Rape and its Aftermath:

 Rape and its Aftermath:

Traditionally, rape has been classified as a sex crime, and society has assumed that a rapist is motivated by lust. However, in the 1970s some feminist scholars began to challenge this view, arguing that rape is motivated by the need to dominate, to assert power, and to humiliate a victim rather than by sexual desire for her. From the perspective of the victim, rape is always an act of violence and is certainly not a sexually pleasurable experience, whatever the rapist’s motivation.

While much of the motivation for rape may stem from a desire to dominate or humiliate others, there are many compelling reasons why sexual motivation is often, if not always, a very important factor too. The age distribution of rape victims includes a very high proportion of women in their teens and early 20s, who are generally considered the most sexually attractive. This age distribution is quite different from the distribution of other violent crimes. Furthermore, rapists usually cite sexual motivation as a very important cause of their actions.

In addition to the physical trauma inflicted on a victim, the psychological trauma of rape may be severe. A rape may lead to PTSD in a substantial number of female victims and can have a negative impact on a victim’s sexual functioning and on her marriage or other intimate relationships. Although there has been little systematic study of men who have been raped, one study revealed that nearly all experienced some long-term psychological distress following rape.

While there is a clear perpetrator in all instances of rape and sexual assault, there remains an unfortunate myth of “victim-precipitated” rape—a position often invoked by defense attorneys trying to prevent the perpetrator from being charged with rape. According to this view, a victim is regarded as the cause of the crime on such grounds as the alleged provocativeness of her clothing or her past sexual behavior. Fortunately, rape shield laws began to be introduced in the 1970s to protect rape victims.

A recent example of the complexity inherent in the legal situation of rape prosecution is that of Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK), who was accused by a New York City hotel worker of sexually assaulting her when she entered his hotel room to clean it. A police investigation confirmed that sexual contact had occurred, but DSK insisted that it was consensual. Subsequently, another woman came forward accusing him of raping her years earlier in France. However, the case unraveled when prosecutors learned that DSK’s accuser had lied about other matters. The charges were dropped.

In conclusion, rape is a complex issue with many factors at play. It can have significant physical and psychological consequences for its victims. It is important for society to continue to work towards preventing this crime and supporting its victims.

 References

 

 Hooley, Jill, M. et al. Abnormal Psychology. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (18th Edition).                                   Pearson Education (US), 2019.

Delayed Ejaculation Disorder

 

 Delayed Ejaculation Disorder:

Delayed ejaculation disorder is a condition in which a man experiences persistent difficulty in ejaculating during intercourse. This condition is relatively rare, occurring in only about 3 to 10 percent of men. Men who are completely unable to ejaculate are even rarer. About 85 percent of men who have difficulty ejaculating during intercourse can nevertheless achieve orgasm by other means of stimulation, such as through solitary masturbation.

In some cases, delayed ejaculation can be related to specific physical problems such as multiple sclerosis or to the use of certain medications. For example, antidepressants that block serotonin reuptake can be an effective treatment for early ejaculation. However, in other men, these same medications—especially SSRIs—can sometimes delay or prevent orgasm to an unpleasant extent. These side effects are common but can sometimes be treated pharmacologically with medications like Viagra.

Psychological treatments for delayed ejaculation include couples therapy in which a man tries to get used to having orgasms through intercourse with a partner rather than via masturbation. Treatment may also emphasize the reduction of performance anxiety about the importance of having an orgasm versus sexual pleasure and intimacy. Increasing genital stimulation may also be helpful.

In conclusion, delayed ejaculation disorder is a relatively rare condition that can have significant consequences for a man's sexual satisfaction and relationship. There are several treatment options available, including pharmacological interventions and psychological therapy. If you or someone you know is experiencing this problem, it may be helpful to seek help from a qualified healthcare professional.

References

 Hooley, Jill, M. et al. Abnormal Psychology. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (18th Edition).

             Pearson Education (US), 2019.

Premature ejaculation:

 Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is a common problem among men, and it can have a significant impact on their sexual and relationship satisfaction. This condition is characterized by the persistent and recurrent onset of orgasm and ejaculation with minimal sexual stimulation. It may occur before, on, or shortly after penetration and before the man wants it to. The average duration of time to ejaculate in men with this problem is 15 seconds or 15 thrusts of intercourse.

The consequences of premature ejaculation can be significant. It often leads to the failure of the partner to achieve satisfaction and can cause embarrassment for the early ejaculating man. This can lead to anxiety about recurrence on future occasions. Men who have had this problem from their first sexual encounter often try to diminish sexual excitement by avoiding stimulation, by self-distracting, and by “spectatoring,” or psychologically taking the role of an observer rather than a participant.

An exact definition of prematurity is necessarily somewhat arbitrary. Factors such as the age of the client and the length of abstinence must be considered when making a diagnosis. DSM-5 acknowledges these factors by noting that the diagnosis is made only if ejaculation occurs before, on, or shortly after penetration and before the man wants it to.

In sexually normal men, the ejaculatory reflex is, to a considerable extent, under voluntary control. They are able to monitor their sensations during sexual stimulation and are able to forestall the point of ejaculatory inevitability until they decide to “let go.” Men with early ejaculation are unable to use this technique effectively for some reason. Explanations for this have ranged from psychological factors such as increased anxiety, to physiological factors such as increased penile sensitivity and higher levels of arousal to sexual stimuli.

For many years, most sex therapists considered early ejaculation to be psychologically caused and highly treatable via behavioral therapy such as the pause-and-squeeze technique developed by Masters and Johnson. This technique requires the man to monitor his sexual arousal during sexual activity and pause when arousal is intense enough that he feels that ejaculation might occur soon. He or his partner then squeezes the head of the penis for a few moments until the feeling of pending ejaculation passes. This technique has been reported to be effective in some cases.

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the possible use of pharmacological interventions for men for whom behavioral treatments have not worked. Antidepressants such as paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and dapoxetine (Priligy), which block serotonin reuptake, have been found to significantly prolong ejaculatory latency in men with early ejaculation.

In conclusion, premature ejaculation is a common problem among men that can have significant consequences for their sexual and relationship satisfaction. There are several treatment options available, including behavioral therapy and pharmacological interventions. If you or someone you know is experiencing this problem, it may be helpful to seek help from a qualified healthcare professional.

 

 References

 Hooley, Jill, M., et al. Abnormal Psychology. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (18th Edition).

                             Pearson Education (US), 2019.