CJHS Abstracts: Vol 8(1) 1999

The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality (CJHS)

Volume 8, Number 1, 1999
Hormonal Correlates and Causes of Sexual Desire: A Review. Pamela Reagan, Department of Psychology, California State University, Los Angeles, California. This review defines sexual desire, distinguishes sexual desire from other sexual experiences (e.g. arousal, activity), discusses common operationalizations of sexual desire, and then examines empirical research on the relationship of androgens, estrogens, progesterone and prolactin to sexual desire in men and women. The findings suggest that minimum critical levels of androgens appear necessary (although not sufficient) for the experience of sexual desire. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 1999; 8: 1-16) Exploring the Frequency, Diversity, and Content of University Students' Positive and Negative Sexual Cognitions. Cheryl A. Renaud and E. Sandra Byers, Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick. Despite the fact that some individuals appraise their sexual cognitions negatively and/or experience negative affect in association with their sexual fantasies, sexuality researchers have not differentiated between positively and negatively experienced sexual cognitions. As part of a larger study, we investigated the frequency, diversity, and content of positive and negative sexual cognitions. Two-hundred and ninety-two (148 women and 144 men) heterosexual undergraduate students completed a sexual cognition checklist requiring them to report the frequency with which they experienced each of 56 sexual cognitions as positive and as negative. Results revealed that overall, respondents reported more frequent and more diverse positive sexual cognitions than negative sexual cognitions. However, men reported both more frequent and more diverse positive and negative sexual cognitions than did women. Although their was a significant relationship between the contents of positive and negative sexual cognitions, the most commonly reported positive sexual cognitions differed from the most commonly reported negative sexual cognitions. Men and women also differed in the frequencies with which they reported specific positive and negative sexual cognitions. These results are discussed within the context of the utility of differentiating between positive and negative sexual cognitions. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 1999; 8: 17-30) The Interrelationship Between Intimacy, Relationship Functioning, and Sexuality Among Men and Women in Committed Relationships. Marita P McCabe, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia. Scales measuring the broad constructs of intimacy, relationship functioning, and sexual functioning were completed by 137 males (mean age 33.4 years) and 102 females (mean age 29.6 years) who had been in a committed heterosexual relationship for at least 12 months. The goal of the study was to determine how men and women would differ on individual dimensions of these constructs and to identify those dimensions most strongly associated with relationship quality and sexual satisfaction. Among the five categories of intimacy assessed (emotional, social, sexual, intellectual and recreational), the only sex difference observed was that women reported higher sexual intimacy scores. The sexes did not differ on any of the three relationship scale measures (general relationship, conflict, and communication) but on the sexuality scale, men reported higher scores than women on sexual satisfaction, sexual communication, positive attitudes towards sex, desire for more physical contact, and on their ratings of partner's level of sexual dysfunction. Men also assigned lower sexual attitude scores to their partner's than did women. The most consistent predictors of relationship functioning for both sexes were scores on three sexuality measures that did not differ between the sexes: conventionality, sexual behaviour, and respondents assessment of their own level of sexual dysfunction. Studies on the interrelationships between intimacy, relationship functioning, and sexuality should incorporate not only global measures of these three broad constructs but also measures of the specific dimensions from which these global constructs are derived. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 1999; 8: 31-38). The Relationship Between Fatherly Affirmation and a Woman's Self-Esteem, Fear of Intimacy, Comfort with Womanhood and Comfort with Sexuality. Tanya S. Scheffler and Peter J. Naus, University of St. Jerome's College, Waterloo, Ontario. This study investigated the relationship of fatherly affirmation to women's self-esteem and other psychosexual characteristics. Female university students (N=57) completed questionnaires that measured their perception of their father's unconditional positive regard for them, perceptions of their father's feelings about their mother, self-esteem, fear of intimate relationships, comfort with their womanhood, and comfort with sexuality. It was predicted that perceived fatherly affirmation would be positively associated with self-esteem and negatively associated with fear of intimacy. These predictions were confirmed. It was also predicted that there would be a positive association between perceived fatherly affirmation and comfort with womanhood. This prediction was not confirmed. As predicted, women's comfort or discomfort with their sexual experiences was related to their perceived affirmation by their fathers. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 1999; 8: 39-46). William Lyon Mackenzie King, Elizabeth Harvie, and Edna: A Prostitute Rescuing Initiative in Late Victorian Toronto. John R. Graham, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. This paper analyzes a prostitute rescuing initiative in Toronto, 1894-1896. The key players were Edna, a young prostitute, and two people who attempted to "rscue" her, Elizabeth Harvie, a socially prominent member of a local charity, and William Lydon Mackenzie King, then an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto and subsequently Prime Minister of Canada. The paper explains the interaction of the protagonists in the context of their personal characteristics and of various social factors present in Canada at the time. The former included King's psychological, sexual, and social motivations to become a prostitute rescuer, Edna's participation in being rescued, and Harvie's ability to facilitate the process. The latter included the prevailing social constructions of Protestant evangelicalism, gender, sexuality and prostitution. An analysis of the interplay of these factors invites comparison with contemporary approaches to prostitution. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 1998; 8: 47-60)

Volume 8, Number 1, 1999

Hormonal Correlates and Causes of Sexual Desire: A Review.
Pamela Reagan, Department of Psychology, California State University, Los Angeles, California.

