Download Models in Psychopathology

Sexual
Variants
and
Disorders
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
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005
Factors related to Sexual Dysfunction
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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
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)
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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
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
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
biological factors
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005
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%
10.1%
8.6%
Total reporting some
same-sex desires or
experiences
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005
Sexual Disorders
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005
Gender Identity Disorder
 Gender identity
 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
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
Treatment of Paraphilias
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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
Treatment of Paraphilias
Abnormal Psychology, 11/e
by Sarason & Sarason © 2005
Sexual Victimization
 Types
 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