Human Sexuality

Human sexuality is such a broad subject with many interesting theories. Some people think that human sexuality is just a god-given trait that we are born with. People do not want to further research sexuality because of the controversial issues that society has introduced today. Psychologists, on the other hand, have researched sexuality and have come up with very interesting theories and outcomes. Psychology has been especially helpful in the area of human sexuality, where our understanding lags behind the importance of an area that affects us all. Not only would the human race not survive without heterosexual intercourse, but also, there are many important aspects of human sexuality that are poorly understood. Some subjects that I found interesting and read up on included: sexual intercourse vs. masturbation, masturbation itself, ovulation and the effect on female sexuality, and homosexuality.

Sexual intercourse and masturbation might seem like two completely different things. However, which do people prefer? It might seem obvious that people might prefer sexual intercourse to masturbation. Our culture often puts down masturbation, and makes it seem like some undesirable thing that only people that are disturbed engage in, or connected with people that cannot find a partner. However, researchers have found that masturbation provides more physiological intensity for both males and females than sexual intercourse does. Therefore, even when things are tabooed, people usually figure out what causes pleasure, and then they seek it out. Now on the other hand, evolutionary psychology provides the answer of sexual intercourse over masturbation. Sexual intercourse leads to pregnancy and sending the person's genes to the future and masturbation does not; it is a major desire of humans to participate in the behavior that promises to do so. Sexual intercourse is a powerful, natural desire that both humans and animals obtain.

Masturbation is a tough issue that is frowned upon to this day. It is sometimes referred to as "self-abuse," or "self-pleasuring." Some people thing that masturbation is a bad thing because it leads the individual out of himself to complete the task. Then the individual must go back to reality and hide his thoughts and actions within himself into a self-prison almost where they must keep their imaginary fantasies. Now this may cause psychological damage. Another approach was the masturbation was a sort of sexual imbalance. No one will truly know why a person masturbates but some say it has a lot to do with loneliness, which leads an individual into isolation, fantasy and then masturbation. Loneliness is the key factor that leads many people to believe that masturbation is bad. Loneliness is usually joined with feelings of anger and self-hatred sometimes. When the real word is harsh to one, they may fall into fantasy. In a person's fantasy world, they can do whatever they want, and when it is taken out of the fantasy world and into the real world, it may lead to unpleasant things and sexual addiction. Now masturbation becomes compulsive. However, masturbation cannot be regarded as abnormal behavior compared to sexual intercourse in the sense that it is but an expression of ones own true sexuality that is the same sexuality expressed through sexual intercourse. The only difference is that in masturbation, the individual's desire is not present but only in forms of fantasy. In sexual intercourse, the object of desire is present. Masturbation is like a temporary outlet almost. Especially when the individual's sexual partner is not there, and they feel a drive. Masturbation is noted to be useful in one's health. It relieves stress and anxiety at times and helps an individual with their own sexual appetite and sexual energy. It is said to be the basic sexuality of any individual that leads to the success of any sexual intercourse.

The subject of female sexuality differs an extreme amount when it is compared to the male's sexuality. For instance, ovulation is part of a female's life and it has been researched and said to be a big cause of a female's sexual desire. I read that during ovulation times, a woman has an unconscious motivation to get pregnant and continue the human race. Researchers found that the closer women in bars were to ovulation, the skimpier their clothing would be. The woman may not even realize the sexual signal she is sending out and therefore will fall under the unconscious act. Females can of course want sexual intercourse at any time but her desire will increase at the time of ovulation.

Homosexuality is one of America's top controversial issues. It will forever lie as a question if homosexuality is curable, if it is just a psychological thing, or if people are just born with it. I read that there have been societies that tolerated and even encouraged homosexuality. However, other societies have even said that homosexuality and pedophilia are connected and are a form of modern propaganda. Dr. John Money, who is a director of psychohormonal research at John Hopkins University, disagrees. Money is quoted as follows, "In the adulthood of the true pedophile, parental love is hybridized with sexual love...pedophilia is not