The Psychology Of Human Sexuality 3rd Edition

New edition of an authoritative guide to human sexual behavior from a biopsychosocial perspective

The Psychology of Human Sexuality is a comprehensive guide to major theoretical perspectives on human sexuality and the vast diversity of sexual attitudes and behaviors around the world, with broad coverage of topics including anatomy, gender and sexual orientation, sexual behaviors, sexual difficulties and solutions, sex work and pornography. Written from a sex-positive perspective with material that is inclusive and respectful of a diverse audience, the text includes cutting edge research on the origins of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as new treatments for sexually transmitted infections and diseases.

To aid in student learning, the text is accompanied by online resources, including a test bank and instructor slides. Separate chapters deal with attraction and relationship processes.

The Psychology of Human Sexuality includes information on:

• Sex science studies that researchers have failed to reliably replicate since the 2nd Edition was published, and the broader “replication crisis” in psychology
• “Graysexual” identities that fall on the spectrum between allosexual and asexual, and the sex recession of modern times
• Recent studies that shed light on sexual behavior in cultures that have previously been the subject of very little study
• Sex and disability, and “take-home messages” to allow readers to implement beneficial changes in their lives

An important and comprehensive text that provides readers with a better understanding of, and appreciation for, the science of sex and sexual diversity, The Psychology of Human Sexuality is an essential resource for students of human sexuality in both intermediate and advanced undergraduate courses.

About the Author xi

Foreplay xii

List of Illustrations xiv

List of Text Boxes xxi

List of Tables xxiii

About the Companion Website xxiv

1 Theoretical Perspectives on Human Sexuality 1

Introduction 2

What Drives Us to Have Sex? 2

Psychological Influences 2

Cultural, Societal, and Environmental Influences 3

Biological and Evolutionary Influences 6

Major Theoretical Perspectives on Human Sexuality 7

Psychoanalytic Theory 7

Cognitive-Behavioral and Learning Theories 8

Exchange Theories 12

Personality Theories 12

Evolutionary Theory 15

The Perspective of This Text 16

Key Terms 18

Discussion Questions: What Is Your Perspective on Sex? 18

References 18

2 Sexology Research: History, Methods, and Ethics 21

Introduction 22

A Brief History of Sexology 22

Hidden Figures in Sexology 25

Sexology as a Science 26

Sample Selection 27

Nonexperimental Research 28

Surveys 28

Direct Observation 31

Case Reports 35

Experimental Research 35

A Sample Sexperiment 35

Strengths and Limitations of the Experimental Method 36

A Note on Statistics 36

Means and Medians 36

Incidence and Prevalence 37

Correlation 37

Ethics in Sexology Research 38

Informed Consent 40

Debriefing 40

Confidentiality 41

How Reliable Are the Results of Sex Studies? 42

Evaluating Sex Research 42

Key Terms 43

Discussion Questions: What Is Your Perspective on Sex? 43

References 43

3 Human Sexual Anatomy 46

Introduction 47

Anatomy of the Penis 47

A Historical and Cultural Overview of the Penis 47

External Anatomy 48

Internal Anatomy 52

Psychology of the Penis: Genital Concerns 54

Genital Health