1.
Introduction to Human
Sexuality
Dr. Martha Tara Lee, D.H.S.
16 May 2016
Symposium: Sex and the Spine: All You Ever Wanted to Know about Sex and the Spine but were
Afraid to Ask

2.
Agenda
• Defined: Human Sexuality
• Defined: Sexology
• Circles of Sexuality
• Aspects of Sexual Behavior
• Sexual Ethics and Legality
• Conclusion
o Diversity
o Sex Education

3.
Dr. Martha Tara Lee
Clinical Sexologist
• Doctorate in Human
Sexuality
• Masters in Public Policy and
Management
• Bachelor of Arts (Comm)
• Certificate in Sex Therapy
• Certitificate in Practical
Counselling
• Cert in Life Coaching

4.
Sigmund Freud
Three Essays on the Theory of
Sexuality
• Psychosexual development: Oral stage,
Anal Stage, Phallic Stage, Genital
Stage
• Oedipus complex
• Sexual etiology of neuroses,
• Libido developed in individuals by
changing its object, a process codified
by the concept of sublimation
• Generalization that all pleasurable
impulses and activities are originally
sexual .

5.
Michel Foucault
• Sexuality are the activities
and sensations determined
historically, regionally and
culturally.
• The construction of sexual
meanings, is an instrument
by which social institutions
(religion, marketing, the
educational system,
psychiatry, etc.) control and
shape human relationship.

6.
Sexuality
The working definition of sexuality is:
“…a central aspect of being human throughout life
encompasses sex, gender identities and roles,
sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and
reproduction.
Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts,
fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values,
behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. While
sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all
of them are always experienced or expressed.
Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of
biological, psychological, social, economic, political,
cultural, legal, historical, religious and spiritual
factors.” (WHO, 2006a)
http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/sexual_health/sh_definitio
ns/en/

7.
World Association for Sexology’s
Declaration of Sexual Rights
• The right to sexual freedom
• The right to sexual autonomy, sexual integrity,
and safety of the sexual body
• The right to sexual privacy
• The right to sexual equity
• The right to sexual pleasure
• The right to emotional sexual expression
• The right to sexually associate freely
• The right to make free and responsible
reproductive choices
• The right to sexual information based upon
scientific inquiry
• The right to comprehensive sexuality
education
• The right to sexual health care

8.
Sexuality
"I was displeased by the tendency,
historically, in general culture and in
AASECT, to see sexual health as the
absence of disease or the absence of
dysfunction," says Barnaby Barratt,
Ph.D., DHS, echoing the sentiments of
those who have sought to overhaul
their own definitions of sexual health.
"I wanted a vision of sexual health that
celebrated sexuality and sensual
pleasure and all of its positive and
playful virtues." To that end, he wrote
AASECT's vision while President-
Elect, and it was ratified in 2004, when
he was AASECT President.
https://www.aasect.org/how-we-define-sexual-health#sthash.OFWbv6LT.dpuf

9.
What is Sexology?
Study of sexual interests, behavior, and function which combines:
Biology Physiology Medicine Psychology Statistics Epidemiology
Criminology Religion Philosophy Zoology Anthropology Sociology

10.
Sexologists Study
Sexual
development
Sexual
orientation
Sexual
relationships
Sexual activity Sexualities of
special group

11.
Introduction of Human Sexuality
• Process by which people experience and
express themselves as sexual beings.
• Determined by anatomy, physiology, the culture
in which a person lives, relationships with
others, and developmental experiences
throughout the life cycle.
• Includes the perception of being male or female
and private thoughts and fantasies as well as
behavior.
• Brings pleasure to oneself and one's partner,
involves stimulation of the primary sex organs
including coitus

12.
Introduction of Human Sexuality
• Devoid of inappropriate feelings of guilt or
anxiety and is not compulsive.
• Recreational vs Relational sex
oMasturbation
oVarious forms of stimulation sex organs,
oGetting sexual gratification by several ways
etc.

