1
Abstracts
Nordic Association for Clinical Sexology, NACS
29th Annual Meeting
Göteborg, Sweden, September 7 – 10, 2006
Symposium on Love (beginning)
P O Lundberg, Neurocentrum, Akademiska Sjukhuset, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
Introduction
Love is seldom a topic at sexological congresses. There are three reasons why we now have chosen love as the
subject for this symposium. Firstly, during the last ten year a lot of new data concerning love has appeared
through joint sexological research between psychologists and neuroscientist. Secondly, during recent years there
has been a clear tendency of a separation of the scientific field of sexology into two parts, one psychosociological and the other medical. This is shown by the appearances of different scientific organisations and
journals each with a content mainly or exclusively aimed at one of the two sides. I think now is time to
counterbalance such tendencies by so to speak closing the ranks. The third reason is that the public, led by the
media, usually associates sexology and serologists with just physical activity, very famous people or with the
darker sides of human sexual behaviour. It is important to underline that love is an essential part of human life,
in fact necessary for the survival of mankind. The sexologists should consider it our mission to support love
whenever this is needed.
Shakespeare and the Nature of Love
Dr. Marcus Nordlund, Department of English, Göteborg University
For most people who are not Shakespeare professors, actors, or habitual theatre-goers, the words “Shakespeare”
and “love” are more or less synonymous with two other words: “Romeo” and “Juliet”. We immediately think of
young men and women who fall passionately in love with each other, deliver some high-flown and distinctly
old-fashioned poetry, and then proceed to kill themselves on stage because their parents do not understand
them.
In reality, however, Shakespeare’s treatment of love was far more nuanced and multi-faceted than this. In his
numerous plays and poems, romantic love is explored from a great variety of perspectives, including comic
celebration, satirical mockery, and profound disillusionment. (Sometimes we find all of these viewpoints in the
very same play). Shakespeare also took a strong interest in related topics such as love between parents and
children (how deep an aspect of human nature is parental love, and how vulnerable is it to environmental or
cultural interference?) and the dark and potentially destructive passion known as sexual jealousy.
The purpose of this lecture will be twofold: to describe some of this amorous diversity on Shakespeare’s part,
and also to briefly suggest how it may compare to modern research into the nature of love. It can, I think, be
argued that modern psychological research is moving in a direction that allows for a more meaningful dialogue
with Shakespeare than was possible only a few decades ago.
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An L-arginine-rich Food Supplement in Impaired Sexual Desire and Function
Olle Haglund, MD, Macronova AB, Sundsvall, Sweden. – Corr: att. Susanna Johansson, Macronova AB,
Box 754, SE-85122 Sundsvall, Sweden
In the 1980s investigators found that a substance produced from the semi-essential amino acid L-arginine played
a very central role in the regulation of an increased blood flow in the body. The substance was nitric oxide
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(NO), a very small gaseous molecule. Later, Louis Ignarro demonstrated that this substance caused the local
strongly increased blood flow leading to erection in men and women. Ignarro and two other investigators were
1998 awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Incidentally, some other scientists later found that
inhibition of the degradation of a substance formed by NO often caused an improved erection in men with
erectile dysfunction. This was the discovery of Viagra, later followed by Cialis and Levitra with a similar
mechanism of action.
Because the amino acid L-arginine, via formation of NO, is so central for erection, we tried to supplement gram
amounts of this amino acid. As NO is destroyed by free radicals we added several antioxidants and some other
substances such as magnesium. The new food supplement was called L-Argiplex, which exists in a male and a
female variant with a similar composition.
L-Argiplex has been demonstrated to improve erection in many men and women. Somewhat surprisingly, many
also experience increased sexual desire. This is different from above mentioned drugs. L-Argiplex also exists as
a gel for local treatment.
On Conditions of Swedish Women’s Sexual Well-being. An Epidemiological Approach.
Summaries of Uppsala Dissertation
Katarina Öberg 2006, Centre of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, Karolinska Huddinge University Hospital,
Stockholm, Sweden
Objectives: To identify conditions of Swedish women’s sexual well-being by focusing the association between
women’s idiosyncratically reported levels of 5 sexual functions/dysfunctions (sexual interest, lubrication,
orgasm, dyspareunia and vaginismus), and their socio-psychological situation and aspects of their own and
partner’s sexual history. Level of sexual functions/dysfunctions per se and distress, are also related to level of
sexual satisfaction.
