I. ADULT SEXUALITY

A. INTIMATE PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS

1.CHANGE OVER TIME

• EARLY PHASE - TIE-SIGNS/GAZING
• NEGOTIATING TIME TOGETHER
• POWER IN RELATIONSHIPS
  • FAIRNESS
  • COSTS/REWARDS

2. SEXUAL SUCCESS

• SELF-ESTEEM
• ASSERTIVENESS
• CONCERN FOR THE PARTNER
• POSITIVE SEXUAL HISTORY
• GOOD COMMUNICATION
• LACK OF POWER STRUGGLES

3. MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS

• COMMUNICATION
• METACOMMUNICATION
• PROSOCIAL
• CEREMONIES
• TOGETHERNESS

1. SIMILARITIES

• HAVE SAME NEEDS IN RELATIONSHIPS AS HETEROS
• LESBIANS SIMILAR TO HETERO WOMEN

2. DIFFERENCES

• LESBIANS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE BETTER THAN HETEROS
• LACK ROLE MODELS
• STIGMA CAN BE INTERNALIZED
• "OUTNESS" OF INDIVIDUALS CAN BE PROBLEM

C. EXTRAMARITAL SEX

1. PREVALENCE - 50% MEN; 25% WOMEN

• RECENT SURVEY - 21% MEN; 11% WOMEN

2. INFLUENCES

• OPPORTUNITY
• CONTRACEPTION
• DETERIORATED RELATIONS
• LACK OF EQUITY

3.TYPES OF AFFAIRS (BROWN)

• CONFLICT AVOIDANT
• INTIMACY AVOIDANT
• COMPULSIVE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
• SPLIT-SELF
• OUT-THE-DOOR AFFAIR

4. "OPEN" RELATIONSHIPS/POLYAMORY

• CONSENSUAL, NEGOTIATED
• INDIVIDUAL/COUPLE

II. AGING - Research on Sexuality and Aging

A. Sexual Activity in Young Old (60-80)

• Is important to most
• Depends on health
• More valued among educated

B. Types of Sexual Activity

• Dreams
• Erotic pictures
• Self-stimulation
• Mutual sexual stimulation
• Intercourse

C. Change Among Young Old (60-85)

• Used to prefer intercourse, now prefer
• Intercourse (40%)
• Other types of sex (26%)
• No sex (12%)
• Used to prefer other types of sex, now prefer
• other types of sex (21%)

D. Sexual Behavior of Very Old (80-102)

• Fantasy (80%)
• Touching/no intercourse (73%)
• Self-stimulation (55%)
• Sexual intercourse (45%)

E. Benefits of Active Sexuality

• Improves health
• may help arthritis
• improves physical condition
• reduces stress
• Older women more orgasmic

F. Maintaining Sexuality in Old Age

• Expand options
• Use it or lose it
• Most important sex organ is between the ears

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