Several Stages to sexual arousal: desire, excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution
Vasocongestion: large blow flow into blood vessels (in this case genitals)
Myotonia: muscle contact; not only the genitals but throughout the body
EXCITEMENT
Beginning of erotic arousal; basic physiological process that occurs during excitement is Vasocongestion In men..its results in an 
ERECTION, tightening of the testiclesfrom Nitric Oxide. IN women..it results in lubrication, clit swelling, erection of nipples, ballooning of inner vagina, and orgasmic platform (tightening and thickening of the wall of the outer third of the vagina) from Estrogen.
Orgasmic Plateau
The maintenance of high levels of physiological arousal; can vary in length before orgasm.
ORGASM
Series of rhythmic contraction of the pelvis organs in 0.8-second intervals.
MEN: two parts. 1) ejaculatory inevitability. Sensation that ejaculation is about to happen, can’t be stopped semen collects at base of penis 2) rhythmic contractions of the urethra..forcing the semen out.
Orgasms yield: increase pulse rate, blood pressure, breathing rates. Can vary per individual; but not gender.
WOMEN: can have one intense orgasm..or several milder orgasms. Felt as a spreading sensation that begins in the clitoris and spreads outward through the pelvis, (or falling/opening up). Difficult to know if a woman actually has an orgasm. Often can be faked….
Clitoral Orgasm: results from the stimulation of the clitoris; occurs much more frequently
Vaginal Orgasm: results from stimulation of the vagina during heterosexual sex; Freud considered it “mature”
Refractory Period
incapable of being aroused again. MEN can vary in refractory length. WOMEN usually don’t have one (multiple orgasms). Prolactin: off-switch for sexual arousal; Oxytocin: love drug..creates feeling of connection.
RESOLUTION
The body returns physiologically to the unaroused state. Orgasm triggered massive release of muscular tension and flood from the engorged blood vessels. MEN will lost erections. WOMEN will lost swelling of breasts and clit.
Cognitive-Physiological Models
Master and Johnson only considered the physiological mechanism of sex and didn’t add a cognitive component of sexual arousal.
Kaplan’s Triphasic Model: instead of focusing on sexual arousal as successive steps..she focuses on them being independent steps. Two components (vasocongestion & muscular contractions) are physiological and one is (sexual desire) is psychological. She believes that the psychological aspects plays a fundamental role in causing the physiological roles.
Cognitive Model involves:
- Perception: perception of a stimulus as sexual
- Evaluation: whether or not we evaluation the sexual stimulus as being positive
****These components in turn lead to physiological arousal
Testosterone: fundamental male hormone; often correlated with libido
Erections: Touching or stroking or arousal causes activity in the erection centre of the spine ; a reflex loop existences in the spine that causes erection due to mere genital touching.
Sections of the Limbic System specifically involved in sexual activity.
Erection Problems;
1) Rapid: ejaculate too quickly
2) Retrograde: ejaculate into urinary bladder
3) Delayed: Male takes an excessive period of time too ejaculate
G-spot: located on the top of the vagina; halfway between pubic bone and cervix.
Pheromones: Biochemicals secreted outside the body that are important in communication between animals and that may serve as sex attractants. Vomeronasal organ: chemoreceptor in olfaction centre of brain; thought to detect hormones.
Menstrual Synchrony: Convergence, over several months, the dates of onset menstrual periods among women who are in close contact with each other.
Sexual self-stimulation (autoerotcisim) masturbation and fantasy.
Masturbation: MEN using stroking on the penis. WOMEN using stroking of the inner labia/ clit
Sex Toys: Vibrators, dildos, body oils, anal plugs, rubber vaginas.
Sexual arousal can come from: kissing, touching, stroking, rubbing, tribadism (dry hump) and interfemoral intercourse( male penis inbetween girl’s thighs). Also visual stimulation (fit body), music, smell and taste.
Sexual Positions
- Missionary: Men on top; woman on back; clit stimulation is slow, male control of penetration
- Woman on top: Women on top of man on back; facing or reverse, woman control, clit stimulation
- Rear-entry(Doggystyle): Deep G stop stimulation; male can stimulation clit,
- Side-to-Side: leisure and prolonged intercourse
Mouth-to-Genital
- Cunnilingus: Male stimulates vagina with mouth
- Fellatio: Female stimulates penis with mouth
- Anilingus: stimulation of anus by mouth
- Sixty-Nine: simultaneous mouth-genital stimulation; also called soixante-neuf.
Anal Intercourse: Insertion of penis into the partner’s rectum.
***Sexual scripts and behavior of homosexual partners did not vary from heterosexual partners
Aphrodisiac: Substance that increase sexual desire (ex. Food, drug, perfume [Anaphrodisiac: decreases sexual arousal (cold showers, diuretics]
Sexual inexperience or boredom can be solved through communication, sexual education, variety and experimenting with your partner.
