1. Sexual Relationships: Sexual and emotional satisfaction
Alisha Niazali Hirani 0314325
Beelly Vun 0314654
Benny Tan Shiowee 0315447
Chua Chang Yeong 0314044
Chua Jia Cheng 0315160
PSYC 103
Group Research Assignment
Date od submission : 22nd January 2014

2. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Acknowledgement
First, we would like to express oour sincere gratitude to all the participants involved in
this study for their time. In addition the information that they shared was very sensitive in nature
and to help carry out this research none the less was truly courageous of them. Secondly we
would like to thank Chia Yee Pang for her patience and support while carrying out this research.
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3. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………….. 4
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………. 5
METHOD………………………………………………………………………………...6
Design…………………………………………………………………………… 6
Participants……………………………………………………………………......6
Materials /Apparatus………………………………………………………….......6
Procedure………………………………………………………………………....7
RESULTS………………………………………………………………………………...8
DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………………………27
REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………..30
APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………………...31
Appendix A: Questionnaire………………………………..………………...….31
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4. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the sexual relationship between male and female
within their satisfaction of their partner’s sexual practices. This study sought to determine how
much communication there is in a sexual relationship. The hypothesis of this study stated that in
a sexual relationship, women tend to hide their lack of sexual pleasure more than men. In order
to retrieve this information, a survey was conducted. With this survey of self-reported sexual
satisfaction for both males and females (mean age = 20), we found that the males’ level of sexual
satisfaction is higher than females’. We found that many women fake orgasms to please their
partners, but this may end up having exactly the opposite effect. It means that females are less
open when it comes to communicating what they do not like. However, an open and frank
exchange of feelings during sexual activities will bring about more sexual satisfaction for both
parties. As from our research, most of the males are somewhat satisfied with their sex partner
within their sexual interaction and intercourse. These findings suggest that couples should have
more communication amongst each other to achieve a more satisfied sexual relationship.
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5. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Introduction
Mating is a phenomenon that has taken place for eons between not only humans but other
animals. Sex is considered to be a ‘sensitive’ topic to talk about. In many societies, sexual
conversations are tabooed. When children ask about where babies come from, parents tell them
‘fictional stories’ to avoid the truth. It is only recently that schools have implemented sex
education, where children are taught about sex, contraception and reproduction. However it
should be noted, that not all schools teach sex education because it is uncomfortable to talk
about. For this reason, sexual awareness is limited and is learnt through experience and what the
media would like people to believe. However in some societies it is not unheard of, where
friends talk about their sexual experiences amongst each other. This can prove to be beneficial.
According to Chen Lizra in a country such as Cuba, there is no advertising, so there is nothing
that distorts the body image. What attributes what a person feels about sexuality is dependent on
their environment and their home (Lizra, 2013). As a result of the stigma of sex being hard to
talk about, there is a lack of communication between people who are sexually involved. People
therefore hide crucial information that would make their sexual relationships better. Or rely on
unrealistic information acquired from the media.
Sigmund Freud is well-known for his theories in sexology. One of the first theories
Sigmund developed viewed women as men without penises (Cohler & Galatzer-Levy, 2008)
according to early Freudian theory, “since women don’t have a penis, however, they experience
‘penis envy’, which is the jealousy little girls feel towards boys and the resentment towards their
mothers (whom they blame for not having a penis).” (Fraize N., Kerrigan L., McFatridge K.,
Nadifi A., n/a) Sigmund Freud engaged in sexual activities in order to birth to boys to “gain” a
penis. In addition he believed women were sexually passive because they had underdeveloped
superegos. This implies that women are morally inferior to men (Schultz & Schultz, 2009). It is
thoughts such as these that are assumed which result in grey areas when it comes to sex.
This research investigates the struggles people have in communicating what they feel in a sexual
relationship. It further investigates which sex feels the need to hide their lack of sexual pleasure
and the possible reasons as to why such behavior is exercised.
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6. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Method
Design
The research was carried out through the use of surveys. The survey aimed to collect
quantitative data which could be analyzed with the aid for numerals and graphs to prove whether
the hypothesis is true. The independent variable in this experiment is the sex of the participants.
