humansexualityloveandcommunication.ppt.ppt

Human Sexuality Love and Communication in Intimate Relationships Love Considerable attention across disciplines What is the nature of love? “Love has been highly conceptualized and made very abstract” (Gage, 1976) What Love is NOT NOT (Firestone, Firestone Catlett, 2006): Selfish Possessive Demanding Proprietary right over others Submissive/dominant Coercive or manipulative Sexuality and Love Not addressed in Kinsey’s research Currently: Numerous studies on love and sex Love A complex emotion The “paradox” of love: encompasses opposites Love and Sexuality Often intertwined For many, love legitimates sex outside of marriage Sex as an expression of love; to deepen the relationship (Cupach, 1990; Henderson-King, 1994) Gender Differences:Sex and Love Men: sex and love can be separated (Carroll, Volk, Hyde, 1985) Women: less likely to engage in casual sex: love and sex are more closely linked Sex and Love Gay men: Especially likely to separate sex and love Intrinsic value to sex Heterosexual men: similar? Not as many willing partners (Blum, 1997) Sex and Love Lesbian relationships: Sex is less frequent among lesbian couples, comparatively (Schureurs, 1993) More likely to postpone sex until emotional intimacy is developed Celibacy Abstaining from sexual activity Religious/spiritual dimensions, situational, personal, etc. Enhanced appreciation of friendship functions of relationships Asexuality Absence of sexual attraction to others, or no desire to act on attractions 1% of the population Underrepresented in research and movements Capable of intimate relationships, free of sexuality; some prefer not to have relationships Asexuality An orientation Research: asexuality exists in the animal kingdom; sheep studies The question of pathology Asexuality Prause, 2003 Asexual people report: Low sexual desire Low arousal/excitation Many engage in masturbation Styles of Love John Lee- sociologist 6 basic styles of love: reflect relationship styles Assu