Female sexual arousal refers to one’s feelings of sexual excitement and pleasure and has both physiological (i.e., objective) and psychological (i.e., subjective) components. It is an important, yet difficult phenomenon to investigate. As a result, many instruments have been used in an attempt to accurately measure female arousal; however, there are problems associated with each. Furthermore, the relationship between the subjective and physiological indicators of sexual arousal appears to be influenced by the instrument used to measure physiological sexual arousal. Specifically, instruments measuring physiological arousal internally (i.e., vaginal photoplethysmography) typically yield lower correlations between measures of physiological and subjective sexual arousal than instruments examining the external genitals (i.e., labial thermistor, thermal imager), which indirectly measure blood flow. Alternatively, laser Doppler imaging (LDI) is a direct measure of external genital blood flow but has only been used in one previous study that did not assess the relationship between physiological and subjective sexual arousal. The aims of the current study were to investigate the usefulness of LDI for assessing genital blood flow in women in response to erotic visual stimuli, and to explore the relationship between physiological and subjective indicators of sexual arousal. In addition, the role of psychosocial variables in predicting physiological and subjective sexual arousal was also examined. Eighty sexually healthy women completed a psychosocial interview and questionnaires. Participants also watched three 15-minute films during LDI scanning: two nature films (measuring acclimatization and baseline blood flow levels) and one randomly assigned experimental film (erotic, anxiety, humor, or neutral). They were asked to rate their level of subjective sexual arousal throughout and following the third film. Results indicated that LDI was able to differentiate the erotic condition from the three non-erotic conditions, and that physiological and subjective sexual arousal were significantly correlated. Although the psychosocial variables did not significantly predict either component of sexual arousal, specific variables moderated the association. Psychological, sexual, and social variables, along with genital sensations, played significant roles in the relationship between subjective and physiological sexual arousal. These findings suggest that LDI is a useful instrument for measuring female sexual arousal, and that sexual arousal is a complex process that requires further empirical investigation. / Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2009-08-27 10:09:26.355

This thesis examined the effect of age on sexually offensive behaviour. Research has noted both an increase in the average age of incarcerated offenders and that a higher percentage of older offenders are incarcerated for sexual offences than are younger offenders. Older sexual offenders were initially compared with younger offenders on offender and offence characteristics and these analyses revealed that older sexual offenders had a higher incidence of male victims, a younger victim age, and more intra-familial victims. Phallometric assessments of all sexual offenders were then examined to see whether sexual deviance may account for the differences found between older and younger sexual offenders in victim age and gender. These analyses revealed that the oldest and youngest offenders were more deviant than middle-aged sexual offenders and that the sexual interests of older offenders were more commonly for females. Finally, all subjects were classified as either Historical (offending had ceased, without judicial intervention, at least 7 years prior to incarceration), First-time (incarcerated for a recent sexual offence and no history of sexual offending), or Recidivist sexual offenders (currently incarcerated for a sexual offence and have at least one prior sentencing date for any sexual offence): age accounted for 12% of the variance in categorisation. Fifty-five percent of the sexual offenders age 60 years or more were found to have committed and ceased their offending at least seven years prior to incarceration (i.e., were Historical offenders). The percentage of Recidivist offenders remained relatively consistent across age groups at about 20%. No difference was found in phallometrically assessed sexual deviance between the groups of older offenders. / Thesis (Ph.D, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2010-07-29 11:40:51.234

Research has found that men’s sexual response demonstrates specificity; men’s genital sexual arousal patterns to sexual stimuli match their stated sexual orientation. Heterosexual women’s genital responses are nonspecific in that they show sexual responses to both their preferred and non-preferred gender (Chivers, 2010). It is unclear why women show this pattern; however, examining the specific stimulus features associated with sexual arousal in women may provide clarification. Prepotent sexual features, that is, stimuli that involuntarily elicit nervous system activity (cf. Lang, Rice & Sternbach, 1972), may be associated with an automatic sexual response (Blader & Marshall, 1989; Chivers, 2005; Ponseti et al., 2006; Van Lunsen & Laan, 2004). It is possible that heterosexual women show genital responses to both preferred and non-preferred stimuli because prepotent sexual features are present in both male and female sexual stimuli. In order to better understand women’s nonspecific genital response, we examined whether stimulus prepotency was associated with nonspecific sexual response in heterosexual women. We assessed 36 heterosexual women’s genital and subjective arousal to slideshows of male and female prepotent stimuli (erect penises and aroused vulvas), non-prepotent stimuli (flaccid penises and female pubic triangles), and neutral stimuli (images of clothed men and women engaged in nonsexual activities). Counter to prediction, women demonstrated category-specific genital and subjective sexual responses, such that sexual arousal was significantly higher to prepotent male stimuli (images of erect penises) versus prepotent female stimuli; genital responses were nonspecific to non-prepotent and neutral stimuli. Results are discussed in terms of the sexual competency of stimuli and the Information Processing Model of Sexual Response. / Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2011-09-29 10:36:22.441

