Chapter 13: Sexual Disorders

Question 1

What are the “Five Layers of Erotic Life?”

Answer 1

1) Gender identity
2) Sexual orientation
3) Sexual preference
4) Sex role
5) Sexual performance

Question 2

Define “Sexual Orientation”

Answer 2

Who you are attracted to.

Question 3

Define “Sexual Preference”

Answer 3

Types of persons, parts of the body, situations that are the objects of your sexual fantasies.

Question 4

How is sexual preference tie in with sexual disorder?

Answer 4

When sexual preferences, such as objects of attraction, get in the way of an affectionate, erotic relationship with another consenting human being.

Question 5

Define “Sex Role”

Answer 5

• Public expression of gender identity

- What an individual does to indicate that he is a man or she is a woman.

Question 6

Define “Sexual Performance”

Answer 6

How adequately you perform when you are with a suitable person in a suitable erotic setting.

Question 7

Prevalence of Transsexualism

Answer 7

• 1 in 100,000.

- More male-to-female than female-to-male, by as much as 2.5 times.

Question 8

How does transsexualism develop?

Answer 8

• In theory, a massive dose of testosterone produces both male sexual organs and male identity. An insufficient dose produces male organs but female identity. Conversely the same for female-to-male.
• Happens after 8th week of natal development.

Question 9

What is “adrenogenital syndrome?”

Answer 9

• Chromosomally male but born with male internal organs, but with a “dead-end” vagina
• Most are declared and raised as girls.

Question 10

What is “Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome?”

Answer 10

• Internal female organs but male external organs
• Penis and scrotum look convincing, but they are actually an enormously enlarged and penile-shaped clitoris. The scrotum contains no testicles.
• Many with AGS are declared boys.

Question 11

Define “Ego-Dystonic Homosexuals”

Answer 11

Homosexuals who try to change to heterosexual.

Question 12

Factors that influence orientation:

Answer 12

1) Rearing
2) Role models
3) Pubertal hormones
4) Genes
5) The content of late childhood play
6) Fantasies and dreams
7) Early sexual experiences (fetishisms, paraphilias)(Pavlovian conditioning)

Question 13

Define “Exhibitionism”

Answer 13

• Exposing genitalia to unwilling and/or unwitting strangers.
• The act of exposure is the final act of release. There is no seduction of the observer.
• Makes up 1/10 of sex crimes

Question 14

What is the procedure of courting and at what step do exhibitionists deviate?

Answer 14

1) Location of a partner
2) Pretactile interactions
- This is where exhibitionists go astray.
3) Tactile interactions
4) Intercourse

Question 15

What is “telephone scatalogia?”

Answer 15

Recurrent and intense sexual urges to make obscene calls to nonconsenting individuals

Question 16

What is “frotteurism?”

Answer 16

Involves touching and rubbing against a non-consenting person, usually in a crowded place.

Question 17

Pedophilia makes up what % of sex crimes?

Answer 17

30%

Question 18

What are the age requirements for it to be considered pedophilia?

Answer 18

Person must be 16 and at least 5 years older than the victim.

Question 19

What is a cathexis?

Answer 19

A psychodynamic theory that refers to the charging of a neutral object with physical energy either positive or negative.

Question 20

What are the two types of Cathexis?

Answer 20

1) Positive
- Object incites arousal
2) Negative
- Object incites fear

Question 21

What are the three properties of a cathexis?

Answer 21

1) They have their beginnings in childhood experience
2) They resist change, particularly rational change
3) They last and last, usually remaining a lifetime

Question 22

What are some attempts at changing sexual preference?

Answer 22

1) Aversion Therapy
- Electric shock or chemical nauseants
- Orgasmic reconditioning
- Masturbatory satiation
- Alternative behavior completion
2) CBT
- Either undoing preference or teaching how to avoid or prevent behaviors?
3) Chemical or surgical castration
4) Anti-androgens
- Cyproterone acetate and medroxyprogesterone
5) Triptorelin
6) SSRI

Question 23

What is “Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia?”

Answer 23

When girls were bathed in more androgen during natal development, causing them to become “tomboyish.”

Question 24

Factors of Sexual Performance

Answer 24

1) Erotic Desire
2) Physical excitement
3) Orgasm
4) Resolution

Any fault in any of these perspectives can cause sexual dysfunction.

Question 25

What are the thoughts and feelings of someone with “Sexual Aversion Disorder?”

Answer 25

May feel disgust, fear, revulsion when sex becomes a possibility

Question 26

Female sexual arousal disorder symptoms

Answer 26

1) Vagina does not lubricate, clitoris does not enlarge, uterus may not swell, and her nipples may not become erect.
2) May not enjoy intercourse or stimulation or consider sex an ordeal.
3) Frequently she becomes a spectator rather than participator.
4) Sexual pain disorders (vaginismus) in which the muscles of the vagina spasm involuntarily when intercourse is attempted. Even insertion of tampon can be painful
5) Dyspareunia: in which severe pain occurs during intercourse, even though desire, excitement and orgasm are all intact.

Question 27

Other sexual disorders

Answer 27

1) Hypoactive Sexual Desire or Sexual Aversion
2) Male erectile disorder
3) Female orgasmic disorder
4) Male Orgasmic Disorder
5) Premature ejaculation
6) Retarded ejaculation

Question 28

Drugs that causes sexual dysfunction

Answer 28

1) Alcohol, cocaine, heroin and marijuana, all of which impair sexual hormones
2) Anti-hypertensives
3) Major and minor tranquilizers
4) Tricyclic anti-depressants
- Treated with Yohimbine
5) Antihistamines

Question 29

Other physical causes of sexual dysfunction

Answer 29

1) Aging
2) Poor circulation
3) Low testosterone
4) Constricted arteries
5) Leaky veins preventing blood to collect in penis
6) Diabetes and kidney disease reduce sensitivity in that area

Question 30

Other reasons for sexual dysfunctions in women

Answer 30

1) Injuries
2) Physical anomalies in the genitals
3) Neurological disorders
4) Inflammations
5) Following surgeries such as lumpectomy or a
6) Hysterectomy

Question 31

Psychodynamic view of sexual disorder

Answer 31

Unconscious conflict, shame or guilt producing anxiety during sex, leading to unresponsiveness

Question 32

Behavioral view of sexual disorder

Answer 32

• Traumatic early sexual experience, leading to a conditioned fear of failure, producing anxiety, blocking an erection
• Particularly true in men
• Pavlovian conditioning specifically

Question 33

Cognitive View of Sexual Dysfunction

Answer 33

1) The person observes and judges him or herself during sex, interfering with enjoyment and producing anxiety, blocking erection or orgasm
2) Thoughts of insecurity block the parasympathetic responding that is the basis of the human sexual response
3) Distractions
4) Transient negative mood

Question 34

Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions

Answer 34

1) Direct Sexual Therapy
2) Sensate focus
3) Drug treatments
4) Evaluation of sexual therapy