girls – May lead to homosexuality but only small studies done
Gender Dysphoria
Common outcomes
Boys – Homosexuality
Girls – May lead to homosexuality but only small studies done
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14. Gender Dysphoria Transsexuals
Adults with gender dysphoria who want to change their sex
Autogynephilia
Paraphilia characterized by man’s sexual arousal at thought of being a woman
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15. Gender Dysphoria Surgical sex reassignment typically effective
Treatment
Psychotherapy is usually not effective
Surgical sex reassignment typically effective
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16. Sexual abuse Sexual Abuse Childhood sexual abuse Pedophilia Incest
Rape
Treatment and recidivism of offenders
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17. Childhood Sexual Abuse
Children’s testimony and recovered memories of sexual abuse
Short- and long-term negative consequences
Prevalence
Prevalence depends on definition but ranges from less than 5% to over 30%
Short- and long-term negative consequences
Controversies include children’s testimony and recovered memories of sexual abuse
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18. Pedophilia
Pedophilia
Adult has recurrent, intense sexual urges or fantasies about sexual activity with prepubescent child
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19. Pedophilia Almost all pedophiles are male
Two-thirds of victims are female
Almost all pedophiles are male; 2/3 of victims are female
In recent years, many scandals involving priests have involved pedophilia
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20. Culturally prohibited sexual relations between family members
Incest
Incest
Culturally prohibited sexual relations between family members
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21. Incest Virtually universal taboo across all human societies
Prevalence and incidence
Universal taboo
Incidence unclear due to non-reporting
Virtually universal taboo across all human societies
Incidence is difficult to determine because it often goes unreported
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22. Sexual activity involving actual or threatened forcible coercion
Rape
Rape
Sexual activity involving actual or threatened forcible coercion
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23. Definition used Prevalence Statistics Rape
Depending on the definition used, prevalence figures run from 5% to 13%
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24. Figure 12.1: Age of Rape and Sexual Assault Victims
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25. Is rape motivated by sex or aggression?
What do you think?
Is rape motivated by sex or aggression?
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26. Rape Physical trauma Potential consequences Psychological trauma
Post-traumatic stress disorder
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27. Can you fill in the blanks?
Who Commits Rape?
Can you fill in the blanks?
________ commit only a small fraction of all rapes
Most rapes are committed by ________
60% of all rapists are under ________ years of age
Strangers commit only a small fraction of all rapes
Most rapes are committed by someone known to the victim
60% of all rapists are under 25
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28. Treatment and Recidivism of Sex Offenders
Did you know?
Sex offenders with deviant sexual preferences have high rates of recidivism
Recidivism rates for rape and sexually deviant behavior decrease with age
Sex offenders with deviant sexual preferences (e.g., those most attracted to children) have high rates of recidivism
Recidivism rates for rape and sexually deviant behavior decrease with age
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29. Treatment and Recidivism of Sex Offenders
Sex offenders’ therapy goals
To modify patterns of sexual arousal
To modify cognitions and social skills to allow more appropriate sexual interactions with adult partners
To change habits and behavior that increase the chance of reoffending
To reduce sexual drive
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30. Treatment and Recidivism of Sex Offenders
Psychological therapies
Aversion therapy
Covert sensitization/assisted covert sensitization
Cognitive restructuring
Social-skills training
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31. Treatment and Recidivism of Sex Offenders
Biological and surgical
Hormone therapy and cognitive-behavioral combination
Treatments
Biological and surgical treatments may include:
Antidepressant medications
Castration (surgical or “chemical” via hormones)
Many treatment programs use a combination of hormone therapy and cognitive-behavioral treatments
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32. Sexual Dysfunctions
Sexual dysfunction
Impairment in desire for sexual gratification and/or ability to achieve it
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33. Four human sexual response phases
Sexual Dysfunctions
Four human sexual response phases
Desire phase
Excitement phase
Orgasm
Resolution
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34. Male Sexual Dysfunctions
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder
Little or no sex drive or interest
Erectile disorder
May be based on anxiety about sexual performance or physiological dysfunction
Early ejaculation disorder
Persistent and recurrent orgasm and ejaculation with little sexual stimulation
Delayed ejaculation disorder
Inability to ejaculate during intercourse
In hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a person shows little or no sex drive or interest
Erectile disorder affects half the male population on at least a temporary basis
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35. Female Sexual Dysfunctions
Female sexual interest/arousal disorder
Low sexual desire and low sexual arousal
Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder
Genital pain during intercourse with muscle tension and fear and anxiety related to genital pain or penetrative sexual activity
Female orgasmic disorder
Persistent or recurrent delay in, or absence of, orgasm following normal sexual excitement phase
Female sexual interest/arousal disorder new to DSM-5 but likely to be most common sexual dysfunction in females
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36. Unresolved Issues How harmful is childhood sexual abuse?
Some researchers have questioned the conventional belief that it is very harmful
Findings, methodology, and implications are controversial
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