Sexual Variants and Disorders Sarason Abnormal Psychology 12e

Sexual Variants and Disorders Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall

Sexual Behavior Ø Changing Views of Sexual Behavior Ø Ø Ø Change over time Sometimes permissive, at other times restrictive Views toward sexual preferences vary across cultures and over time Sigmund Freud – People innately sexual; sexual repression has negative effects. Havelock Ellis – Emphasized psychological basis of sexual problems Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 2 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 3 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

Factors related to Sexual Dysfunction Ø Ø Ø Performance anxiety Sexual or life-style problems Negative concerns and attitudes learned early in life (including moral/ religious beliefs) Relationship stress Fatigue Alcohol and other substances Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 4 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions Ø Masters and Johnson: Sex Therapy Ø Ø Ø Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (Individual or couple) Ø Ø Ø Relaxation Modeling Systematic desensitization Use of fantasy Examination of beliefs and attitudes Psychodynamic therapy (Couples or individual) Ø Ø Focus on couples and verbal and nonverbal communication Sensate focus – Sexual-retraining techniques For individuals whose symptoms are rooted in conflict CBT or dynamic therapy can be combined with sex therapy Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 5 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

Homosexuality (gay, lesbian, bisexual) Ø Ø Homosexual behavior Ø Defined as sexual behavior with member’s of one’s own sex Ø Is NOT a DSM diagnosis Homosexual persons Ø Individuals who prefer to engage in sexual activity with members of their own sex over an extended period of time Bisexual behavior Ø Preferred partners are sometime same sex, sometimes opposite sex Origins of sexual orientation Ø Multiple determinants, including psychosocial and Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e biological factors 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 6 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

Homosexual Experiences Description Men Women Self-identified as homosexual or bisexual 2. 8 % 1. 4% Had sex with person of same sex at least once since puberty 5. 3% 3. 5% Felt desire for sex with person of same sex 7. 7% 7. 5% 10. 1% 8. 6% Total reporting some same-sex desires or experiences Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 7 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

Sexual Disorders Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 8 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

Gender Identity Disorder Ø Gender identity Ø Ø Ø Gender identity problems in childhood Ø Ø Individual sexual self-concept- Feeling of being male or female Differs from sexual preference Prior to puberty, children express distress at their gender and intense desire to be the opposite sex Gender Identity Disorder in adults Ø Ø Transsexualism Ø Intense desire to change sexual identity and anatomical status Nontranssexual gender identity disorder Ø Uncomfortable with their sex, frequently cross-dress, no desire to change anatomy Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 9 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

The Paraphilias Ø Ø Unusual or possibly deviant sexual attraction Fetishism - Objects Ø Ø Ø Transvestic fetishism – Cross-dressing Sexual sadism – Orgasm through inflicting pain Sexual masochism – Orgasm through receiving pain or humiliation Voyeurism – Gratification by watching others Exhibitionism – Arousal from exposure of genitals in public setting Pedophilia – Children are main source of sexual desire Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 10 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

Treatment of Paraphilias Ø Ø Ø Hormone treatment used to control desire Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapy sometimes effective (e. g. covert sensitization) Psychodynamic psychotherapy of little value Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 11 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

Treatment of Paraphilias Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 12 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005

Sexual Victimization Ø Types Ø Ø Sexual victimizers Ø Ø Ø Sexual assaults like rape and child sexual abuse Most have Axis I and II diagnoses Resistant to treatment, but cognitive-behavioral therapy is promising Effect on victims Ø Ø At least 500, 000 victims a year in the U. S. Victims may suffer long-lasting anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression Many suffer from low self-esteem Often leads to hypervigilance for cues associated with victimization and/ or sex Sarason, Abnormal Psychology, 11/e 12/e, (c) 2005, Prentice Hall 13 by Sarason & Sarason © 2005