Psychology 2076A 650 FW24

The Psychology of Sex

Western University

London                   Canada

Department of Psychology

Fall 2024

 

Psychology 2076A    Section 650

The Psychology of Sex

 

1     Calendar Description

 

This course explores human sexual behaviour from a psychological perspective. Topics include historical perspectives on sexual behaviour; theory and methodology in sex research; the physiology and development of sexual function; gender and sexual orientation; attraction, love and sex in relationships; sexual health; coercion; and sex work.

 

Antirequisites: Psychology 2075

Prerequisites: n/a

 

3 lecture hours; Course Weight: 0.50

 

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.

 

2     Course Information

 

Instructor:                  Dr. Corey Isaacs

Office Hours:              see Brightspace

Email:                          cisaacs3@uwo.ca

 

Time and Location of Classes: Course content will be offered online asynchronously—you will not be required to attend any weekly class sessions.

 

Students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.

 

3     Course Materials

 

Hyde, J. S., DeLamater, J. D., Byers, E. S., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (2022). Understanding Human Sexuality (8th Canadian Edition). Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.

 

The etextbook is an integrated part of the McGraw-Hill Connect website and includes access to their online resources and study aids. You do not need to purchase the Connect version of the textbook, though it is recommended. See the Western Bookstore and the McGraw-Hill website for more information about purchase options.

 

If you choose to purchase Connect access, you can find your textbook materials here: https://connect.mheducation.com/class/cisaacs3-fall2024

 

I always recommend that students use the assigned edition of the course textbook, as there are several changes between editions. While you may be able to use the previous (i.e., 7th Canadian) edition of this textbook without too many problems, you absolutely should not use any earlier edition of this textbook or any other textbook.

 

4     Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

 

Students taking this course can expect to become more comfortable with and more knowledgeable about a wide range of sexual issues. It is also expected that students will learn to think critically about the scientific study of human sexuality and become more informed consumers of sex research.

 

Please note that this course will involve explicit consideration, readings, imagery, and discussion of these topics, behaviours, and experiences.

 

This course provides a broad introduction to theories and findings regarding the scientific study of human sexuality. By the end of this course, successful students should have achieved the following outcomes:

 

Learning Outcome

Learning Activity

Assessment

Identify and describe the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence human sexuality

Readings, Lessons, Online Discussions, Connect Quizzes

Exams, Online Discussions, Connect Quizzes

Apply psychological theories and concepts to the study of human sexuality

Readings, Lessons, Online Discussions, Connect Quizzes

Exams, Online Discussions, Connect Quizzes

Critically evaluate theories, research methods, and findings from the study of human sexuality

Readings, Lessons, Online Discussions

Exams, Online Discussions

Understand the limits of research conclusions in the context of methodological practices in the field

Readings, Lessons, Online Discussions, Connect Quizzes

Exams, Online Discussions

Communicate ideas clearly and concisely, in language accessible to a non-specialist audience

Lessons, Online Discussions

Online Discussions

 

5     Evaluation

 

The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives

 

Exams (75% of final mark)

 

This class includes two midterm exams (each worth 20%) and a final exam (worth 35%), which will be administered synchronously online. Exams will cover material from both the textbook and the OWL lessons. The final exam will be cumulative (i.e., it will assess material from the entire course), with an emphasis on material from Lessons 9 – 11.

 

Exams in this course will be conducted using a remote proctoring service. By taking this course, you are consenting to the use of this software and acknowledge that you will be required to provide personal information (including some biometric data) and the session will be recorded. Completion of this course will require you to have a reliable internet connection and a device that meets the technical requirements for this service.

 

Online Discussions (25% of final mark)

 

You will be required to participate in any FIVE of the weekly discussions throughout the term to earn the Online Discussions component of your course grade. You can choose to participate in six discussions, in which case your BEST FIVE OF SIX discussion grades will be used to calculate your Online Discussions grade. If you participate in more than six discussions, your grade will be based only on the FIRST SIX—any additional discussions beyond the first six will not be graded.

 

Forum grades will be earned based on the quantity and quality of your contributions to these discussions. A successful student in online education is one who takes an active role in the learning process. You are therefore encouraged to participate actively in the discussions to enhance your learning experience throughout the course.

 

Discussions will be graded for the quality and content of your contributions. Quality contributions may include:

  • posting early in the week and on more than just one occasion
  • responding to previous comments from others
  • providing explanations of concepts or methods to help fellow students
  • presenting reasons for or against a topic in a persuasive fashion
  • sharing your own personal experiences that relate to the topic
  • providing a link and explanation for a relevant resource you found on the Internet

 

For each discussion, you will be assigned a grade out of 4 based on your discussion posts. Grades will be assigned as follows:

0 = Incomplete (no participation)

1 = Unsatisfactory (minimal contribution, did not meet the requirements)

2 = Satisfactory (discussion topic addressed, minimal contribution to discussion)

3 = Excellent (posting meets all criteria, provides a valuable contribution to discussion)

4 = Outstanding (posting(s) go beyond basic requirements, present additional information from outside the textbook, and interact well with the other students)

-1 = Penalty for not posting a question prior to the deadline of midnight on Monday (this only applies if you have chosen to participate in that week’s discussion forum).

