KING’S COLLEGE
THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
Psychology 2075: Human Sexuality
Section 571
Instructor: Chris Roney
Office Hours: Mon., 12:30-1:30 P.M, Wed., 12:30-1:30 P.M., or by appointment
Office: SA 063
Phone: Ext. 4336
e-mail:
Textbook: Rathus, S.A., Nevid, J.S. & Fichner-Rathus, L., & Herold, (2010). Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity ( Third Canadian Edition). Toronto: Pearson.
Course Description
This course is designed to be an introduction to the study of human sexuality. The primary focus of the course will be on psychological issues related to sexuality, but in examining these biological and societal issues will also be addressed. The emphasis will be on research that has been done in the field of human sexuality.
Web Page
I will keep a web page for this course. Class power point slides will be available on the web page and I will keep a copy of the syllabus there (in case you lose this one). I will keep the web page linked to the "webct" (owl) page for this course.
Evaluation
Exam 1 25%
Exam 2 25%
Exam 3 25%
Exam 4 25%
The exams are NOT cumulative.
The exams will be in multiple choice format and will cover material from lectures and the textbook. Exams for this course are computer-marked, and software may be applied to check for unusual coincidences in responding as a check for cheating.
Please note that pencils must be used on the scan sheets for multiple choice examinations. These are NOT provided.
Antirequisite: Psychology 191a or 192b if taken on main campus during 1979-80.
Students are responsible for ensuring that their selection of courses is appropriate and accurately recorded, that all course prerequisites have been successfully completed, and that they are aware of any antirequisite course(s) that they have taken.
If the student does not have the requisites for a course, and does not have written special permission from his or her Dean to enroll in the course, the University reserves the right to cancel the student’s registration in the course. This decision may not be appealed. The normal financial and academic penalties will apply to a student who is dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
FIRST SEMESTER
Week: Topics covered: Readings:
Sept 14: Perspectives on (and Chapter 1 (pgs2-19 end at “The Early Christians”;
Theories of) sexuality pgs. 21-33, start at “The Victorian Era”)
Sept 21: Theories (cont.) Chapter 2
Research Methods
Sept. 28: Fertility Chapter 10 (pgs 256-264 end at “in vitro fertilization”)
Contraception Chapter 11
Oct. 5: Contraception (cont.)
Oct 12: HIV & AIDS Chapter 14 (pgs. 391-393; 399-404;409-419)
Oct 19: Sex hormones: Menstruation, Chapter 3 (pgs 75-82),
Menopause Chapter4 (pgs 110-113 "sex hormones and sexual
behaviour", end at "factors influencing sexual arousal...")
Oct. 26: Exam # 1
Nov. 2: Sexual development: Chapter 12 (pgs. 313-333)
Childhood & adolescence
Nov 9: Adolescence (cont)
Sex Education
Nov 16: Sexual development: Chapter12 (pgs. 333-355)
adulthood
Nov 23: Sexual differentiation Chapter 5
Gender identity, gender
Nov. 30 : Gender (cont.)
Dec. 7 Sexual orientation Chapter 9
Exam # 2 Christmas Exam Period
SECOND SEMESTER
Week: Topics covered: Readings:
Jan 11: Attraction, love Chapter6
Jan 18: Relationships Chapter 7
Jan 25: Sexual Arousal/response Chapter 4 (pgs 102-110,113-127)
Feb 1: Sexual behaviour Chapter 8
Feb 8: Sexual dysfunction Chapter 13
Feb 15: Sex therapies
Feb 22: Reading week
Feb 29: Exam #3
Mar 7: Sexual variations Chapter 15
Mar 14: Sexual variations (cont)
Sexual Coercion Chapter 16
Mar 21 : Sexual Coercion (cont)
Sexually Explicit Material Chapter17 (pgs. 496-506)
Mar 28: Sexually Explicit Material (cont)
Prostitution; Chapter 17 (pgs. 482-496)
Apr 4: Sex and the Law
Sex and Religion Chapter 1 (pgs 19-21 start at “The Early Christians”,
end at “The Victoria Era”)
Apr. 11: Ethical Issues: Surrogacy Chapter 10 (264-267)