Methods: Data were gathered in 1996 on a randomised cross-sectional national sample of 1335 women aged 1874, using a combination of a structured interviews and questionnaires/check-lists. Trichotomies of a 6-grade
scale characterising level of sexual dysfunctions during the last 12 months, into No/Mild/Manifest were used.
Main Results: Mild sexual dysfunctions were generally much more common than were manifest for both
categories of sexual dysfunction (per se and distress). Across all 5 sexual dysfunctions distressing dysfunctions
were found to be less common than dysfunctions per se. All dysfunctions, and in particular orgasmic dysfunction
were closely associated with level of sexual wellbeing. Having been a victim of sexual abuse constituted a
significant factor for all sexual dysfunctions, especially the ability to achieve orgasm. Many of sociodemographics and socio-psychological life conditions were significantly co-occurring with the different sexual
functions/dysfunctions. However the most prominent variables were satisfaction with partner relationship and
partner’s levels of sexual functions.
In conclusion: many different socio-psychological aspects must be taken into account to optimise treatment
modalities and resources when dealing with women’s sexual dysfunctions in order to secure a good level of
sexual well-being.
Keywords: Women, sexual dysfunctions, Sexual abuse, Life satisfaction, Epidemiology
Genital Vibratory Perception Thresholds (VPT) Measurements in Women with Sexual
Dysfunction and/or Sexual Pain Disorders
Hulter, B., and Lundberg, PO., Department of Neuroscience, University Hospital, Uppsala , S-751 85 Sweden.
(email: PO.Lundberg@neurologi.uu.se)
VPT can be measured on any area of the human body surface. The vibratory frequency is fixed (100 Hz) but the
amplitude is slowly increased from zero up to the point where the person in question feels it. The technique
compensates for the weight of the probe in such a way that the readings are expressed in tents of a µ (micron).
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Material and results:
Eight volunteers aged 27-44 years (mean 35) re-examined 8-11 times during different phases of the menstrual
cycle. Results: Mean for clitoris 0.27 (SD 0.10); no correlation with menstrual phases.
95 women aged 35-45 years (mean 41) on a waiting list for hysterectomy. Results: Mean for clitoris 0.58 (SD
0.70). No correlation with estradiol levels. No significant changes after surgery.
38 women with diabetes mellitus aged 28-50 years (mean 39) compared to age matched controls. Results: DM:
Mean for clitoris 0.83 (SD 0.88) and for perineum 3.65 (SD 5.80). Controls: Clitoris 0.50 (SD 0.30), perineum
2.46 (SD 5.68). Difference statistically significant for clitoris.
67 women aged 20-72 (mean 35) with decreased sexual desire (A) compared to 57 women aged 18-40 (mean
25) with vestibulitis and/or vaginismus (B). Results: Clitoris A 0.52 (SD 0.38), B 0.34 (SD 0.14), perineum A
1.56 (SD 2.69), B 0.73 (SD 0.66). The differences are highly statistically significant.
For non-diabetic patients the VPT values showed a statistical correlation with age.
Among 150 further women with sexual dysfunction or sexual pain disorders high to very high values of VPT
were found in women after severe lacerations during labour (19), diabetes mellitus (7), disc hernias (6), lichen
sclerosis and other skin diseases (5), multiple sclerosis (5), congenital malformations (5), pelvic fractures (4),
trauma to the clitoris (4), surgery of the vulva (3), faraonic circumcision (2), polyneuropathy (2), dressage riding
(2), spinal cord tumours (2), rheumatoid arthritis (2), spinal cord injury, retroperitoneal tumour, and cancer of
the vulva.
References.
Helström, L., Bäckström, T, Sörbom, D., Lundberg P.O., Sacral nervous function, hormonal levels and sexuality
in premenopausal women before and after hysterectomy. Acta Obst Gyn Scand 1994;73:570-574.
Helström, L., Lundberg P.O., Vibratory perception thresholds in the female genital region Acta Neurol Scand
1992;86:635-637.
Hulter, B., Berne, C., Lundberg P.O., Sexual Function in Women with Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.
Scand J Sexol 1998;1:43-50
A Different Kind of Love. The Meaning-making of BDSM* for Practising Women.
