A Comparison of Systematic Desensitization and Directed Masturbation in the Treatment of Primary Orgasmic Dysfunction in Females
Andersen, Barbara Lee
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/66570
Description
Title
A Comparison of Systematic Desensitization and Directed Masturbation in the Treatment of Primary Orgasmic Dysfunction in Females
Author(s)
Andersen, Barbara Lee
Issue Date
1980
Department of Study
Psychology
Discipline
Psychology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Psychology, Clinical
Language
eng
Abstract
The present investigation examined the relative efficacy of two widely used behavioral techniques, systematic desensitization and directed masturbation, in alleviating primary orgasmic dysfunction in females. Thirty primary nonorgasmic female subjects were selected from a pool of applicants seeking treatment for inorgasmia, possibly accompanied by feelings of anxiety or aversion to sexual activity. Following screening, subjects completed a battery of self-report measures assessing sexual activity, functioning and anxiety. Subjects were then rank-ordered on the basis of these scores, randomly distributed from stratified blocks, and assigned to one of three groups: systematic desensitization, directed masturbation, or a wait list control. After a five week treatment period subjects who received treatment and the control subjects were again tested with the sexual assessment battery. After this second testing the control subjects were then offered directed masturbation treatment. At the end of the five week treatment period for the control group, all subjects were again tested which constituted a six week follow-up for the original treatment groups and a posttreatment testing for the control group. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated that both treatments were equally effective in altering nonorgasmic women's acceptance of their sexuality and increasing the amount of pleasure experienced specifically during heterosexual sexual activities. Changes in sexual anxiety, with the exception of masturbation anxiety, were negligible for both groups. Increases in sexual arousal to a variety of erotic experiences were found for the directed masturbation subjects only. Finally, the directed masturbation treatment was also superior in facilitating subjects becoming orgasmic. Also noteworthy are the gains of the control subjects; not only did they replicate the findings of the comparison group, but they were also of greater magnitude.
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