This thesis is an examination of the role of values in the development of more meaningful school based sexuality education programs. There is a growing consensus among researchers and educators that presenting only physiological information is inadequate and that sexuality education should include a values component. / The integration of values into sexuality education is highly problematic. Because of the potential for controversy regarding questions of sexual values, many sexuality educators have attempted to teach programs that are value free. / An ethical framework for the integration of values into sexuality education needs to be established. The act-centred and person-centred approaches to sexual ethics are compared and contrasted in terms of their suitability for sexuality education. It is proposed that a person-centred approach may provide a starting point of an ethical framework for the integration of values into sexuality education.

Sexual orientation, especially between males, has historically been met with harsh criminal sanctions. Only in this century has the issue been one of fundamental freedom and private choices. This study analyses the legal history of the concept of choice in sexual orientation in the European Commission of Human Rights (the Commission) and the European Court of Human Right (the Court), and documents the evolution of sexual orientation rights from the 1950s until today specifically focusing on why the human rights protection has changed. Until 1975 the Commission did not consider absolute criminalisation contrary to the right to respect for privacy or as discrimination, but this approach started to change in 1975. A stricter test of what is considered necessary in a democratic society led to the Dudgeon judgement in 1980 where absolute criminalisation of homosexuality was found to be contrary to the right to respect for privacy in the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention). This judgement has largely been responsible for decriminalisation throughout the Council of Europe member-States. This decriminalisation was limited to private, adult acts that were consensual and this was the norm until 1997. In that year, unequal ages of consent also was found to be contrary to the Convention. The study showed that this evolution was facilitated mainly by a European consensus, based on the legislation of the member-States and expert knowledge. The European consensus doctrine has proven to be a very complex concept, and this study argues that a regional approach to the consensus enquiry is a better solution than the present doctrine, and solves some of the problems it has proven to cause.

While there is evidence that young women involved in transactional sex face economical, emotional and health disadvantages, few studies have examined young women’s understanding and knowledge of risky behaviours (e.g., substance abuse, acquiring sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, etc.) and how these influence their health and well-being. The debate on the definitions, relevance, and causes of transactional sex, as well as on the approaches to address it, is ongoing. There is considerable agreement that sexual exchange needs to be addressed from a variety of contexts to obtain a comprehensive picture of how women understand their experience. This qualitative study used phenomenological techniques (interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, observation, and field notes) to collect data and conduct analysis on 15 young women between the ages of 18 and 27. The focus of the study was to explore issues of health and social services as identified by young women involved in transactional sex. This study enabled them to discuss the struggles they encounter (such as issues related to housing, addictions, employment opportunities, and skills level). Findings from the study identified issues that may help to develop programs and policies to provide better supports to young women involved in transactional sex.

The purpose of this study was to consider to what degree each of two sexual offender programs offered by Manitoba Justice adhere to the research based practice principles of risk, need, and responsivity and to assess the degree of therapeutic alliance that is created in each group. In-person interviews were conducted with employees and past participants who are connected to each of the programs. Current participants of the two programs were asked to complete a questionnaire about therapeutic alliance. The findings indicated that neither of the programs adhere to the risk principle, both adhere to the responsivity principle, and only one adheres to the need principle. There was no difference on the clients’ perception of therapeutic alliance within the groups. Recommendations provided with regards to the sexual offender programming offered by Manitoba Justice include consistent programming, education/mentorship, utilizing a secondary risk assessment, and evaluation and research.

Research has demonstrated that for a significant minority of men, exposure to sexually violent media results in a series of changes. These men are more likely to be sexually aroused by sexually violent stimuli, and also believe in certain rape myths and admit a greater likelihood to sexual aggression. The construct Attraction to Sexual Aggression, which comprises the affective, cognitive and behavioral responses to sexually aggressive media, has been proposed by Malamuth (1989a, 1989b). The Attraction to Sexual Aggression Scale has been developed as a dependent measure of the construct. A study by Malamuth and Check (1983) proposed that lack of pleasurable physically affectionate experiences with women may contribute to sexual aggression. This proposal reflects the theory put forward by Prescott (1977), who hypothesized that lack of physical affection at critical stages of development results in a greater propensity towards aggressive behavior. The current study is an initial investigation into attraction to sexual aggression and physical affection experiences.

No description available.

Kant argues that sex is only permissible under the condition of marriage. In this paper, I argue that Kant’s argument for the impermissibility of non-marital sex commits him to the impermissibility of all sex. I then show how he might alter his account of sexuality in such a way that it would both allow him to avoid the conclusion that all sex is impermissible and be more consistent with his broader ethical and anthropological thought.