Understanding how people feel and behave about sex is hard. Models of sexual response help us understand how our bodies react during sex. One of the early models, created by Masters and Johnson, has had a big impact on how we understand how people react during sex (Pfaff, 2012). However, some people do not agree with it. In this essay, we will discuss how Masters’ and Johnson’s models are alike and different from Kaplan’s triphasic model and Loulan’s sexual response model. Also, we will examine the argument about Masters and Johnson’s model, specifically focusing on Johnson’s explanation of why people have sexual problems.
Masters and Johnson’s Four-Phase Model
There are four primary phases of sexual activity, according to research by Masters and Johnson: becoming stimulated, peaking, orgasming, and finally relaxing. This 1960s conception of human sexuality places a strong emphasis on the body. The model wants to explain how people get sexually excited and have orgasms so that everyone can understand (Masters & Johnson, 1966). Masters and Johnson wanted to study and measure how the human body works during sex using specific things. Some people think this idea makes human sexuality seem too easy and ignores our feelings and emotions. Despite its imperfections, the Masters and Johnson model has been very important in influencing how people discuss sexual response and in prompting more research in this area.
Kaplan’s Triphasic Model
Kaplan’s triphasic model says that there are three different parts to how people respond to sex: wanting it, getting excited, and the climax. Kaplan (1974) thinks about sexuality in a different way than usual. She believes that it is important to understand people’s feelings and thoughts about sex before they actually do it. Kaplan’s model looks at both feelings and thinking, which makes it different from other models, like Masters and Johnson’s, that only focus on physical aspects. This understanding that desire is important fits with how the mind and body work together during sexual experiences. Kaplan’s idea looks at the whole picture and sees that wanting to have sex is really important for how the body responds. This helps us understand human sexual behavior better.
Loulan’s Sexual Response Model
Loulan’s model focuses on how emotions and relationships affect how people respond sexually. This model is different from the simple views that only focus on the body or follow a straight line of thinking. It looks at how people’s feelings and relationships affect their sexual experiences. Loulan (1984) understands that sexual feelings are connected to how people relate to each other. The model shows that communication, trust, and emotional connection are really important in sexual relationships. It gives a more complete view of how sex works. Loulan’s work challenges the idea that we can fully understand how people respond sexually without thinking about how they interact with each other. This approach looks at all aspects of human sexuality to get a better understanding. It focuses on the importance of emotions and relationships in how people respond sexually.
Controversy Surrounding Masters and Johnson’s Model
Masters and Johnson’s model makes things simpler, but some people disagree and say it does not fully explain human sexuality. By only looking at the physical parts and following a straight line, the model ignores the feelings and emotions involved in sex. Moreover, Johnson’s statement questioning traditional ideas adds to the argument. He says that sexual problems mostly come from talking problems, not mental issues, which goes against what most people think. This new way of thinking shows that sexual issues are really complicated, and we need to understand both the physical and mental aspects better. The argument about Masters and Johnson’s model shows that sexologists are still debating the best ways to understand how people respond to sex.
Debate on the Roots of Sexual Problems
The ongoing argument in the study of sex revolves around whether sexual issues come from problems in how people talk to each other or from deeper psychological problems. Supporters of the communication-centric viewpoint believe that a lot of sexual problems happen because partners do not talk enough or do not communicate well with each other; Masters and Johnson’s model partly inspired them. They say that fixing these communication problems can often help with sexual problems. On the other hand, people who support the psychological approach say it is important to understand emotional issues like past trauma, anxiety, or emotional disorders to fully understand and fix sexual problems.
This ongoing conversation shows that human sexuality is complicated and involves physical, mental, and relationship factors. The different unique experiences that people have make it hard to understand sexual problems (Basson, 2001). Researchers and doctors are trying to understand these complex issues. The field keeps changing in order to create more detailed models and treatments that consider all the different factors that affect how people respond sexually.
Conclusion
When we compare different ways of thinking about how people respond sexually, we can see that our understanding of human sexuality is changing. The Masters and Johnson model is a good starting point, but it has some flaws. So, researchers are looking at other models that cover more aspects. Kaplan talks about wanting to have sex, and Loulan focuses on feeling close to someone, which helps us understand sexual feelings better. The argument about Masters and Johnson’s model shows that people are still talking about how the body, mind, and relationships all affect human sexuality. In the end, looking at both the physical and mental aspects of sex together could give us a better understanding of how people respond sexually.
References
Basson, R. (2001). Human sex-response cycles. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 27(1),
33-43.
Kaplan, H. S. (1974). The new sex therapy. Brunner/Mazel.
Loulan, J. (1984). Sex and the emotional connection: A new model. Journal of Sex and
Marital Therapy, 10(3), 191-201.
Masters, W. H., & Johnson, V. E. (1966). Human sexual response. Little, Brown.
Pfaff, D. (2012). Brain on sex: The neural bases of sexual function. Oxford University Press.
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