Ingrid Gelderman, certified clinical psychologist, e-mail: ingrid.gelderman@stat-inst.se
This presentation is based on a study designed to further our understanding of the psychology of BDSM by
analysing experiences of meaning-making by practising women. Nine women, six self-identified “submissives”
and three self-identified “dominants”, were interviewed in depth about their perceptions of BDSM. The women,
who were between 20-50 years of age, were recruited from BDSM-clubs and web-communities. Four main
themes evolved from the interviews and were structured as follows: (1) Meaning and functions of BDSM
concerned what the informants felt they obtained from practising BDSM. This theme included issues of
preserving and letting go of control, physical pain and psychological dominance, sexual pleasure and joy, a
different state of consciousness, feelings of significance, achievement and subsequent acknowledgement, and
expanding self-knowledge. (2) Conditions for “safe, sane and consensual” BDSM where expressed as clear
boundaries, good communication, and psychological stability. Consequences for exceeded boundaries were also
presented. (3) Relational aspects concerned experiences of the significance practising BDSM had for the
conception of self, for the couples´ relationship, for the BDSM-practising community, and for people not
involved in BDSM. (4) Connections between now and then focused on how psychological and sexual
development possibly could be connected to the interest of BDSM. This theme included experiences from
childhood, psychological difficulties, feelings of shame and shamelessness, and issues around gender identity.
*Bondage & Discipline, Dominance & Submission, Sadism & Masochism
Keywords: BDSM, sado-masochism, women.
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Symposium on Love (cont.)
P O Lundberg, Neurocentrum, Akademiska Sjukhuset, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
Love
Act I.
Literature and history.
Different kinds of love stories
Love exists in all present cultures studied by the anthropologists. The many different forms of love have been
described in the literature as long as we have had written language. Narratives and poetics also from ancient
cultures are very important to help us understand how different and complex love can be. Thus reading about
Heliodora and Meleager, Cloe and Daphnis, Heloise and Abelard, Beatrice and Dante, Laura and Petrarca, Isolde
and Trisdan, Julia and Romeo, Blanche and Denis, Alice and Lewis, Singoalla and Erland, Monica and Bill a s o
is important to modern love scientists. One and each of these narratives are representing a different love story or
romance.
Besides we need the philologists and linguistic scholars to help us understand what people exactly understood
when expressing different emotions and behaviour during varying periods of human history. Has the feeling of
love changed over the last 5000 years? How have male and female roles altered in relationships during history?
Act II
Psychology:
Romantic love and attachment
Two of the most important psychologist who has studied the different forms of love scientifically is Elaine
Hatfield and Dorothy Tennov. For them, it is quite clear that “sexual desire”, is not the same as “love”. Hatfield
has created the concept “passionate love” defined as “the desire for union with another” in contrast to “sexual
desire” expressed as “the desire for sexual union with another”. She describes “passionate love” as a state of
mind characterised by intense longing for being together with another person. If love is reciprocal it will be
emotionally associated with fulfilment and ecstasy. Unrequited love results in emptiness, anxiety and despair.
Tennov has invented the term “limerence”. Limerence is by nature demanding. Obsessive thinking and
emotionally dependence also belong to the picture. Most people have probably noticed that love is not an eternal
and constant state of mind. Tennov means that limerence lasts maybe just a few months up to a year and a half in
contrast to the more long lasting romantic love which, however. very often ends by divorce of a marriage after a
mean period of 4 years. This does not mean that the relationship is over. The two persons are still attached to
each other.
Most recent researchers use the concept romantic love, which is well defined, or the word attachment for the
whole period of being more or less together. Anyhow, passionate love and limerence are the strongest within a
spectrum of emotions. A “Passionate Love Scale” has been evaluated. Passionate love can pas over into
erotomania (de Clérambault´s syndrome) often without the love had ever been reciprocated or even observed by
the object in question.
Act III
Endocrinology
Scene I
Sexual desire
Ît is obvious and generally accepted that human reproduction, sexual development and sexual functions are
controlled by hormonal factors. Thus, we are not going to discuss this topic here. As regards sexual desire we
know that the steroid hormones belonging to the group estrogens and androgens are essential.
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Scene II
Maternal love
The most important form of love is maternal love since it is absolutely necessary for the survival of the child and
essential for the development of this child. Maternal love is also to a large extent dependent on hormonal factors,
which will be dealt with in next paper by Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg.
Act IV
Neuroscience
We have known for more than 50 years that lust or sexual desire is “localised” to certain areas of the brain
(pathology and “therapy”). We also have had some knowledge about which areas of the brain that are activated
during cerebral sexual arousal. Up to the last 6 years no one has tried to find out which parts of the brain that are
active during maternal love, romantic love, passionate love, jealousy a s o
What is actually going on in the brain during sexual stimulation and sexual arousal a s o can “easily” be followed
with PET using FDG indicating glucose consumption or 15O-labelled water indicating changes in blood flow or
with functional MRI (fMRI) measuring activity. With PET it is thus possible both to study the afferent function,
(attraction and stimulation), the activity in the desire centre in the hypothalamus (cerebral arousal) and the
efferent functions (genital arousal) such as erection, lubrication, secretion, ejaculation and also the feed back to
the brain (satisfaction, decrease of anxiety)
Based on psychological knowledge on different forms of love, maternal love and romantic/passionate love fMRI
has been used in the first place. The person in question placed in the fMRI gantry is presented a series of images
or film clips with different motives and the self-assessed emotional reactions are registered simultaneously with
the changes in activity (blood flow) in different areas of the brain. With such a technique can also the anxiety
and despair characterising grief and jealousy be followed. We can also measure difference between different
people, different men and women, during different phases of the menstrual cycle, during pharmacotherapy a s o
In this review a series of such studies performed in UK, USA, France and the Netherlands will be presented.
Reference:
Lundberg PO. Tre kärlekar - förutsättningen för människosläktets fortbetånd. Läkartidningen 2005;102:-39013905
Love in Ancient Greece.
Ingela Nilsson, PhD, Ass. Professor, Institute of Linguistics and Philology, Uppsala University, Box 635, SE75126 Uppsala, Sweden.
Even though we tend to think of ancient Greece as the origin of most aspects of Western culture, it is clear that
the ancient society with which we identify would appear utterly foreign were we actually to be confronted with
it. Poets like Sappho and philosophers like Plato have indeed been enormously influential, but is that enough to
explain why ancient descriptions of love still feel so relevant? How can we reconcile this familiarity with our
post modern notion that love is no absolute concept, but a socio-cultural construction? And how does it relate to
theories of love and sexuality as defined by contemporary neurologists?
Maternal Love
Kerstin Uvnäs Moberg, Department of animal environment and health, SLU, Skara, Sweden
The term maternal behaviour has been used to describe the behaviour that is displayed by mammals towards
their young. It includes nursing, nest building, and various types of sensory interaction and protection of the
young. Maternal behaviour is regulated by neuroendocrine mechanisms. Suckling and other sensory stimuli are
of importance for the initiation of maternal behaviour and the hormones oxytocin and prolactin have been
demonstrated to play an important role in the control of maternal behaviour by mechanisms exerted in the brain
as well as in the periphery. The role of these hormones seems to vary between species. In sheep only oxytocin
seems to be involved in the regulation of maternal behaviour, whereas in pigs prolactin is involved in nest
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building whereas oxytocin regulates farrowing and lactation. Prolactin has also been shown to play an important
role in the control of maternal behaviour in rats and in certain monkeys prolactin levels rise when the infants sit
on their fathers and mothers.
If ewes and lambs stay in close contact after birth they learn to recognize and prefer each other within hours and
the mother allows the young to suckle. Administration of oxytocin antagonists or peridural anaesthesia blocks
the development of this behaviour suggesting that oxytocin is involved. Oxytocin interacts with dopaminergic
mechanisms when it stimulates the formation of bonds or attachment.
It has been suggested that another aspect of maternal behaviour is that oxytocin reduces maternal fear of the
newborn, an effect that is exerted in the amygdala. Oxytocin is, however, also involved in the control of maternal
aggression by actions in the amygdala.
In humans we discuss the term mother love, but rarely the concept of maternal behaviour.
Mothers are supposed to love their children indiscriminately and therefore they give them food and protect them.
To propose the existence of innate hormonally controlled behaviours aimed at helping the mothers loving and
taking care of their children has not been “politically correct”
Still there is ample support of the existence of neuroendocrine and hormonal control of some aspects of maternal
love and interaction also in humans.