13.
Positive Sexual Person
•Self-knowledge
•Facts
•Options
•Techniques
•Honesty

14.
Common Sexological Issues
• Body image and sex-negative conditioning
• Sexual desire
• Courtship concerns
• Obstacles to Intimacy
• Sexual development, maturation and aging
• Sexual communication and negotiation
• Medical considerations affecting sexuality
• Atypical sexual behaviours
• Sexual trauma
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Sexual education for parents
• Women’s concerns
• Men’s concerns

15.
Sexual Response

16.
The Circles of Sexuality
Source:
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/lessonplans/circlesofsexuality3.htm
Sensuality
Awareness and feeling about your own
body and other people's bodies,
especially the body of a sexual
partner.
• Body image
• Experiencing pleasure
• Satisfying skin hunger
• Feeling physical attraction for
another person
• Fantasy

17.
The Circles of Sexuality
Source:
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/lessonplans/circlesofsexuality3.htm
Sexual intimacy
The ability to be emotionally close to
another human being and to accept
closeness in return.
• Sharing
• Caring
• Liking or loving another person—
• Emotional risk-taking
Vulnerability

18.
The Circles of Sexuality
Source:
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/lessonplans/circlesofsexuality3.htm
Sexual Identity
A person's understanding
of who she/ he is sexually,
including the sense of
being male or of being
female
• Gender identity
• Gender role
• Sexual orientation

19.
The Circles of Sexuality
Source:
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/lessonplans/circlesofsexuality3.htm
Reproduction and Sexual Health
A person's capacity to reproduce and
the behaviors and attitudes that
make sexual relationships healthy
and enjoyable.
• Factual information about
reproduction
• Feelings and attitudes
• Sexual intercourse
• Reproductive and sexual anatomy
• Sexual reproduction

20.
The Circles of Sexuality
Source:
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/lessonplans/circlesofsexuality3.htm
Sexualization
Aspect of sexuality in which
people behave sexually to
influence, manipulate, or
control other people.
• Flirting
• Sexual harassment
• Rape
• Incest

21.
Consider the Impact of
Culture

22.
PhilosophicalSociological
PsychologicalAnatomical Physiological
Cognitive
Learning
Cultural
Political
Legal
Moral
Ethical
Theological
Spiritual
Religious
Aspects of Sexual Behavior

23.
Sexual Ethics and Legality
• Unlike some other sexual
activities, vaginal
intercourse has rarely
been made taboo on
religious grounds or by
law.
• Many of the cultures that
had prohibited sexual
intercourse entirely –
Shakers, Roman Catholic
Church, Mahayana
Buddhist Monks.

24.
Sexual Ethics and Legality
• Masturbation (Auto-
erotic sexuality)
• Fornication or Live-
together
• Adultery or Extramarital
sex
• Homosexuality- Gay,
Lesbian
• Commercial sex or
Prostitution
• Necrophilia (sex with
dead body)
• Incest
• Child sexual abuse/
Pedophilia
• Bestiality
• Sexual intercourse during
a woman's menstrual
period, as prohibited in
Islam and Judaism
• Sex between members of
different tribes / same cast
• Public decency
(exhibitionism and
voyeurism)

25.
4 Types of Sex
1. Procreation
2. Recreation
3. Restorative
4. Transformational
[Laurie Handlers]

26.
Sexual Problems after SCI
1. Genital arousal issues
2. Ejaculatory dysfunction -> cannot finish/
infertility
3. Orgasmic dysfunction
4. Diminished or loss of genital sensation
5. Loss of skin sensation below the level of
injury
6. Difficulty with sexual positioning
7. Significant changes in body image and
self-esteem
Pepper, Mitchell (2015) Regain that Feeling, The Sexual Health
Network Inc.

27.
Conclusion
Human sexuality is a very
complex and multi-
dimensional behavior that
is affected by many facets
of our lives including
anatomy, physiology,
cognition, and learning, as
well as influenced by
culture, ethnicity and even
economy and politics.

28.
Conclusion
Sex education is very much
needed in every society -
specially in the school
curriculum - otherwise faulty
learning about sex misguided
one’s personal life and may
produce many sexual as well
as psycho-social problem.

29.
What is Your Approach?
• Sex-positive
• Non-judgemental
• Educational
• Client-centered
• Do no harm

30.
Thank you!
Dr. Martha Tara Lee, D.H.S.
Clinical Sexologist
Eros Coaching Pte Ltd
Website: www.eroscoaching.com
Email: drmarthalee@eroscoaching.com