PSYCH 420 – HUMAN SEXUALITY

ON-LINE ACTIVITIES REPORT FORM

Name______Kelly Culmore___________________ Date___10/22/10

Chapter 8 – Sexual Behaviors

Essay Questions

Write out and complete the following essay questions that are found on the Text’s
companion Web site (www.cenagage.com/psychology/crooks).

(1) Define celibacy, identifying two types of celibacy. Discuss what factors may contribute to a
person becoming celibate.

A physically mature person who does not engage in sexual behavior is said to be
celibate. In complete celibacy a person neither masturbates nor has sexual contact with
another person. In partial celibacy an individual masturbates but does not have
interpersonal sexual contact.
Today many factors can lead a person to be celibate. Some people choose to be
celibate until marriage because of religious or moral beliefs. Others maintain celibacy
until their personal criteria for a good sexual relationship have been met. Some people
choose celibacy because they have experienced confusion or disappointment in past
sexual relationships, and they want to spend some time establishing new relationships
without the complicating factor of sexual interaction.

(2) Compare historical and contemporary attitudes and beliefs about masturbation. Include both
societal and religious views.

Masturbation has been a source of social concern and censure throughout

Judeo-Christian history. This state of affairs has resulted in both misinformation and
considerable personal shame and fear. Many negative attitudes toward masturbation
are rooted in early Jewish and Christian views that procreation was the only legitimate
purpose of sexual behavior. Because masturbation obviously could not result in
conception, it was condemned. During the mid-18th century, the “evils” of masturbation
received a great deal of publicity in the name of science, largely because of the writings
of a European physician named Samuel Tissot, who thought masturbation was self-
abuse.
Freud and others recognized that masturbation does not harm physical health
and they saw it as normal during childhood. However they believed that masturbation in
adulthood could result in immature sexual development. In contrast contemporary
research indicated that masturbation is neither beneficial nor harmful to sexual
adjustment.

SCORE:_____/5
 PSYCH 420 – HUMAN SEXUALITY
ON-LINE ACTIVITIES REPORT FORM

(3) Define cunnilingus and fellatio. Explain why some people may feel uncomfortable with, or
have negative views, regarding these behaviors.

Cunnilingus is oral stimulation of the vulva: the clitoris, labia minora, vestibule, and
vaginal opening. Fellatio is oral stimulation of the penis and scrotum. Some people have qualms
about oral-genital stimulation. They may believe that their own or the partner’s genitals are
unattractive.
Although routine thorough washing of the genitals with soap and water is adequate for
cleanliness, some people think the genitals are unsanitary because they are close to the urinary
opening and anus. Another reason some heterosexual people object to oral sex stems from the
belief that it is a homosexual act.

True/False Questions

Circle the correct answer for each of the following true/false questions.

1. Fantasizing privately during sex with a partner can erode intimacy in the
relationship. T

2. Autoeroticism is another name for masturbation. T

3. Level-1 in the Maltz hierarchy of sexual energy describes sex that is used to
express anger. F

4. A recent research summary revealed that 95% of men and women reported
having had erotic dreams. F

5. Masturbation is generally considered a healthy practice throughout the life cycle,

although it is discouraged while in a relationship because it excludes the other
partner and deprives him or her of pleasure. T

SCORE:_____/5
 PSYCH 420 – HUMAN SEXUALITY
ON-LINE ACTIVITIES REPORT FORM

Web Resources

On page 248 of your Text pick one of the listed resources and visit their Web Site. Cite
the name of the site and URL (e.g., Complete Name of Site (date accessed) URL) and
briefly state what you learned and how this site can be useful.

Go Ask Alice
October 22, 2010
<http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/>

This site is very interesting. You can pretty much find an answer to any
question you have regarding sex, sexual health, relationships, and fitness
and nutrition. This site is useful for someone who may have questions
regarding sexual issues and are too afraid to ask one of their family
members or peers, and also for everyone else in the general population.

Critical Thinking Question

Answer the following critical thinking question:

What do you think parents should tell their children about masturbation?

Parents should explain to their children what masturbation is and what can come
out of it. I think it is important for a child to know that figuring out yourself down there is
a normal part of growing up. But as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, it is important
that your child knows that God created sex for a man and women in marriage, and any
other kind of sexual activity outside of this context is a counterfeit of what He meant it to
be and we are getting less than what he wanted for us.

SCORE:_____/5