The controlled variable is the type of participant taking part in the survey, such that they are
sexually active. There are several dependent variables in this survey which is the sexual activity
of the participants.
Participants
The participants that took place in this research come from a diverse range of ethnic
backgrounds. The research was in the form of a survey. This method was used in order to give
the participants a sense of privacy while obtaining sensitive information about their sexual
experiences. In addition while filling a survey; participants are less likely to give false
information, as a survey does not require the identities of the participants. The participants
targeted for this research were those who are sexually active and who were recently in a
relationship or are currently in a relationship. There are a total of 52 participants that took part in
this research. There were 27 male and 25 female participants.
Apparatus/ Material
This research was carried out over the internet through an online survey form. Through
the internet, participants remain completely anonymous therefore meeting any ethical
requirements. In addition, by doing a survey through the internet, participants are not obligated
in any way to fill the survey if they are not comfortable to do so. The researchers chose this
mode to research to ensure the data retrieved is safe and password protected to ensure all
information is kept in confidence and cannot be misplaced. Social networking site such as
Facebook and Twitter were used to send out the survey. (Refer to appendix)
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7. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Procedure
Numerous meetings had been organised by the researchers to discuss and choose the topic of the
survey. Sexual Relationship had been chosen to be the topic after which the researchers thought
of a more in depth research question. A survey was drafted and edited after discussion. There
were 20 questions in the survey. The participants were told of the sensitivity of the survey before
taking the survey, without their consent they could not carry on with the survey. However all
questions were drafted in a way that if the participant did not want to answer a question, they
could skip the question and answer the next.
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8. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Results
Table 1
Age classes
18 to 20
21 to 23
24 to 26
27 to 29
30 or older
Total
Number
of people
43
3
4
1
1
52
Figure 1
Age
50
45
40
No of people
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
18 to 20
21 to 23
24 to 26
27 to 29
30 or older
Age Class
In this survey 82.69% of the people were between the ages of 18 to 20. The mean, median and
mode of the age of the participants is between 18 to 20 years old.
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9. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 2
Sex
Female
Male
Total
No of people
25
27
52
Figure 2
No of males and females
25
27
Female
Male
In the research there are 2 more males than females that participated in this survey. Females
were adamant to fill the survey.
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10. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 3
Sexual
No of people
orientation
Heterosexual
45
Homosexual
2
Bisexual
3
Figure 3
Sexual orientation
2
3
Heterosexual
Homosexual
Bisexual
45
In this survey there were 2 homosexuals and 3 bisexuals. The sexual orientation of the
homosexuals and bisexual are noted but are inconclusive as there is not enough people to come
to a concensus. The majority of participants (90%) are heterosexuals.
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11. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 4
Relationship status
Married
widowed
Divorced
Separated
In a domestic partnership or civil
union
Single but cohabitation
Single, Never married
number of
people
5
0
0
1
6
17
23
Figure 4
Relatioship Status
No of people
25
20
15
10
5
0
Status
It is surprising to note that in this research, 44.23% are single. However 32.69% are single but
cohabitation.
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12. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 5
Religions
No of
people
9
22
2
26
Islam
Christianity
Judaism
Buddhism
Hinduism
5
Taoism
8
other
Total
2
52
Figure 5
Religions
8
2
9
Islam
Christianity
5
Judaism
22
Buddhism
Hinduism
Taoism
26
2
other
The largest portion of people who participated in this survey were Buddhists, which is 50% of
the participants. The next most common religion is christianity 42.31%. Reasons for this could
be because there are stringent laws on religions such as islam where sexual intercourse before
marriage is prohibited and anyone who is sexually active before marriage will not participate in
such a research.
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13. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 6
age of commencement of sexual
activity
14 to 16
17 to 19
20 to 22
23 to 25
25 to 27
total
no of
people
21
15
8
5
3
52
Figure 6
Age participants became sexually
active
No of people
25
20
15
10
5
0
14 to 16
17 to 19
20 to 22
23 to 25
25 to 27
Age Group
40% of the Participants became sexually active at the age of between 14 to 16 years. As the age
group increases the amount of participants that became sexually active decreases. Accoriding to
the age group, the older participants became secually after at a later age than the 18 to 10 year
olds.
