Chapter Thirteen The Spectrum of Human Sexual Behavior

Varying Degrees of Sexual Interest and Activity §Human diversity in sexual orientation & activity l Range from erotophilic to erotophobic l Diversity more common in males than in females §Hypersexuality l High interest and drive §Hyposexuality l Low interest and drive § Celibacy l Choice not to share sexual activity with others §Erotomania l Rare, compulsive behavior l Nymphomania in females l Satyriasis in males

Transgender Behaviors §Transvestism l Cross-dressing wearing clothes of opposite gender feeling driven to do so some sexual arousal l Not new phenomenon l May be fetishism l More common than generally believed §Transgender Lifestyle l Great diversity influenced by degree of dissatisfaction with regard to anatomy §Sex Reassignment l For transsexuals trapped in wrong body 10-15% failure rate

The Need to Enhance Sexual Arousal §Erotica and Pornography l Magazines, videotapes, Internet l Habituation §Sexual Devices and Toys l Vibrators, bondage or pressure devices, penis extenders l Sex shops, mail order, Internet §Group Sex l Threesomes, orgy

Fetishism §Sexual arousal triggered by objects or materials not considered sexual §Object often used in masturbation §Mostly harmless §Inordinate attachment considered abnormal

Sexual Fantasy §Significant part of most people’s sexual individuality l 19% women, 54% men, at least one per day l Begin, on average, between 11 and 13 §Not necessarily connected to sexual behavior §Gender differences l Male more active, impersonal, and visually oriented l Females more passive and romantic §Exploratory, Intimate, Impersonal, Sadomasochistic

Atypical and Potentially Problematic Sexual Connections §Sex Worker Industry l Female prostitutes streetwalkers call girls brothels massage parlors l Male prostitutes hustlers call boys l Telephone sex l Victimless? §Sex-Related Behavior with Unknown Victims l Obscene phone calls l Frotteurism, toucherism l Exhibitionism l Voyeurism §Bestiality §Sadomasochism §Necrophilia

Casual Sex and Pansexualism §Throughout the past century, overall attitudes toward sex have become more casual §Trends, however, like AIDS have tended to mitigate this casualness, with a gradual shift toward more conservative values §Pansexual means being open to a range of sexual activities