The sexual response cycle

1. desire
2. arousal, mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system
3. plateau
4. orgasm, mediated by the sympathetic nervous system
5. resolution, longer in males and increases with age


Sensate focus: Masters and Johnson (1970)

1. behavioural psychotherapy involving the couple in graded assignments which may be modified according to the particular problem
2. divided into six stages:

• touching partner without genital contact for subject’s own pleasure
• touching partner without genital contact for both partners’ pleasure
• touching partner with genital contact, but intercourse not permitted
• simultaneous touching of partner and being touched by partner with genital contact, but intercourse not permitted
• intercourse, but without male thrusting; initial containment brief, with lengthening periods of containment with each session
• vaginal containment with movement; couple practice stopping before climax