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Class Preparation for PSY 210

Syllabus -- [PDF Download]

January 22 -- [PDF Download]
Discussion Questions:     What do we mean by sex?     By culture?     What factors make it difficult to appreciate the degree of diversity that exists?     What surprised you in this reading?

January 25 -- [PDF Download]

January 27 -- [PDF Download]

January 29 -- [LINK]
Read this page, then click on the photographic history link and read those captions.
Last, play the extremely brief video clip of Dr. Kinsey from the original page where you started.

February 1 -- [PDF Download]

February 3 -- [PDF Download]

February 5 -- [LINK 1]       [LINK 2]
The first link is to a brief article by a female college student, so start there. The second link is to the "Top 10 Double Standards of Dating" written by a male. What is your reaction to each?

February 8 -- [LINK 1]       [LINK 2]
The first link is about drag queens, the second about drag kings. As you read these, work on an answer to the question, "Why do individuals participate in drag, both as performers and as an audience?"

February 10 -- [PDF Download]

February 12 -- [LINK]
Read all of the brief "Article Selections" for this entry, starting with the introduction on the landing page.

February 15 -- [LINK 1]       [LINK 2]
For the first Link, first click on the button for "Basic Information on TG Issues," then read the first two links on the page (numbered 1 and 2) for basic information about males who cross-dress. For the second Link, on this page is a vertical presentation of various video clips. The 4th on down are from a 20/20 special on transgendered children. Watch at least the fourth one (about 10 minutes), and as many as you have the time and interest.

Febraury 17 -- [LINK 1]       [LINK 2]       [LINK 3]
Links 1 and 2 are to brief news clips about discrimination experienced by transgendered individuals. After viewing those, Link 3 takes you to thumbnails for various photos of male-to-female transsexuals. After viewing several of these photos, what problems do you suppose these individuals have in trying to live day-to-day life?

February 19 -- [PDF Download]

February 22 -- [Link 1]       [LINK 2]
The first link is to a brief newspaper article about low sexual desire among women. What is your reaction, as a woman? The second link is to a page containing links to video clips on asexuality (from the site www.asexuality.org). Feel free to watch any and all, but if you're limited to about 15 minutes view the second and fifth clips in the vertical list.

February 24 -- [LINK]
This is a link to the pamphlet distributed by Sex & Love Addicts Anonymous.   It answers the basic questions about how this widespread self-help organization views the promblem and the solution.   What do you think?

February 26 -- [PDF Download]       [LINK]
The PDF is a brief chapter on sexual arousal.   The link is to an article and brief video clip about women who constantly experience sexual arousal, and cannot find relief. The PDF is required reading, whereas the link is optional (but very interesting).

March 1 -- [LINK]
This is a link to an article from the satirical news outlet The Onion.   In it's humorous presentation, this article does raise some interesting questions about what constitutes paraphilia, including: Why is one attraction deemed deviant whereas another is not?

March 3 -- [LINK]
This link is to an article from The Onion, a satirical newspaper.   However, the article raises the issue of how paraphilia intrigues people because of the taboo nature of deviant activities.   What if people were more open about their unusual interests? What might happen? Read the article to find out. :)

March 5 -- [PDF Download]
This PDF contains some brief material I wrote pertaining to orgasm.

March 15 -- [LINK]
For the link, choose one or more galleries and view the 10 advertisements within each.   As you do, focus on the ad first, asking yourself what impression it gives you about women, their bodies, and sexuality?   The commentaries point out things related to those topics, as well as body image and disordered eating.   How might ads like these affect women's experience of sexual activity with a partner?







March -- [LINK]
This brief clip from Dr. Drew provides a nice basis for discussing possible male-female differences in what sexually attracts particular people to other individuals. You have to move the cursor over the bottom edge of the video clip to access the controls for volume, etc.

March -- [PDF Download]       [LINK]
For the link about bisexuality, read the first 4 pages, up to the section about AIDS.

March -- [LINK]
This article may appear lengthy at first, but it is the most accurate yet concise article I've found that relays what research has revealed about possible factors influencing sexual orientation.

March -- No readings or viewings.

March -- [LINK]
This is a press release describing the results of a study. What does it have to do with how men and women meet?

March -- [LINK 1]       [LINK 2]       [LINK 3]
LINK 1 takes you to a narrated slide show by a photographer assigned to a feature story about love across cultures. Once you start the presentation, it should play on it's own, but if not, you may need to click on each brief section (and it may take a few seconds to load). Very interesting stuff. Link 2 takes you to a page designed to answer all your questions about polyamory. Link 3 is totally optional, and takes you to The Onion, a satirical "newspaper." In this article, we read a supposed account of a couple who waited until their wedding night to first have sex. This is meant to be comedy, but the article does prompt us to think about the pros and cons of waiting to have sex.

March -- [LINK 1]       [LINK 2]
The first link is to an article about what older Americans do sexually, whereas the second link is to an article about a growing controversy: sexual activity among residents of nursing homes who have dementia.

March -- [LINK 1]       [LINK 2]
Read the material at LINK 1 and then scan the dictionary at LINK 2, reading any entries that you didn't know.

March -- [NO LINK]

April -- [LINK]
This is a video of a news segment on whether there is a double standard when it comes to adults who have sex with minors.

April -- [LINK]
This link takes you to the information page of the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN). Clicking on any of these categories takes you to a page on that topic, and that page contains more detailed categories you can click on to drill deeper into the information. Choose any and all topics of interest to you.

April -- [LINK]
This link takes you to a very informative page about sexual harassment in educational settings. What parts surprise you? What do you agree and disagree with?

April -- [NO LINK]

April -- [LINK]
This link is to an article from The Onion, a satirical newspaper. However, the article raises the point about where do we draw the line when it comes to exchanging sex for material support?

April -- [NO LINK]

April -- [NO LINK]

April -- [LINK 1]       [LINK 2]
For Link 1, scroll down and click on the high resolution link to play the 16-minute video on how teen sexuality is addressed in Western European countries. How does their approach compare to ours in the U.S.? As an illustration of how differently teen sex is handled in the U.S., Link 2 is to an article from The Onion, the satirical newspaper.

April -- [LINK]
For this article about abstinence only education, be sure to read both pages.

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