APA Psychology and Education

Sexual Problems

Develop a 34-page research paper based on a selected case study related to sexual problems.

Most sexual behavior problems must be delineated within the context of the individuals personality, lifestyle, and relationships with others. It is usually simplistic to label any particular behavior automatically as a problem. Several criteria are given that can be used to define sexual problems and that can help put problematic sex into a more realistic and sensible perspective. Determining when a sexual preference behavior becomes a problem is highly subjective and requires a look into different aspects of an individuals life, including his or her lifestyle and cultural and social belief systems. Sexual abuse, coercion, and assault of others represent serious sexual problems (Hyde & Delamater, 2017).

STDs and a variety of other medical conditions can affect the sex organs and sexual activity. Whereas STDs once were discussed only briefly in most human sexuality courses, they are emerging as important issues again. Considering that the incidence of several diseases is on the rise and that more organisms are being recognized as being capable of sexual transmission, such a trend may be timely. One of the most significant findings of the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) was the direct correlation between the numbers of sexual partners people have had and the likelihood that they will have had a STD (National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, 1992).

Defining sexual dysfunctions is somewhat subjective, and individual differences in the sexual response cycle are often perfectly normal. Rather than simply labeling each dysfunction and explaining it separately, we must examine it based on the broader picture of sexual responsiveness and the total sexual relationship. In recent years, there has been greater emphasis on potential organic conditions that can manifest themselves in sexual difficulties, including the effects of alcohol, other drugs, and certain medications. On the other hand, it is still a safe assumption that many sexual disorders of this sort are caused by a vicious circle of anxiety and fear of failure generating lack of responsiveness, or by difficulties within a relationship.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

Competency 1: Apply basic psychological terminology and concepts related to human sexuality.
Describe one issue associated with a case study.
Competency 2: Apply basic psychological theories to topics in human sexuality.
Apply psychological theories to a case study in human sexuality.
Competency 3: Apply basic scientific and research concepts and findings related to human sexuality.
Apply scholarly research findings to a case study in human sexuality.
Competency 4: Write using a clear purpose, organization, tone, and sentence structure.
Address assessment purpose in a well-organized text.
Use appropriate tone in grammatically sound sentences.
References
Hyde, J. S., & Delamater, J. D. (2017). Understanding human sexuality (13th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (NORC). (1992). National health and social life survey. Available from https://voices.uchicago.edu/popcenter/

Resources
Sexual Problems and Development
Hyde, J. S., & Delamater, J. D. (2017). Understanding human sexuality (13th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 10, Sexuality and the Life Cycle: Adulthood, pages 244270.
Chapter 14, Variations in Sexual Behavior, pages 350377.
Chapter 18, Sexually Transmitted Infections, pages 452473.
Boskey, E. (2013). Sexuality in the DSM 5. Contemporary Sexuality, 47(7), 15.
Brotto, L. A. (2013). Mindful sex. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 22(2), 6368.
McLelland, M. (2017). Not in front of the parents! Young people, sexual literacies and intimate citizenship in the Internet age. Sexualities, 20(1/2), 234254.
Content Media (Producer). (2011). Sexual addiction: Is it for real?-Infidelity [Video]. Films on Demand.

Assessment Instructions
Develop a light research paper based on case studies provided in the following interactive media piece:

Human Sexuality Case Studies: Confronting Issues in Human Sexuality.
Read the case studies and select one on which to base your paper. Try to choose the case study that you feel best applies to the requirements for your paper, which are provided in the instructions below.

Use your selected scenario to write a 34-page paper in which you complete the following:

Issue: Describe an issue raised in the case study.
Theory: Describe a concept or theory and the general perspective or approach to human sexuality that the concept or theory falls under (such as gender theories, instinct theory, psychodynamic, or developmental) using correct terminology from the course. If the concept or theory is closely associated with the writings of a particular theorist (such as Freud, Kinsey, Masters and Johnson, and so on), then provide that information. Apply the concept or theory to the issue in the case study.
Research: Select a minimum of two scholarly sources that support your explanation of how the concept or theory relates to the case study. Connect what you have learned in your research by integrating and combining information from your source articles with the case study.
Note: Do not restate the case study within your paper; you should only identify and refer to the selected case study as needed to illustrate your points.

Your paper should follow a logical structure and be evidence based. Use the MEAL plan to help guide the organization of your paper.

Main idea: Present the main point or idea that you are making about your case study related to sexual problems.
Evidence: What does the research say? Support your statements with evidence from the literature.
Application: Summarize main ideas from articles related to your chosen case study. Apply concepts that relate directly or indirectly to your main point. Make explicit links between source articles and your current paper.
Link: Integrate and combine information from your source articles with your main point or idea.
Conduct independent research for resources and references to support your paper. Provide a reference list and in-text citations, in APA format, for all of your resources. You may cite texts and authors from the suggested resources as well as any additional reputable resources you find on your own.

Additional Requirements

Your assessment should also meet the following requirements:

Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
APA formatting: References and citations should be formatted according to current APA style and formatting guidelines.
Number of resources: A minimum of two scholarly resources.
Length: The research paper should be 34 double-spaced pages in content length. Include a separate title page and a separate references page.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point. Use Microsoft Word.
Template: You may use the Sexual Problems Template to complete the assessment.
Portfolio Prompt: You may choose to save this learning activity to your ePortfolio.