Chapter Ten

1. Sexual Expression: Arousal and Response Chapter Ten

2. Agenda • Discuss Influences on Sexuality • Review Sexual Response • Discuss Solitary Sexual Behavior • Discuss Sexual Behavior with Others • Discuss Sexual Behavior Later in Life • Discuss Safer-Sex Behaviors

3. Class Discussion: Sexual Compatibility • How would you define sexual compatibility? What could a couple do to assess it? • Should a couple try to have an orgasm at the same time? • What are the benefits? • What are the disadvantages?

4. Hormones Ethnicity Religion Influences on Sexuality

5. Hormones • Both sexes produce estrogen & testosterone, though in different amounts that decrease in age • Estrogen decline in older women slows growth of vaginal cells, which thins the wall, increases dryness, & decreases vaginal sensitivity • Testosterone levels remain constant in aging women, which may increase sexual desire • Aging men experience decreases in testosterone, which can decrease sexual desire and quality & quantity of erections

6. Ethnicity • In male dominant cultures, women tend to be less knowledgeable & less likely to discuss sex • Ethnicity can affect our sexual behaviors, frequency, attitudes, communications • African American men & women have the most partners • White & Hispanic women are more likely than black women to be involved in a variety of sexual behaviors • White women are more likely than black or Hispanic women to give & receive oral sex

7. Religion • In general, the more religious a person is: • the more conservative their sexual attitudes and behavior • the less they have premarital intercourse • the less they engage in risky sexual behavior • the less they approve of oral sex • the more guilt they experience about sexual behavior

8. Masters & Johnson’s Four-Phase Sexual Response Cycle The Sexual Response Cycle in Women The Sexual Response Cycle in Men Sexual Response

9. Studying Sexual Response • Sexual response – series of physiological & psychological changes during sexual behavior

10. Masters & Johnson’s Four-Phase Sexual Response Cycle • Four-phase model of physiological changes that occur during sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation • Four phases: • Excitement • Plateau • Orgasm • Resolution

11. Sexual response varies in time spent in each phase among women, & with menstrual cycle The Sexual Response Cycle in Women

12. Women: Excitement Phase • Excitement: Many stimuli induce excitement • This phase may last minutes to hours • Vasocongestion – increased blood flow to the genitals and/or breasts • Transudation (vaginal lubrication) occurs within 30 seconds, longer if lying down • Tenting effect – vaginal walls expand Continued …

13. Women: Excitement Phase • Breasts & areolas enlarge, nipples erect • For childless women: • Labia majora thin & flatten out • Labia minora turn bright pink & swell • For women with children: • Quick vasocongestion & enlargement of labia majora & minora, clitoris may erect • Sex flush on chest first, then spreads

14. Women: Plateu Phase • May last between 30 seconds & 3 minutes • Breast size continues to increase • Clitoris retracts behind hood shortly before orgasm • Clitoral hood rubbing & pulling causes the orgasm during sexual intercourse • For childless women: • Flattened labia majora & red labia minora • For women with children • Labia majora engorge & turn dark red • Orgasm can release the pressure from increased vasocongestion

15. Women: Orgasm Phase • Orgasmic platform due to vasocongestion in pelvic area • When the vasocongestive pressure reaches a threshold, a reflex of surrounding muscles is triggered • These contractions (primarily uterine muscles) expel the pooled blood & causes pleasurable orgasmic sensations

16. Women: Orgasm Phase • Orgasmic contractions occur every 0.8 seconds • There are 8-15 contractions in women, the first 5-6 are felt most strongly • This phase has the peak blood pressure and respiration rates • May reduce menstrual cramps by expelling blood from the region

17. Women: Resolution Phase • Takes about 5-10 minutes • Body returns to preexcitement conditions • Blood leaves the genitals, erections dissipate, muscles relax, heart & breathing rates decrease • Some women can experience multiple orgasms with further stimulation • Clitoris may still be sensitive

18. The four-phases are less defined in men The Sexual Response Cycle in Men

19. Men: Excitement Phase • Often very short phase • Tumescence – vasocongestive swelling of the penis • Erection is unstable • Testicles increase by about 50% in size • Testicles are pulled closer to the body

20. Men: Plateu Phase • May develop a sex flush • Nipple erections • Glans penis engorges with blood • Erection is more stable • Preejaculatory fluid may appear on the head of the penis

21. Men: Orgasm Phase • Ejaculation does not always accompany orgasm; men can learn to control it • If ejaculation occurs with orgasm, there are 2 stages: • In a few seconds, the vas deferens, seminal vesicles, & prostate gland contract • These contractions will to ejaculatory inevitability • These initial contractions, though, can be controlled. • semen is forced out of the urethra by muscle contractions that occur every 0.8 seconds, the first 3-4 are felt most strongly

22. Men: Resolution Phase • Resolution • Glans penis decreases in size • Refractory stage – period in which men cannot be re-stimulated to orgasm • Time period increases as men age

23. Other Models of Sexual Response

24. Class Discussion: Controversy about Masters and Johnson Response Cycle • Some disagree with Masters & Johnson’s model because it focuses on orgasm • It lacks relational and emotional qualities • It is based on a male model of sexuality • How do relational/emotional qualities influence satisfaction? • How can couples be encouraged to enjoy all phases of the sexual response cycle?

25. Kaplan’s Triphasic Model • Helen Singer Kaplan’s three-stage model of sexual response includes the psychological phase of sexual desire and two physiological stages of excitement and orgasm. • Sexual desire was of paramount importance to Kaplan because, without it, the other two physiological functions would not occur.