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14. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 7
Commencement of sexual activity in
females
14 - 16
17 - 19
20 - 22
23- 25
25- 27
No of
females
9
6
4
5
1
Figure 7
No of females
Age females became sexually active
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
14 - 16
17 - 19
20 - 22
23- 25
25- 27
Age group
The majority of females (36%) became sexually active between the age range 14 to 16. However
there is still a great deal of distribution withing the other years where women became sexually
active.
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15. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 8
Commencement of sexual activity in
males
14 - 16
17 - 19
20 - 22
23- 25
25- 27
No of males
12
9
4
0
2
Figure 8
Age males became sexually active
14
No of males
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
14 - 16
17 - 19
20 - 22
23- 25
25- 27
Age Group
40% of the males became sexually active between the ages of 14 to 16 years. Generally with the
males, most males became sexually active in the younger age groups. With the exception of 2
people in the age group 25 to 27 years
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16. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 9
Amount of sexual intercourse in a month
no of people
1 to 5 times
5 to 10 times
10+ times
30
9
13
Figure 9
Sexual intercourse in a month
35
No of people
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1 to 5 times
5 to 10 times
10+ times
amount of sexual intercourse in a month
According to the results of the survey, 57.6% of the participants
have sexual intercourse between 1 to 5 times in a week. This is
surprising due to the fact that the majority of participant who
have taken this survey are between the ages of 18 and 20 year.
Therefore at a youthful ripe age it is expected that the
participants would have intercourse 10+ times in a month.
Table 10
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17. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Amount of sexual intercourse in a month No of
(female)
females
1 to 5 times
5 to 10 times
10+ times
13
7
5
Figure 10
Amount of intercourse in a month
(females)
14
No of females
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1 to 5 times
5 to 10 times
10+ times
Amount of sexual intercourse in a month
Unlike the males, 48% of women have sexual intercourse more
than 5 times in a month . The majority of women (52%) have
intercourse 1 to 5 times in a month
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18. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 11
Amount of sexual intercourse in a month
(male)
1 to 5 times
5 to 10 times
10+ times
No of males
17
2
8
Figure 11
No of males
No of males
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1 to 5 times
5 to 10 times
10+ times
Amount of sexual intercourse in a month (males)
37% of men have intercourse more than 5 times in a week
which is 11% less than women. Most men Have intercourse
between 1 to 5 times in a month.
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19. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 12
(total)
Have you ever had to fake pleasure
have you ever had to fake an orgasm
Has your partner ever hurt you in sexual activities and you could not tell
them
N Ye Tot
o s
al
35 16
51
37 13
50
39 11
50
Figure 12
No of people
Pleasure
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
No
Yes
Have you ever had to have you ever had to Has your partner
fake pleasure
fake an orgasm
ever hurt you in
sexual activities and
you could not tell
them
While looking at the results for both the male and female participants, it is evident that most
people do not have the need to fake pleasure and an orgasm. It is also evident that most
participants could tell their partner if they are being hurt in any sexual activities.
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20. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 13 – Female pleasure
No
Have you ever had to fake pleasure
have you ever had to fake an orgasm
Has your partner ever hurt you in sexual activities and you could
not tell them
Yes
5
5
1
19
19
23
Figure 13
Pleasure (females)
25
No of females
20
15
No
10
Yes
5
0
Have you ever had to fake have you ever had to fake Has your partner ever hurt
pleasure
an orgasm
you in sexual activities and
you could not tell them
According to the figure above most women (79%) do have to fake pleasure and an orgasm. In
addition 95.8% of women could not tell their partniers when they were being hurt during sexual
intercourse
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21. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 14 – Pleasure in males
No
Yes
15
10
18
7
16
9
Have you ever had to fake pleasure
have you ever had to fake an orgasm
Has your partner ever hurt you in sexual activities and you could
not tell them
Figure 14
No of males
Pleasure (Males)
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
No
Yes
Have you ever have you ever
had to fake had to fake an
pleasure
orgasm
Has your
partner ever
hurt you in
sexual activities
and you could
not tell them
The results for the males are opposite to the results of the females. Most males have not had to
fake pleasure. According to the survey there is a controvertial figure where 7males claimed to
have faked an orgasm.
