Human Sexuality NBCC, NASW approved.*

Learning Objectives and Course Outline

Chapter One – What Is Human Sexuality?

What Is Human Sexuality?

  • Thinking Critically About Human Sexuality

Perspectives on Human Sexuality

  • The Historical Perspective
  • The Biological Perspective
  • The Cross‑Cultural Perspective
  • Psychological Perspectives
  • Sociocultural Perspectives

Research Methods in Human Sexuality

  • Populations and Samples: Representing the World of
  • Diversity
  • Methods of Observation

Chapter Two – Female Sexual Anatomy and Physiology

The Female Sex Organs

  • External Sex Organs
  • Internal Sex Organs

The Breasts

  • Breast Cancer

The Menstrual Cycle

  • Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
  • Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
  • Sex during Menstruation
  • Menopause

Menstrual Problems

  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Amenorrhea
  • Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Chapter Three – Male Sexual Anatomy and Physiology

The Male Sex Organs

  • External Sex Organs
  • Internal Sex Organs

Diseases of the Urogenital System

  • Urethritis
  • Cancer of the Testes
  • Disorders of the Prostate

Male Sexual Functions

  • Erection
  • Spinal Reflexes and Sexual Response
  • Ejaculation

Chapter Four – Sexual Response and Behavior

Making Sense of Sex: The Role of the Senses in Sexual Arousal

  • Vision: The Better to See You With
  • Smell: Does the Nose Know Best?
  • The Skin Senses: Sex as a Touching Experience
  • Taste: On Savory Sex
  • Hearing: The Better to Hear You With

Aphrodisiacs: Of Spanish Flies and Rhino Horns

  • Psychoactive Drugs

Sex Hormones: Do They “Goad” Us into Sex?

  • Sex Hormones and Sexual Behavior
  • The Sexual Response Cycle
  • Excitement Phase
  • Plateau Phase
  • Orgasmic Phase
  • Resolution Phase
  • Kaplan’s Three Stages of Sexual Response: An Alternative Model

Controversies about Orgasm

  • Multiple Orgasms
  • How Many Kinds of Orgasms Do Women Have? S9
  • The G Spot

Sexual Behavior

  • Solitary Sexual Behavior
  • Sex with Others

Chapter Five – Gender identity and Gender Roles

Prenatal Sexual Differentiation

  • The Role of Sex Hormones in Sexual Differentiation
  • Descent of the Testes and the Ovaries
  • Sex Chromosomal Abnormalities
  • Prenatal Sexual Differentiation of the Brain

Gender Identity

  • Nature and Nurture in Gender Identity
  • Hermaphroditism
  • Transsexualism

Gender Roles and Stereotypes

Sexism

Gender Differences: Vive la Difference or Vive la Similarite

  • Differences in Cognitive Abilities
  • Differences in Personality

On Becoming a Man or a Woman: Gender Typing

  • Biological Perspectives
  • Cross-Cultural Perspectives
  • Psychological Perspectives

Psychological Androgyny: The More Traits, the Merrier?

  • Psychological Androgyny, Psychological Well Being, and Personal Development
  • Psychological Androgyny and Sexual Behavior

Chapter Six – Attraction and Love

Attraction

  • Physical Attractiveness: How Important Is Looking Good?
  • The Matching Hypothesis: Who Is “Right” for You?
  • Similarity in Attitudes: Do Opposites Attract?
  • Reciprocity: If You Like Me, You Must Have Excellent Judgment

Love

  • The Greek Heritage
  • Romantic Love in Contemporary Western Culture
  • Contemporary Models of Love: Dare Science Intrude?

Chapter Seven – Relationships, Intimacy, and Communication

The ABC(DE)s of Romantic Relationships

  • The A’s – Attraction
  • The B’s – Building
  • The C’s – Continuation
  • The D’s – Deterioration
  • The E’s – Ending

Intimacy

  • Knowing and Liking Yourself
  • Trusting and Caring
  • Being Honest
  • Making a Commitment
  • Maintaining Individuality When the I Becomes We
  • Communicating

Communication Skills for Enhancing Relationships and Sexual Relations

  • Common Difficulties in Sexual Communication
  • Getting Started
  • Listening to the Other Side
  • Learning About Your Partner’s Needs
  • Providing Information
  • Making Requests
  • Handling Impasses

Chapter Eight – Sexual Orientation

Classification of Sexual Orientation

  • The Kinsey Continuum
  • Bisexuality

Perspectives on Gay Male and Lesbian Sexual Orientations

  • Historical Perspectives
  • Cross-Cultural Perspectives
  • Attitudes toward Sexual Orientation in Contemporary Society
  • Biological Perspectives
  • Psychological Perspectives

Adjustment of Gay Males and Lesbians

  • “Treatment” of Gay Male and Lesbian Sexual Orientations

Gay Male and Lesbian Sexual Behavior

Gay Lifestyles

  • Lifestyle Differences between Gay Males and Lesbians
  • Variations in Gay Lifestyles

