PSY 325A Human Sexuality

Spring Semester, 1998 at Houghton College

Paul Young, Department of Psychology

Office: Academic Building N - 324

Phone: 567-9308

e-mail: pyoung@houghton.edu

Office hours: 9 - 9:50 a.m. daily or by appointment

Examines sexuality as a component of our personalities, an aspect of our behavior, and an element in our environment. Considers how elements of sexuality interact with other aspects of our thought and behavior, and the role of sexuality in normal and abnormal development across the lifespan.

To fulfill the catalog description.

Back to top

1. Ability to answer all reasonable questions about the birds and the bees.

2. Ability to discuss issues relating to sexuality from an accurate and broad information base.

3. Discuss sexual issues and make decisions about sexual expression with increased sensitivity to the human experience.

Back to top

Back to top

Back to top

Francoeur, R.T. (1996) Taking sides: Clashing views on controversial issues in human sexuality, 5th ed. Guilford, CT: Dushkin.

Kelly, G.F. (1996) Sexuality today: The human perspective, 5th ed. Guilford, CT: Brown & Benchmark.

1. Read the textbooks as assigned in the calendar, keeping ahead of the class topics. That is, read the assignments before the class meeting. You will need to read about 35 pages for each class meeting. Do not fall behind. Once a quiz is given on a reading assignment, the reading credit may not be made up.

Use your reading to contribute to class discussion. Expect in-class writing assignments and quizzes and electronically-posed questions to draw on your reading much more than on class material. You may expect a quiz or in-class writing assignment weekly. .................15%

2. Two examinations:

Examinations are essay format, and include terms and concepts to identify, define or explain. You may be asked questions about class content and assigned reading.

Examination 1, February 24..............................25%

Examination 2, Friday, May 1, 2 p.m...............25%

Back to top

3. Term project ........................20%

Choose a topic on which you wish to become expert. You may get ideas from the table of contents in the textbooks, or any other relevant source. I am particularly interested in Web pages on sexual disorders and paraphilias, designed to be compatible with the Internet Mental Health pages. IMH does not have pages on these topics

Research the topic thoroughly, finding and using at least 20 relevant scholarly sources. Present your findings in a scholarly fashion:

• A traditional term paper, in APA format, with citations and references.
• A Website, with citations and references.
• A PowerPoint presentation, with handout references as an annotated bibliography.

You may work individually, or in groups. If you choose to work in groups, consult with me to determine how the expectations about the complexity of your project will change.

Due: 16 April

4. Electronic discussion. I intend for the class to have ongoing discussion through electronic means during the semester. The main channel is to be the shared folder set up in Groupwise. Alternatively, you may use direct e-mail on occasion. I prefer the folder, since that permits everyone to benefit from your wisdom and experience.

Electronic discussion is designed to continue class discussions after meeting times, to raise issues that have come up in your readings, conversations, or thinking, and to give a voice to people who do not have the opportunity to speak in class.

For each substantive contribution you make in electronic discussion, I will record 1/2 point toward your final grade, up to a maximum of five points. Check the discussion folder at least twice per week.

5. Class projects will be assigned several times throughout the semester. These will involve additional research and reading, small group discussions, interviews, and conversational reports. You will not be required to compromise your values or your confidences. Your participation and reports on these projects will be worth 10%.

Back to top

Back to top

Student Projects

Child Abuse, a PowerPoint presentation by Jodi Stiegelmeyer, investigates the causes of child abuse and the effects on both the victims and the perpetrators. A sensitive and balanced treatment.

Endometriosis, a PowerPoint presentation by Allissa Barnett, covers the various ways this disorder is manifested and the disruption it produces in people's lives. Includes case study material.

Etiology of homosexuality, a PowerPoint presentation by Bethany McIntyre, presents and evaluates the different theories for the sources of homosexual orientations. Lioke the published research, her presentation focusses on the etiology of male homosexuality.

Transsexualism, a PowerPoint presentation by Kari Whitaker. It deals with the reasons people consider sex-change surgery, the research about the outcomes of a sex change, and the reactions of family and friends of people who undergo a change in gender.

Narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder, is explained in this Website by course students Gregory Bayse and Lori Scott. This is a good sample of a Web page developed for a course project.

SIECUS is the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. This site has a great deal of useful information, but offers a particular bias. Discern.

AASECT is the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. If the direct link to the left is blocked, try this intermediate link: Braveman.

Internet Mental Health website. This site does not have information on sexual disorders, but it does provide helpful models of sound website design in the field of psychology.

Human genetics of sexual differentiation are surveyed in this NIH site, with links to the latest information in this rapidly-developing field.

Back to top

A discussion group folder has been added to your Groupwise account. It should show up in the left panel of your Groupwise screen as a folder labeled Discussion group under Human Sexuality under your Cabinet files. If there is a plus sign (+) in the box to the left of your Cabinet files icon, click it to show the folders available: one of them should be Human Sexuality.

When you get to the Discussion group icon, it chould have a receiving hand over a folder icon. If it doesn't, please let me know.

To post a message to the Discussion group, click on the icon, then click File...New...Discussion. That will open a dialog box, and you can send an e-mail as usual.

Remember that items you post to the discussion group may be read by any member of the class, including the teacher. However, nobody else has access to your musings.

Back to top

First posted 8 January, 1998. Last update 1 May, 1998

Copyright Paul D. Young