Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 1995 Dec;63(6):891-906.
doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.63.6.891.

Women's sexuality: behaviors, responses, and individual differences

Affiliations
Review

Women's sexuality: behaviors, responses, and individual differences

B L Andersen et al. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1995 Dec.

Abstract

Classic and contemporary approaches to the assessment of female sexuality are discussed. General approaches, assessment strategies, and models of female sexuality are organized within the conceptual domains of sexual behaviors, sexual responses (desire, excitement, orgasm, and resolution), and individual differences, including general and sex-specific personality models. Where applicable, important trends and relationships are highlighted in the literature with both existing reports and previously unpublished data. The present conceptual overview highlights areas in sexual assessment and model building that are in need of further research and theoretical clarification.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of orgasmic and orgasmic dysfunction individuals reporting the occurrence of orgasm signs.

References

    1. Abramson DJ, Barlow DH, Beck JG, Sakheim DK, Kelly JP. The effects of attentional focus and partner responsiveness on sexual responding: Replication and extension. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 1985;14:361–371. - PubMed
    1. Abramson PR. Sexual science: Emerging discipline or oxymoron. The Journal of Sex Research. 1990;27:147–165.
    1. Adams AE, Haynes SN, Brayer MA. Cognitive distraction in female sexual arousal. Psychophysiology. 1985;22:689–696. - PubMed
    1. Alexander GM, Sherwin BB. Sex steroids, sexual behavior, and selection attention for erotic stimuli in women using oral contraceptives. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1993;18:91–102. - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 3. Washington, DC: Author; 1987.

Publication types