SEXUAL BEHAVIORS

Definition of terms
• Sexual behavior –An action with sexual intention and context.
• Erotic – related to sexual stimulation: has something to do with
the erogenous zones.
• Sexual response cycle – sequence of events from arousal to
orgasm to resolution of sexual tension.
• Sexual dysfunction – a concern or problem in any of the phases
of the sexual response cycle (e.g., inability to have erection or
orgasm, painful intercourse).
• Copulatory behavior – related to the insertion of the penis to the
vagina.
• Paraphilia – arousal from nonliving objects and or nonconsenting
persons.
PSYCHOLOGY THREE PRIMARY
COMPONENTS AFFECTS:

➢ Emotion and feelings

➢ Cognition ( Thought process )
➢ Behavior ( Actions )
WHAT IS BEHAVIOR?

➢ It’s simple terms, it refers to actions.

➢ Things what we do overt or observable.
➢ Covert or not readily observable by naked
eye.
➢ On a daily basis, we act because of motivation---something
that drives us to do something.
➢ Psychologists believe that we behave as a response to
stimuli.
➢ Others believe that we do things because we want to
achieve pleasure or avoid pain. Some think it is because
we want to achieve goal towards the fulfillment of our own
potentials and aspirations as a human in search for meaning.
What is interesting about behavior is it is rapidly measurable as opposed
to feelings and thoughts.
➢ Frequency---how many times an action is done in a span of
time.
➢ Duration---how long does an action take place, say, in
seconds, minutes or hours.
➢ A behavior has an intensity---the magnitude by which it is
done; it is forceful?
➢ Diversity---what are the varieties of a similar behavior done
in various context or what are the different behaviors we are
capable of depending on our physical characteristics.
SEXUAL BEHAVIORS

➢ Are actions that humans agree to interpret as an expressions of

their motivations or intentions.
➢ Behavior
-Are given meaning by people.
➢ Hugging and kissing
-Maybe consider in sexual nature
➢ Erotic Behavior
-Are generally sexual behavior
-Involves any of the primary or secondary erotic zones.
➢ Erogenous Zones Body Part:
Face
Neck
Genitalia
Chest

➢ Types of sexual behaviors according to the aim of behaviors

Masturbation or The Stimulation
-Can be considered as auto-erotic ( self-directed ).
Erotic Motivation
- Can be directed to other people of the same-sex or the opposite sex.
Homoerotic behaviors
-Are sexual behaviors oriented to the same sex.
Heteroerotic behaviors
-Are used to refer to, sexual behaviors oriented to the other sex.
➢ For reproductive purpose, Copulations the insertion of the
penis to the vagina is necessary.
➢ Non-copulatory behavior sexual behavior such as hugging,
kissing, caressing.
Human can assume two positions in this process
• Ventral-ventral positions ( Ventris: Abdomen )
Where in the male and the female species are facing each other.
• Ventral-dorsal positions ( dorsum: back )
Maybe assumed where the abdomen of the male species is
facing the dorsum of the female species, such that insertion of
the penis to the vagina is from behind.
However, sexual behaviors do not only rely refer to
copulation-the insertion of the penis to the vagina orifice.
They also include an array of non-copulatory sexual behaviors
such as hugging, kissing, caressing. There are also sexual
behaviors that involve oral stimulation of the genitals such as
fellatio (oral stimulation of the penis) or cunnilingnus (oral
stimulation of the vagina). Then, there are also sexual
behaviors involving stimulation or penetration of the anal
orifice(anal sex).
SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE

➢ Reproduction
One of the ultimate goals of the heterosexual couple.
This made possible through the fertilization of the ovum
by a sperm.
➢ Necessitates Ejaculation
Release of the sperm from the human male into the
internal reproductive system of the human female.
SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE

➢ Sexual response cycle

Before the ultimate process, both the human male and
female undergoes a sequence of bodily changes which
prepare them for the sexual climax.
Master and Johnson’s Model. Masters and Jhonson
(1966, 19770) proposed that the following are four phases
in the cycle:
➢ Excitement
The first phase in the cycle. For the human male, goal of
this phase is erection or tumescence (the elongation and
stiffening of the penis) so that it can be efficiently inserted
into the vagina. At this phase, the testes and scrotum start
to elevate and some parts of the skin (e.g., in the breast
and chest) reddens---a phenomenon referred to as a sex
flush.
➢ Lubrication

For human female the goal of this phase (wetness of the

vagina orifice to facilitate insertion of the penis).

Made possible by vaginal vasocongestion. At this phase,

their is swelling of the glans clitoris and the labia minora,
and there are sex flushes in breasts and chest. In both male
and female humans, heart rate increases during the
excitement phase.
➢ Plateau

The excitement phase is followed by the plateau phase.

