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Analysis of Human Sexual Response
HUMAN SEXUALITY - WHAT IS IT? For the first time a full report written for the layman on the Masters-Johnson studies and related sex research. Fifteen years ago the professional sexologists agreed it couldn't be done . . . Three years later at Washington University in St. Louis, Dr Masters and Virginia Johnson set up a special laboratory equipped with electrocardiographs, a battery of other apparatus, and full-color motion picture cameras. Their purpose - to observe, measure and record the sexual responses of hundreds of men and women. The Masters-Johnson findings and the work of others in their field is the subject of the book. Edited by Ruth and Edward Brecher, the well-known interpreters of other scientific breakthroughs, AN ANALYSIS OF HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE is an immensely valuable report on the giant steps that have been taken since sex came of age with Kinsey.
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First published January 1, 1956
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 18, 2021
Most of this book will captivate the reader - learning the biography of Dr. Masters, the innovation in the research techniques used, a simplified rundown of the research results.
There also seems to be a good portion that makes no sense contextually. The inclusion of an anthropological study of sexual behaviour on a Melanesian island is explained, but not thoroughly justified for a section that reads as oddly as it does. Similarly, that the book ends with an essay lamenting, in muddling fashion, the lack of art to sex as presented by Masters & Johnson, is perplexing - is a criticism of the book's subject, presented without counter, meant to be the lasting impression?
There also seems to be a good portion that makes no sense contextually. The inclusion of an anthropological study of sexual behaviour on a Melanesian island is explained, but not thoroughly justified for a section that reads as oddly as it does. Similarly, that the book ends with an essay lamenting, in muddling fashion, the lack of art to sex as presented by Masters & Johnson, is perplexing - is a criticism of the book's subject, presented without counter, meant to be the lasting impression?
April 23, 2023
“Before a man can determine what is right, he must first find out what is.” -Dr. Harold Lief (p. 107)
I had never before heard of Masters and Johnson before I watched Masters of Sex, but understood, after watching its first season, how transformative their study of human sexual responses were. Their study provided needed illumination with regard to the physiological responses of humans to sex, which also informed future trends in psychology.
I’ve had this book for years, but I never really had the balls to open it until I finished reading Robert Greene’s Laws of Human Nature, as it advised the reader to face his own Shadow side so that it wouldn’t contaminate future actions and allow a more complete integration of the self.
Ever since, I’ve been a nice guy with a fear of punitive punishment from the God of the Old Testament, and I’ve had to be disillusioned with religion and its hypocrites (me included) in order to have a more personal relationship with my God, and a more authentic relationship with myself.
Now, I’m probably one of the more responsible people when it comes to deliberation: I often think things through, and while I’m not naturally emotional, I think I practice the type of empathy that many people fail to see: it’s the empathy of the long-term thinker. If possible, I tend to make as few avoidable mistakes, because I want as few people damaged by my own lack of reflection.
Conversely, I have little empathy for those who willingly and wantonly have a difficult time because of their lack of foresight despite solid advice and fair warning. I understand that I won’t be able to accumulate all the knowledge I need in the world, but I think I can gain enough to avoid making egregious mistakes in life.
The book reminds me of the reality that, when done between consenting partners, sex is enjoyable, and when executed well, inspires orgasm between the two performing the act. However, the primary function of sex is procreation, which is why people who engage in the act without any reflection will likely cause the woman to be pregnant.
Pregnancy and childbirth extract a great cost, not only on the female body, but on the dynamics of the family itself. For those who barely have enough to feed themselves, a child incurs additional cost to the family, less sleep to the mother and mother, and a great amount of solicitude towards the child’s upbringing.
The studies made by Masters and Johnson have allowed the development of tools that prevent the realization of the primary goal of sex, which is procreation, while allowing the celebration of its secondary goal, which is enjoyment. The couple have been successful in helping develop contraceptive technology because they stared into the empty maw of superstition and ignorance and actually willed order through their observations regarding the act of copulation and sexual intimacy.
Without their study, women will have to believe crock like “the females have neither the desire nor the capacity for sexual gratification” or Havelock Ellis concluding that women having sexual feelings as “a vile aspersion.” He even notes that educated women really don’t have sexual feelings, in contrast with those of the lower classes.
It’s a chauvinistic, classist perspective, but that’s why the Masters and Johnson studies have been seminal (*wink wink*) in lifting the veil from our then-perspectives regarding sex.
