Sexual Pleasure and Motivation

Abstract

Individuals engage in behaviors or partake of specific substances because it pleases them. Indeed, without the sensations of pleasure and displeasure we would be unlikely to repeat or restrict behaviors. Since repetitive sexual activity over the millennia has ensured the continuance of the human race, it is perhaps surprising that pleasure has received little attention in the research literature on sexual function and behavior. By exploring sexual pleasure and motivation theories and studies relevant to the evaluation of sexual function and dysfunction, a goal response model is presented. This model proposes a route from sexual stimuli, via cognitive and emotional processing to behavior and subsequent feedback, which illustrates how eudemonic goals could influence treatment outcomes.