Understanding

the Human
Sexual Response
Group 2
BSA-1C
 SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE
 It refers to the sequence of physical and emotional
occurrence when the person is participating in a
sexually stimulating activity, such as intercourse or
masturbation.
 Knowing how the body responds during each phase
of the cycle can help enhance a couple's sexual
relationship and it can also help address the cause of
sexual dysfunction.
 William Masters and Virginia Johnson pioneered
research to understand human sexual response,
dysfunction and disorders more particularly for their
theory of a four-stage model of sexual response (also
known as the human sexual response cycle).
 FOUR PHASES OF
HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE
Phases General Characteristics
Phase I:  Muscle tension increases, heart rate quickens, breathing is
Excitement accelerated.
 Nipples become hardened or erect.
 Blood flow to genitals increases.
 Vaginal lubrication begins
 The woman’s breast become fuller and the vaginal walls
begins to swell
 The mans testicles swell, his scrotum tightens and he begins
secreting a lubricating liquid.

 The changes begun in phase I are intensified.

Phase II:
 The man’s testicles are withdrawn up into the scrotum.
Plateau
 Breathing, heart rate and blood pressure continue to
increase.
 Muscle spasms may begin in the feet, face and hands.
 Tension in the muscles increases.
 This phase is the climax of the sexual response cycle. It is
the shortest of the phases and generally lasts only a few
seconds. General characteristics of this phase includes the ff.
 Involuntary muscle contractions begin.
 Blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate are at their
highest rate, with a rapid intake of oxygen
Phase III:  Muscles in the feet spasm
Orgasm  There is a sudden forceful release of sexual tension
 In women, the muscles of vagina contract. The uterus also
undergoes rhythmic contractions.
 In men, rhythmic contractions of the muscles at the base of
the penis result in ejaculation of semen.
 A rash or “sexual flush” may appear over the entire body.

During this phase, the body slowly returns to its normal

functioning level. The swelled erect body parts return to their
previous size and color. This phase is marked by a general
sense of well being; intimacy is enhanced; and often, fatigue
sets in.
Phase VI:
With further sexual stimulation, some women can return to
Resolution orgasm phase. This allows them to experience multiple
orgasms. Men, on the other hand, need recovery time after
orgasm (refractory period)
How long man needs a refractory period varies among men
and his age.
Understanding the
Chemistry of
Lust, Love and
Attachment
Falling in love can be a beautifully wild
experience. It is a rush of longing, passion,
and euphoria. Fast forward a few years,
the excitement would have died down
(though the levels vary for every couple).
For couples who remain together through
the years, the rush would have been
replaced by warm, comfortable and
nurturing feeling.
 Each stage of this cycle can actually be
explained by your brain chemistry—the
neurotransmitters the get stimulated to
release hormones throughout your body.
 Anthropologist Helen fishers of Rutgers
University proposed three stages of
falling in love; and for each stage, a
different set of chemicals run the show.

The three stages of falling in love are;

Lust (erotic passion);
Attraction (romantic passion); and
Attachment (commitment).
 LUST
 This stage is marked by physical attraction. You want to
seduce and be seduced by your object of affection.
Lust is driven by testosterone in men and estrogen in
women. Lust, however, will not guarantee that the
couple will fall inlove in any lasting way.
ATTACHMENT
 It involves the desire to have lasting commitment with
your significant other. At these point, you may want to
get married and/or have children.
ATTRACTION
 At this stage, you begin to crave for your partner’s
presence. You feel excitement and energetic as you
fantasize about the things you could do together as a
couple. Three chemicals trigger this feeling:
norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotine.
 Norepinephrine – responsible for the extra surge of
energy and triggers increase heart rate, loss of
appetite, as well as the desire to sleep. Your body is
in a more alert state and is ready for action.
 Dopamine – associated with motivation and goal-
directed behavior. It makes you pursue your object
of affection. It creates a sense of novelty, where the
person seems exciting, special or unique that you
want to tell the world about his/her admirable
qualities.
 Serotonin – thought to cause obsessive thinking.
Low levels of serotonin are said to be present in
people with obsessive thus compulsive behavior
(OCD). Meanwhile, a study found that those who
express they were in love and people with OCD
both had less serotonin transporter in their blood
compared to those who did not express they were
in love and do not have OCD as well.
Physiological
Aspect of
Sexual Desire
 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT OF
SEXUAL DESIRE
 Sexual desire is typically viewed as an interest in sexual objects
or activities. More precisely, it is the subjective feeling of
wanting to engage in sex. Sexual desire sometimes, but now
always, accompanied by genital arousal (penile erection in
men and vaginal lubrication in women). Sexual desire can be
triggered by large variety of cues and situation, including
private thoughts, feelings, and fantasies, erotic materials (such
as books, movies, photographs), and a variety of erotic
environments, situation, or social interactions.
 Sexual desire is often confused with sex drive, but these are
fundamentally different constructs. Sex drive represent a basic,
biologically mediated, motivation to seek sexual activity or
sexual gratification. In contrast, sexual desire represents a more
complex psychological experience that is not dependent on
hormonal factors.
 However, developmental research suggested
that the capacity to experience sexual desire
though not hormone-dependent, are probably
still facilitated by hormones. For example,
because of adrenal gland development and the
subsequent secretion of adrenal hormones, some
9-year-old children may experience sexual
desires. Researchers noted that despite this
development, children who experienced such
desires generally or not motivated to seek sexual
gratification or activity. Such motivation typically
develops after 12-years-old when puberty
produces notable surges in levels of gonadal
hormones. Thus, physiological arousal is not a
necessary element of sexual desire and should
not be considered a more valid marker of sexual
desire than individual self-reported feelings.
Thank you!