The quote from Dr. Lief is a timeless reminder for us to first try to understand, before judging. This ties in with one of the central ideas of phenomenology, which is first to ask what is rather than expatiate on whether it is right or not. Sex and sexuality is no exception. Although leaps and bounds have been achieved in sexology, many people are still in the dark about it, and this prevents them from maximizing their sexual enjoyment, either by failing to understand the steps during the act, or immersing themselves in the darkness of ignorance because of the irrational fear of the taboo.
Robert Greene and Jordan Peterson (as neo-Jungians) have been greatly helpful in directing me towards integrating my own shadow and understanding that my sensual desires are integral to my person. Understanding that what is believed to be taboo in my religion isn’t taboo from a physiologic and psychological standpoint has provided me with a bit more wisdom to be a better person.
To the Masters of Sex, thank you.
I had never before heard of Masters and Johnson before I watched Masters of Sex, but understood, after watching its first season, how transformative their study of human sexual responses were. Their study provided needed illumination with regard to the physiological responses of humans to sex, which also informed future trends in psychology.
I’ve had this book for years, but I never really had the balls to open it until I finished reading Robert Greene’s Laws of Human Nature, as it advised the reader to face his own Shadow side so that it wouldn’t contaminate future actions and allow a more complete integration of the self.
Ever since, I’ve been a nice guy with a fear of punitive punishment from the God of the Old Testament, and I’ve had to be disillusioned with religion and its hypocrites (me included) in order to have a more personal relationship with my God, and a more authentic relationship with myself.
Now, I’m probably one of the more responsible people when it comes to deliberation: I often think things through, and while I’m not naturally emotional, I think I practice the type of empathy that many people fail to see: it’s the empathy of the long-term thinker. If possible, I tend to make as few avoidable mistakes, because I want as few people damaged by my own lack of reflection.
Conversely, I have little empathy for those who willingly and wantonly have a difficult time because of their lack of foresight despite solid advice and fair warning. I understand that I won’t be able to accumulate all the knowledge I need in the world, but I think I can gain enough to avoid making egregious mistakes in life.
The book reminds me of the reality that, when done between consenting partners, sex is enjoyable, and when executed well, inspires orgasm between the two performing the act. However, the primary function of sex is procreation, which is why people who engage in the act without any reflection will likely cause the woman to be pregnant.
Pregnancy and childbirth extract a great cost, not only on the female body, but on the dynamics of the family itself. For those who barely have enough to feed themselves, a child incurs additional cost to the family, less sleep to the mother and mother, and a great amount of solicitude towards the child’s upbringing.
The studies made by Masters and Johnson have allowed the development of tools that prevent the realization of the primary goal of sex, which is procreation, while allowing the celebration of its secondary goal, which is enjoyment. The couple have been successful in helping develop contraceptive technology because they stared into the empty maw of superstition and ignorance and actually willed order through their observations regarding the act of copulation and sexual intimacy.
Without their study, women will have to believe crock like “the females have neither the desire nor the capacity for sexual gratification” or Havelock Ellis concluding that women having sexual feelings as “a vile aspersion.” He even notes that educated women really don’t have sexual feelings, in contrast with those of the lower classes.
It’s a chauvinistic, classist perspective, but that’s why the Masters and Johnson studies have been seminal (*wink wink*) in lifting the veil from our then-perspectives regarding sex.
The quote from Dr. Lief is a timeless reminder for us to first try to understand, before judging. This ties in with one of the central ideas of phenomenology, which is first to ask what is rather than expatiate on whether it is right or not. Sex and sexuality is no exception. Although leaps and bounds have been achieved in sexology, many people are still in the dark about it, and this prevents them from maximizing their sexual enjoyment, either by failing to understand the steps during the act, or immersing themselves in the darkness of ignorance because of the irrational fear of the taboo.
Robert Greene and Jordan Peterson (as neo-Jungians) have been greatly helpful in directing me towards integrating my own shadow and understanding that my sensual desires are integral to my person. Understanding that what is believed to be taboo in my religion isn’t taboo from a physiologic and psychological standpoint has provided me with a bit more wisdom to be a better person.
To the Masters of Sex, thank you.
October 15, 2024
This book is dry and clinical but toward the end offers a decidely modern outlook, ignoring moral constraints and basically saying that we're evolved animals. The book was published in 1966, at the height of the sexual revolution and in the midst of faith in the human animal, God having been declared dead by Nietzsche. I gave this 3 stars for just tackling this topic and addressing female responses, which were downplayed before. Though I'm a married male, I skipped over much of the book dealing with the female because if I haven't figured out what pleases my wife after 30 years, this book won't make much, if any, difference.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews