1. Sexual Variants and Disorders

2. Sexual Behavior Changing Views of Sexual Behavior Change over time
Sometimes permissive, at other times restrictive
Views toward sexual preferences vary across cultures and over time
Sigmund Freud – People innately sexual; sexual repression has negative effects.
Havelock Ellis – Emphasized psychological basis of sexual problems
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

3. Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

4. Factors related to Sexual Dysfunction
Performance anxiety
Sexual or life-style problems
Negative concerns and attitudes learned early in life (including moral/ religious beliefs)
Relationship stress
Fatigue
Alcohol and other substances
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

5. Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions
Masters and Johnson: Sex Therapy
Focus on couples and verbal and nonverbal communication
Sensate focus – Sexual-retraining techniques
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (Individual or couple)
Relaxation
Modeling
Systematic desensitization
Use of fantasy
Examination of beliefs and attitudes
Psychodynamic therapy (Couples or individual)
For individuals whose symptoms are rooted in conflict
CBT or dynamic therapy can be combined with sex therapy
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

6. Homosexuality (gay, lesbian, bisexual)
Homosexual behavior
Defined as sexual behavior with member’s of one’s own sex
Is NOT a DSM diagnosis
Homosexual persons
Individuals who prefer to engage in sexual activity with members of their own sex over an extended period of time
Bisexual behavior
Preferred partners are sometime same sex, sometimes opposite sex
Origins of sexual orientation
Multiple determinants, including psychosocial and biological factors
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

7. Homosexual Experiences
Description
Men
Women
Self-identified as homosexual or bisexual
2.8 %
1.4%
Had sex with person of same sex at least once since puberty
5.3%
3.5%
Felt desire for sex with person of same sex
7.7%
7.5%
Total reporting some same-sex desires or experiences
10.1%
8.6%
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

8. Sexual Disorders
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

9. Gender Identity Disorder
Individual sexual self-concept- Feeling of being male or female
Differs from sexual preference
Gender identity problems in childhood
Prior to puberty, children express distress at their gender and intense desire to be the opposite sex
Gender Identity Disorder in adults
Transsexualism
Intense desire to change sexual identity and anatomical status
Nontranssexual gender identity disorder
Uncomfortable with their sex, frequently cross-dress, no desire to change anatomy
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

10. The Paraphilias Unusual or possibly deviant sexual attraction
Fetishism - Objects
Transvestic fetishism – Cross-dressing
Sexual sadism – Orgasm through inflicting pain
Sexual masochism – Orgasm through receiving pain or humiliation
Voyeurism – Gratification by watching others
Exhibitionism – Arousal from exposure of genitals in public setting
Pedophilia – Children are main source of sexual desire
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

11. Treatment of Paraphilias
Hormone treatment used to control desire
Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapy sometimes effective (e.g. covert sensitization)
Psychodynamic psychotherapy of little value
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

12. Treatment of Paraphilias
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

13. Sexual Victimization Types Sexual victimizers Effect on victims
Sexual assaults like rape and child sexual abuse 
Sexual victimizers
Most have Axis I and II diagnoses
Resistant to treatment, but cognitive-behavioral therapy is promising
Effect on victims
At least 500,000 victims a year in the U.S.
Victims may suffer long-lasting anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression
Many suffer from low self-esteem
Often leads to hypervigilance for cues associated with victimization and/ or sex
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005