Editorial note

We assumed the reins of Psychology & Sexuality last year following the tenure of an inestimable editorial duo consisting of Darren Langdridge and Meg John Barker. At the risk of sounding immodest, we felt that the fit between our view and the past editors’ view of the role psychology could play in the understanding of various facets of human sexuality were nicely aligned. Akin to our predecessors, our ambition isn’t to demarcate boundaries of normalcy; construct endless typologies and models; or speculate on the genesis of being non-heterosexual or non-cis-gendered. (In other words, attempting to determine why certain individuals occupy an orientation or identity and/or engage in a sexual practice that is minoritised and, usually, misunderstood.) Rather, we see psychology as a collection of methods – both quantitative and qualitative – rooted in a common goal: namely, to examine any topic that falls under the rubric of human experience. Given the mandate of Psychology & Sexuality, the human experiences delineated in this journal centre primarily, though not exclusively, on sexual attitudes, behaviours and cultural products.

In a commentary published last year in Psychology & Sexuality, Darren and Meg John articulated the highlights of their tenure as editors. Therefore, we felt it important that we take this opportunity to elucidate our goals for the journal. In doing so, our vision for the future of Psychology & Sexuality also will be outlined.

The first goal is the most critical: We endeavour to provide contributors – both new and established – with timely and constructive feedback. As academics, we recognise that there is nothing more discouraging than waiting months for ‘peer reviews’ and receiving a cursory two to three sentence assessment. (We know it’s discouraging because we have experienced this ourselves!) Similarly, there is nothing more damaging than receipt of an overly critical (and, in some cases, caustic) assessment of one’s work. We recognise that contributors spend countless hours preparing the manuscripts that they submit to us. We also recognise that, given the ‘publish or perish’ ethos of contemporary academia, the consequences of the review process have a tangible effect on people’s lives. Academics receive or are denied tenure (permanency) and promotions on the basis of the types of decisions reviewers and editors make about their work. To these individuals, the consequences of how we, as Editors, judge their submissions are keenly felt. Therefore, we promise that all feedback will emanate from a common purpose: how might the researcher make the manuscript more intellectually rigorous? We also promise that the points we furnish, in an effort to answer this question, will be respectful.

Our second goal is to encourage young scholars in the field of sexual studies (as it pertains to the social sciences and psychology in particular). The first goal feeds into this one (i.e. we believe that less seasoned academics value words of support and encouragement from their senior counterparts). As well, we felt it critical that junior scholars become more actively involved in the process of publishing – thus, we have recruited advanced doctoral students and ‘newly minted’ PhDs to serve as reviewers and, in several cases, editorial board members. On the latter point, we are pleased to have Drs Karen Blair, Poul Rohleder, Adam Jowett and Nikki Hayfield as part of the Psychology & Sexuality editorial team. Finally, we have continued Darren and Meg John’s tradition of allowing contributors to self-identify as ‘early career researchers.’

Our third goal is to be responsive to changes in the publication environment. Technological advances have resulted in a proliferation of legitimate and predatory online journals with a seemingly endless array of content. Authors are no longer content to wait 18 months or more for their work to appear in print and, consequently, traditional publishers have been required to ‘step up their game.’ Our intent is to balance responsiveness to this environment and maintenance of the standards required of a legitimate academic outlet. All we can say at this juncture is: watch this space as we explore new types of articles!

Our fourth goal is to offer papers that are provocative, intellectually rigorous and accessible. The first two attributes are self-explanatory, the latter may not be. By accessible, we mean the following: as editors we believe that understanding an article appearing in Psychology & Sexuality should not require an advanced degree in statistics or philosophy. A lengthy string of polysyllabic neologisms is neither desired nor required. We also believe (fervently) that an article should not induce a migraine; demand a time investment of 3 h per page; or necessitate the ingestion of a double shot of scotch! In keeping with the former editors (Darren and Meg John), our objective is to make the journal an enjoyable read. While we recognise that the articles published in Psychology & Sexuality are unlikely to constitute ‘beach worthy’ material, we do believe that the papers appearing in this journal should be those an individual elects to peruse when granted a spare hour or two.

The degree to which we achieve any of these goals is, ultimately, determined by you – the readers. We hope that you will let us know how we’re doing. (We’re grown-ups, so we can handle the good, the bad and the ugly.) We also hope that you will consider us a viable outlet for your research. (If you are uncertain about whether a given topic ‘fits’ with the scope of this journal, please contact us and we will let you know.) And, finally, we hope that you enjoy our first issue of 2018.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Daragh T. McDermott

Dr Daragh T. McDermott is Principal Lecturer of Social & LGBTQ Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. He is currently a co-editor of Psychology & Sexuality.

Todd G. Morrison

Prof Todd G. Morrison is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. He is currently co-editor of Psychology & Sexuality.