Summary Sexology Hyde & DeLamater - Chapter 1, 2 and 3. Perfect to see whether or not you are interested in this topic, without having to purchase the full book!
Summary Sexology Hyde & DeLamater - Chapter 1 to 5
VERY EXTENSIVE & ELABORATE SUMMARY (Ch. 1 - 10) - UNDERSTANDING HUMAN SEXUALITY - SEXOLOGY
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Concept Important person
Chapter 1 – Sexuality in Perspective
Why study sex?
Curiosity as sex is somewhat taboo in our culture
Practicality as sex is important in many people’s lives
Knowing about how to deal with sexual problems
Sex and Gender
Sex = sexual anatomy and sexual behavior. Gender = being male, female or other (i.e. trans)
Gender binary = conceptualizing gender as having only two categories (male and female)
Sexual behavior = behavior that produces arousal and increases the chance of orgasm
The history of Understanding sexuality: religion and Science
Religion
Throughout history, religion (and rumor) provided most of the information that people had about
sexuality. In ancient Greece, sexual orientation and sexual desire was understood through mythology:
original humans were double beings (double males, double females, half male half female). The gods split
these in half, of which heterosexuals and homosexuals resulted that continued to search forever for their
missing half. Fifteenth-century Christians considered people that had wet dreams guilty of sodomy and
witchcraft. Muslims have believed that sexual intercourse is one of the finest pleasures of life (though the
teachings of the Koran vary per country).
Science
The scientific study of sex began in the 19th century (Victorian era), though before this numerous findings
had already occurred (e.g. sperm swimming in human semen, the fertilization of the egg by sperm in sea
urchins). Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was very influential (see chapter 2). In the late 1800s the
Victorian norms about sexuality were very rigid and oppressive (there were even devices to prevent
masturbation), however there was a wide discrepancy between these sexual norms and actual behavior
which resulted in a lot of personal tension that became fuel for Freud his studies.
Forerunner of modern sex research: Henry Havelok Ellis (1959-1939). He published a rather
objective series of volumes titled Studies in the Psychology of Sex (1896). He believed that sexual
deviations from the norm are often harmless and should be accepted by society.
The psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing (1840-1902) had an interest in “pathological
sexuality”, which resulted in the book Psychopathia Sexualis in which he coined the concepts of sadism,
masochism, and pedophilia. The terms heterosexuality and homosexuality originated from the translation
of his book in English in 1892.
The German Magnus Hirschfeld (1868-1935) founded the first sex research institute and
administered the first large scale sex survey (10.000 people), of which most of the data was sadly
destroyed by the Nazis. He also established the first ‘sex journal’, a marriage council service, worked for
legal reforms and gave advice on contraception and sex problems. He also introduced the term
transvestite (he himself was both homosexual and a transvestite).
In the 20th century, Alfred Kinsley and his colleagues conducted surveys of human sexual
behavior and Masters and Johnson investigated sexual disorders and the physiology of sexual
responses. Margeret Mead and Bronislaw Malinowski collected data on sexual behaviors in other
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, Concept Important person
cultures. Thus, by the 1990s, major, well-conducted sex surveys were available. Sexology nowadays tends
to be an interdisciplinary field (biology, psychology, sociology, anthropology and physiology).
The Media
Today, the mass-media carry extensive portrayals of sexuality and are a powerful influence on
most people’s understanding of sexuality. The mass media may have an influence through:
Cultivation theory = the view that exposure to the mass media makes people think that
what they see there represents the mainstream of what really occurs
Framing theory = the theory that the media draw attention to certain topics and not to
others, suggesting that we should think about or frame the issues
Social cognitive theory (social learning) = the idea that the media provide role models
whom we imitate (see chapter 2)
Reinforcing spiral theory = a theory that one’s social identities and ideologies predict
one’s media use and, in turn, media use affects our identity and beliefs
Other important concepts:
Selectivity = the principle that people select and pay attention only to certain media and ignore
others (not the same as the framing theory!). And differential susceptibility model = some
people are more susceptible than others to certain types of media
Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Sexuality
Culture = the part of the environment created by humans, including the set of meanings that a
group adopts; these meanings (1) facilitate social coordination, (2) clarify where boundaries
between groups lie, and (3) make life seem predictable. Cultures tend to have one of three main
themes:
1. Individual cultures = those that stress independence and autonomy and the individual
rights of people
2. Collectivistic cultures = those that emphasize interdependence and connections among
people, the group is more important than the individual.
3. Honor cultures = those that stress “face”, that is, individuals’ reputation and the respect
or honor that people show toward others.
Ethnocentrism = the tendency to regard one’s own ethnic group and culture as superior to
others and to believe that its customs and way of life are the standards by which other cultures
should be judged. Ethnocentrism tends to influence our understanding of human sexual
behavior.
All societies regulate sexual behavior in some way, though the exact regulations vary a lot from
one culture to the next. Sex seems to be regulated in all cultures (e.g. incest taboos are nearly
universal, and most societies condemn forced sexual relations).
The ‘romantic’ kiss is not found in all societies. There is also variation in techniques of kissing.
Cunnilingus (oral stimulation of female genitals) occurs in societies, especially in the south
specific. Inflicting pain on the partner is common in some societies. The frequency of intercourse
for married couples varies considerably (from 5 times per day to once every month). Most
societies have restrictions that forbid intercourse at certain times or in certain situations (e.g.
postpartum sex taboo).
Attitudes toward masturbation (sexual self-stimulation of the genitals) vary widely. Almost all
human societies express some disapproval of adult masturbation, however at least some adults
in all societies appear to practice it. Female masturbation occurs in other societies.
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