Sexual Techniques and Behavior
Solitary Sexual Behaviors
I. Masturbation – stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual pleasure; Woody Allen in Annie Hall
– sex with the person you love the most
A. Negative attitudes: A Matter of History – ancient Hebrews believed they were partners of
God in replenishing the Earth
1. Also, they needed male offspring to maintain patriarchal system & to supply needed labor
2. Thus, laws were enacted to discourage nonprocreative sexual behavior
3. Best represented by story of Onan in Genesis (onanism)
B. Our attitudes toward masturbation are colored by these ancient proscriptions
1. Freud believed masturbation is normal childhood practice, but feared that if it is carried
into adulthood, it would interfere with the formation of healthy sexual relationships
C. The danger – no physiological harm is associated with masturbation; does not cause
insanity, sterility, sexual dysfunction, hairy palms or any other physical affliction
1. No evidence that it leads to an inability to establish meaningful sexual relationships
D. Prevalence – majority of studies have shown that ~90% of adult males & a bit >60% of adult
females report having masturbated; these figures remain consistent & steady over time
E. Techniques
1. Males 2. Females F. Masturbation is a pleasurable, common & varied behavior
II. Fantasy – thoughts & images, daydreams & scenarios (sexual fantasies)
A. Prevalence – quite commonplace; only 7% of middle-class women had never experienced
sexual daydreams/fantasies
1. Kinsey – 84% of men & 67% of women had sexual fantasies
2. College student study by Sue (1979) – 60% of men & women fantasized during sex
B. Content of sexual fantasies – similar & dissimilar when gender is variable
1. When males & females are by themselves, they fantasize about sex with their usual
partners; when with their usual partner, they fantasize about sex with someone else (movie
star, model)
2. Other prevalent fantasies:
3. Sexual fantasies may include:
4. 1995 review of >200 other studies – women's fantasies tended to include sex with new
male partner or celebrity, seduction of younger man/boy; sex with older man
C. Functions of sexual fantasies – source of pleasure & enhance sexual arousal
1. Allow people to test & rehearse various sexual activities if they are concerned about
being judged by their partners – activity is tested in nonthreatening setting
2. Allows people to acknowledge sexual feelings without acting on them
3. May be helpful in overcoming sexual anxiety – many sex therapists encourage fantasies
in counseling clients with sexual dysfunctions
4. Fantasies allow us to be better than we really are
5. Safe way of engaging in sexual activities in which we may never want to participate, e.g.,
forced sex
6. Means of fulfilling our every desire while not hurting ourselves or those we love – private
& safe way of doing anything we want; way to act out wildest dreams without acting
improperly
D. Some argue that they are unhealthy – Apfelbaum says that fantasizing during sex with one's
partner can decrease the degree of trust & intimacy in a relationship
1. Predominant view is that sexual fantasizing can enhance sexual relationships as long as it
is not obsessive & as long as there is no compulsion to act it out
2. Some may be acted out with the consent of the partner, but if one feels uncomfortable,
problems may arise
Sexual Behavior With Others
I. Foreplay – physical contact that usually precedes coitus or oral-genital sexual activity; includes
touching, kissing, biting, & genital fondling
A. The word foreplay is really a misnomer, since this behavior can be enjoyed for itself & need
not be a prelude to anything
1. All such activity is meant to express love, sensuousness, desire or all of the above
B. Its importance to sexual enjoyment is widely acknowledged
C. Since women need more time to be vaginally lubricated sufficiently for intercourse than men
do to achieve erection & be ready……..
II. Sexual stimulation in foreplay, intercourse or any other activity involves imagination & all of
the senses: touch, sight, smell, hearing & taste
The Importance of the Senses
I. Touch – sexual touching is central to sexual stimulation
A. Skin is not a sexual organ, but stroking it on any part of the body can contribute to & initiate
sexual arousal; each manner & intensity of body contact carries its own kind of stimulation
1. Gentle touching with fingers
2. Caressing (gentle stroking or rubbing)
3. Firmer touches
4. Hugs, squeezes, embraces are all expressions of caring
5. Full body massage
B. Not necessarily focused on genitals, but once one is primed, touching in certain areas is
intensely stimulating
1. Breast (especially the nipple), inner thighs, clitoris, penis, the neck, the ears & the navel
2. Touching of some sensitive genital areas (vulva, glans)
C. Touching on all parts of the body can be of a teasing nature
D. Touching for sexual self-stimulation
1. People often learn which body areas & which types of touching are most stimulating
through masturbation
E. Good communication is essential for guiding partners in touching each other effectively
II. Sight – use of sexual imagery for sexual stimulation; sometimes use imagery in books,
magazines, films & photographs to become aroused together; clothing
A. Clothing can help; dressing sexy can enhance experience & excitement
B. Some excited by sight of hair, eyes, legs or other body parts
III. Smell – explains popularity of perfumes & colognes; they can arouse sexual interest; animal
studies identify smell as more important in many species than sight or sound in attracting mate
A. Pheromones – substances secreted by some female animals to attract male sex partners;
recently verified in humans although they were long suspected
1. In humans, do not serve as sex attractants but rather alter timing of women's menstrual
cycle
2. Monell Chemical Sciences Ctr. (Univ. Of PA) – women who have coitus weekly are more
likely to have normal menstrual cycles, fewer infertility problems & milder menopauses
3. Women also produce pheromone that affects other women's menstrual cycles
4. The way that human pheromones work is not fully understood –
5. Practical applications of this knowledge