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22. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Table 15- Females
Most of
the time
I find myself missing passion and
oomph in my relationships
My partner satisfies my sexual needs
Including hugging, touching, kissing and
intercourse
I am satisfied with my partners sexual
practices (positions, flirting, stimulation etc)
I am satisfied in my partners and my choice
in sexual contraception
My partner is creative when it comes to
Love making
I am satisfied with the length of our sexual
encounters
My partner reciprocates when i sexually
please them
I feel comfortable about my body around my
partner
I feel like my partner loves me
unconditionally
Often
Sometimes Rarely Almost
Never
2
3
11
1
7
4
7
9
3
3
5
6
7
3
3
5
6
6
4
3
3
6
7
4
4
5
4
8
3
4
6
2
8
5
4
8
3
7
2
4
2
10
9
2
3
Table 16- Males
Most of
the time
I find myself missing passion and
oomph in my relationships
My partner satisfies my sexual needs
including hugging, touching, kissing and
intercourse
I am satisfied with my partners sexual
practices (positions, flirting, stimulation
etc)
I am satisfied in my partners and my
choice
in sexual contraception
My partner is creative when it comes to
love making
I am satisfied with the length of our sexual
encounters
My partner reciprocates when i sexually
please them
I feel comfortable about my body around
my
partner
I feel like my partner loves me
unconditionally
Often
Sometimes Rarely
4
2
7
Almost
Never
5
7
13
4
5
1
3
12
7
7
0
0
13
4
9
0
0
12
5
10
2
3
11
9
5
0
0
12
7
7
0
0
18
2
3
3
3
8
11
6
1
1
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23. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Figure 15
I find myself missing passion and
oomph in my relationships
12
No of people
10
8
females
6
4
males
2
0
Most of the
time
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Almost
Never
While Most males either almost never or sometimes fine themselves missing passing and oomph
in their relationship, Most women feel as though sometimes the fine themselves missing passion
and oomph in their relationships.
Figure 16
My partner satisfies my sexual needs
14
no of people
12
10
8
female
6
male
4
2
0
Most of the
time
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Almost
Never
50% of the time males have partners that satisfy their sexual needs. However the majority of
women say that only sometimes are their sexual needs satisfied.
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24. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Figure 17
I am satisfied with my partners
sexual practices
14
no of people
12
10
females
8
6
males
4
2
0
Most of the
time
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Almost
Never
Males are mostly satisfied with the sexual practices of their partners, However the distribution of
female answers vary into all 3 options. Most women say they are sometimes satisfied with their
partners sexual practices.
Figure 18
I am satisfied with my partner and
my choice in contraception
14
No of people
12
10
females
8
6
males
4
2
0
Most of the
time
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Almost
Never
In this research males are mostly happy with the choice of contracention. However unlike the
males, 29% of females are noy satiffied with the choice of contraception.
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25. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Figure 19
My partner is creative when it comes
to love making
14
No of people
12
10
females
8
6
males
4
2
0
Most of the
time
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Almost
Never
44% of males are satisfied with how creative their partner is when it comes to come making.
However once again the dispersion of the female responses vary. Most women think it is only
sometimes that their partner is creative when it comes to love making.
Figure 20
I am satisfied with the length of our
sexual encounters
12
No of people
10
8
female
6
4
male
2
0
Most of the
time
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Almost
Never
Women are generally not satfied with the length of their sexual encounters. However most men
are sexually satisfies by the length of their sexual encounters.
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26. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Figure 21
My partner reciprocates when i
sexually please them
14
No of people
12
10
8
6
Females
4
males
2
0
Most of the
time
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Almost
Never
32% of the female participants state that ther rarely get recipocatio. Furthermore according to
the results males are generally content with recipocatio.
