Description:

PSYC 205, Human Sexuality, is a balanced and thoughtful account of what is known about sexuality from various perspectives. A broad and representative survey of research is presented in a number of topical areas. Psychobiology, sexual development during childhood and adolescence, sexual interactions, love relationships and behavior, gender issues, sexual orientation, health issues and diseases, and sexual problems and solutions will be studied. Primary emphasis will be placed on the individual and the couple as a unit of analysis. Class discussions of issues relating to human sexuality will be encouraged. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Describe and evaluate research methods in psychology and those methods specific to human sexuality.
2. Identify the various contributions made by biology and explain how developmental changes affect sexual behavior.
3. Analyze how sexual behavior is influenced by the interactive forces of environment and biology to influence couple interactions.
4. Using psychological methods, hypothesize how human sexual behavior might be changed to control reproduction, to remediate sexual dysfunctions and disorders, and to prevent the spread of communicable disease.
5. Describe cross-cultural similarities and differences in sexual mores and behaviors.
6. Describe and explain how human interaction affects relationships in human sexual/love situations; identify how those relationships progress over time; and identify ways theory and research have suggested those relationships can be modified.
7. Identify statutes in Kansas and Missouri, as well as federal statutes, which have focused on human sexual behavior, and identify civil liberties and civil rights associated with human sexuality.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Sex in Perspective
   A. Name the reasons for studying sexuality
      1. Identify American cultural changes over time
      2. Compare sexual cross-cultural similarities and differences
      3. Explain sexual suppression and exploitation
   B. Identify historical effects on sexual behavior
      1. Find evidence of sexual ambivalence in modern America
      2. Group the various religious views and their histories
      3. Illustrate myths and misconceptions about sex
      4. Present legal aspects of human sexuality and identify sexual
rights and limits under the law
   C. List scientific methods to study sex
      1. Investigate case studies
      2. Read results of surveys
      3. Explore laboratory observations from text and other sources
      4. Compare ethnographic studies regarding human sexuality
      5. List outcome of various experiments
      6. Discuss ethics of sexual research

II.   The Psychobiology of Sex
   A. Describe the anatomy and physiology of the sexual body considering
the following areas:
      1. Women's genitals
      2. Women's internal sex organs
      3. Men's genitals
      4. Men's internal sex organs
      5. Erogenous zones
      6. Brain structures and sex
   B. The physiology of sex
      1. List the stages in the sexual response cycle
      2. Describe the psychobiology of sexual arousal
      3. Explore the aphrodisiacs and anaphrodisiacs
   C. Trace the progress from conception through pregnancy
      1. Describe the processes in conception
      2. Identify and describe pregnancy
      3. Infertility
      4. Modern technology
      5. Identify motives for parenthood
   D. List methods of birth control
      1. The history of birth control
      2. Methods:  pro and con
      3. Abortion
      4. Why people do not use birth control

III.  Sexual Relationships and Behavior
   A. Describe love and intimate relationships
      1. The nature of close relationships
      2. The nature of love
      3. How and why relationships begin
      4. The evolution of relationships
      5. How to be a good partner/how to find one
   B. Identify sexual activities
      1. Sexual fantasy
      2. Masturbation
      3. Couple techniques
      4. Communication
   C. Describe unconventional sexual behavior and discuss possible causes
for the following:
      1. Voyeurism
      2. Exhibitionism
      3. Obscene telephone calling
      4. Fetishism
      5. Pedophilia
      6. Other paraphilias
      7. Treating paraphilias
   D. Sexual problems and solutions
      1. Name common sexual problems and describe incidence
      2. Describe theories that explain the origins of sexual problems
      3. Name the general principles of sex therapy
      4. Explain how problems of sexual desire and arousal create
difficulties
      5. How have these problems been treated?
      6. Describe the problems of painful sex and vaginismus
      7. Investigate the incidence of problems with orgasm
      8. Evaluate sex therapy:  Does it work?

IV.   The Origins and Development of Sexuality
   A. Describe the states of sexual development in childhood
      1. Explain how gender is influenced
      2. What are common sexual and gender-based behaviors in childhood
      3. Develop a list of influences on gender and sexuality
      4. Describe how the family is thought to influence gender and
sexuality
   B. Describe sexual development in adolescence and adulthood
      1. List and explain theories of how puberty and adolescence affect
adult gender and sexuality
      2. Describe normal and abnormal adult sexuality
      3. Identify effects aging has on sex and gender
   C. Sexual orientation
      1. Identify studies of statistics of sexual orientation
      2. List and compare psychological theories
      3. Identify cross-cultural treatment of homosexuality
      4. Focus on attitudes prevalent in the culture toward homosexuality

V. Social and Health Issues
   A. Describe the prevalence of sexual abuse and exploitation of the
following kinds:
      1. Rape
      2. Sexual harassment
      3. Child sexual abuse
   B. Identify sex as a commercial enterprise in the following areas:
      1. Pornography
      2. Prostitution
      3. The future of commercial sex
      4. Where do you draw the line?
   C. Identify sexually transmitted diseases and explain how the following
diseases are transmitted, treated and prevented:
      1. Bacterial infections of the cervix and the male urethra
      2. Viral infections
      3. Syphilis
      4. Parasitic infestations
      5. Vaginitis
      6. Other STDs
   D. Describe how sex should be dealt with in the following situations to
promote well-being:
      1. Sexuality in sickness and in health
      2. Disability
      3. The sexually healthy child
      4. The sexually healthy society
   E. Perspectives on loving and sex as prosocial behavior
      1. Describe lessons from other primates
      2. Explain research results regarding sex and violence
      3. Discuss Sternberg's model of emotion, passion and commitment
      4. Discuss research results relating to physical affection in
childhood and adult love/sexual adjustment
      5. Discuss maintaining long-term sexual adjustment

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

      A minimum of five examinations      40% of grade
      A library research paper            20% of grade
      Class exercises, etc., and quizzes  40% of grade

Caveats:

1. The student should be prepared to participate in class activities and discussions of topics not often discussed in public.

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.