PSY 328 Psychology of Human Sexuality

Overview of Course

Description: Biopsychosocial review of human sexuality including cross cultural analysis, sexual development, social perspectives and values, sexual dysfunction, sexual healing interventions, and intersectional-sexological analysis of the human sexual experience. Have you ever wondered why people are attracted to who they’re attracted to? Why “chemistry” feels real? Or why your group chat has wildly different opinions on relationships, dating, and everything in between? And, perhaps most importantly, why talking about sex is somehow both everywhere and still awkward?
Welcome aboard.
In this course, we’ll explore the science and stories behind human sexuality while sailing across cultures and continents. We’ll cover the “basics” (yes, that includes anatomy and physiology), but also dive into the psychology of attraction, relationships, sexual orientation, gender identity, and the powerful role of culture in shaping what we think is “normal.”
Along the way, we’ll tackle big questions: How do different societies view sex and relationships? What actually makes communication work (or fail)? What does healthy sexuality look like in the real world? And how do media, myths, and misinformation influence what we think we know?
Expect lively discussions, the occasional myth-busting moment, and plenty of opportunities to reflect on your own perspectives, all in a respectful, open-minded environment. By the end of the voyage, you won’t just know the basics, you’ll understand how biology, culture, and personal experience all come together to shape one of the most fundamental parts of being human.