Figure 22
I feel comfortable about my body
around my partner
no of people
20
15
10
female
male
5
0
Most of the
time
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Almost
Never
Due to the pressure of societ there are not many females who are satisfied and confident about
the bodies of people. Most males are comfortable in their own skin
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27. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Discussion
The results indicate that the hypothesis that women tend to hide their lack of sexual
satisfaction more than men. According to the research, 79% of women fake pleasure and an
orgasm whereas only 40% of men have faked pleasure and 28% an orgasm. This could arrguably
be as a result of women being more emotional than men. In order to prevent telling their male
partners that the sexual activity that they are partaking in is not pleasureable for them. Women
empathize with the effect such a comment can have on a man’s ego and just fake pleasure to
keep their partner content. Positive reinforcment is a theory that can be used to justify the
behavior of the participants in their sexual relationships. When faking pleasure and sexual
satisfaction, partners don’t know it is fake and think this is positive feedback. Therefore they
tend do do that very sexual activity which they thought would give sexual satisfaction often.
96% of women could not tell their partners that they are experiencing pain or discomfort
while partaking in sexual activities. In comparisson 36% of males could not tell their partners
that they were experiencing pain or discomfort. The female gentililia is complex in nature. No
two women are alike. It is possible that what might work for one woman may not work for
another. Therefore through past experiences with another partner , trying such activities with a
current partner may prove to be painful and uncomfortable. Another reason why 96% of women
could not tell their partners of their discomfort is because of the lack of foreplay or stimulation of
women. According to the survey most women say that they are sometimes satisfied with the
length of their sexual encounters and stimulation they receive in sexual encounters whereas most
male participants state that they are statisfied with stimulation and the length of their encounters.
Another reason for the lack of pleasure and satisfaction felt by a woman can be a result
of the overjustification hypothesis. This hypothesis states that a persons’ intrinsic interest will
decrease when an external reward is given to a person performing an intrinsically rewarding
activity. If a female was to respond to her partners sexual initiation and as a result she recieves a
reward such as her partner doing more chores. The actual enjoyment for the woman may decline
during the sexual encounter will decline. The woman is now probably going to interpret her
enjoyment as being primarily from the reward. (n/a, 2012)
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28. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
The media, social pressures and human nature itself have turned finding the ideal partner
a mystery. Being surrounded by manipulated images, celebrities an glossy perfection. Given
rules about dating from books websites and press has pressured people to conform to society.
(Brown, Akingbade McDonnel, 2010) The media targets women more than men . According to
the research, most men are comfortable about their body are their partner as opposed to females.
Self perception theory is associated with situations such as this. ‘Self-perception theory is based
on the premise that people make attributions about their own attitudes, feelings and behaviors by
relying on their observations of external behaviors and the circumstances in which those
behaviors occur’ (Bem, 1965) (n/a, 2012)
Limitations
Just like the Kinsey, Pomeroy and Martin study on sexual behavior, the questionnaire
receive the highest refusal to answer rate (1953). When it comes to women, those who are not
married and have sexual relationships are scared jeoperdize their reputation.
There are several other limitations to this research. While individually going through the
survey, On several occasions participants had and age younger to when they supposedly became
sexually active. For example a surveyor had stated that they were between the age of 18 and 20
but but the age they became sexually active as 23 to 25.
Another limitation was the males who claimed they have had to fake an orgasm. This can
prove to be extremely difficult or untrue. This is because when I male orgasms, he ejaculates.
Therefore to fake an ejaculation can be very tricky. While males can fake pleasure, the results
show that 7 males faked an orgasm. A male orgasm involves ejaculation. Therefore it brings
about the question, how did 7 males fake an orgasm, if an orgasm was faked. This figure could
also mean there was a misunderstanding of the question.
The survey is conducted online. Therefore there is no filter to the people who are filling the
form, or to the amount of times a person can fill the form.
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29. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
In order to improve this research asignment, when contucting a research, use progams that
restrict a person from filling in the survey twice
Conclusion
Based on the research conducted, males experience more sexual satisfaction than
females. Due to the sensitivity of the topic, sexual communication is not as prevalent as it should
be in order to experience optimum satisfaction during intercourse. Scientifically speaking males
are able to climax easier and faster than women. (Wade, 2013) which could be a reason why
males have more satisfaction than women. However, through the survey it is noticeable that
females do not feel always feel passion in their relationships, they do not feel that their partners
recipocate when they sexually please them and they do not always feel confortable in their own
skin .
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30. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
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31. Running Head: Sexual Relationships
Appendix
31