This review defines sexual desire, distinguishes sexual desire from other sexual experiences (e.g. arousal, activity), discusses common operationalizations of sexual desire, and then examines empirical research on the relationship of androgens, estrogens, progesterone and prolactin to sexual desire in men and women. The findings suggest that minimum critical levels of androgens appear necessary (although not sufficient) for the experience of sexual desire. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 1999; 8: 1-16)

Exploring the Frequency, Diversity, and Content of University Students' Positive and Negative Sexual Cognitions.
Cheryl A. Renaud and E. Sandra Byers, Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Despite the fact that some individuals appraise their sexual cognitions negatively and/or experience negative affect in association with their sexual fantasies, sexuality researchers have not differentiated between positively and negatively experienced sexual cognitions. As part of a larger study, we investigated the frequency, diversity, and content of positive and negative sexual cognitions. Two-hundred and ninety-two (148 women and 144 men) heterosexual undergraduate students completed a sexual cognition checklist requiring them to report the frequency with which they experienced each of 56 sexual cognitions as positive and as negative. Results revealed that overall, respondents reported more frequent and more diverse positive sexual cognitions than negative sexual cognitions. However, men reported both more frequent and more diverse positive and negative sexual cognitions than did women. Although their was a significant relationship between the contents of positive and negative sexual cognitions, the most commonly reported positive sexual cognitions differed from the most commonly reported negative sexual cognitions. Men and women also differed in the frequencies with which they reported specific positive and negative sexual cognitions. These results are discussed within the context of the utility of differentiating between positive and negative sexual cognitions. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 1999; 8: 17-30)

The Interrelationship Between Intimacy, Relationship Functioning, and Sexuality Among Men and Women in Committed Relationships.
Marita P McCabe, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.

Scales measuring the broad constructs of intimacy, relationship functioning, and sexual functioning were completed by 137 males (mean age 33.4 years) and 102 females (mean age 29.6 years) who had been in a committed heterosexual relationship for at least 12 months. The goal of the study was to determine how men and women would differ on individual dimensions of these constructs and to identify those dimensions most strongly associated with relationship quality and sexual satisfaction. Among the five categories of intimacy assessed (emotional, social, sexual, intellectual and recreational), the only sex difference observed was that women reported higher sexual intimacy scores. The sexes did not differ on any of the three relationship scale measures (general relationship, conflict, and communication) but on the sexuality scale, men reported higher scores than women on sexual satisfaction, sexual communication, positive attitudes towards sex, desire for more physical contact, and on their ratings of partner's level of sexual dysfunction. Men also assigned lower sexual attitude scores to their partner's than did women. The most consistent predictors of relationship functioning for both sexes were scores on three sexuality measures that did not differ between the sexes: conventionality, sexual behaviour, and respondents assessment of their own level of sexual dysfunction. Studies on the interrelationships between intimacy, relationship functioning, and sexuality should incorporate not only global measures of these three broad constructs but also measures of the specific dimensions from which these global constructs are derived. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 1999; 8: 31-38).

The Relationship Between Fatherly Affirmation and a Woman's Self-Esteem, Fear of Intimacy, Comfort with Womanhood and Comfort with Sexuality.
Tanya S. Scheffler and Peter J. Naus, University of St. Jerome's College, Waterloo, Ontario.

This study investigated the relationship of fatherly affirmation to women's self-esteem and other psychosexual characteristics. Female university students (N=57) completed questionnaires that measured their perception of their father's unconditional positive regard for them, perceptions of their father's feelings about their mother, self-esteem, fear of intimate relationships, comfort with their womanhood, and comfort with sexuality. It was predicted that perceived fatherly affirmation would be positively associated with self-esteem and negatively associated with fear of intimacy. These predictions were confirmed. It was also predicted that there would be a positive association between perceived fatherly affirmation and comfort with womanhood. This prediction was not confirmed. As predicted, women's comfort or discomfort with their sexual experiences was related to their perceived affirmation by their fathers. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 1999; 8: 39-46).

William Lyon Mackenzie King, Elizabeth Harvie, and Edna: A Prostitute Rescuing Initiative in Late Victorian Toronto.
John R. Graham, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.

This paper analyzes a prostitute rescuing initiative in Toronto, 1894-1896. The key players were Edna, a young prostitute, and two people who attempted to "rscue" her, Elizabeth Harvie, a socially prominent member of a local charity, and William Lydon Mackenzie King, then an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto and subsequently Prime Minister of Canada. The paper explains the interaction of the protagonists in the context of their personal characteristics and of various social factors present in Canada at the time. The former included King's psychological, sexual, and social motivations to become a prostitute rescuer, Edna's participation in being rescued, and Harvie's ability to facilitate the process. The latter included the prevailing social constructions of Protestant evangelicalism, gender, sexuality and prostitution. An analysis of the interplay of these factors invites comparison with contemporary approaches to prostitution. (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 1998; 8: 47-60)

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