It is accepted that hormones oxytocin and prolactin have important physiological functions during birth and
lactation. Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions during birth and milk ejection during lactation and prolactin
stimulates milk production.
Maternal oxytocin is, however, also released in the postpartum period if the infants are being kept close to their
mothers and the babies suckle and massage their mother’s breasts. Marshall Klaus and John Kennel have also
called the early postpartal period the “sensitive period”, since close contact between mothers and infants has
been demonstrated to be followed by long term positive effects on the maternal interaction with their infants.
Mothers allowed early skin-to-skin contact spend more time with their infants and interact more with them
during the first weeks of life and they describe their infants as faultless and as being the most fantastic and
beautiful children in the world.
Some studies indicate that breastfeeding is prolonged and the rate of child abuse and abandonment decreased.
Recent studies indicate that both mother and infant exhibit more secure attachment at the age of one year. It is
tempting to suggest that oxytocin released during the interaction between mother and infant after birth stimulates
the positive interaction between the mother and infant as well as the attachment bonding between the two,
making the effects long lasting. The very specific neurendocrine pattern that occurs in connection with birth, i.e.
the high levels of oestrogen, progesterone and cortisol and the high sympathetic nervous tone, facilitates the
development of the long-term effects.
The personality profile of breastfeeding mothers changes after birth. They become calmer and tolerate
monotonous tasks better and they become more socialized when compared to nonlactating women of the same
age. These changes correlate with oxytocin levels and pulsatility suggesting that oxytocin may be involved in
these adaptations.
Besides the loving feeling of their fantastic and beautiful babies mothers may also experience a deep worry,
sometimes reaching the level of anxiety. To love is also to be responsible for the infant’s wellbeing and safety,
i.e. to ascertain that the infant gets the food and comfort that it needs and also to protect it from dangers in the
surrounding. In fact, in a recent study mothers of newborns stated that the most predominant feeling was not love
but a wish to protect. The maternal feeling of worry and anxiety and wish to protect their infant may me the
human equivalent of “the maternal aggression” of other mammals.
In fact the role of oxytocin may more general and involve all kinds of “love”. Couples who are in love exhibit
similar changes in their brains, as do breastfeeding mothers of newborn children. The activity in the amygdala is
decreased. This may be due to effects of oxytocin, since sniffing of oxytocin has been demonstrated to reduce
the activation of the amygdala in response to frightening pictures. Also brain centres related to negative feelings
are less active.
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Other lines of data in support of a role of oxytocin in human love and behaviour in a more general sense are
accumulating. Men who sniff oxytocin become less anxious and also more “generous” in the sense that they
invest more money in a computer game model. This means that oxytocin may be involved in all types of
“loving” behaviours and states.
It should also be stated that the access to the “drug” oxytocin might open up for “treatment” with oxytocin in
order to create positive states. At first sight this may seem as an important pharmacological break through but at
second thought this scenario becomes frightening, since it might also be used for negative, manipulative
purposes.
Brain Activation with Odours and Pheromones
Ivanka Savic, MD PhD, Ass. Professor, Dept. of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet MR Centre,
Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
The testosterone derivative 4,16-androstadien-3-one (AND), and the estrogen-like steroid estra-1,3,5(10),16tetraen-3-ol (EST) are candidate compounds for human pheromones. AND is detected primarily in male sweat,
whereas EST has been found in female urine. In series of PET studies we found that smelling of AND and EST
activated regions covering sexually dimorphic nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus, and that this activation was
differentiated with respect to sex and compound. Furthermore, when comparing the pattern of activation induced
by AND and EST between homosexual and heterosexual, the pattern of activation showed to be more congruent
with the sexual orientation than the biological sex. As opposed to the putative pheromones, common odors were
processed similarly in all four groups of subjects and engaged only the olfactory brain (amygdala, piriform,
orbitofrontal and insular cortex). These findings show that our brain reacts differently to the two putative
pheromones compared to common odours, and suggest a link between sexual orientation and hypothalamic
neuronal processes.