Chapter Nine – Conception, Pregnancy, and Childbirth

Infertility and Alternative Ways of Becoming Parents

  • Male Fertility Problems
  • Female Fertility Problems

Pregnancy

  • Early Signs of Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Tests
  • Early Effects of Pregnancy
  • Miscarriage
  • Sex during Pregnancy
  • Psychological Changes during Pregnancy

Prenatal Development

  • The Germinal Stage
  • The Embryonic Stage
  • The Fetal Stage
  • Environmental Influences on Prenatal Development
  • Chromosomal and Genetic Abnormalities

Childbirth

  • The Stages of Childbirth
  • Methods of Childbirth

Birth Problems

  • Anoxia
  • Preterm and Low‑Birthweight Children

The Postpartum Period

  • Maternal Depression
  • Breast‑Feeding Versus Bottle‑Feeding
  • Resumption of Sexual Activity

Chapter Ten – Contraception and Abortion

Contraception

  • Oral Contraceptives (“the Pill”) 
  • Norplant 
  • Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) 
  • The Diaphragm 
  • Spermicides 
  • The Cervical Cap 
  • Condoms 
  • Douching 
  • Withdrawal (Coitus Interruptus) 
  • Fertility Awareness Methods (Rhythm Methods) 
  • Sterilization 
  • Other Devices

Abortion

  • Methods of Abortion

Chapter Eleven – Sexuality Across the Life Span

Childhood

  • Infancy (0 to 2 Years)
  • Early Childhood (3 to 8 Years)
  • Preadolescence (9 to 13 Years)
  • Sex Education and Miseducation

Adolescence

  • Puberty
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Teenage Pregnancy

Adulthood

  • Single Hood
  • Cohabitation: Darling, Would You Be My POSSLQ
  • Marriage
  • Marital Sexuality
  • Extramarital Sex
  • Divorce

Sex in the Later Years

  • Physical Changes
  • Sexual Behavior

Sex and Disability

  • Physical Disabilities 
  • Psychological Disabilities

Chapter Twelve – Sexual Dysfunctions

Types of Sexual Dysfunctions

  • Sexual Desire Disorders
  • Sexual Arousal Disorders
  • Orgasmic Disorders
  • Sexual Pain Disorders

Origins of Sexual Dysfunctions

  • Organic Causes
  • Psychosocial Causes

Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions

  • The Masters and Johnson Approach
  • The Helen Singer Kaplan Approach
  • Treatment of Sexual Desire Disorders
  • Treatment of Sexual Arousal Disorders
  • Treatment of Orgasmic Disorders
  • Treatment of Sexual Pain Disorders
  • Evaluation of Sex Therapy
  • Biological Treatments of Premature Ejaculation and Erectile Disorder

Chapter Thirteen – Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Bacterial Diseases

  • Gonorrhea
  • Syphilis
  • Chlamydia
  • Other Bacterial Diseases

Vaginal infections

  • Bacterial Vaginosis
  • Candidiasis
  • Trichomoniasis

Viral Diseases

  • AIDS
  • Herpes
  • Viral Hepatitis
  • Genital Warts

Ectoparasitic Infestations

  • Pediculosis
  • Scabies

Chapter Fourteen – Atypical Sexual Variations

Normal Versus Deviant Sexual Behavior The Paraphilias

  • Fetishism
  • Transvestism
  • Exhibitionism
  • Obscene Telephone Calling
  • Voyeurism
  • Sexual Masochism
  • Sexual Sadism
  • Frotteurism
  • Other Paraphilias

Theoretical Perspectives

  • Biological Perspective
  • Psychoanalytic Perspectives
  • Learning Perspectives
  • Sociological Perspectives
  • An Integrated Perspective: The “Lovemap”

Treatment of the Paraphilias

  • Psychotherapy
  • Behavior Therapy
  • Biochemical Approaches

Chapter Fifteen – Sexual Coercion

Rape

  • Incidence of Rape
  • Types of Rapes
  • Social Attitudes and Myths That Encourage Rape
  • Sociocultural Factors in Rape
  • Psychological Characteristics of Rapists
  • Adjustment of Rape Survivors
  • Treatment of Rape Survivors

Sexual Abuse of Children

  • What Is Child Sexual Abuse?
  • Patterns of Abuse
  • Pedophilia
  • Incest
  • Effects of Child Sexual Abuse
  • Treatment of Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

Treatment of Rapists and Child Molesters

Sexual Harassment

Chapter Sixteen – Commercial Sex

Prostitution

  • Types of Female Prostitutes 
  • Characteristics of Female Prostitutes 
  • Customers of Female Prostitutes 
  • Male Prostitution 
  • HIV, AIDS, and Prostitution

Pornography and obscenity

  • What Is Pornographic?
  • Prevalence and Use of Pornography
  • Pornography and Sexual Coercion

Sex in Advertising

  • Advertising and Gender‑Role Stereotypes