DEVELOPING THE CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES ON SEX
Sex as biological, for reproduction
Prior to the nineteenth century, sexual behaviour was regarded as a religious or spiritual
concern. However, from the beginning of the 1800s sexuality and sexual behaviour
became a focus for scientific study. Doctors and scientists took over the responsibility
for teaching about sex and it was subsequently studied within medicine and biological
sciences. Sex was viewed as a biological function alongside eating and drinking.
During the nineteenth century, much was written about sexual behaviour. Attempts
were made to develop criteria to describe sexual normality and abnormality. Generally
behaviours linked to reproduction were seen as normal and those such as masturbation
and homosexuality as abnormal. This is illustrated by the Victorian concern with
sexual morality, movements proclaiming sexual puritanism and attempts to control
prostitution. Sex was seen as a biological drive that needed to be expressed but which
should be expressed within the limitations of its function, reproduction.Sex as biological, for pleasure
From the beginning of the twentieth century, there was a shift in perspective. Although
sex was still seen as biological, the emphasis was now on sexual behaviour rather
than on outcome (reproduction). This involved a study of sexual desire, sexual pleasure
and orgasms. It resulted in a burgeoning literature on sex therapy and manuals on
how to develop a good sex life. This emphasis is illustrated by the classic survey
carried out by Kinsey in the 1940s and 1950s, the research programmes developed by
Masters and Johnson in the 1960s and the Hite reports on sexuality in the 1970s and
1980s.The Kinsey Report
Kinsey interviewed and analysed data from 12,000 white Americans and his attempts
to challenge some of the contemporary concerns with deviance were credited with
causing ‘a wave of sexual hysteria’ (e.g. Kinsey et al. 1948). He developed his analysis of
sexual behaviour within models of biological reductionism and argued that sex was
natural and therefore healthy. Kinsey argued that the sexual drive was a biological
force and the expression of this drive to attain pleasure was not only acceptable but
desirable. He challenged some of the contemporary concerns with premarital sex
and argued that as animals do not get married, there could be no difference between
marital and premarital sex. He emphasized similarities between the sexual behaviour
of men and women and argued that if scientific study could promote healthy sex lives
then this could improve the quality of marriages and reduce the divorce rates. His
research suggested that a variety of sexual outlets were acceptable and emphasized the
role of sexual pleasure involving both sexual intercourse and masturbation for men and
women.184 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY