Psychology of Human Sexual Behavior
Psychology 355
Fall, 2014
Monday Class
In-class Announcements
The syllabus is subject to change and changes will be announced in class. You are responsible
for all announcements made in class, whether you are present or not.
Professor:
Dr. Castañeda
Office:
Room 135 Faculty Offices East
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 3:35-4:30pm
Phone:
760-768-5586
Email:
dcastaneda@mail.sdsu.edu
Required textbook:
Carroll, J. (2013). Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity, 4th Ed.
The book is available in the bookstore. Used copies are available and you may also buy the
etextbook version if you like.
Course Objectives
The primary objective of the class is to provide an overview of psychological theory and
research on human sexuality from childhood through adulthood. This class focuses on diversity
in terms of gender, ethnicity, culture, social class, sexual orientation, as well as aspects of sexual
diversity across the world. You should come away from this course with an understanding of the
following:
1. the place of sexuality in history
2. theoretical perspectives on sexuality
3. the importance of communication, including the use of technology, in sexuality
4. gender development, gender roles, and gender identity in sexuality
5. women and men’s sexual anatomy and functioning
6. sexuality in childhood and adolescence
7. the range and variety of sexual expression and sexual orientation
8. challenges in sexual functioning
9. issues of power, coercion, and sexual violence
10. commercial aspects of sexuality
11. sexual health
Additional Psychology Department Level Learning Objectives: In addition to those outlined
above, other learning objectives identified as important across the Psychology Curriculum that
overlap with this course are:
1. Explain the roles of persons, situations, and person-situation interactions as causes of
behavior (SLO 1.3)
2. Apply psychological concepts, theories, and research findings as these relate to everyday life.
(SLO 2.4)
4. Identify how sociocultural and international contexts influence individual differences (SLO
6.3)
6. Demonstrate the ability to use visual aids to enhance presentation; the ability to answer
difficult questions clearly and succinctly; and the ability to present information in a logical,
interesting sequence that audiences can follow (SLO 8.6)
7. Articulate (in writing or orally) a respect for human diversity SLO 6.1
8. Identify ways (actions, behaviors) that emphasize the importance of interacting effectively
and sensitively with people of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and cultural perspectives. SLO 6.2
Grading
Your grade for the course will be based on three out of four exam grades, two out of three short
paper assignments, and group presentation on one of three topics. Each of these elements is
equally weighted and is worth 20% of your final grade (i.e., 20% each for three exams, or 60%,
20% for paper assignments, and 20% for class presentation). Your final grade is the average
grade across these five elements.
Exams
There will be 4 non-cumulative exams throughout the semester. The test with the lowest grade
among the first 3 tests given will be dropped. The 4th test is mandatory and cannot be dropped.
These tests will cover readings, all information presented in class, and any films, speakers, or
activities that occur in class. The tests will be multiple-choice tests and you must bring a
scantron form to class on test days. Scantrons are available for purchase in the bookstore. Exam
grades will be posted on Blackboard.
No make-up exams will be given. If you miss an exam, it will count as the exam that is dropped.
You cannot drop the 4th exam—it is mandatory to take the 4th exam.
Short Paper Assignments
Three short paper assignments are due in the course. The papers are two pages long and the
topics and descriptions of the papers will be provided on Blackboard. Each short paper is worth
15 points. Out of the three, the one with the lowest number of points will be dropped. A total of
30 points is available for the two short papers. Your grade for these papers will be the sum of
the two with the highest number of points. The distribution of grades for the papers is listed
below.
27-30 points =A
24-26 points =B
21-23 points =C
18-20 points =D
Less than 18 points =F
Turnitin
Each short paper must be submitted to Turnitin in Blackboard for grading. After you submit
your papers to Turnitin a report will be made to the instructor for each paper and if no report is
available for your paper, it will not be graded and you will receive an F for the paper assignment.
Submitting short paper assignments to Turnitin is required. No hardcopy papers will be
accepted.
Sexual Health Class Presentation
Each student will complete, as part of a small group, a short class presentation on one of the
following sexual health topics:
Pregnancy and Birth
Contraception and Abortion
Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS
Up to 45 points are available for you, depending on the quality of your presentation. The
presentation by your group will be brief, about 8 minutes. Everyone in the group will get the
same grade.
Two points will be deducted from your individual points if you do not attend the class
presentation of other students.
Two points will be deducted from your individual points if you receive less than 80% on your
peer evaluations. Peer evaluation forms are available on Blackboard.
Details of the group presentation requirement are located on the attached page.
Grading Rubric for Class Presentation
1. Understandability of Information Presented
2. Creativity of Presentation
3. Quality, Accuracy of Information and Use of
Information from Chapters
4. Equal participation of group members
5. Completed within 8 minute timeframe
Total
10 points
15
10
5
5
45 points
Points and Associated Grades for Class
Presentation
41-45
A
36-40
B
32-36
C
27-31
D
>27
F
Two points will be deducted from your
individual points if you do not attend the class
presentation of other students.
Two points will be deducted from your
individual points if you receive less than 80%
on your peer evaluations.
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it
is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any
delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as
soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations
based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an
accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Plagiarism and Cheating
You are expected to do your own work. Your work on assignments and the exams should reflect
your own independent thinking and writing. Evidence of cheating on exams or plagiarism will
result in an F for the assignment or exam and a report on the incident will be submitted to SDSU
Student Affairs. Specifically with respect to the short papers and class presentation, do not copy
information from the book, from the Internet, or from any other sources for your paper—you
must use your own words to describe the information.
Blackboard
PowerPoint slides for each chapter and the syllabus are available on the Blackboard web page for
this course. As we go along, I will also post the points for papers and exam grades on
Blackboard. Grades for the class presentations will be posted at the end of the class. You should
consult Blackboard regularly for any announcements or updates.
Other Issues
If you find you are not doing well on the exams, please come and see me during my office hours.
It is to your benefit to do so. Do not wait until the third or fourth exam to try to bring up your
grade!
In-class Behavior
Students are expected to be respectful of the other students in class and the professor. Students
should not act in a way that is disruptive to others. Disruptive behavior includes reading nonclass related material during class, reading during lectures, getting up repeatedly during lectures,
talking, sleeping, answering cell phones, listening to personal audio devices, etc. We sometimes
discuss controversial topics in this class and we must all listen and respond to others in a
respectful way. Students engaging in disrespectful or disruptive behavior in class may be
dismissed from class and will not be allowed to make up any material missed during such
dismissal.
In consideration of others, please turn off cell phones during the time you are in class.
You may not leave class during tests. If you come to the test more than 20 minutes late you will
not be allowed to take the test.
Attendance
Regular class attendance is essential for doing well in the course. Furthermore, please arrive on
time and do not leave the class early. Chronic tardiness and leaving early are rude and disruptive
to the instructor and other students in the class. I will deduct points from your class presentation
if you do not attend the class presentations of other students. See details on attached page.
Date
Aug. 25
Sept. 8
Sept. 15
Sept. 22
Topic
Introduction to Class
Exploring Human Sexuality:
Past and Present
Understanding Human
Sexuality: Theory and Research
Communication and Sexuality
Gender Development, Gender
Roles, and Gender Identity
Female Anatomy and
Physiology
Readings
Chapter 1, 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4, 5
Paper assignment #1 due
Sept. 29
Oct. 6
Oct. 13
Male Anatomy and Physiology
Love and Intimacy
Childhood and Adolescent
Sexuality
Exam 1
6, 7
8, 9
Adult Sexual Relationships
Oct. 20
Oct. 27
Nov. 3
Nov. 3
Nov. 10
Nov. 17
Nov. 17
Nov. 24
Dec. 1
Dec. 1
Dec. 8
Sexual Expression
Sexual Orientation
Paper assignment #2
Varieties of Sexual Expression
First group of class presentations
Pregnancy and Birth
Challenges to Sexual
Functioning
Second group of class presentations
Contraception and Abortion
Power and Sexual Coercion
Exam 2
10, 11
16
Exam 3
14
17
Paper assignment #3
Sexual Images and Selling Sex
18
Third group of class presentations
Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS
Exam 4
Dec. 15
Finals Week
Sexual Health Class Presentation
Each student is required, as part of a small group of 3-4 students, to prepare and present
information on some aspect of one of three topics, Pregnancy and Birth, Contraception and
Abortion, or Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS. The instructor will assign the
specific topics and the groups will be randomly chosen.
Format of Presentations
Once you receive your topic, you may present it in any way that you like. You can do a
PowerPoint presentation, a short video (YouTube idea), a dramatic skit, etc. You can use any
type of audiovisual aids to present your topics (e.g., pregnancy test, contraceptives, medications,
doll figures, etc.), you can use posters, brochures, pictures, or just anything you can think of to
present your information. The main point in the presentations should be accurate education
about sexual health to an audience that knows nothing about your topic. However, creativity and
entertainment may also be part of your approach to this assignment. You have a total of eight
minutes you can use to make your presentation.
You must include information from Chapters 12, 13, or 15. You must paraphrase this
information, do not copy it from the book. You can and should use information from other
sources too.
Grading of the Presentation
The grade on the presentation will be the grade all group members receive.
I will also take into account a peer evaluation that each group member completes. This will be
available in Blackboard and will be submitted to me by each person in the group after your group
makes their presentation. I will deduct two points from your individual points for a total
evaluation less than 80% of the total.
Attendance at the presentations of other groups is mandatory. I will take attendance on those
days and if you miss a day, two points will be deducted from you individual points for the class
presentation.
Grading Rubric for Class Presentation
1. Understandability of Information Presented
2. Creativity of Presentation
3. Quality, Accuracy of Information and Use of
Information from Chapters
4. Equal participation of group members
5. Completed within 8 minute timeframe
Total
10 points
15
10
5
5
45 points
Points and Associated Grades for Class
Presentation
41-45
A
36-40
B
32-36
C
27-31
D
>27
F
Two points will be deducted from your
individual points if you do not attend the class
presentation of other students.
Two points will be deducted from your
individual points if you receive less than 80%
on your peer evaluations.