Arrington Psychology of Human Sexuality. 210 Chapter 4: Similarities and Differences in Our Sexual Responses- The primary tools of behavioral scientists are observation and measurement- For a long time human sexual behavior was considered to be off-limits as a subject of scientific inquiry Measurement of Sexual Responses- Measurement of Sexual Responseso Masters and Johnson Same of 312 men and 382 women from their local community Ages of 18-89 It was a room with a bed and recording equipment  Participants first allowed to have sex with no one in the room so they would feel comfortable  But after there would be one or more investigators present  Recorded over 10,000 sexual episodes leading to orgasm  Participants engaged in masturbation, oral-genital sex, and intercourse  Many were observed dozens of times to determine variability in their responses  Subjects hooked up to equipment that measure heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, respiration and brain waves  Penile strain gauge- thin rubber tube filled with mercury that fits over the base of the penis and transmits small electric current that record the change in circumference of the penis Vaginal photoplethysmograph- fits like a tampon and has a light and photocell to record blood volume in the vaginal walls by measuring changes in the reflection of light  Criticized for unnatural setting- Models of Sexual Response o Physiological responses that take place in men and women occur in 4 phases 1. Excitement  2. Plateau 3. Orgasm 4. Resolution  Known as the sexual response cycle o Helen Kaplan Model: 3 phases 1. Desire1Arrington Psychology of Human Sexuality. 210  2. Excitement  3. Orgasm  Appealing because most people can distinguish the differences in these phases - Men’s Sexual Response Cycleo 2 models into a 5-phase model: 1. Desire 2. Excitement  3. Plateau  4. Orgasm 5. Resolution- Phase 1: Desire o Desire: a psychological state subjectively experienced by the individual as awareness that he or she wants or wishes to attain a sexual goal (object or activity)  Or an intrinsic motivation to pursue sexo Important because it incorporates the subjective aspects of sexual responsiveness (how one thinks and feels) and not just the physiological responses (erection)o The remaining phases do not differ with different stimuli - Phase 2: Excitement (Arousal)o Arousal in men follow a wide variety of physical and or cognitive/emotional cues o First sign is erection of the penis Resulting from the spongy tissues of the corpora cavernosa andthe corpus spongiosum becoming engorged with blood This is a Vasocongestive Response - Filling tissues with blood- Starts within 3 to 8 seconds after stimulation, not result in a full erection right away Vasocongestion results from nerve impulses causing dilation ofthe arteries that carry blood to the peniso 2 erection centers in the spinal cord the lowest part (Sacral) part of the spinal cord- reflexive in manner  higher in the spinal cord (thoracolumbar) region- receives impulses originating in the brain and contributes to psychologically caused erections2Arrington Psychology of Human Sexuality. 210 - Phase 3: Plateau o Plateau- a period of high sexual arousal that sets the stage for orgasmo This phase can be short or a long time o Penis increases in sizeo Testicles become fully engorged with bloodo Cowpower’s glands secrete the clear fluid at the top of the peniso 25% of men will get sex-tension flush on various areas of the skin due to the vasocongestive response- Phase 4: Orgasmo Orgasm- brief but intense sensations (focused on genitals but really a whole body response) experienced during sexual arousal. During orgasm, rhythmic muscle contractions occur in certain tissues in both the man and woman. Third phase of the sexual response cycle proposed by Masters and Johnson  Also known as climax or coming o Masters and Johnson: define orgasms as a sudden discharge of the body’s sexual tensiono Orgasm is a perceptual experience (generated in the brain, thus not always requiring genital stimulation) and that its occurrence is subjective o Men’s Orgasm Occurs in 2 stages - 1. Emission- rhythmic muscular contraction in the vas deferens, prostate gland, and seminal vesicles force the sperm and seminal fluids into the ejaculatory ducts (producing semen)o feeling of “coming” - 2. Expulsion- contractions are joined by contractions of the urethra and muscles at the base of the penis to force the semen from the penis. o Ejaculationo The sphincter muscles surrounding the urethra are tightly contracted so that urine is not mixed with semeno Retrograde ejaculation- when the semen goes into the man’s bladder instead of out of the body 3Arrington Psychology of Human Sexuality. 210 o Orgasm refers to the pleasure felto Ejaculation refers to the release of semen from the body - Phase 5: Resolutiono Resolution- defined as a return to the unaroused stateo In men this involves the loss of an erection, decrease in testicle size, disappearance of sex flush Loss of an erection is due to the return of normal blood flow in the penis o Blue balls- the aching that men can feel if orgasm is delayed or not achieved.  Aching is only temporary, not dangerous, testicles and scrotum do not turn blueo Refractory period- the time period after an orgasm in which their physiological responses fall below the plateau level, thus making it impossible for them to have another orgasm  Must reach the plateau period again to orgasm  Time tends to grow as men ageo Coolidge Effect- the refractory period being short when a man is having sex with a new partnerWomen’s Sexual Response Cycle - Women’s sexual response cycleo Rosemary Basson proposed the circular model that incorporates features such as intimacy needs, relational context of arousal, and cognitive interpretation of sexual stimuli in women’s responsiveness- Phase 1: Desire/ Interesto Men have higher level of sexual desire Sexual desire is considered (Masters and Johnson) to be an innate motivation. For men it is determined largely by biological factors - Levels of testosterone influence o Women sexual desire is motivated less by biological urges and more by relationship and intimacy needs Crucial factor is the measure of willingness and ability to find and respond to sexual stimuli It is a responsive event rather than spontaneous as