Love and Sexuality in a Multicultural Society
Lillemor Rosenqvist, Socionom, Lic. Psychotherapist, Spec. Clin. Sexol. NACS, Box 65, SE-29795 Degerberga
In general terms you can assert that all religions has rules and prohibitions on sexual conduct. If you examine the
Christian religions (the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant church) and Islam you will find both resemblance and
divergences about their views on sexuality and co-habitation and how you should, or should not, behave when
you are a true believer. You should also notice the fact that in most countries it is only a minority of
the population who practice the religion and count themselves as true believers.
When it comes to the Catholic and Orthodox church as well as Islam it was quiet easy to explain their views and
attitudes. But to explain it within the Swedish Evangelic Lutheran church, my own country, was much harder
and complicated. But probably it is so, that when you study a religion from the "outside" it is easy to find
univocal options and rules, but if you try to explain them in their context , in the society they are exercised, you
would undoubtedly encounter confusing and contradictory opinions or conducts among the different
representatives and practicians of this religion. But regardless of the tensions within all religions, you can still
see that there are certain fundamental principles in every religion, that lead to specific sexual attitudes and
conduct .
This paper will give you some glimpses into the above-mentioned religions, from a sexological point of view.
Love in Cyberspace
Lotta Löfgren-Mårtenson, PhD, Auth. Spec. in Clin. Sexology. Malmö University, Dept of Health and Society,
Sweden.
Internet has become an increasingly usual way for people to contact each other, to flirt, fall in love and start
relationships. How does this development influence today¹s young people with intellectual disabilities?
The presentation will present a picture of the Internet experiences of some of today’s adolescents with
intellectual disabilities and of the surrounding world’s view on this usage of Internet.
The presentation is based on a qualitative study in which 10 young people with intellectual disabilities
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and 12 staff members were interviewed. The results show that young people with intellectual disabilities of
today also use Internet mainly for social and love life reasons. They view Internet as a positive arena where they
can be “like everybody else” and therefore they generally present themselves without mentioning their
disabilities. However, their surrounding world tends to worry considerably, mainly focusing on the risks
involved in this usage of Internet.
The study has been published as a Swedish monography: Löfgren-Mårtenson, L. (2005) Kärlek.nu. Om Internet
och unga med utvecklingsstörning [Love.now. About Internet and Young People with intellectual disabilities].
Lund, Studentlitteratur.
An article in English is also in press in: Löfgren-Mårtenson, L. (2006) Love in cyberspace - a new social arena
for people with intellectual disabilities? Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research.
Our Sexual Attraction, our Beloved.
Sune Innala, PhD, Institute of Psychology, Göteborg University, Sweden, sune.innala@comhem.se
Paper presented by Sune Innala at the 29th Conference and Annual meeting of the Nordic Association for
Clinical Sexology. September 7-10, 2006. Göteborg, Sweden.
Most of us seem to discover at least some of our sexual interests before the onset of puberty. They differ much
between individuals and appear evident in peoples’ short-term sexual attraction, in their sexual thoughts and
urges. Visual stimulation, tone of voice, and smell seem to be just some means that help to direct women and
men to their primary source of sexual satisfaction. Experience of play, tactile stimulation and various bodily
sensations are among the ingredients that may be experienced in the attraction process. In long-term attraction
men and women seem to be more similar in what they value most in a mate. Buss et al. (1990) found that most
important was mutual attraction and love, a mate who possessed a dependable character, emotional stability and
maturity, and a pleasing disposition.
Arnow, B. A., Desmond, J. E., Banner, L. L., Glover, G. H., Solomon, A., Polan, M. L., Lue, T. F., & Atlas, S.
W. (2002). Brain activation and sexual arousal in healthy, heterosexual males. Brain, 125(5), 1014—1023.
Buss, D. M., & 49 others. (1990). International preferences in selecting mates: A study of 37 cultures. Journal of
Cross-Cultural Psychology, 21, 5—47.
Ernulf, K. E. (1995). Studies on the bases of sexual attraction and its variants. Doctoral Dissertation. Department
of Psychology. Göteborg University.
Hatfield, E., & Rapson, R. L. (1993). Historical and cross-cultural perspectives on passionate love and sexual
desire. Annual Review of Sex Research., 4, 67—97.
Quinsey, V. L. (2003). The etiology of anomalous sexual preferences in men. Annals of the New York Academy
of Sciences, 989, 105—117.
