Introduction to Sexology

Code:

LPSI314

Acronym:

IS

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	First degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LPSIC	26	Official Curricular Structure	3	-	3	27	81

Teaching language

English
Obs.: Inglês com informação adicional em Português

Objectives

The Curricular unit Introduction to Sexology aims to promote knowledge in the area of ​​sexology as a multidisciplinary science of sexuality.

We will introduce some of the most prominent authors in the history of sexology and their theories, as well as the various more global scientific paradigms that served as their context: The medical-biological paradigm, the psychoanalytic paradigm, the empirical-behavioral paradigm, the medical- pharmacological and the cognitive paradigm.

We will also address sexual response, its psychophysiological principles and main models of sexual response: Classical models (e.g., Ellis, Reich, Masters & Johnson and Helen Kaplan); Contemporary models (Basson, 2000;Bancroft and Janssen, 2000).

We will also review research on the role of different psychological variables in sexual response and functioning (e.g., personality, beliefs, cognitive schemas, causal attributions, expectations, focus of attention, emotions, etc.).

We will also address the experimental dimension of sexology, both within the scope of research and within the scope of intervention.

Finally, we will address some relevant topics in the psychology of sexuality and diversity (e.g., sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, consensual non-monogamous relationships, sexuality throughout the life cycle, chronic diseases, etc.)

Learning outcomes and competences

Students should develop skills in:


Knowledge of the history of sexology

Knowledge of psychophysiology and sexual response models


Knowledge of the psychological factors of sexual response and functioning

Knowledge of research and intervention in a laboratory/experimental context

Knowledge and ability to reflect on contemporary themes in the psychology of sexuality

 

 

 

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

NA

Program

I – HISTORY OF SEXOLOGY

1. The science of sex

1.1. The bio-medical paradigm

1.2. The psychoanalytic paradigm

1.3. The empirical-behavioralist paradigm

1.4. The medical-pharmacological paradigm

1.5. The cognitive paradigm

2. Authors and paradigms that supported the science of sex


II - THE SEXUAL RESPONSE

1. Psychophysiology of Sexual Response

2. Classic Sexual Response Models
Ellis and the two-phase model
Reich and the voluntary control/involuntary contractions model
Masters and Johnson and the four-phase model
Kaplan and the three-phase model

3. Alternative Models of Sexual Response
Rosemary Basson and the circularity of female sexual response
Bancroft and Janssen and the Dual Control Model

4. Critical Perspectives on Sexual Response Models
Artificiality of the phases
Universality versus individuality of the human sexual response
Exclusivity of physiological aspects
Absence of psychological/subjective (cognitive-emotional) components
Methodological criticisms
Tiefer and the feminist critique of sexual response cycle models


III – PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF SEXUAL RESPONSE AND FUNCTIONING

1. The role of psychological variables
Personality
Affect-trait
Sexual beliefs
Sexual schemas
Causal attributions
Performance expectations
Cognitive distraction
Focus of attention
Anxiety
Depressed mood

2. Psychological models of sexual functioning
Masters and Johnson and the psychophysiological model
Barlow and the cognitive-affective model
Nobre & Pinto-Gouveia and the cognitive-emotional model.

3. Research and intervention in a laboratory/experimental context.


IV – THEMES IN THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SEXUALITY

1. Sexuality in middle-age and old age
2. Body image, chronic diseases, and sexual well-being
3. Sexual behavior, eroticism and pornography
4. Sexual diversity (sexual orientations/identities)
5. Gender diversity (gender identities and expressions)
6. Relational diversity (consensual non-monogamy, polyamory)

 

Mandatory literature

Bancroft, J.; Bancroft, J. (2008). Human sexuality and its problems (3ª ed.). Edinburgh, Scotland: Churchill Livingstone.
Bullough, V.; Bullough, V. (1994). Science in the Bedroom: A history of sex research. New York: Basic Books
Fonseca, L., Soares, C., & Vaz, M. ; Fonseca, L., Soares, C., & Vaz, M. (2003), A sexologia: Perspectiva multidisciplinar. Coimbra: Quarteto Editora.
Nobre P. J.; Nobre P. J. (2006). Disfunções Sexuais: Teoria, investigação e tratamento. Lisboa: Climepsi
Macedo Ana; Identidade de género e orientação sexual na prática clínica., Edições Sílabo, 2018
Pascoal P M; Intervenção Psicológica em Sexologia Clínica, Pactor, 2023
Aboim Sofia; A sexualidade dos Portugueses., Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, 2013
Carvalheira Ana; Em defesa do erotismo, Desassossego, 2018
Ferreira, P. M., & Cabral, M. V; Sexualidades em Portugal: Comportamentos e riscos, Bizâncio, 2010
Lehmiller , J. J. (; The psychology of human sexuality, Wiley Blackwell, 2018
Nodin N; sexualidade de A a Z, Betrand, 2002
Peterson Z. D.; The Wiley handbook of sex therapy, Wiley Blackwell, 2017
Richards , C., & Basker, M. J.; The Palgrave handbook of the psychology of sexuality and gender, Palgrave Macmillan, 2015

Teaching methods and learning activities

The theoretical component of the curricular unit is mainly oriented towards the exposition of the main themes that compose the program. Among the practical teaching methods, the following will be used: 1) reading and discussion of texts in small groups, 2) discussion and debate of topics in the class space, 3) viewing of audiovisual material (e.g., films: The Life of Alfred Kinsey ), 4) search for bibliographic material using scientific databases (b-on, PsychInfo, EBSCO, Google Scholar, etc.).

 

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Teste	60,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	30,00
Frequência das aulas	28,00
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Total:	83,00

Eligibility for exams

 

The evaluation will include a practical component (CP) and a theoretical component (CT).  The practical component (CP) is 35% of the final grade in the course and will be evaluated through a group work. The theoretical component (CT) is 65% of the final grade in the course and will be evaluated through a written test.

 

To obtain approval, students are expected to comply with each of the following criteria:

 

1. Obtain a final grade equal to or greater than 9.5; 

 

2. Obtain the following minimum scores in each component:

 

a. minimum of 9,5 values in the practical component

 

b. minimum of 9,5 values in final written test

 

3. Perform all proposed evaluation components.

Calculation formula of final grade

 

FINAL SCORE = (CP * 0.40) + (CT * 0.60)

Examinations or Special Assignments

NA

Internship work/project

NA

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

NA

Classification improvement

 

Students can improve the final grade (of the written test) only once until the subsequent year. In this case the exam will count 60% for the final grade and the practical  work will count 40%