Chapter 13
Adult Sexual Behaviors and Attitudes
For use with text,
Human Sexuality Today,
5th edition.
Bruce M. King
Slides by Callista Lee
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King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
What is normal?
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Recall that “normal” is different between
cultures and changes throughout history.
Statistically normal – a large number of people
engage in the behavior.
Normal is actually a range of behaviors.
Most sexual behaviors are considered normal
as long as the individual does not suffer
physical or psychological damage, does not
harm others and the behavior doesn’t interfere
with daily life.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Masturbation
across history and culture (1)
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Some cultures have condemned selfpleasuring (especially to the point of
ejaculation in men) as being harmful to the
man and/or against god’s will.
Victorians forced children to wear chastity belts
and metal gloves to bed and circumcision and
clitoridectomy became popularized as antimasturbation prevention.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Masturbation
across history and culture (2)
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J.H. Kellogg invented cornflakes to be used as
an anti-masturbation breakfast food; Dr.
Graham invented the graham cracker for the
same reason – don’t worry; it doesn’t work.
Orthodox Jews still consider it a major sin.
Some cultures (e.g. followers of Egypt’s
ancient god Atum) have honored masturbation,
or at least accepted it as a normal behavior.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Recent attitudes
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Former U.S. Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders
was fired in 1994 for suggesting that teens
consider masturbation instead of premarital
sexual intercourse and its health risks.
Sexologists remain puzzled at the fear and
anxiety roused by such a innocuous behavior.
Nearly half of Americans who masturbate
continue to feel guilty or wrong about it.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Who masturbates and why?
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Men are more likely to begin masturbating
before they begin having sexual intercourse;
for women, the reverse is true.
Among today’s college students, twice as
many men as women report masturbating.
2/3 agree that masturbation is a natural part of
life and it continues into marriage.
Multiple reasons – variety, exploring one’s own
sexuality, simple pleasure, learning orgasm
control, tension relief…can you think of more?
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Masturbation methods
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Most men rhythmically stroke up and down the
body and glans of the penis with one hand;
some simultaneously stimulate their testicles.
Women vary more in their methods, stimulating
the clitoris, labia minora, and/or entire vulva.
Only 20% or fewer insert a finger or anything
else into the vagina.
Women enjoy a variety of body positions, use
one finger, two, whole hand or a vibrator.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Ethnic differences in behavior
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Only 40% of African-American men
masturbated in the past year, while 2/3 of white
and Latino men, and slightly fewer AsianAmerican men did.
White Americans are most likely to engage in
oral-genital sex; African-Americans the least
likely.
Latino-Americans are the group most likely to
engage in anal intercourse.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Sexual fantasies
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Women’s fantasies tend to be more romantic
and emotional while men’s tend to be more
explicit and visual.
Most common is a fantasy of a present, former
or imaginary partner.
Four main categories
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Exploratory – never-tried behaviors
Intimacy – sex with a known partner
Impersonal – sex with strangers
Dominance-submission themes
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Fantasy sex: Its only a movie
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Although a common fantasy is to imagine
having sex with someone other than your
partner (replacement fantasy), it does not
indicate a desire to do so in real life.
Sexual fantasies are often an indicator of
having a healthy sexuality.
Fantasies provide a safe and private outlet for
thoughts that, if actually engaged in, might be
considered improper and/or illegal.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Positions for sexual intercourse
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Coitus = sexual intercourse
Missionary position – woman lying face up with
man on top, facing her; so named for the
Christian missionaries who taught Polynesians
that any other position was sinful.
The woman-on-top position is most popular in
cultures in which women enjoy high social
status. Women are more likely to achieve
orgasm during coitus in this position.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Man-on-top (missionary position)
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King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Woman-on-top
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King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Pros and cons to consider
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For each position, consider
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Is face-to-face contact important to me?
Am I able to orgasm in this position?
Do I reach orgasm too quickly in this position?
Is this position physically comfortable?
