Sexuality
Full course description
This course will elaborate on the biological, psychological as well as societal determinants of sexuality (in general) and sexual disorders (in specific). There are 6 lectures and 7 educational meetings in which a theme or group of complaints will be discussed. These themes are (biological and psychological) theories on sexuality, sexual diversity, sexual dysfunctions in men and women, the impact of physical/psychological health and disease on sexual behaviour and well-being, sexuality in vulnerable groups, gender dysphoria and transgenderism, and the role of attachment and relationships (context and history) on sexuality. After the theoretical part, students are offered a practical/clinical training in which they learn to administer a sexual anamnesis and there is a workshop on research methods in sexology in which students conceive and discuss a research design on a sexology-related topic of their choice.
The final assessment for this course is a numerical grade between 0,0 and 10,0.
Course objectives
Knowledge
Students know about:
- the normal sexual development;
- the sexual response cycle;
- sexual diversity;
- the biopsychosocial model of sexual dysfunctions;
- theories and empirical research on the development and maintenance of sexual problems;
- diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV & -V) for the different sexual dysfunctions;
- the incidence, prevalence, and course of sexual dysfunctions;
- different treatment options for sexual dysfunctions (biopsychosocial view);
- the impact of disease on sexuality;
- sexuality in people with a mental disability;
- gender dysphoria and transgenderism;
- the role of attachment and relationships in sexuality;
- research methods in sexology.
Applying knowledge
- students can apply their knowledge on sexual development and sexual dysfunctions on clinical cases.
Critical thinking
- students know the difference between pathological and non-pathological sexual development;
- students are critical regarding extant evidence on the different treatment options for sexual problems;
- students can develop research ideas on sexology-related topics.
Communication
- students can communicate on sexuality and sexual problems with individual clients;
- students can reflect and talk about their own sexual development and sexual experiences;
- students learn to break current taboos on (talking about) sex.