Title: Chapter 6 Sexual Arousal and Response
1Chapter 6Sexual Arousal and Response
2Sexual Arousal
- The role of hormones
- Misleading to link specific hormones with males
and females - androgens so called male sex hormones
- Dominant androgen testosterone produced by
testes, adrenal glands, ovaries - estrogens so called female sex hormones
- produced by ovaries testes
3Testosterone DeficiencyGeneral signs similar in
both sexes
- Decrease in customary level of sexual desire
- Reduced sensitivity of genitals and nipples to
sexual stimulation - Overall reduction in general levels of sexual
arousability, may be accompanied by decreased
orgasmic capacity and/or less intense orgasms - Decreased energy levels and depressed mood
- Increased fat mass
- Decreased bone mineral density
- Reduced body hair
- Decreased muscle mass and strength
4The Brain and Sexual Arousal
- Cerebral cortex affects thinking
- e.g. sexual fantasy
- Limbic system affects feeling behavior
- Brain also interprets sensory information
- The senses
- touch, see, smell, taste, hear
5Touch
- Touch is the dominant "sexual sense
- Some areas more sensitive than others erogenous
zones - Primary erogenous zones dense concentrations of
nerve endings - Secondary erogenous zones areas of body endowed
with erotic significance through sexual
conditioning
6Smell
- Genital odors may be perceived arousing or
offensive - obsession w/ masking natural odors in our society
makes study of this topic difficult - May come to associate a particular smell with
arousal
7Taste
- Appears to play relatively minor role in
- human sexual arousal
- Influenced by marketing for various products
- Some have acquired an appreciation for the taste
of sexual secretions
8Hearing
- A persons response to sexual sounds highly
variable - Moans/orgasmic cries/intimate or erotic
conversation
9Aphrodisiacs Do they work?
- Aphrodisiac substance that allegedly arouses
sexual desire and increases capacity for sexual
activity - Powerful placebo effect
- selffulfilling prophecy
- if ya think itll work, it probably will
10 Aphrodisiacs Do they work?
- In certain Asian countries, ground up animal
horns considered powerful sexual stimulants - Did you know thats where term horny arose?
- Some drugs thought to have aphrodisiac qualities
alcohol and yohimbine - See chart on page 156 for more info on drugs
11Aphrodisiacs Do they work?
- Yohimbine crystalline
- alkaloid derived from sap of tropical
evergreen - - yohimbine tree
- Grows in West Africa
- Appears to have genuine aphrodisiac
- effects on rats
Yohimbine is becoming an unsustainable resource
for medicinal purposes
12- Anaphrodisiacs substances that inhibit sexual
desire/behavior - Opiates decrease in sexual interest and activity
in both sexes - Birth control pills commonly reduce sexual
desire - Nicotine retards sexual motivation and function
- (READ p 157 to learn of other anaphrodisiacs!)
13Human Sexual Response
- Kaplan's three-stage model
- Desire as distinct, but not required
- Excitement
- Orgasm
Kaplan sees desire as distinct stage of sexual
response cycle separate from genital changes
14Masters Johnson's 4 phases
- Same for men and women
- 2 Basic physiological reactions to sexual
stimulation - vasocongestion blood engorges (fills) body
tissues - myotonia increased muscle tension
- Occurs throughout body during sexual arousal
15Human Sexual Response
- Masters Johnson's 4 phases
- 1. Excitement
- 1 minute to many hours
- Sex flush
- More common in women
16Human Sexual Response
- Masters Johnson's 4 phases
- 2. Plateau - brief
- Muscle tension, heart rate, blood pressure and
vasocongestion increase
17Human Sexual Response
- Masters Johnson's 4 phases
- 3. Orgasm
- Shortest phase of sexual response cycle
18Human Sexual Response
- Masters Johnson's 4 phases
- Resolution
- Sexual systems return to their non-excited state
- Refractory
- a time when no amount of additional stimulation
will result in orgasm
19- After orgasm, women are physiologically capable
of returning to another orgasmic peak from
anywhere in the resolution phase, if she so
desires
20Sexual Response G Spot
- Grafenberg spot
- Sometimes elusive area on lower front wall of
vagina - Sensitive to pressure
- Sometimes results in orgasm when vigorously
stimulated
Locating the Grafenberg spot. Usually two fingers
are used, and it is often necessary to press
deeply into the anterior wall of the vagina to
reach the spot.
21Internet Websites
- Adult Sexual Advisor
- http//www.realage.com/Connect/healthadvisor/adult
health/crs/agevs.htm - Site documenting changes in arousal patterns for
males and females as they age - Looking for that Brain Wave Called Love
- http//www.skfriends.com/brain-wave-love.htm
- New York Times article reviewing neurological
underpinnings of sexual arousal - Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality
- Found on college Info Trac College Edition