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Human Sexuality

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Human Sexuality
Human Sexuality

By Ludwin Molina
Spring, 1999
Introduction
Human sexuality plays a major role in everyone's life. Regardless, whether we are young or old, man or woman, American or Japanese, it is an integral part of what we do and who we are. There has been much done by way of research and scholarly writing examining human sexuality (e.g., Abramson & Pinkerton, 1995; Beach, 1976; Diamond, 1997; Reinisch et al., 1990; Stalcup, 1995; Tiefer, 1995). This paper will explore the topic of human sexuality as a motivation. Of course, there are many emotions associated with human sexuality, but the primary aim of this particular paper will be a general overview of sexuality with special attention to the various perspectives, including the: 1) biological perspective, 2) cognitive perspective, and 3) learning perspective. All the while, the lens through which we summarize these perspectives will be with the understanding that human sexual behavior is a motivation.
Next to sleeping and eating, it seems that it is one of the most important drives we have to deal with as humans. That is, it takes up so much of our time in thought and behavior that it sometimes seems that every facet of our life revolves around this to a certain extent.
Human sexual behavior is different from the sexual behavior of other animals, in that, it seems to be governed by a variety and interplay of different factors. That is, while "lower" animals or species are driven by a "force" to reproduce and therefore partake in sexual behavior. Humans are not sexually active just for the sake of reproduction, rather, there are a variety of complex factors that lead people to have sex.
Human Sexuality. Human sexuality is the way in which we experience and express ourselves as sexual beings (Rathus et al., 1993). There are many factors that help develop our sexuality, arguably one of the most important, is our actual gender. Whether, I am a male or female will likely have a major influence on the



References: * Abramson, P. R., & Pinkerton, S. D. (1995). With Pleasure: Thoughts on the Nature of Human Sexuality. New York: Oxford University Press. * Aral, S * Beach, F. A. (Ed.). (1977). Human Sexuality in Four Perspectives. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. * Diamond, J * Katchadourian, H. (1989). Fundamentals of Human Sexuality (5th ed.). San Francisco: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. * Kinsey, A * Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., Martin, C. E., & Gebhard, P. H. (1953). Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. Philadelphia: Saunders. * Masters, W * McConaghy, N. (1987). A learning approach. In J. H. Geer & W. T. O 'Donohue (Eds.), Theories of Human Sexuality (pp.335-362). New York: Plenum Press. * Rathus, A * Reinisch, J., Ziemba-Davis, M., & Saunders, S. (1991). Hormonal contributions to sexually dimorphic behavioral development in humans. Psychneuroendocrinology, 16, 213-278. * Reinisch, J * Strong, B., DeVault, C, & Sayad, B. W. (1996). Core Concepts in Human Sexuality. Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing Company. * Tiefer, L * Walen, S. R., & Roth, D. (1987). A cognitive approach. In J. H. Geer & W. T. O 'Donohue (Eds.), Theories of Human Sexuality (pp.335-362). New York: Plenum Press.

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