Human Sexuality CEUs

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1. Define the different study/research areas of human sexuality. 2. Increase familiarity with concepts related to the psychology of sex 3. Identify and evaluate clinical perspectives related to sexual activity and lifestyles. 4. Explore the impact religious belief systems on sex. 5. Learn specific laws related to sex and sexual crimes. 6. Identify the causes and symptoms of STDs 7. Increase familiarity with sexual disorders Table of Contents: 1. Definition 2. Psychology and Sex 3. Sexual Activity and Lifestyles 4. Religion and Sex 5. The Law and Sex 6. Sexually Transmitted Diseases 7. Masters and Johnson 8. Sexual Disorders 9. References

1. Definition

Human sexuality can be defined as the manner in which people experience and express themselves as sexual beings. There are many facets in the study of human sexuality including: • Biological • Emotional • Physical • Sociological • Philosophical (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History). From a biological perspective, sexuality is defined as “the reproductive mechanism as well as the basic biological drive that exists in all species and can encompass sexual intercourse and sexual contact in all its forms”. There are also emotional or physical perspectives of sexuality, which refers to the “bond that exists between individuals, which may be expressed through profound feelings or emotions, and which may be manifested in physical or medical concerns about the physiological or even psychological aspects of sexual behavior”. Sociologically, it includes the cultural, political, and legal aspects of sexual behavior. Philosophically, it emphasizes the moral, ethical, theological, spiritual or religious aspects of sexual behavior (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History).

Human sexuality research has revealed that sexual variables are significant in developing one’s identity and to social evolution of individuals: “Human sexuality is not simply imposed by instinct or stereotypical conducts, as it happens in animals, but it is influenced both by superior mental activity and by social, cultural, educational and normative characteristics of those places where the subjects grow up and their personality develops. Consequently, the analysis of sexual sphere must be based on the convergence of several lines of development such as affectivity, emotions and relations” (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History). The biological aspects of human sexuality include human reproduction and other aspects such as organic and neurological responses, heredity, hormonal issues, gender issues and sexual dysfunction (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History).

Additionally, human sexuality can be conceptualized as inclusive of the social life of humans, governed by implied rules of behavior. Of course, this involves cultural and societal influences including media such as politics and the mass media. Historically, media has caused significant changes in sexual social norms such as the sexual revolution (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History). 2. Psychology and Sex Human sexual experience can include significant emotional and psychological responses. Research studies on sexuality focus on psychological influences that impact sexual behavior and experience. Early psychological analyses were conducted by Sigmund Freud. He also introduced the concepts of erogenous zones, psychosexual development, and
the Oedipus complex (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History). Behaviorists including John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner evaluate the connection between behavior theory and sex. For example, they might study a child who is punished for sexual exploration and see if they grow up to associate negative feelings with sex in general.

Social-learning theorists use similar concepts, but focus on cognitive activity and modeling (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History). Gender identity is “a person's own sense of identification as female, male, both, neither, or somewhere in between”. The social construction of gender has been discussed by a wide variety of scholars, Judith Butler notable among them. Recent contributions consider the influence of feminist theory and courtship research (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History). Human sexual behavior encompasses the search for a partner or partners, interactions between individuals, physical, emotional intimacy, and sexual contact. Unprotected sex may result unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. Prior to reliable contraception methods, controlling sexual behavior was practically important to parents in some societies. The methodologies employed by parents to try to prevent their children from prematurely becoming parents themselves could have a profound effect on the minds of those children (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History). Sexual behavior Sexual function is impacted significantly by cognitive process. Male sexual dysfunction includes inability to achieve an erection, penile insensitivity, premature ejaculation. Female sexual dysfunction includes inability to achieve orgasm and vaginismus. The dysfunctions described may contribute to the development of secondary problems. For example, sufferers may self medicate with substances. Sexual dysfunction clinical focus may include addressing low self esteem, guilt, and self-destructive impulses.

Freud claimed that neither predominantly different, nor same-sex sexuality was the norm. instead he argued that bisexuality is the normal human condition thwarted by society. A 1901 medical dictionary lists heterosexuality as "perverted" different-sex attraction, while by the 1960s its use in all forums referred to "normal" different-sex sexuality. In 1948 Alfred Kinsey publishes Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, popularly known as the Kinsey Reports (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History). For many years, homosexuality was classified as a psychiatric disorder. In 1973 homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness in the United Kingdom. In 1986 homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association (Ellen Ross, Rayna Rapp Sex and Society: A Research Note from Social History and Anthropology Comparative Studies in Society and History).