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Chapter 9- Sexual Behaviors โ Solitary Sexual Behaviors โ Asexuality and Celibacy โ Some individuals are not sexually active for various reasons, such as asexuality, celibacy, or involuntary celibacy. โ Asexuality refers to a general lack of desire for partnered sexual activity, but asexual individuals may still desire relationships and intimacy. โ Celibacy involves intentionally refraining from certain types of sexual behavior for a period, with complete celibacy abstaining from all sexual activities and partial celibacy only abstaining from partnered acts. โ Celibacy is practiced for reasons like religion, personal growth, health concerns, or past negative sexual experiences. โ Involuntary celibacy can occur due to separation, institutional restrictions, or other constraints, and its impact varies from person to person. โ Sexual Fantasy โ Sexual fantasies are diverse mental imagery that can be sexually arousing or erotic, ranging from elaborate stories to fleeting thoughts. โ Over 95% of men and women have fantasized at least once in their lives, with men fantasizing more frequently than women. โ Sexual fantasies serve various functions, including enhancing sexual arousal, compensating for less-than-ideal sexual situations, and reducing sexual anxiety. โ Fantasies can also express hidden desires, break free from gender role expectations, or serve a self-protective function, especially during times of anxiety. โ People who fantasize more often tend to report higher sexual satisfaction. โ Common concerns about fantasies, such as "forced" sex fantasies and imagining sex with someone other than one's current partner, are found to be common and not indicative of pathological behavior. โ Forced sex fantasies are often a product of greater openness to sexual experiences and do not reflect a desire for actual sexual assault. โ Fantasies about cheating are also common and tend to increase in long- term relationships, but they do not necessarily indicate a desire to cheat in reality. โ While most sexual fantasies are considered healthy, some specific desires could be dangerous in practice. โ Masturbation โ Sexual fantasies often accompany various sexual behaviors, especially masturbation. โ Masturbation involves solo self-stimulation focused on the genitals, with practices varying widely based on individual preferences. โ Women's masturbation may include clitoral and labial stimulation, breast stimulation, or vaginal penetration with sex toys.
โ Men commonly use their hands to stimulate the penis but may also use sex toys. โ Masturbation habits differ in terms of motion, speed, pressure, and the use of pornography. โ Most people engage in masturbation, with research suggesting an increase in its acceptance. โ Men are more likely to masturbate and do so more frequently than women. โ Both genders cite tension relief, pleasure, relaxation, and unavailability of a sexual partner as reasons for masturbation. โ Masturbation practices also vary by age, education level, and race, with younger, more educated, and White individuals being more likely to masturbate. โ Concerns about Masturbation โ Historically, masturbation was condemned as a sinful activity because it provided pleasure without the possibility of procreation, especially by many world religions. โ In the 18th century, a shift occurred known as the medicalization of sex, where masturbation and other sexual activities were viewed as health problems and diseases. โ Swiss physician Samuel Auguste Tissot believed excessive masturbation led to various physical and psychological health issues, leading to inventive attempts to "cure" it. โ Early remedies included dietary modification, such as bland foods and exercise, as well as circumcision without anesthesia, suturing the foreskin, and applying carbolic acid. โ Extreme measures included genital cages, spermatorrhoea rings, and devices to prevent erections, including one that rang a bell to shame the wearer. โ Modern research has debunked these health concerns, with masturbation associated with enhanced physical and psychological health. โ Benefits of masturbation include higher self-esteem among women and a lower risk of prostate cancer among men. โ Masturbation does not harm romantic or sexual relationships; some research suggests those in relationships may masturbate more. โ Most modern medical and psychological associations consider masturbation a normal part of sexual experience and not something requiring treatment.
