Studying Human Sexuality
sex, advice columnists and pop psychology
thinking objectively about sexuality
sex research methods
the sex researchers
emerging research perspectives
ethnicity and sexuality
information and advice as entertainment
the use and abuse of research findings
value judgments vs objectivity
opinions, biases and stereotypes
common fallacies: egocentric and ethnocentric thinking
research concerns
having fallacious thought causes us to have an error in reasoning that affects our understanding of a subject that distorts our thinking and leads us to false or erroneous conclusions
- aimed at financial profit
- success of media personalities relies on their ability to present information as entertainment
- the genre is focused on how-to-information or on morality
- genre uses the trappings of social science and psychiatry without their substance
the media often incorporate statistics from a study's findings that are key features of social science research as a way to reinforce their authority
the media also often quote or describe social science research in an oversimplified or distorted manner that catches people's attention but in reality holds no truth to the statement
objectivity about sex is difficult bcs our culture has traditionally viewed sex as being right or wrong, good or bad, normal or abnormal
we often make value judgments when examining sexuality that are based on moral or ethical standards rather than objective ones
interferes with the pursuit of knowledge
ethical issues
sampling
clinical research
the in-depth examination of an individual or group that goes to a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker for assistance with psychological or medical problems and disorders
survey research
method that uses interviews or questionnaires to gather information
observational research
method by which a researcher unobtrusively observes and makes systematic notes about people's behaviors without trying to manipulate it
experimental research
the systematic manipulation of individuals or the environment to learn the effects of such manipulation on behavior
richard von krafft-ebing
a viennese professor of psychiatry, the most influential of early researchers
traced variations in victorian sexuality to hereditary taint to moral degeneracy and in particular, to masturbation
sigmund freud
very famous psychologist for his work on the unconscious
suggested that repression keeps people from being aware of hidden memories and motives because they aroused guilt
believes that sexuality begins at birth
havelock ellis
english physician and psychologist that was the most important modern sexual theorist and scholar
one of his most important contributions was pointing out the relativity of sexual values
alfred kinsey
biologist at indiana university and a leading authority on gall wasps, destroyed the belief of american sexual innocence and virtue
challenged the traditional medical field's dominance of sexual research, leading the field open to many more disciplines
william masters and virginia johnson
st. louis physicians who become interested in treating sexual function difficulties such as early ejaculation and erection difficulties in men, and lack of orgasm in women
african-americans
gender is significant in all aspects of social life
the female experience of sex has been devalued
power is a critical element in male-female relationship
ethnic diversity must be addressed
seen as hypersexualized beings
males were thought to be overly masculine and females thought to be promisscuous
latinos
two stereotypes depict latinos as sexually permissive
males are thought to be promiscuous and macho
asian-americans and pacific islanders
less individualistic and more relationship oriented than members of other cultures
people with stronger ties to traditional beliefs are less sexually liberal, while those who are assimilated to western culture is more open about sexuality
middle eastern-americans
not much research in areas of sexual expression and sexual orientation
patriarchal system helps perpetuate some of the struggles that middle eastern women face
believes that sex should be learned after marriage through married friends or the media