82158 - Psychology and Psychopathology of Sexual Behavior

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 will take place during the first academic semester (from September/October to December) at the Cesena Campus, Department of Psychology (address: v.le Europa, 115, Room Europa 2). According to COVID management rules, teaching activities might be carried out online (sensitive information according to government indications).

• 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
• Female sexual dysfunctions

• Male sexual dysfunctions
• 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
• Principles of sex therapy

Readings/Bibliography

The following books and the specific assigned chapters readings are available at the University Library Silvana Contento, Department of Psychology, Cesena.

Required texts:

Lehmiller Justin J. The Psychology of Human Sexuality, 2nd Edition. Wiley Blackwell (2018). ISBN: 978-1-119-16470-8. (Chapters:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,13)

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 (Part 1: chapters: 1,2,3,4,5,6, 8,9).

Suggested Readings:

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 A-B (all chapters) and C (only chapters: 15,21,22); Section 3 (chapters: 23,24,25,27); Section 4 (chapter 33).

Balon R & Segraves RT. Clinical Manual of sexual disorders. American Psychiatric Publishing, 2009. Arlington, VA

The power point presentations will be made available at the discretion of the teacher to students online on https://virtuale.unibo.it [https://virtuale.unibo.it/] . The power point material can be not reproduced in any other form (pdf or photocopied) or managed online out of UNIBO website without the teacher permission.

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).

Assessment methods

Active participation in class will contribute to the final grade up to 1 point.

The final evaluation will consist in an ORAL exam and it 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 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, ebook, ect.

Students may register for the exam by using Almaesami. Students will receive (a day earlier the exame date) an invitation email indicating the specific hour in which the individual student exam will take place during the exam day.

Students 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

ERASMUS students: To take the exam, ERASMUS 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/

Office hours

See the website of Elena Tomba