Sexual self- defined as an individuals evaluation towards his or her own sexual

feeling and actions.

Dimensions of sexual self:

Sexual self efficacy
-is referred to as feeling confident and having a sense of mastery over sexual
experiences.
Sexual esteem
-involves positive evaluations of one’s sexuality including appraisals of
sexual thought, feelings and behaviors as well perceptions of body in the sexual
context .
Sexual anxiety
-refers to tension, discomfort, and other negative evaluations of the
sexual aspects of one’s life . Sexual anxiety is associated with greater
endorsement of abstinence beliefs, lower perceived sexual readiness or likelihood
of intercourse in the near future, as well as with fewer reports of having a
boyfriend, having been in love or having engaged in kissing, fondling or coitus.
Sexual satisfaction
-denotes that a person often feels positive about sexual experiences .The
women with positive sexual self-concept have higher sexual satisfaction.

Erogenous zones 
 comes from the greek word “eros” which means love and genous “born” .
 are highly sensitive body surfaces (other than genitalia) that result in erotic
feelings and increase arousal when they are touched.
 are those areas of the body that arouse sexual desire.
 The phrase ‘erogenous zones’ was coined near the end of the 19th century
and used in the early 20th century by some psychologists to describe how
simple pressure to these parts of the body could arouse complete orgasm in
 what were defined as ‘hysterical persons’ (generally understood to be
women). 

Differences in Erogenous Zones

The erotic sensitivity of each body part depends largely on the amount of nerve
endings located in that region. The genital regions of both males and females undergo a
process known as vasocongestion, which increases the amount of blood that flows to
these regions making them highly sensitive when aroused.

THE HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE

In 1966, researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson took research of sexual
behavior a step further and published a book detailing the results of their observations of
nearly 700 people who agreed to participate in their studies of sexual behavior. It might be a
little uncomfortable to imagine, but all of these people actually allowed Masters and Johnson
to physically observe them having intercourse and/or masturbating.
▪︎Sexual behavior, however, is important to observe because it provides greater insight into
issues of sexuality, provides information on relationship dynamics, and provides evidence of
physiological processes that the human body undergoes.
 The sexual response cycle is a series of four physiological phases that both men and
women go through during intercourse. 

The sexual response cycle refers to the sequence of physical and emotional
changes that occur as a person becomes sexually aroused and participates in
sexually stimulating activities, including intercourse and masturbation. Knowing
how your body responds during each phase of the cycle can enhance your
relationship and help you pinpoint the cause of sexual dysfunction.

. Phase 1: Excitement

General characteristics of the excitement phase, which can last from a few
minutes to several hours, include the following:

 Muscle tension increases.

 Heart rate quickens and breathing is accelerated.
 Skin may become flushed (blotches of redness appear on the chest
and back).
 Nipples become hardened or erect.
 Blood flow to the genitals increases, resulting in swelling of the
woman's clitoris and labia minora (inner lips), and erection of the
man's penis.
 Vaginal lubrication begins.
 The woman's breasts become fuller and the vaginal walls begin to
swell.
 The man's testicles swell, his scrotum tightens, and he begins
secreting a lubricating liquid.

Phase 2: Plateau

General characteristics of the plateau phase, which extends to the brink of orgasm, include the
following:

 The changes begun in phase 1 are intensified.

 The vagina continues to swell from increased blood flow, and the vaginal walls turn a dark
purple.
 The woman's clitoris becomes highly sensitive (may even be painful to touch) and retracts under
the clitoral hood to avoid direct stimulation from the penis.
 The man's testicles tighten.
  Breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure continue to increase.
 Muscle spasms may begin in the feet, face, and hands.
 Muscle tension increases.

Phase 3: Orgasm
The orgasm 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 include
the following:

 Involuntary muscle contractionsbegin.
 Blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing are at their highest rates,
with a rapid intake of oxygen.
 Muscles in the feet spasm.
 There is a sudden, forceful release of sexual tension.
 In women, the muscles of the vagina contract. The uterus also
undergoes rhythmic contractions.
 In men, rhythmic contractions of the muscles at the base of the
penis result in the ejaculation of semen.
 A rash, or "sex flush" may appear over the entire body.

Phase 4: Resolution
During resolution, the body slowly returns to its normal level of functioning, and
swelled and erect body parts return to their previous size and color. This phase is
marked by a general sense of well-being, enhanced intimacy and, often, fatigue.
Some women are capable of a rapid return to the orgasm phase with further sexual
stimulation and may experience multiple orgasms. Men need recovery time after
orgasm, called a refractory period, during which they cannot reach orgasm again. The
duration of the refractory period varies among men and usually lengthens with
advancing age.