โ Tribadism, involving rubbing one's genitals on a sexual partner's body, is a common form of sexual touching, often used to describe vulva-to-vulva contact between two women, colloquially known as "scissoring." โ Oral Sex โ Oral sex, including cunnilingus (stimulating the vulva with the mouth) and fellatio (oral stimulation of the penis), has become prevalent in the past century. โ Approximately three-quarters of adults engage in oral sex within the past year, with younger individuals more likely to practice it. โ Educational and racial differences exist, with college-educated and White individuals more likely to engage in oral sex. โ Oral sex practices can vary in terms of who initiates, what areas are stimulated, movement, speed, pressure, and use of hands. โ Communication with your partner about preferences is crucial. โ Some men and women find oral stimulation sufficient to achieve orgasm. โ Misconceptions about the safety of oral sex exist; it can transmit infections, and precautions are necessary. โ Vaginal Intercourse โ Vaginal intercourse (coitus) is the most common partnered sexual activity among heterosexual adults. โ Various sexual positions are possible, with preferences differing among individuals and changing over time. โ The coital alignment technique (CAT) is one position that can increase the likelihood of female orgasm and simultaneous orgasms. โ Partners may vary in hand placement, eye contact, lubrication needs, and other factors during vaginal intercourse. โ Cultural differences in sexual practices, such as the preference for dry sex in Sub-Saharan Africa, exist, but practices like dry sex can be harmful to women. โ Anal Sex โ Anal sex, while less commonly reported than other sexual behaviors, has seen an increase in recent years. โ Prevalence estimates indicate that as many as one in four or one in five US adults in their 20s and 30s have practiced anal sex in the past year. โ About one-third of women and almost half of all men surveyed have attempted anal sex at least once. โ Age, education, and racial differences exist in anal sex practices, with younger and more highly educated individuals being more likely to engage in it. โ Anal sex is practiced by both gay and heterosexual individuals, with most of those who practice it being straight couples. โ Anal stimulation can involve penile-anal penetration, finger or sex toy insertion, and anilingus (oral stimulation of the anus).
โ Safety precautions are essential for anal stimulation due to the delicate nature of the rectum and the risk of disease transmission. โ The use of a safe, non-irritating lubricant and slow penetration is recommended. โ Condoms should be used during penile-anal penetration, and dental dams during anilingus, to reduce the risk of infection. โ The practice known as ATM ("ass-to-mouth") is risky and not recommended due to its high risk of transmitting infections. โ Same-Sex Behaviors โ The sex lives of gays and lesbians are generally similar to those of heterosexual individuals, with the exception of penile-vaginal intercourse. โ "Lesbian bed death," the idea that sexual activity significantly decreases in long-term female couples, is a myth and not universally experienced. โ Many lesbian couples maintain long-term, sexually satisfying relationships, often engaging in oral sex and tribadism. โ Contrary to common belief, anal intercourse is not the primary sexual behavior for gay men. Oral sex and mutual masturbation are more common among them. โ Bisexually identified individuals also have diverse sexual repertoires, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and mutual masturbation with partners of various genders. โ Frequency and Benefits of Sex and Orgasm โ Concerns about the frequency of sexual activity are common, but there is no universal "normal" frequency. โ The right amount of sex is the amount that makes you and your partner(s) happy. โ Data from the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) suggests that most people report having sex between a few times per month and two or three times per week. โ Sexual frequency varies based on factors such as age and marital status. โ Research suggests that there may be physical and psychological health benefits to regular sexual activity, including improved cognitive functioning and potential longevity benefits. For example, sexual activity has been linked to increased nerve growth and enhanced immune system functioning. โ Sexual Behavior in Psychological Perspective โ Self-Regulation โ The Strength Model of Self-Control suggests that willpower is a limited resource, similar to a muscle that can become fatigued with use. This model has implications for our sexual behavior. โ **1. **Trait vs. State Self-Control:**** There are two aspects of self-control to consider: trait self-control, which is your chronic level of self-control,
โ In summary, attachment styles can significantly impact how individuals approach and experience sex in their relationships. Understanding one's attachment style and its potential influence on sexual behaviors and functioning can be valuable for improving communication and sexual satisfaction within a partnership. โ Mortality Salience โ Mortality salience, or the awareness of our own mortality, can indeed influence human behavior and attitudes, including those related to sexuality. Terror Management Theory suggests that when people are reminded of their mortality, they may adopt coping mechanisms to deal with the existential anxiety that comes with the idea of death. โ 1. Reduced Interest in Sexual Stimuli: Some research, such as the studies by Landau and colleagues, has shown that reminders of mortality can reduce heterosexual men's interest in sexually suggestive or alluring women. This effect may be due to a distancing mechanism, where men associate sexual attraction with impulsive and finite biological instincts, making them uncomfortable. โ 2. Increased Interest in Sex: On the contrary, for individuals with positive body image and comfort with physical intimacy, mortality salience may lead to an increase in interest in sex. This is because engaging in sexual activity can boost self-esteem and reduce anxiety associated with mortality. โ 3. Riskier Sexual Behavior: People with low fear of intimacy may become more willing to engage in risky sexual behavior when confronted with mortality salience. The prospect of death may lead them to prioritize immediate sexual gratification over potential consequences. โ Understanding the psychological factors that influence sexual behaviors is indeed complex, as numerous dispositional and situational factors can come into play. This complexity underscores the importance of considering a holistic approach when addressing sexual problems and the need for individualized treatments and interventions.
