82158 - Psychology and Psychopathology of Sexual Behavior

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Docente: Elena Tomba
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: M-PSI/08
  • Language: English
  • Moduli: Elena Tomba (Modulo 1) Laura Staccini (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Cesena
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Clinical psychology (cod. 0990)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will be able to: get a detailed knowledge of the psychology and psychopathology of sexual behavior; evaluate the psychological aspects associated with sexuality; define and interpret clinical cases from both the psychological and psychopatological perspective

Course contents

The course, which includes two teaching modules, will take place during the first academic semester (from October to December)at the Cesena Campus of the School of Psychology and Education (address: v.le Europa, 115, Room Europa 2). According to COVID-19 emergency rules, teaching activities will be carried out also online as well.

Module 1, Psychology and Psychopathology of Sexual Behavior- Prof. Tomba (30 hours):

  • Cultural, Historical perspectives of human sexuality
  • Metodology of research in the field of the psychology of sexual behavior
  • Developmental and social perspectives on gender
  • Sexuality, communication and adult intimacy
  • Same-gender orientation and behavior: sexual identity struggles
  • Anatomy and physiology of sexual response
  • Clinical evaluation of sexual dysfunctions
  • Sexual dysfunctions with comorbid psychiatric or physical illness
  • Sexual concerns and dysfunction related to past sexual trauma
  • Body imagine and sexuality

Module 2, Psychology and Psychopathology of Sexual Behavior- Dr. Staccini  (15 hours):

  • Female sexual dysfunctions
  • Male sexual dysfunctions
  • Principles of sex therapy

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1 (Prof. Tomba)

Consulting the power point teaching material is essential for the preparation and for passing the exam.

The power point presentations will be made available to students online at https://virtuale.unibo.it

The teaching material must be integrated with the following assigned chapter readings that are available at the University Library Silvana Contento, Department of Psychology, Cesena.

Required texts

Kelly G. Sexuality Today: the human perspective (Tenth Edition). McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2010 (chapters: 1,4,5,9,13)

Stephen B. Levine, Candace B. Risen, and Stanley E. Althof. Handbook of Clinical Sexuality for Mental Health Professionals (3rd Edition). Routledge, 2016. New York and London. Section 1, chapters: 1,2,3,4; Section 2, Part C, Chapters: 15,21,22; Section 3, chapters: 23,24,25,27; Section 4, chapter 23.

Suggested readings:

Balon R & Segraves RT. Clinical Manual of sexual disorders. American Psychiatric Publishing, 2009. Arlington, VA (Chapters 1,2,3)

Kathryn S. K. Hall and Yitzchak M. Binik (a cura di). Principles and practice of sex therapy, sixth edition.The Guilford Press, (2020). New York

Module 2 (Dr. Staccini)

Consulting the power point teaching material is essential for the preparation and for passing the exam.

The power point presentations will be made available to students online at https://virtuale.unibo.it

The teaching material must be integrated with the following assigned chapter readings that are available at the University Library Silvana Contento, Department of Psychology, Cesena.

Required texts:

Kathryn S. K. Hall and Yitzchak M. Binik (edited by). Principles and practice of sex therapy, sixth edition.The Guilford Press, (2020). New York (Chapters: 1,2,3,4,5,6, 8,9)

Suggested readings:

Balon R & Segraves RT. Clinical Manual of sexual disorders. American Psychiatric Publishing, 2009. Arlington, VA (Chapters: 5,6,7,8,9,10,11).

 

Teaching methods

Lectures will be conducted also in Italian (at least some part of each lesson) but power point presentations and all the teaching materials will be in English.

Throughout the lectures, clinical cases and clinical vignette will be presented. Seminars with international expert in the field of Psychology and Psychopathology of sexual behavior will be planned.

Research published articles will be suggested for integrative reading.

Attendance to lessons is not mandatory but preparatory for the learning and exam (see also Assessment methods section below).

During the course of the lessons a symposium will be planned on a shared topic. Students will be the presenters of a brief power point presentation (this activity is not mandatory)

Assessment methods

Active participation in class will contribute to the final grade up to 1 point for each module, for a total amount of 2 points of the final grade.

The final evaluation will consist in an ORAL exam and (according to COVID-19 emergency rules) it will be taken using MSTeams, available through ALMA ESAMI, ESAMI ONLINE.

The course, even though organized in two differential teaching modules will produce a single final evaluation (the average from the grades obtained from each teaching module will be calculated).

The two teachers will examine students in relation to the respective teaching modules.

The exam will be conducted in English or Italian accordingly to the student's preferences.

The ORAL exam aims to verify the acquisition of a detailed knowledge of the psychology and psychopathology of sexual behavior contents presented in each module accordingly to the Syllabus.

The exam will be judged according to the Italian Exam Grade which uses a 30-point scale that can be divided into failing (0 to 17) and passing (18 to 30 cum laude) grades.

The highest final mark (30/30), eventually cum laude, will reflect the comprehensiveness, adequacy and full articulation of the report. The following criteria will be applied for the evaluation: congruency and completeness of oral answer (0-10 points); critical elaboration of the presented contents (0-10 points); completeness of theoretical frameworks (0-10 points); accuracy of the technical language and proving some clinical examples represent further criteria for grade bonus (cum laude). Marks will progressively decrease based on lack of information (i.e., lack of clinical reasoning, relevant studies neither cited nor described) and/or in case of inaccurate or off-topic answers.

During the exam students are not allowed to consult any materials, such as textbooks, notes, and other electronic devices.

Students may register for the exam by using Almaesami. To take the booked exam you will receive an invitation email indicating the link and hour to the virtual classroom where the exam will take place.

After the initial roll call you will be asked to show the ID card for your identification.


Please remember to keep it handy as if you do not identify yourself, you will not be able to take the exam.


At the end of the exam you will be notified of the grade which will be recorded as usual on ALMAESAMI

To take the exam, students must enroll through AlmaEsami online service within the deadline. For any concerns and questions please contact the International Relations Office.

Teaching tools

Videoprojector, DVD player, overhead projector, and PC will be used throughout the lessons. Paper materials of original tests will be displayed to students whenever possible during the lessons. The teaching material presented in power point presentations will be made available to students online.

To obtain teaching material please consult the following: http://campus.unibo.it/

Access to the material is reserved for University of Bologna students.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Tomba

See the website of Laura Staccini

SDGs

Good health and well-being Gender equality

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.