B. Unpleasant smells (bad breath) can interfere with sex arousal; attention to normal hygiene
important
IV. Hearing – words & sounds before & during coitus can be sexually stimulating; music can
contribute to erotic atmosphere
A. Sexual talk can take many forms
1. Some people are aroused by "dirty words"
2. Some people find moaning during sex exciting
3. Some say saying or hearing "I love you" during or after sex can be exciting & romantic
B. Communication is key
V. Taste – use of mouth can be sexually arousing; kissing can be intensely stimulating whatever
variation is used
Oral-Genital Sexual Behavior
I. Contact between mouth, lips & tongue of one partner & genitals of another; some find it
arousing; others are indifferent to it or find it repulsive
A. Types
1. Cunnilingus (Latin – one who licks the vulva) –
2. Fellatio (Latin fellare, meaning to suck) –
B. Generally argued that it is quite common
1. Hunt (1974) –
2. Michael et al (1994) –
II. Many foreplay techniques are applicable to oral-genital sexual activity – teasing approach gentle
in form & varied in form involving mouth, lips & tongue is stimulating
A. Some women like licking/sucking of clitoris & labia minora or thrusting of tongue into
vagina
B. Men are often aroused when partner licks the underside of the penile shaft & glans or when
partner licks or lightly holds testicle in mouth
C. Testicles & clitoris are very sensitive & should be treated gently
D. Partners need to discuss whether ejaculation should occur in mouth during fellatio
III. Simultaneous oral stimulation by couples is referred to as 69 (their bodies in position resemble
the numbers 6 & 9); performed side-by-side or with one partner on top of the other
A. Position depends on which they find more comfortable & stimulating
Anal Stimulation
I. Some people enjoy becoming sexually aroused anally due to numerous nerve endings in that area
A. Partners can stimulate each other by inserting a finger in the anus, stroking the anal opening
or licking the area
1. Licking the anus (analingus or rimming)
2. Intestinal infections (Escherichia coli), hepatitis & STIs can spread by analingus
B. Minute tears that occur in anus during anal intercourse provide easy entry into body for STI
organisms; especially likely if condom is not used
II. Penile penetration of anus is possible for both heterosexual & homosexual couples
A. Dildos (fake penises) can also be used for anal insertion
B. To prevent infection, penis should be thoroughly cleansed immediately after anal insertion
Sexual Intercourse
I. Most authorities recognize four basic positions with infinite variations
A. In addition to desire for variety, other situations (pregnancy, obesity, poor health) may dictate
certain modifications
B. Variety of sexual positions limited only by imagination
C. Bond between partners is just as important as technique; loving relationship can add much
D. Whether such behavior is moral or legal is another matter, which depends on your ethics &
society's ethics
II. Man on top – sometimes called missionary position or male superior position
A. Allows full frontal body contact, which is usually pleasurable
B. Because couple is lying down, hands are free to roam; because couple is facing each other,
partners can kiss, talk & watch each other's expressions
III. Woman on top – female superior position
A. Woman can be prone or on her knees – permits more clitoral stimulation by either partner
than man-on-top position
B. Woman free to move without being pinned under partner
C. Good position for men trying to control orgasms; squeeze technique is easy to use because
penis is relatively accessible
D. Disadvantage –
IV. Side-by-side – neither person bears the weight of the other; relaxing because pelvic thrusts do
not meet as much resistance as with woman or man on top
A. Since arms & legs may be pinned under other arms & legs, blood circulation can be
temporarily cut off; makes periodic switching or adjustment necessary for comfort
B. Also allows for kissing & face watching & also frees hands for stroking & caressing
V. Rear entry – performed in 2 ways; with both people lying down (side-by-side or with woman on
top) or with partners kneeling (dog position)
A. Male's hands free to fondle partner's breasts & stimulate clitoris
B. Disadvantages –
Sexual Behavior in Homosexuals
I. Homosexuals enjoy most of the same activities as heterosexuals
A. Intimacy & closeness seem to be more important than what is specifically done by the
partners
1. In contrast to myths, both male & female homosexuals appear to take their time & make
sexual activity last longer
2. Contrary to popular belief, male homosexuals do not generally have a preference to receive
or insert the penis
B. Findings of Masters & Johnson (1997) in their study of homosexuality have reported a number
of findings about specific sexual behaviors of homosexual men & women
II. From developmental standpoint, it is common for male & female homosexuals/bisexuals to have
history of sex activity with the same & opposite genders & to start sexual activity during early
teens
A. No significant gender differences are found in lifetime prevalence rates or ages of initiating
homosexual practices, but females tend to become sexually active at an older age than males
B. Sexual practices follow an initiation sequence beginning with manual sexual activity during
their early teens & leading to further sexual activities during the middle & late teens
III. Lesbian sexual activities – oral sexual activities are common, as are manual stimulation &
tribadism (rubbing of genitals against someone's body or genital area)
A. Touching, caressing & hugging, the emotional components of lovemaking
B. Vaginal penetration with dildos is rare; lesbians tend to do more overall genital stimulation,
rather than direct clitoral stimulation, as is often the case in heterosexual relationships
IV. Gay sexual activities – homosexual men engage in foreplay activities similar to those of
heterosexuals (hugging, kissing, nipple stimulation, petting)
A. Intercourse is actually the least frequent male homosexual activity
B. Lab studies by Masters & Johnson (1979) showed that gay men were likely to pay more
attention to the area of the penis on the lower side than heterosexual couples