PSY 325AR Human Sexuality (3 credits)

Examines sexuality as a component of our personalities, an aspect of our behavior, and a feature of 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.  Specific objectives are outlined in the course calendar.

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1. Know enough to answer all reasonable questions about the birds and the bees, for personal decisions, raising and educating children, advising friends, and counseling practice.

2. Be able to discuss psychological, social, and theological issues relating to sexuality from an accurate and broad information base.

3. Make decisions about sexual expression that demonstrate sensitivity to the human experience.

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1. Read the book and other readingsas assigned in the calendar, keeping ahead of the class topics. That is, read the assignments before the class meeting. 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 writing assignments, quizzes and electronically-posed questions to draw on your reading much more than on class material. You may expect a quiz or 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, March 7....................................20%

Examination 2, Tuesday, May 7, 8 - 10 a..m...........20%

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 sex education, values and sexuality, sexuality and the media, and sexual disorders and paraphilias, designed to be compatible with the Houghton website.

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, using appropriate illustrations, video clips, sound recordings, graphs, and tables.  Prepare references as an annotated bibliography.  Each annotation should be 100-150 words long.
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: 18 April

I intend for the class to have ongoing discussion through electronic means during the semester.

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 should be done 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. Currently there are 10 assignments available from the Project assignments link. More may be added as the semester proceeds. You are required to do any 7 of the assignments, on a schedule of your choice, and the last one is due April 25. Your participation and reports on these projects will be worth 20% of your course grade.

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Course readings
Chapter 6:
Johns Hopkins University medical school has been a center of research and treatment of intersexuality for 30 years.  This website on sexual differentiation abnormalities is concise, thorough, and accurate.  It provides more detail than the textbook or the class can.  Read it.

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. Like the published research, her presentation focuses 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.

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A discussion group folder has been added to your e-mail account. It should show up in the left panel of your screen as a folder labeled  Sexuality02.
Discussion folder:
• To find the posted discussion folder for the class, open Outlook.
• Then, go to the folder list on the left side of your screen.  (If it is missing, click the File menu and select Folder list.
• Scroll to the bottom of the folder list to find Public Folders, and click the plus sign.
• Click the plus signs beside each of the following, in order:
• All Public Folders...Academic...Classes...Young P.
• Click on Sexuality02, and you are into the folder.  Please read the first message from me, and reply.
• To read any message in the folder, double-click it.
• To reply,  click the Post Reply button; type your message; and click the Post button.
• To post a new message rather than a reply, click on the folder. Then click New on the Outlook toolbar at the top of the page, type your message, and click Post.

Helpful hint: Click on Sexuality02 and drag it up the folder list to Favorites, to eliminate most of the above searching steps in the future.  But don't drag it anywhere else.
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.

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First posted 8 January, 1998. Last update 13 January, 2003.  Copyright Paul D. Young