Exploring Human Sexuality: Making Healthy Decisions - Couverture rigide

Richard McAnulty and Michelle Burnette
The authors are both Clinical Psychologists who received specific training in sexual dysfunctions and disorders while studying at the University of Georgia. Their different areas of professional emphasis and employment settings provide the authors with a broad perspective on human sexuality; this perspective encompasses sexuality and health, including the host of physical, psychological, and interpersonal nuances and factors in sexual adjustment.

Dr. Richard D. McAnulty is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He currently teaches human sexuality and advanced topics courses in sexuality. He has written about and conducted research on such topics as measurement of sexual arousal, patterns of sexual arousal in accused child molesters, child sexual abuse, expert testimony in child sexual abuse cases, sexual coercion and dating relationships, religiousness and pedophilia, and topless dancers. He co-edited The Psychology of Sexual Orientation, Behavior, and Identity and has served on the editorial boards of several journals, including The Journal of Sex Research. He currently specializes in the assessment and treatment of sexual disorders.

Dr. M. Michele Burnette formerly was a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University. She taught human sexuality at the undergraduate level for several years as well as graduate-level courses on sexual dysfunction and therapy. Her research activities focused on the behavioral management of genital herpes recurrences, AIDS attitudes and behaviors, acquaintance rape, and the impact of exercise on sexual function. In her years of clinical experience she conducted relationship therapy and counseled clients for sexual dysfunctions and disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (including post-rape trauma), childhood sexual abuse, infertility, and perinatal complications and bereavement. Dr. Burnette also completed a Research Fellowship in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health. While conducting research on the impact of health behaviors on cardiovascular health in women, Dr. Burnette obtained a Master of Public Health degree. Currently, she is a part-time writer and teacher at area colleges, including the University of Pittsburgh.

Exploring Human Sexuality presents a unifying theme of physical and psychological sexual health that encourages students to think critically and make healthy decisions within a framework that integrates physiological, psychological, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality. McAnulty and Burnette take a scholarly, research-oriented approach while presenting the material within a “friendly advisor” framework, highlighting health issues and diversity. Students are challenged to critically analyze and apply information to their own lives.

Highlights of the Second Edition:

• Includes new coverage of sexuality around the world, family's influence on sexuality, and religion.
• Did You Know? features include interesting statistics and thought-provoking comments on hot topics and cross-cultural differences.
• In Your Own Words features highlight current college students discussing some aspect of sexuality in their own lives.
• Reflect on This features challenge students to apply what they have read to themselves or assess their thinking on particular topics.