WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON
CANADA
Department of Psychology
2014-2015
Human Sexuality
Psychology 2075 Section 001
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
A survey of the psychological study of human sexual behaviour. Topics include history, methodology,
theory, anatomy, physiology, attraction, sexual function, sexual orientation, contraception, conception
and birth, sexual health and sexual coercion, and pornography.
3 lecture hours, 1.0 course
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor:
Professor William Fisher
Office and Phone Number:
Social Science Centre 7428, (519) 661-2111 ext 84665
Office Hours:
By appointment
Email:
fisher@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistants:
Stephanie Montgomery-Graham
Daniel Machado
Erin Shumlich
Note: To make an appointment with your teaching assistant to discuss questions concerning this
course, please contact your assigned teaching assistant for an appointment. Students with last names
beginning with a through f should contact Stephanie Montgomery-Graham (smontgo9@uwo.ca) for
assistance; students with last names beginning with g through n should contact Daniel Machado
(dmachad2@uwo.ca) for assistance; students with last names beginning with n through z should
contact Erin Shumlich (eshumlic@uwo.ca) for assistance.
Time and Location of Lectures:
Tuesday 2:30 – 5:30 pm
Social Science Centre 2050
Class Website: OWL Sakai
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any
other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services
for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an
accommodation.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to
assist you. Please visit: http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these
resources and on mental health.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Hyde, J. S., DeLamater, J. D., & Byers, E. S. (2012). Understanding Human Sexuality. (Fifth Canadian
Edition). Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course provides a survey of the psychological study of human sexual behaviour and interpersonal
relationships. Topics include the history, theory, and methodology of the psychological study of human
sexuality, the anatomy and physiology of human sexual function, and a review of the varieties of sexual
behaviour, sexual dysfunction, sexual orientation, contraception and abortion, conception, pregnancy, and
childbirth, sexual and reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, sexual coercion and assault,
pornography, interpersonal attraction, close relationships, and love. Please note that this course will involve
explicit consideration, readings, imagery, and class discussion of each of these topics, behaviours, and
experiences.
Voluntary participation in anonymous web-based surveys of sexual and relationship knowledge, attitudes, and
behaviours is a feature of the course and aggregated results of responses to these surveys will be reported in
class.
5.0 EVALUATION
Course evaluation will based upon four multiple-choice examinations, each worth 25% of students’ final
grade. Exams will each consist of 50 multiple choice questions and will cover material from the assigned
readings (half of exam items) and from class lectures (half of exam items). The exams are not cumulative.
Students are required to take every examination in the course without exception. The lecture schedule,
lecture topics, assigned readings, and examination dates appear below.
Lecture attendance in this course is considered to be mandatory. Half of the items on each examination
cover material that is presented only in lectures and not covered in readings. Students who miss lectures
score dramatically more poorly on examinations.
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform
to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2100-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as
follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf)
A+
A
B
C
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
Superior work that is clearly above average
Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
Competent work, meeting requirements
D
F
50-59
below 50
Fair work, minimally acceptable
Fail
6.0 TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
October 21, 2014: Examination I:
In class at usual time and location
December 6-17, 2014: Examination II:
Mid-Year Examination Period (At time and location TBA)
February 9, 2015: Examination III:
In class at usual time and location
April 11-30, 2015: Examination IV:
Final Examination Period (At time and location TBA)
7.0 LECTURE SCHEDULE
Lecture and Examination Schedule and Required Readings
September 9 Course Orientation
Lecture only: course overview and orientation
September 16; Introduction and History of the Scientific Study of Sexuality
Chapter 1 Hyde et al.
September 23: Theory in the Scientific Study of Sexuality
Chapter 2 Hyde et al
September 30: Methodology in the Scientific Study of Sexuality
Chapter 3 Hyde et al
October 7: Sexuality Film Festival
Kinsey
Masters of Sex
Facts and Errors in Kinsey and Masters of Sex
October 14: Sexual Anatomy
Chapter 4 Hyde et al.
Sex Hormones, Differentiation, Menstruation
Chapter 5 Hyde et al.
October 21: Examination I: In class at usual time and location
October 28: Sexual Response
Chapter 9 Hyde et al
November 4: Sexual Orientation
Chapter 14 Hyde et al
November 11: Contraception and Abortion
Chapter 7 Hyde et al.
November 18: Conception, Pregnancy, Childbirth
Chapter 6 Hyde et al.
November 25: Sex Differences in Sexual Behavior
Chapter 13 Hyde et al.
December 2: Overview of Semester and Examination Review
Lecture only
December 6-17 Examination II: Mid-Year Examination Period (At time and location TBA)
January 6: Understanding and Promoting Reproductive Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections
Chapter 8 Hyde et al.
January 13: Understanding and Promoting Reproductive Health: The AIDS Epidemic
Fisher, W. A., Fisher, J. D., & Kohut, T. (2009) AIDS exceptionalism? The social
psychology of HIV prevention research. Social Issues and Policy Review, 3, 45-77.
(to be posted on OWL)
Presentation of documentary and intervention materials
January 20: Pornography, Erotica, and Behaviour
Chapter 17 Hyde et al
January 27:Sexual Coercion: The Research Perspective
Hyde et al., Chapter 16
February 3: Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault: The Western Perspective
Sexual and Physical Abuse at Canadian Residential Schools
Guest Lecturers—Lecture Only
February 10: Examination III: In class at usual time and location
February 16-22: Reading Week
February 24: Sexual Dysfunction and Sex Therapy
Chapter 18 Hyde et al.
Variations in Sexual Behavior
Lecture only
March 3:
Attraction, Love, and Attachment: I
Hyde et al., Chapter 12
March 10: Attraction, Love, and Attachment: II
Reading: http://internal.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/attachment.htm
March 17: Attraction, Love, and Attachment: III
Lecture only
March 24: Sexuality Education
Hyde et al., Chapter 19
March 31: Sexuality and the Lifespan: Childhood and Adolescence
Chapter 10 Hyde et al.
April 7:
Sexuality and the Lifespan: Adulthood and Ageing
Chapter 11 Hyde et al.
How to be Reasonably Sexual in 2014 and Beyond
April 11-30: Examination IV: Final Examination Period (At time and location TBA)
8.0
STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and
other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they
undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described
at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic
offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses
using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All
written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by
comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s
databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference
database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of
the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University of Western Ontario
and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course,
suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0
OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergradresponsibilities.htm
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2014 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.
Additional Information Concerning Sex Research for Those Interested
Periodicals
Journal of Sex Research
Journal of Sexual Medicine
Archives of Sexual Behavior
Annual Review of Sex Research
Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada
International Journal of Sexual Health
Websites
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Sexualityandu.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/hiv
UN AIDS: http://data.unaids.org
Advanced Textbook
Pukall, C.F. (Ed.) (2014) Human sexuality. A contemporary introduction : Oxford University
Press. Don Mills, CA.
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Trauma Resources
Sexual Harassment
UWO Sexual Harassment (Office of Equity and Human Rights) 519-661-3334
Sexual Assault
London Police 911
UWO Student Health Services (Medical Care, Counselling)
519-661-3030
UWO Student Development Centre (Crisis Counselling, Psychological Services)
519-661-3031
Sexual Assault Centre London—St. Joseph’ (24 Hour Crisis and Support Line)
519.438-2272
Regional Sexual Assault Program, St. Joseph’s Hospital (medical care, examination, counselling)
519 646-6100 ext. 64224