PSYCH 225 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Clitoris, Ejaculation, Libido
The Many Faces of Orgasm
Staci Gusakova, Guest Speaker
• Goals
o Describe what orgasm is and what its associated with
o Understand the meanings behind orgasm and what it symbolizes
• What is an orgasm
o The quotes you’ll know what it is when you have one, is to broad and is not the
definition of what an orgasm is
o Biological definition of an orgasm
▪ Changes in blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate; changes in
muscular tension/ genito pelvic contractions; hormonal changes;
vocalization
▪ Explosive discharge of neuromuscular tension at the peak of sexual
response
o A psychological definition
▪ Subjective perception of the most intense point in a series of increasingly
pleasurable occurrences
▪ An altered state of consciousness
o A bio-psychological response to orgasm
▪ Genital stimulation happens goes to your brain and then your brain tells
your body what to do
• What’s the source of orgasms
o The clitoris, the penis
o An internal orgasm, is typically through stimulation of the clitoris and same for
the external orgasms
o There can be indirect orgasms from nipple stimulation, or thinking about an
orgasm some people can make it by themselves, wet dreams (orgasms when u
sleep)
• Psychological components of orgasm
o Intrapersonal:
▪ Components of the person's individual experience
• Affective cognitive and spiritual elements
o Do all orgasms feel alike?
o Different expereince of clitoral vs caginal orgasms
o Interpersonal
▪ Components of a shared partner experiences
• Intimacy
• Privileging or orgasm through intercourse
• Why do people orgasm
o Male-bodied folks
▪ Orgasm typically accompanies ejaculation
▪ Ejaculation leads to procreation
o Female-bodied folks
▪ An evolutionary adaptation?
• Maintain pair-bonds
• Aid in conception
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