Variations in Sexual Behavior Chapter 16 Variations in Sexual Behavior Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-1

When Is Sexual Behavior Abnormal? Statistical definition - abnormal sexual behavior is one that is rare, or not practiced by many people Sociological approach - sexual behavior that violates the norms of society Psychological approach - criteria of abnormality include discomfort, inefficiency, and bizarreness Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-2

When Is Sexual Behavior Abnormal? Medical approach - recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Paraphilia - recurring, unconventional sexual behavior that is obsessive and compulsive Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-3

Fetishism A person’s sexual fixation on some object other than another human being and attachment of great erotic significance to that object Media fetishes and form fetishes Media fetish - a fetish whose object is anything made of a particular substance, such as leather Form fetish - a fetish whose object is a particular shape, such as high-heeled shoes Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-4

The Normal-Abnormal Continuum Normal and abnormal sexual behavior are not two separate categories but rather gradations on a continuum Normal range of sexual behavior - mild preference to strong preference Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-5

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-6

Why Do People Become Fetishists? Learning theory Classical conditioning to an object as sexual Cognitive theory Perception of arousal is distorted Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-7

Transvestism Refers to dressing as a member of the other gender Drag queens - male homosexuals that dress up as women Female impersonators - men who dress as women, often as part of an entertainment job Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-8

Sadism and Masochism Sadist - a person who derives sexual satisfaction from inflicting pain on another person Masochist - a person who derives sexual satisfaction from experiencing pain Bondage and discipline - use of physical or psychological restraints to enforce servitude Dominance and submission - the use of power consensually given to control the sexual stimulation and behavior of the other person Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-9

Sadomasochistic Behavior Accompanied by elaborate rituals and gadgetry Sadomasochism (S-M) is a rare form of sexual behavior Causes of S-M - unknown Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-10

Bondage and Discipline Sexual bondage - the use in sexual behavior of restraining devices which have sexual significance Dominance and submission (D-S) - the use of power consensually given to control the sexual stimulation and behavior of the other person. Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-11

Voyeurism Voyeurism - a person who becomes sexually aroused from secretly viewing nudes Scoptophilia - sexual pleasure is derived from observing sexual acts and the genitals Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-12

Exhibitionism Exposing genitals to others in inappropriate situations Causes of exhibitionism are not known Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-13

Hypersexuality Nymphomania - high level of sex drive in women Satyriasis - Don Juanism; an excessive, insatiable sex drive in a man Hypersexuality - refers to an excessive, insatiable sex drive in either a man or a woman; leads to compulsive sexual behavior Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-14

Asphyxiophilia The desire to induce in oneself a state of oxygen deficiency in order to create sexual arousal or to enhance excitement and orgasm People engage in asphyxiophilia in the belief that arousal and orgasm are intensified by reduced oxygen Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-15

Other Sexual Variations Troilism - or triolism, refers to three people having sex together Saliromania - disorder found mainly in men; desire to damage or soil a woman or her clothes Coprophilia - deriving sexual satisfaction from contact with feces Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-16

Other Sexual Variations Urophilia - sexual satisfaction from contact with urine Necrophilia- sexual contact with a dead person Zoophilia - bestiality; sexual contact with an animal Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-17

Prevention of Sexual Variations Difficult to intervene Diagnosis difficult to do Analyze the components of sexual development: Gender identity Sexual responsiveness Formation of relationships with others Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-18

Treatment of Sexual Variations Medical treatments Surgical castration Hormonal treatment - use of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) Psychopharmacological treatment - use of psychotropic medications, ex.: anti-depressants such as Prozac Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-19

Treatment of Sexual Variations Cognitive-behavioral therapies Behavior therapy Social skills training Modification of distorted thinking Relapse prevention Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-20

Treatment of Sexual Variations Skills Training Programs may include how to carry on a conversation, how to develop intimacy, and basic sex education Sex surrogates Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-21

Treatment of Sexual Variations AA-Type 12-Step programs - modeled on the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous What works? - carefully controlled research is needed Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display. 1-22