Human Sexuality, 4th Edition

Book Preface

Guiding Principles
Seven principles have influenced me every step along the way in all my teaching and writings about human sexuality. Please take a minute to review these principles and keep them in mind as you read through this text.

Choice, Awareness, Rights and Responsibilities
Personal Choice and Consent
An assumption throughout this text is that you are in charge of your personal sexual choices and that it is your responsibility to make decisions that are right for you, that you can feel good about, and that do not harm you or anyone else. You are in control of your sexuality and no one may ever, under any circumstances, take that control away from you. This applies to everything including others judging
you, ridiculing or embarrassing you, and subjecting you to any type of sexual victimization and assault. By taking this course, you have consented to reading and learning about the topics in this book. However, if, at any time, you do not feel comfortable with the course material, you have the right to choose not to read or view it. If these feelings occur at any point, you should discuss them with your instructor.

Authoritative Information
The content of this text is based on the most up-to-date, scientific research available at press time. You can be assured as you read that you are receiving recent, accurate information on every topic discussed.

Real-Life Relevancy
Every effort has been made to ensure that this text is relevant and meaningful to you. Human sexuality is not hypothetical, theoretical, or abstract; it is real. In this text, you will acquire information and knowledge that you will apply and use in your life now and in the future.

Physical and Emotional Health and Wellness
In virtually all chapters, this text focuses on specific, as well as general, sexual health issues to increase your knowledge of them and enhance your level of comfort in seeking care and treatment for sexually-related health problems, if necessary.

Comfort With and Acceptance
of Your Own Sexuality
One of the highlights of this book is a focus on the importance of developing your personal “sexual philosophy.” Developing a clear sense of your sexual identity, needs, desires, goals, and personal sexual rights helps you navigate a happy, well-adjusted sexual life. When you are faced with sexual situations, your sexual philosophy guides you in making the choices that are right for you so that you are in charge of the sexual situations in your life instead of the other way around.

Critical Analysis of Research and
Information about Sexuality
This text provides you with the skills to evaluate intelligently and critically the vast amount of sexual information you receive from the media, your friends and acquaintances, and (maybe) your parents. It should come as no surprise to you that much of that information may be flawed or just plain wrong. This book helps put to rest any misconceptions you may have about sexuality and help you become an informed consumer of sexual information.

Awareness of and Respect
for Sexual Diversity
The information in this text strengthens your understanding of the complex sexual world around you and how you fit into it. Enhancing your respect for and appreciation of the full range of human diversity is a major goal of this book.

Brief Contents
1 Studying Human Sexuality 1
2 Sexual Anatomy 33
3 The Physiology of Sexual Response 71
4 Intimate Relationships 98
5 Contraception: Planning and Preventing 142
6 Sexual Behaviors: Experiencing Sexual Pleasure 184
7 Sexual Problems and Solutions 218
8 Sexually Transmitted Infections/Diseases 260
9 Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth 314
10 Gender: Expectations, Roles, and Behaviors 365
11 Sexual Orientation 403
12 Sexual Development Throughout Life 437
13 Sexual Aggression and Violence: Rape, Child Sexual Abuse,
and Sexual Harassment 479
14 Paraphilic Disorders: Atypical Sexual Behaviors 523
15 The Sexual Marketplace: Prostitution and Pornography 553