Week 2: Sex
, ARTICLES (first brief summary then article notes)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
The physiology of human sexual responding
Rhock chapter 3
ARTICLE SUMMARY
Background Human sexual responses are fundamentally the same regardless of
sex or gender and whether through masturbation or sex
Aim Examine physiology of sexual responses, relate and discuss
theoretical perspectives
Method Review / overview
Main findings See summary table at end of article
Conclusions See summary table at end of article
Keywords Historical sex theories, masters and johnson, kinsey reports, EPOR
model, reeds erotic stimulus pathway, kaplans three stage model
Introduction
● Anatomy and physiology are not the same thing
● Anatomy = digestive system, mouth, esophagus etc - knowing this says nothing about how it
actually works (process wise)
This chapter:
● Examines physiology of the human sexual response
● Before, during and after sex
● Various theories
--> keep in mind that these responses are fundamentally the same regardless of sex, gender and
masturbation or sex
Historical perspectives
Kinsey reports 1940s / 50s
● Rare glimpse into sexual activities
, ● Still often cited
Sexual revolution in the 60s
Masters and Johnson
Extensive research on sexual responding
Subjects were measured / observed while having heterosexual intercourse in various positions and
during masturbation
They observed around 10,000 complete sexual response cycles
Biology, psychology and human sexual responding
What makes the human sex experience different?
● Although we share many similarities with other animals, there are some differences
Why do we become aroused?
● Feeling / giving pleasure
● Expressing closeness
● Relieving stress
● Etc etc
Masters and Johnson: the excitement-plateau-orgasm resolution model (EPOR)
Not all of their work has been universally accepted
They did however find certain predictable consistencies in human sexual responding
Of course we all have differences in how we respond but our physical patterns of sexual arousal are
much more similar than different
How does our body change during sexual stimulation?
Masters and johnson came up with the EPOR model
1. Excitement
2. Plateau
3. Orgasm
4. Resolution
, Excitement and plateau: the first two stages
Proceeding research suggests that the plateau should not be its own stage but an extension of
excitement
Aphrodisiac --> science still has to prove that these actually exist
Excitement stage
● Vascocongestion
● Sex flush
● Womens first physical change = erection of clitoris + vaginal lubrication
Plateau phase
● Masters and johnson observed that for many people, a levelling off of arousal occurred at some
point in the excitement phase
● Erectile tissues filled with blood, heart rate, blood pressure high
● Tenting = two thirds of vagina continue to expand, creates place for semen to pool
Orgasmic phase
● Climax of sexual arousal
● Women can have more orgasms without a refractory period = multiple orgasms
For women
● Anus, uterus, pelvic floor and outer third vagina contract at 0.8 intervals
For men
● Pelvic contractions
● Ejaculation has two stages, emission and expulsion
Both men and women describe orgasms in very similar ways
, ARTICLES (first brief summary then article notes)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
The physiology of human sexual responding
Rhock chapter 3
ARTICLE SUMMARY
Background Human sexual responses are fundamentally the same regardless of
sex or gender and whether through masturbation or sex
Aim Examine physiology of sexual responses, relate and discuss
theoretical perspectives
Method Review / overview
Main findings See summary table at end of article
Conclusions See summary table at end of article
Keywords Historical sex theories, masters and johnson, kinsey reports, EPOR
model, reeds erotic stimulus pathway, kaplans three stage model
Introduction
● Anatomy and physiology are not the same thing
● Anatomy = digestive system, mouth, esophagus etc - knowing this says nothing about how it
actually works (process wise)
This chapter:
● Examines physiology of the human sexual response
● Before, during and after sex
● Various theories
--> keep in mind that these responses are fundamentally the same regardless of sex, gender and
masturbation or sex
Historical perspectives
Kinsey reports 1940s / 50s
● Rare glimpse into sexual activities
, ● Still often cited
Sexual revolution in the 60s
Masters and Johnson
Extensive research on sexual responding
Subjects were measured / observed while having heterosexual intercourse in various positions and
during masturbation
They observed around 10,000 complete sexual response cycles
Biology, psychology and human sexual responding
What makes the human sex experience different?
● Although we share many similarities with other animals, there are some differences
Why do we become aroused?
● Feeling / giving pleasure
● Expressing closeness
● Relieving stress
● Etc etc
Masters and Johnson: the excitement-plateau-orgasm resolution model (EPOR)
Not all of their work has been universally accepted
They did however find certain predictable consistencies in human sexual responding
Of course we all have differences in how we respond but our physical patterns of sexual arousal are
much more similar than different
How does our body change during sexual stimulation?
Masters and johnson came up with the EPOR model
1. Excitement
2. Plateau
3. Orgasm
4. Resolution
, Excitement and plateau: the first two stages
Proceeding research suggests that the plateau should not be its own stage but an extension of
excitement
Aphrodisiac --> science still has to prove that these actually exist
Excitement stage
● Vascocongestion
● Sex flush
● Womens first physical change = erection of clitoris + vaginal lubrication
Plateau phase
● Masters and johnson observed that for many people, a levelling off of arousal occurred at some
point in the excitement phase
● Erectile tissues filled with blood, heart rate, blood pressure high
● Tenting = two thirds of vagina continue to expand, creates place for semen to pool
Orgasmic phase
● Climax of sexual arousal
● Women can have more orgasms without a refractory period = multiple orgasms
For women
● Anus, uterus, pelvic floor and outer third vagina contract at 0.8 intervals
For men
● Pelvic contractions
● Ejaculation has two stages, emission and expulsion
Both men and women describe orgasms in very similar ways