 

Each discussion will be open for seven days, from 12:01 AM on Sunday until 11:59 PM the following Saturday. You will be required to post at least one question to your group (before midnight on Monday) about the previous week's topic as a starting point for discussion. You will also be required to respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts during the week. Once the discussion closes (at 11:59 PM on Saturday), no more posts can be made. You’re advised to post early in the week, and always back up your work, as “technical difficulties” is NOT an acceptable excuse for missing a discussion deadline.

 

Policy on Missing Coursework

 

Exams. Students who fail to write an exam at the scheduled time will receive a grade of zero unless they receive academic consideration for that exam. There will be a makeup exam for each of the midterms, held approximately one week after the scheduled exam. If a student is excused from both the midterm exam and the associated makeup exam, that portion of their course grade may be reassigned to the final exam. The makeup final exam will be held in early January.

 

Online Discussions. If a student fails to participate in at least five of the weekly online discussions, they will receive a grade of zero for each of the incomplete discussions. Because students only have to participate in five of the 11 discussion forums, students will not be excused from the online discussion requirement (i.e., that flexibility is already provided to all students). If you have a long-term illness or other issue of concern that would prevent you from being able to participate in the online discussions, please contact your home faculty’s academic counselling office with appropriate documentation to request relief.

 

The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines:  https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf

 

The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:

70%    1000-level to 2099-level courses

72%    2100-2999-level courses

75%    3000-level courses

80%    4000-level courses

 

In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.

 

Policy on Grade Rounding

 

Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.

 

6     Assessment/Evaluation Schedule

 

Midterm Exam 1                     10:00 – 11:00 AM on Saturday, Oct. 5

  • Makeup Exam 10:00 – 11:00 AM on Friday, Oct. 11

Midterm Exam 2                     10:00 – 11:00 AM on Saturday, Nov. 9

  • Makeup Exam 10:00 – 11:00 AM on Friday, Nov. 15

Final Exam                              TBA (Dec. 9 – 22)

  • Makeup Exam 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM on Saturday, Jan. 18

Online Discussions                 Weekly from Sunday at 12:01 AM – Saturday at 11:59 PM

 

7     Class Schedule

 

Changes to the class schedule will be announced on the OWL course website. Students are responsible for being aware of announcements made on OWL.

 

DATES

LESSON

READING

TOPIC

Sept. 5 – 7

    -----

     -----

Introductions

Sept. 8 – 14

Lesson 1

Chapter 1

Sexuality in Perspective

Sept. 15 – 21

Lesson 2

Chapter 2

Theoretical Perspectives on Sexuality

Sept. 22 – 28

Lesson 3

Chapter 3

Sex Research

Sept. 29 – Oct. 5

Lesson 4

Chapter 9

Sexual Response & Techniques

10:00 – 11:00 AM on Saturday, Oct. 5

MIDTERM EXAM 1 (Lessons 1 – 4)

Oct. 6 – 11

Lesson 5

Chapter 13

Gender & Sexuality

Oct. 12 – 20

    -----

READING WEEK – NO CLASSES

Oct. 21 – 26

Lesson 6

Chapter 12

Attraction, Love, & Communication

Oct. 27 – Nov. 2

Lesson 7

Chapter 14

Sexual Orientation & Identity

Nov. 3 – 9

Lesson 8

Chapter 15

Variations in Sexual Behaviour

10:00 – 11:00 AM on Saturday, Nov. 9

MIDTERM EXAM 2 (Lessons 5 – 8)

Nov. 10 – 16

Lesson 9

Chapter 18

Sexual Disorders & Therapies

Nov. 17 – 23

Lesson 10

Chapter 16

Sexual Coercion

Nov. 24 – 30

Lesson 11

Chapter 17

Sex for Sale

Dec. 1 – 7

     -----

     -----

Review & Study Time

TBD (Dec. 9 – 22)

FINAL EXAM (Cumulative; Emphasis on Lessons 9 – 11)

 

 

8     Academic Integrity

 

Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.

 

Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.

 

Use of AI

 

The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.

 

Multiple Choice Exams

 

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.

 

Exam Proctoring Software

 

Tests and examinations for this course will be conducted using a remote proctoring service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca.

 

9     Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education

 

View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.

 

Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.

If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information.  Email: aew@uwo.ca  Phone: 519 661-2147

 

10  Absence & Academic Consideration

 

View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link

 

Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html

 

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.

 

Medical Absences

 

Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.

 

Nonmedical Absences

 

Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.

 

Religious Consideration

 

Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.

 

11  Other Information

 

 

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.

 

If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).

 

Copyright Statement

 

Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.

 

12  Land Acknowledgement

 

We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.