The Learning Outcomes detailed below and with each Lesson, focus the expected learning outcomes for each lesson and chapter.

Learning Outcome One:

Define and describe the distinction between "sex" and gender."

In this chapter the authors, Hyde and Delamater, define “Sexual Behavior” (p. 23.) is behavior that produces arousal and increases the chance of orgasm. Further they make a distinction between gender and sex:

The term GENDER refers to the state of being male or female, whereas the word SEX is ambiguous referring to being male or female, sometimes sexual behavior/reproduction and other times it refers to a context (i.e., job application), sometimes sexual practices, sometimes one’s temperament (women aren’t “temperamental,” are they?) and sometimes it refers to personalities. So the term GENDER is really more specific than the word SEX. (p2,3).

Learning Outcome 2

Discuss the history of sexual information and study, including important contributions made in the late 1800s and early 1900s by Sigmund Freud, Havelock Ellis, Richard von Krafft-Ebing, and Magnus Hirschfeld.

The scientific study of human sexuality began in the 19 century against the background of religious understanding. Certainly, religion continues to be an influence on our ideas today.

Although scientific groundwork had been laid by early observations, Freud, the founder of psychiatry and psychoanalysis, introduced a major advance regardless of the repressive Victorian culture in which he lived and studied. Later Henry Havelock Ellis compiled a vast collection of information on sexuality, medical anthropological findings and case histories, and believed that sexual deviations from the norm are often harmless. He wanted to collect information about human sexuality rather than make judgments (negative or positive) about the subject. Richard von Krafft-Ebing was interested in “pathological” sexuality and his work unlike that of Ellis’ tended to be not Outcome nor tolerant. Often with the famous names noted above writers on human sexuality tend to forget Magnus Hirschfeld who founded the first sex research institute (sorry Alfred Kinsey) and administered the first survey on sex. He even established the first journal on the study of sex and a marriage counseling service. His valuable work was destroyed by the Nazis (Text, Page 7). We can say that the early (and great) sex researchers were male, studied sexuality in a cultural context of sexual repression (as well as opposition), were quite varied in their specific interests in sexual beliefs and behavior, and often let their own beliefs and values influence their areas of study (Text, p. 7).

Learning Outcome No. 3

Discuss studies involving various human cultures around the world and within different groups in the United States, and the fact that these studies provide evidence of the variations in human sexual behavior and beliefs. For example, within the United States, sexual behavior varies with social class and ethnic group.

One of the most interesting studies regarding human sexuality was that of Celia Mosher who found that women were slower in reaching orgasm and that opposite Victorian repression, most women seemed to enjoy sex with their husbands (Text, P.6). In fact, women (of this era) indicated that they experienced orgasm and desired sex on a regular basis, further, their most common form of birth control was douching (Text p. 6).

Nevertheless, Ford and Beach described that even in 1951, the United States, in terms of permissiveness-restrictiveness terms was relatively restrictive.

Studies have found that “The frequency of intercourse for married couples varies considerable from one culture to the next with very few cultures encouraging engaging in sexual intercourse but more which do forbid intercourse at certain times or in certain situations (text, p. 12). Next to incest, the most strictly prohibited type of sexual contact is extramarital sex (text, p. 13). “The United States population is composed of many ethnic groups, and (as would be expected) there are some variations among these groups in sexual behavior. These variations are the result of different cultural heritages as well as of current economic and social conditions,” (Text. p. 15).

One conclusion we draw from cross-cultural studies of human sexual behavior is that a great deal of variation exists across cultures (Text, p. 20).

Learning Outcome No. 3

Compare the findings from studies of sexual behavior in various animal species with what we know of human sexual behavior.

Female sexuality provides an illustration of the shift in hormonal control from lower to higher species, in the animal kingdom, female sexual behaviors is controlled by hormones for example, females do not engage in sexual behavior at all except when they are in “heat” (estrus), in contrast human females are capable of engaging in sexual behavi0or during any phase of their hormonal (menstrual) cycle (paraphrased) (Text, p. 22).

Sometimes sex is used among animals for other purposes than hormonal urges; for example, there are several species of mammals where the males often mount other males, although penile intromission usually does not occur. Apparently this behavior is a reflection of the power hierarchy in the respective group (Text pp.20-21).

Another interesting finding in human sexuality behavior is that within lower species is that the desire for sex in often indicated by a female parading in front of a group of males and then makes eye contact with one of them (Text, p.21).

DISCUSSION QUESTION

LESSON ONE/CHAPTER ONE

What aspects of sexuality do we know are unique about human sexuality? Explain. Plan on using quotations (few) and paraphrasing from the text as well as your own observations. Respond to two other students (explain your responses). Be sure that you post three times separately to receive full credit for your responses.

Note: plan on using quotations (few) and paraphrasing from the text as well as your own observations. Respond to two other students (explain your responses). Be sure that you post three times separately to receive full credit for your responses.

QUIZ

There will be a graded quizzes this week. This lesson does contain a graded quiz.  Please complete it.