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The Essence of Eroticism
Osmo Kontula, The Population Research Institute, P.O.Box 849 (Iso Roobertinkatu 20-22A, 4th floor),
FIN-00101 Helsinki, FINLAND, e-mail: Osmo.Kontula@vaestoliitto.fi, www.kontula.fi
Eroticism has been a cultivated framework to sexual desire and love. Eroticism can be understood as the
multifaceted process through which our innate capacity for arousal is shaped, focused, suppressed and expressed.
Eroticism is based on cultural codes that we have learned to interpret and label as erotic. Erotic is connected with
our hopes, expectations, struggles, and anxieties - everything that makes us human.
Eroticism comes from the word eros and erotismus (Latin). Eros was the Greek god of love and sexual desire
who was also worshipped as a fertility god. Eros personified all the attractions that evoked love and desire. The
Romans borrowed Eros from the Greeks and named him Cupid (Latin Cupido means desire) that was also known
as Amor. At the most basic level Eros is the source of attraction and the craving for sexual love.
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Eroticism has been an inter-link between sex and love. In eroticism sexual interest has been admired when
interest has integrated body and soul, and it has been judged disgraceful when the interest has focused only for
the body. Those who have interest only to body have been considered to be prone to look for only their own
pleasure. Eros has been argued to promote well-being by affirming that which is valuable or beautiful. On the
other hand, Eros could also be argued to control and inhibit the spontaneous and irrational power of sexual
desire.
The Role of Sensuality and Sexuality in New First-time Parents
Tone Ahlborg, Midwife, Dr of Public Health, Sexological counsellor Skogs backe 6, SE-429 31 Kullavik. Tel.
031-93 08 55. tone.ahlborg@tele2.se
Aim. The aim was to analyse the experienced quality of the intimate relationship in first-time parents six months
after delivery.
Method. A questionnaire (modified Dyadic Adjustment Scale, DAS) was answered by 820 mothers and fathers,
75 % response rate.
Results. The main result was that the majority of the parents were satisfied with their intimate relationships.
However, they were only partly content or discontent with their sexual lives.
The fathers were significantly more discontent than the mothers. The sexual desire diverges within the couples.
Both sexes express that the sensuality is even more important than the sexuality itself. The results is strengthened
by earlier interviews of first-time parents made at six, nine and twelve months after delivery. Answers to open
questions at the end of the questionnaire were analysed with qualitative content analysis. They constitute a model
of support to the new parents in their intimate relationship.
Sex-life and Contraception During the First Year Postpartum
Elise Kosunen1, Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino2 . - 1 Medical School, University of Tampere, Finland;
2
Psychiatric treatment and research unit for adolescent intensive care (EVA), Tampere University Hospital,
Finland
Background: Hardly any data are available on postpartum sex-life and contraceptive practices in Finland. One
earlier register-based study suggested need of more effective contraception after delivery.
Objectives: to describe sexual activity, satisfaction and contraceptive practices during the first year postpartum.
Design and methods: The report is based on a study on well-being of mothers during pregnancy and first
postpartum year. All women who contacted two maternal health clinics in early pregnancy during one year
(2002-2003) were recruited. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire twice during the pregnancy
and twice during the postpartum period. Those who completed a questionnaire 3 months (n=218) and 1 year
(N=142) after delivery were included here.
Results: 79% of mothers had resumed coital activity within 3 months after delivery, 43% of them had
intercourse at least weekly. Those who had restarted sexual intercourse, were more satisfied with their sex-life
than those who had not. Condoms were the most popular contraceptive method (58%), 14% used medical
methods and 21% no method at all. A half of mothers who were already at risk or pregnancy (partially or not at
all breast-feeding), used condoms, 24 % medical methods and 26 % no methods. However, one quarter of those
who used no contraception did not want more children or could not say if they wanted.
One year after delivery almost all women had active sex-life. Condoms were still the most common
contraception (42%). 36% used medical methods, one third of the users had initiated the method later than six
months after delivery. Users of medical methods were more satisfied with their sex-life than condom users.
Knowledge of hormonal emergency contraption was poor: only 7% knew the time limit (72 hours).
Conclusion: Even if this study was based on a small sample, it strongly indicates the need of improvement in
contraceptive practices in postpartum period.