26. Helen Singer Kaplan’s Three Phase Model

27. Other Models of Sexual Response • Reed’s Erotic Stimulus Pathway (ESP) • 4 phases: • Seduction & sensation phases are psychosocial, surrender (orgasm), reflection (reflect on the experience)

28. David Reed’s Erotic Stimulus Pathway (ESP) model blends features of Masters and Johnson’s and Kaplan’s models using four phases: seduction, sensation, surrender, and reflection.

29. Other Models of Sexual Response • Tiefer’s New View model • Many important aspects of sexuality: pleasure, emotionality, sensuality, cultural differences, power issues, communication • Women’s sexual experiences don’t neatly coincide with Master’s & Johnson’s model

30. Sexual Fantasy Masturbation Solitary Sexual Behavior

31. Sexual Fantasy – Enhancement or Unfaithfulness? • Sexual fantasies are normal and healthy • They may be a driving force in human sexuality • Men tend to have sexual fantasies and cognitions more often than women • Similar fantasies regardless of sexual orientation, with the exception of the gender of the fantasized partner • Most people have a select few fantasies

32. College Students and Sexual Fantasy • The majority use sexual fantasy and feel little guilt • Some experience a lot of guilt and this may decrease their engagement in intimate behaviors • Some college student reported jealousy over their partner’s fantasies and equated it with unfaithfulness in a relationship

33. Women’s Sexual Fantasies • Sexual fantasy is used to increase arousal, self-esteem, & sexual interest, as well as cope with past hurts and relieve stress • Age is unrelated to types of sexual fantasies • Compared to men’s fantasies, women’s fantasies tend to: • be more passive, submissive, romantic • include more touching, feeling, partner response, and ambiance

34. Women’s Sexual Fantasies • 5 most common: • sex with current partner • reliving a past sexual experience • engaging in different positions • having sex in rooms other than the bedroom • sex on a carpeted floor

35. Women’s Sexual Fantasies • Many report using sexual force fantasies • May reduce guilt for having desires • May indicate openness to experiences • May be from past sexual abuse • Women are in control in their fantasies

36. Men’s Sexual Fantasies • Compared to women’s fantasies, men’s fantasies tend to: • Be more active and aggressive • Are more frequent, impersonal, and visual • Involve explicit sex acts and focus on partner as a sex object • Involve someone other than the current partner

37. Men’s Sexual Fantasies • 5 most common: • different positions • having an aggressive partner • receiving oral sex • having sex with a new partner • having sex on the beach

38. Video: Seinfeld’s “The Contest”

39. Class Discussion: Masturbation • Why do you think it is more common for men than for women to masturbate? • The text suggests that there is a “masturbation taboo” for women. What would contribute to this taboo?

40. Masturbation – A Very Individual Choice • In the past, masturbation was feared as a cause of mental & physical problems • Currently it is viewed as a way to promote healthy sexuality • It can decrease sexual tension & anxiety • It can be an outlet for sexual fantasy • It allows a person to test their own body • Couples can use it during intercourse (mutual masturbation)

41. Masturbation – A Very Individual Choice • Masturbation is the main sexual outlet in adolescence • In some cultures it is openly accepted, in some religions it is forbidden • People with regular sex masturbate more than those without regular sex

42. Female Masturbation • The average women has an orgasm in 95%+ of her masturbatory attempts • Masturbation tends to produce the most intense orgasms in women • Masturbation taboo for women, based on the double standard that women are not sexual • May use vibrators or dildos • Some concentrate on the clitoris, vulva, vagina, or anus

43. Male Masturbation • The largest gender difference in sexual behavior is in masturbation frequency • Masturbatory men do so 3x more than women • 48% of single men & 28% of women masturbate weekly or more • Not all men feel comfortable masturbating

44. Foreplay Manual Sex Oral Sex Heterosexual Sexual Intercourse Same-Sex Sexual Techniques Sexual Behavior with Others

45. Class Discussion: Safer Sex • There are no sexual behaviors that protect a person 100% of the time—with the exception of solo masturbation and sexual fantasy. • “Safer sex” refers to specific sexual behaviors that are safer to engage in because they protect against the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections. • Identify as many specific activities as possible that offer some protection against STIs. • What factors influence safer sexual practices?

46. Foreplay – The Prelude? • Typically defined as everything that happens before penetration • A male dominated view • Many lesbians do not use the term foreplay as all sexual behavior is “sex”

47. Manual Sex – A Safer-Sex Behavior • “Hand jobs” • Physical caressing of the genitals in solo or partner masturbation • Bodily fluids are not exchanged; safer sex • Women differ in clitoral touching preferences • Many men like strong, consistent strokes of the penis, some light strokes of the scrotum; do not restrict the urethra (underside of penis) • More nerve endings at the tip of the penis

48. Oral Sex – Not So Taboo • Cunnilingus – oral sex on a woman • Fellatio – oral sex on a man • Majority of Americans have oral sex • Many engage in oral sex before they had their first intercourse experience • Black women engage in less oral sex than white women • People with higher education levels tend to engage in more oral sex

49. Oral Sex – Not So Taboo • Oral sex is often used as part of foreplay, or instead of other sexual behaviors • 69 – mutual oral sex • Anilingus (rimming) – oral stimulation of the anus • Hygiene practices are important to reduce possible spread of infections • Most would rather receive, than give, oral sex • Cold sores can transmit infections in oral sex

50. Cunnilingus • Some women have cleanliness concerns • Anxieties may prevent women’s enjoyment • Many men find it erotic • Most women prefer it begin slowly, gradually • Some enjoy simultaneous digital stimulation of the vagina or anus • Air embolisms may form and be fatal if air is blown into a pregnant woman’s vagina • Most popular lesbian sexual behavior