Human Sexuality: How Do Men and Women Differ?

In Human Sexuality: How do Men and Women Differ?, Peplau educates his readers on the different sexual natures of males and females (Peplau, 2003). About 100 years ago, it was believed that men and women had very different sexual natures but because of more recent research we are now learning that this is not necessarily true (Peplau, 2003). Master’s and Johnson (1966) developed an experiment that forced a human sexual response cycle that can be used for both males and females (Peplau, 2003). Research on different parts of human sexuality have come up with four differences between males and females that are wide-ranging, affect behavior and apply to all types of men and women (Peplau, 2003). Sexual desire is one difference and is the longing to be sexually involved with objects, activities, or people (Peplau, 2003). Research shows that men long to be sexually involved more than women and have a higher and stronger feeling of sexual desire (Peplau, 2003). Research also shows that, with males, visuals can help ease their sexual desires so they are likely to buy products and engage in activities more than women (Peplau, 2003). Males are also more likely to masturbate because they can control when it gets done (Peplau, 2003). In all examples between gays, lesbians, and heterosexuals the men push to have sex more often because their sexual desires are higher than women’s (Peplau, 2003). Another difference would be the difference in attitudes toward premarital and extramarital sex (Peplau, 2003). In an experiment done with Regan and Berscheid (1999) they asked both men and women to define sexual desire (Peplau, 2003). The women’s responses showed that they linked sexual desire to a more committed relationship and looked at it in a more loving way whereas the males were more into the physical pleasure that intercourse brings (Peplau, 2003). Women’s sexual fantasies are proven to include people that they know and men’s are more likely to include all kinds of people

References: Peplau, L.A. (2003). Human Sexuality: how do men and women differ? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12(2), 37-40.