This phase is characterized by a sustained peak in
stimulation of the organs. In the human male, the corona
glans penis become enlarge and reddish internally, the
comper's glands release a lubricating fluid and the testes
and the Scutum are totally elevated. In the human male,
the outer vagina swells while the inner vagina expand and
becomes elevated creating the organic plateau (tenthing).
➢ Orgasm
The climax of the sexual response cycle period it is a stage
of release wherein the human male achieved ejaculation
and the human female isnradey to reserve the sperm for
possible fertilization. In the human male.
➢ Ejaculation
Is made possible by contraction of the say difference
seminal vesicle, and urethra, followed by the contraction
of the rectal sphimeter. In the human female . The vagina,
uterus, and anal sphimeter also contract.
➢ Resolution
In this phase, the male penis return to its normal
unerected phase, where as the testes scrotum descend. In
the human female, the outer and inner reproductive organ
also relax.

➢ Kaplan’s model.
Unlike Masters and Jhonson’s model. Kaplan’s model
(1979) sees the sexual response cycle as having relatively
independent stage .
The three phases of Kaplan’s model
include:

➢ Desire
Is the psychological component of the sexual
response. It involves sexual thoughts and feelings
which are necessary for a satisfying sexual
experience. However, desire does not necessarily
translate into action.
The three phases of Kaplan’s model
include:
➢ Arousal
The phase where the excitement and plateau (as
defined by Maters and Johnson) take place. It is the
physiological component of the sexual response,
wherein bodily changes occur as an out come of
sexual stimulation. Just like desire. Arousal may not
necessarily translate into orgasm.
The three phases of Kaplan’s model
include:

➢ Orgasm
- In Kaplan’s model is generally similar with that of
the Masters and Johnson model, except that this
phase also include the Resolution phase. In Kaplan’s
model. Orgasm is the completion of the sexual
response.
SEXUAL RESPONSE DYSFUNCTIONS

Some people experience difficulty or problem in

some of the sexual phases. The following are the
common sexual response dysfunction.
SEXUAL RESPONSE DYSFUNCTIONS

➢ Sexual desire disorder – when an individual

has low levels of desire or has an aversion to
sexual activities;
➢ Sexual arousal disorder – when an individual
has problem in achieving necessary physiological
state for copulation (e.g., erectile dysfunction in
males.)
SEXUAL RESPONSE DYSFUNCTIONS
➢ Orgasmic disorder – when an individual has
problems in achieving orgasm (e.g., premature
ejaculation among males; male and female
orgasmic disorders); and
➢ Sexual pain disorder – when there is an
experience of pain during the sexual response
cycle (e.g., painful erection or dyspareunia, and
vaginal spasms or vaginismus).
The origins of sexual dysfunction disorders are
varied.
➢ Organic
Problem with the anatomy and physiology of the
reproductive organ.

➢ Psychosomatic
A psychological concern which manifests physically.
Hence, there are also a gamut of interventions that
are either biomedical (e.g., surgery, medication) or
psychosocial (e.g., psychotherapy, education, marital
or couple’s counseling).
PARAPHILIAS
While there are typical sexual behaviors among
humans, there are also those behaviors that are
relatively atypical. They are atypical due to any of
the following reasons:
➢ They are not prevalent
➢ They are dangerous to self and others,
➢ They are bizarre and are not socially acceptable
➢ They are distressing either to the doer or not
other people involved in the act.
Among these atypical sexual behavioral variations,
which is also considered by the APA as a dis order.

➢ Paraphilia - Is when an individual gets sexually

aroused an object, a person, or a circumstance
that are unusual (e.g., pain-inflicting, humiliating,
non-consenting persons).

➢ Paraphilic disorder – Is when the urge or act

lasts for at least six months and is a manifestation
of clinically significant distress.
Some of the common paraphilic
disorders are follows:
➢ Exhibitionism – pleasure from exposing one’s
genitals to nonconsenting people;

➢ Fetishism – arousal from non-living objects

(e.g.,shoes, socks, body parts):

➢ Frotteurism – touching or rubbing one’s body or

genitals to nonconsenting people.
Some of the common paraphilic
disorders are follows:
➢ Pedophilia – arousal from children
(prepubescent)

➢ Sexual masochism – arousal from actual

suffering or humiliation:

➢ Sexual sadism – arousal from actually inflicting

pain to others;
Some of the common paraphilic
disorders are follows:

➢ Transvestic fetishism – (for heterosexual males

only) arousal from wearing clothing by the
opposite sex during sexual activities; and

➢ Voyeurism – observing other people engaged in

sexual activities.
Notes: For a paraphilia to be considered a paraphilic
disorder, diagnosis has to be made. Only trained
psychologists or medical doctors can make such
clinical judgements after lengthy and comprehensive
assessment.

COMMUNICATE: Some of the paraphilias, when

acted on, may lead to criminal offenses. One of the
controversial paraphilia is pedophilia---engaging in
sexual activity with a nonconsenting person who is a
child.