Are my hands free to touch my partner or myself?
Do I feel safe and cared for in this position?
How does this position feel to my partner?
Has this position become routine for us?
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Man-from-behind
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Intercourse while sitting
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King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Coital variations
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Not pictured is a side-by-side variation, also
common. Variations are as numerous as a
couple’s imagination, flexibility and strength.
A recent survey of college students found that
45% of men preferred woman-on-top; 1/3 of
college women also preferred that position
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25% men preferred man-on-top; another 25%
preferred man-from-behind
48% women preferred man-on-top; another 15%
preferred man-from-behind
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Oral-genital sex
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Kissing is often our first sexual behavior;
kissing during during other sexual behaviors is
very common. Oral sex is possible next step.
Fellatio – oral stimulation of the penis
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“Giving Head” usually refers to fellatio but could be
used to describe cunnilingus as well.
Cunnilingus – oral stimulation of the vulva
Oral sex may be part of “foreplay” or may be
the preferred sexual behavior.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Cunnilingus
Many women report that oral stimulation of the area
around the clitoris is more pleasurable than coitus.
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King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Fellatio
Many men
find fellatio to
be more
intense
(especially
orgasm
during
fellatio) than
coitus.
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King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
But isn’t oral sex pretty weird?
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70-90% of sexually active teens and young
adults engage in oral-genital sex.
People tend to become more accepting of a
sexual behavior when they learn that it is not
abnormal – remember how you first felt when
you learned about “French” kissing?
Some people worry about cleanliness – people
who are healthy and bathe regularly pose no
risk. Your mouth carries more germs than your
genitals do.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
What about “69?”
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“69” in which both partners pleasure each other
orally at the same time is not as common as
rumors would lead one to believe; many
individuals prefer to focus on either giving or
receiving the pleasures of oral sex.
Giving oral sex can represent moments of
extreme intimacy, to be savored.
Receiving oral sex can be an opportunity to let
your partner give you a gift.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Why anal sex?
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The anus has numerous nerve endings and is
very sensitive to touch; the anal sphincter
muscle undergoes rhythmic contractions during
orgasm in both men and women.
Anal sex can include
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Anal intercourse (penis in anus)
Use of fingers or dildos (insertion or caressing)
Rimming (oral-anal)
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Who has anal sex?
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Among heterosexuals, 20-26% report having
tried anal intercourse (10% have engaged in it
within the past year), but numbers may be
higher. This behavior is stigmatized among
many heterosexuals because many people
think of it as a “gay” behavior.
About 75% of gay males have engaged in anal
intercourse within the past year; not all gay
men enjoy anal sexual behaviors.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Is anal sex safe?
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Many people like the “tighter” sensation, but
this means tissues must be forced to stretch.
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Anal intercourse is a high risk behavior for HIV
because it is likely that thin rectal membranes
will tear a little, allowing infected semen into the
bloodstream. Only infected fluids can infect you.
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Be sensitive to your partner’s response.
Lubrication is important for comfort and safety.
Condoms tear more often during anal intercourse
than during vaginal intercourse.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
Which behaviors are preferred
among heterosexuals aged 18 - 44?
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Vaginal sex – 1st most preferred by all groups.
Receiving oral sex – 2nd for whites, Asian
Americans and Latina women; 3rd for African
Americans and Latino men.
Watching partner undress – 2nd for African
Americans and Latino men; 3rd for whites,
Latina women and Asian Americans.
Giving oral sex – ranked 4th by all groups.
Anal sex was ranked low by all groups.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall
The sexually healthy person
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Despite the ratings on the previous slide, there
is wide variance between individuals; honor
yourself as an individual.
The sexually healthy person
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Feels comfortable with his or her sexuality; feeling
fulfillment from his/her relationships and behaviors.
Feels free to choose whether or not he or she
wishes to try any of a variety of behaviors; being
able to say “no” when appropriate is very healthy.
King, Human Sexuality Today, 5/e © 2005 by Prentice Hall