Early Attachment and Sexual Development
Inga Tidefors, PhD, Psykologiska Institutionen, Göteborgs Universitet, inga.tidefors@psy.gu.se
Sexuality can be seen as a stage where we can give shape to our needs, both sexual and other needs, and our
sexuality can also mirror what our early attachment was like. As an example of this, it is possible during
intercourse to be in your real age while at the same time behaving like a baby, naked and clinging to another
body. According to Blue (1996) “Every kiss implies the vulnerability, the closeness, the sensuality and the trust
that exist between a mother (or mother figure) and her child” (p. 15). The link between the kiss and the early
feeding indicates that the kiss may also represent what our early attachment was like (Phillips, 1997). Hertoft
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(1987) points out that the mother, through her reactions, will influence the child in a very concrete way and that
the child will through the mother’s reactions have its first sex instruction. Several studies have indicated that
attachment dimensions are reliably related to many aspects of sexual attitudes and behaviours. Insecure
attachment is for example connected with a higher degree of sexual risk-taking. According to Burk and Burkhart
(2002) there also exists a connection between disorganized attachment and sexual offending. My interest in early
attachment and sexual development and the different kinds of feelings involved in sexuality is a result of indepth interviews with child molesters as well as with young sexual offenders. This presentation consists of a
short overview of studies concerning the general relation between attachment and sexual development
exemplified by data from interviews with 42 young sexual offenders and the connection found in this material
between early maltreatment and sexual behaviour.
A DVD film: To be Oneself - Sexual Minorities and Trans People at Work
Jukka Lehtonen, Kati Mustola, Maija Ritamo, Finland
In the world of work, many lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people consume a considerable amount of energy to
hide or cover up their sexual orientation or gender identity.
For many, having to hide their personal life is a cause of anxiety or ill-health that can lead to frequent sick leaves
and deliberate isolation from other members of the work community.
Half of all Finnish lesbian, gay and bisexual employees hide their sexual orientation from all or most of their coworkers. Unfair treatment, discrimination and bullying on the basis of sexual orientation or gender expression
occurs in the Finnish working life although it has been prohibited by law since 1995. Homosexuality was a crime
up to 1971 and an illness up to 1980.
All this appears from the study "Straight people don't tell, do they?" Negotiating the boundaries of sexuality and
gender at work. The research study in English is also available in pdf format.
The Equal project also comprises a documentary film (28 min with texts in Swedish and English).In the film,
seven individuals representing the whole spectrum of sexualities and gender expressions tell us about their
experiences at work. They talk about balancing between openness and secrecy, about how to tell co-workers
about their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. In addition, two experts comment on legal
and occupational safety and health issues.
The idea of the film is to give more information and to open up discussion about taboos. It is intended for
training purposes in polytechnics, for example, and anyone can borrow it from the local library.
Further information at www.seta.fi or www.valt.helsinki.fi/sosio/tutkimus/equal
The Diverse Teaching Roles of Sexologists: From the Personal to the Political
Jóna Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir, Nurse B.Sc., Sexuality Educator M.S.Ed., Autorised specialist in clinical sexology
(NACS). Private practice in sex counseling and psychotherapy, Hverfisgata 4-6, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.
Assistant manager at Alhjúkrun, nursing bureau.
Holtsgata 32, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. jona@jonaingibjorg.is. www.jonaingibjorg.is.
Sexuality involves all aspects of our lives. It is therefore of no surprise that the sexologist who is active as a
teacher in his or her community can have diverse and multiple teaching roles, involving his or her students on
many levels. The author has been teaching sexology in Iceland for many years and participated in many teaching
projects. Sexology, due to the nature of the subject, always has a personal dimension to it. It is the firm belief
and the teaching experience of the author that in order to teach sexology effectively, some personal introspection
is important- here “effective” means for example, the ability to influence or change- whether it is our core-self,
the quality of health services or health policies. Three teaching modules will be shortly presented; a workshop
for women on “women’s sexuality”, a sexology seminar for fifth year medical students in a psychiatry course at
the University of Iceland and an evening workshop for female members of the Icelandic parliament preparing
themselves for the Vagina Monologue performance on V-day in Reykjavík. These three modules will be
compared to see what is common and what is unique in the teaching goals and methods. The point will be made
that the personal affects not only one as a person but also on a a community or political level, depending on the
various roles one has in life- and vice versa. The professional who teaches sexology can benefit from
considering this aspect in their curriculum planning.