Chapter 8 Atypical Sexual Variations What is Normal? Statistical norm (mean,var) – Many behs rare but not deviant Social/cultural norm – Varies lots Non genital sex Paraphilias Atypical – – – – – sexual patterns (APA) Arousal to unusual S (kids, shoes, rubber) Uncontrollable, recurrent urges (acted on) Distressing Problematic Mostly men Harmless v. victim-producing Fetishism Arousal to inanimate objects (high-heeled shoes, stockings, rubber) – Masturbation device (almost all men) – Varies in intensity • Pleasurable addition • No arousal w/o object Is this normal? Class Data (N = xx, Female = xx) Yes No Masturbate - NonSex Masturbate - Clothes Male Yes Masturbate - NonSex Masturbate - Clothes Female Yes What is Normal? Matter of degree – Being aroused by high-heeled shoes is not necessarily a problem • Uncontrollable urges • Distressed & no satisfaction w/o object • Harmful to self, others (burglary of women’s shoes) Reaction Paper I: Fetishism How would react if your lover revealed that s/he had a fetish? Do you think fetishes are ‘sick’ or ‘harmless fun’? Why do you think you feel this way? PLEASE TURN IN AFTER CLASS! Transvestitism Aroused – – – – by dressing like women Married heterosexuals No gender confusion Likely to be oldest/only children close w/ Mom Petticoat punishment Exhibitionism Arousal exposing genitals to unwilling women (risk of being caught) – Young, single, sexually repressed men – Problems w/ women • Hostility, power themes • Victims feel violated – Rarely initiates sexual contact • 10% rapists start off as flashers Causes Biology – No brain abnormalities – Hormone imbalances (exhibitionists high T) Psychoanalytical – Defend against uncon fears (castration anxiety) – Symbolically assert penis Learning – Associate object/act w/ arousal or reward during childhood Masochism Aroused by pain and/or humiliation – Spanked, bound, domination, lick boots, urinated on, by sexual sadist (S&M) • Elaborate rituals • Avoid injury (pain, not damage) – – – – Mostly men but women also Most married, successful & prosperous No relation w/ sexual orientation Pain arousing only in sexual context Class Data (N = xx, Female = xx) Kinsey (1953) Engaged in Masochististic Yes ~25% No ~75% Male Yes Female Yes Engaged in Masochististic Maybe or definitely Try Masochististic Masochism: Causes Psychoanalytical – Guilt over unconscious desire for power – Punish ourselves – Guilt over normal sex - domination freeing Not supported – Masochistic desires far more common (4:1) – Start masochistic role -> sadistic – Guilt about S&M, not normal sexual desires Masochism: Causes Biological Opponent Processes – physiological reactions causes equal and opposite reaction – Pain -> pleasure Not supported – Masochism too rare in general population – Cultural variation large Masochism: Causes Escape From Self – Modern Western culture stressful – Reduce self-awareness releases stress – Pain, humiliation focuses attention on immediate experience • Forget self & worries of normal life • Break from stress of daily life (reprieve) – Mistress take me away Paraphilias Many others - please see text Therapy - please be sure to also read about how paraphilias are treated Group Activity II: Paraphilias Groups of 4-5 (mixed-gender) discuss the following questions – Summarize As – Present to class PLEASE TURN IN AFTER CLASS! Group Activity II: Paraphilias 1. Why do paraphilias occur primarily among men? Is there gender bias regarding behaviors labeled “deviant”? (e.g., are women who dress like men deviant?) 2. Why do you think women have more masochistic fantasies than men & men engage in more masochistic behavior? Conclusions What is (ab)normal is hard to define – Rooted in current culture – Harmful to self or others key Sexual interest, behaviors vary widely Many theoretical approaches attempt to explain this variability