Download your

The Biology of Desire

Hormones and Sexual Response



Testosterone is associated with sexual activity
Sexual Activity is associated with testosterone
Arousal and Orgasm

Women and men are alike in their anatomy and
sexuality.
The Biology of Desire

Hormones and Sexual Response



Testosterone is associated with sexual activity
Sexual Activity is associated with testosterone
Arousal and Orgasm

Alfred Kinsey (1953)
Pioneer of sexual research dispelling myths about
women’s sexuality (survey and interview research).
 Women and men are alike in their anatomy and
sexuality.
 Women have a lesser sexual capacity due to biology

The Biology of Desire II

Arousal and Orgasm (continued)

Masters and Johnson (1960’s)


Confirmed male and female similarities in biology through
observation
Identified Four Phases of Human Sexual Response Cycle (see
following slides





Women’s capacity for sexual response “infinitely surpassed that
of men.


Excitement
Plateau
Orgasm
Resolution
They overestimate women’s capacity while Kinsey underestimated
Debates about biological differences continue today
between biological and environmental psychologists
Pre-marital Sex




General trend is towards earlier first sexual
experiences.
Rates of intercourse decreased in adolescents
during the 1990’s
Trend towards sex being okay outside of
marriage as long as there is love or “permissive
with affection” standard
Men are more likely than women to enjoy sex
without intimacy
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





Women’s capacity for sexual response “infinitely surpassed that
of men.


Desire
Excitement
Orgasm
Resolution
They overestimate women’s capacity while Kinsey underestimated
Debates about biological differences continue today
between biological and environmental psychologists
Differences Between Males and
Females



Males tend to be more visual
Socialization of Males and Females
Anatomy differences
The Psychology of Desire

Brain as a sex organ

Perception

Culture Influences are Sexual Desire




How does your culture influence our desire?



Kissing
Body Parts as Erotic
Joyful or Dirty
Sexual Scripts- 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.
Gender Roles- rules that determine proper attitudes and
behavior for men and women
What are the sexual scripts of your culture?
The Psychology of Desire

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
50% women and 26% men reported consenting to
unwanted sex (O’Sullivan & Allgeier, 1998)
Peer pressure, fear of rejection, etc..
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…
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
Plateau
Orgasm
Resolution
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
Sexual Disorders

Sexual Desire Disorders


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



Hypoactive, Sexual Aversion
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