PSY 320 & HMSX 320 -

The purpose of this course is to deal with an important and usually neglected area of healthy human functioning which is to relate with another person in ways that include sex. We will examine a variety of conceptual approaches to sexual relationships drawn from Psychology, Ethology, History, Sociology, Philosophy, Physiological and Anthropology and each person will attempt a synthesis of these perspectives with reference to their own lives. You will be reading some original research in fields related to sex and relationships which you will be required to examine critically in your papers including problems of gathering information in an area which most people prefer to keep private. In reading and discussing other cultures’ and discipline’s approaches to sexual relationships it is anticipated that the student will both come to a greater appreciation for these other cultures and disciplines as well as using these varied perspectives to reconsider their own beliefs, feelings and behavior in sexual relationships.

Course Requirements

There will be a mid-term multiple choice exam, two five page papers, a multiple choice final examination.

Mid-Term Examination -To Be Announced

This test will consist of fifty multiple choice and true-false items. Items will be drawn from class notes and chapter summaries posted on the web. Missed exams may be made up only with consent of the instructor. It will cover all the material presented before the midterm.

Final Examination – May 19th, 8 am

This test will consist of fifty multiple choice and true-false items. Items will be drawn from class notes and chapter summaries posted on the web. This test will cover the material presented since the midterm examination and will not be cumulative except that it may ask the student to compare or contrast information from before the midterm with that presented after the midterm.

Self Application Papers:

( Due Dates: Paper 1 – March 12; Paper 2 – May 5)

Papers will be approximately five pages in length, double spaced, with one inch margins and 12 point type. No handwritten papers will be accepted.

Paper 1: In the first paper you will describe and analyze a conflict in a sexual relationship. You may pick a relationship you have had or, if you have not yet had a sexual relationship, imagine a conflict you are likely to have in a relationship you would like to have.

Part 1: In the first part of the paper tell your story. The basic requirement is to tell a detailed story of a sexual (or gender) conflict in which you were personally involved and which has aroused strong emotions in you and/or others close to you. The stories should be about personal conflicts internal confusions which aroused strong emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, disgust, contempt, deep frustration or shock. You must be the one in your story having the conflict or confusion.

Make sure to include in the story:

1. A full description of the conflict. What happened, who was involved, when and where it happened and what happened? Describe the conflict incident itself. You have the chance to tell the whole story as it unfolded

2. What was the conflict about? What were the issues as you saw them at the time.

3. Describe your motives and the emotions aroused in you.

4. Describe the other party's emotions and motives for acting or failing to act the way they did act.

5. How did each person handle the conflict? You should be sure to describe how both you and the other person handled or tried to avoid dealing with the conflict

Part 2: In the second part of the paper describe the relationships between your conflict and three (3) chapter or lecture topics. You must make explicit citations of the topics and the ideas that bear on your conflict. Include in your paper the major points of the chapter or lecture topic which bear on your personal conflict. Describe how the ideas from the book or lecture might change the way you think about yourself, someone else or your relationship? Extra points if you can describe how use of the ideas you cite might make your relationships better.

Paper 2: In your second paper you will describe how you might differently perceive the conflict you have described in your first paper were you from a different culture, historical era, the other gender and a different sexual orientation. You must turn in your first paper with your second paper.

Part 1: In the first part of your second paper your cultural background, historical context, gender and sexual orientation. Most people will be able to do this part of the paper in a single paragraph for each topic.

Part 2: Make a specific citation from readings or lectures after the first midterm about an aspect of culture, history, gender and sexual orientation that you think likely to be of importance to the conflict you described in your first paper. Then describe how the conflict either would not have arisen or would have been different given the suggested changes in your circumstances. Make suggestions about how viewing your conflict from each of these different perspectives might lead to your thinking, feeling and acting differently than you did. Then suggest how you might better have handled the conflict given these different perspectives.

Student Panels

There will be several opportunities for students to participate in group discussions and receive credit for it. Students who participate will sit at a table in front of the class and discuss their personal experience with a topic assigned by the instructor. Normally each student will spend a few minutes describing their personal involvement in the topic of the day and then the group will discuss differences in their points of view and answer questions from the rest of the class pertinent to the topic. Ten points (10) credit will be given for participating in a student panel. A student may get credit for participating in a maximum of two panels.

Health Center Workshop

You may receive ten points (10) credit by attending one workshop in the Student Health Center which will be offered by Albert Angelo, M.S. who specializes in health education. You may choose any workshop that fits your interest and schedule. If none of the workshops fit into your schedule contact Mr. Angelo at (415) 338-3039 for an online or paper and pencil workshop. Mr. Angelo forwards a list of participants to me at the end of the semester so make sure you sign up for the workshop and then sign the attendance sheet.

Research Credit

You may receive up to ten points (10) credit by participating as a subject in approved research during the course of the semester. Normally you will receive five points for each 1 ½ hours of participation. Only those research studies approved by the instructor in advance will be allowed credit. You may not receive credit for participating in research in more than one class.

Study Guide

You may receive credit by completing the questions in the study guide for the textbook. There are three sets of questions that each must be answered in order to receive credit for each chapter. (You do not need to write definitions to the lists of terms). You will receive two points for each chapter for which you complete the study guide. You must turn this in at the time of the midterm and at the time of the final. You can only receive credit for completing the study guide for chapters covered on the test you are about to take. No credit will be given for study guides completed later than the date on which you take a test. Answers to the multiple choice questions in the study guide can be obtained from the teaching assistants. There is a copy of the study guide on reserve in the library’s Reserve Book Room.

Class Participation

It is expected that students will participate in class discussions as much as possible given the large size of the class. Please feel free to decline to discuss topics that are too sensitive or embarrassing for you but at the same time please share as much of your experience and point of view as you can as this is very helpful for others to hear.

Attendance

It is expected that students will attend class. Taking daily roll is not practical in so large a class and so at randomly selected times roll will be taken and three points credit will be given for attendance on those days.

Grading

Grading will be done on a point system. 50 points are possible on each test and each paper for a total of 200. You may also receive points by completing the study guide that comes with the textbook, by completing research projects for various researchers approved by the instructor and by attending a Health Center Workshop.

A = 200+ points

B = 175-199 points

C = 150-174 points

D = 120-149 points

Within each letter grade pluses and minuses will be determined by a curve of the students within that letter grade so that the top 10% get pluses and the bottom 10% get minuses. There will be no A+ grades by university regulation.

General Education – Segment II and Segment III

This course can be counted for either Segment II or Segment III but not both. In order for it to count as a Segment III course you must have completed 60 units by the end of this semester.