Sexual Pleasure Matters – and How to Define and Assess It Too. A Conceptual Framework of Sexual Pleasure and the Sexual Response

Abstract

Objective Sexual pleasure is central to current understandings of sexual function, health, and wellbeing. In this article, we suggest that we lack a sufficiently specific, yet encompassing, definition of sexual pleasure and that we therefore lack comprehensive assessments of sexual pleasure. We introduce a definition of sexual pleasure and position it centrally in an adapted framework of the sexual response. In the framework, we include a taxonomy of rewards which can be retrieved from sex and thereby aim to capture the multifaceted nature of sexual pleasure. Methods/Results Through narrative review, we arrive at the definition, framework, and taxonomy by integrating theories of sexual motivation and response with the literature on sexual pleasure and basic rewards. We position this literature within theories of affect and personality which allows us to differentiate between the experience of and the tendency to experience sexual pleasure (i.e., state versus trait sexual pleasure). We discuss how this conceptualization of sexual pleasure could be reflected in self-report assessments to quantitatively assess sexual pleasure. Conclusions The framework may aid to understand the role of the diverse facets of sexual pleasure in sexual function, health, and wellbeing and contribute to giving sexual pleasure the center position it deserves in sex research and therapy.

Positive sexuality, relationship satisfaction, and health: a network analysis

“…Notably, node PSS5 (“Sex with my partner is an exciting experience”) showed moderate-to-large associations with almost all other nodes in the same positive sexuality cluster. This is coherent with the sex-positive perspective, where sexual arousal and excitement are recognized as crucial components to understand and enhance sexual well-being ( Werner et al, 2023 ; Williams et al, 2023 ). It also aligns with evidence that feeling sexually aroused within monogamous, heterosexual romantic relationships accounted for a considerable amount of the variance in sexual satisfaction for both men and women, as partner-induced sexual arousal may increase the amount of pleasure and enjoyment derived from sexual activity within the couple ( Lawless et al, 2022 ).…”

Data_Sheet_1.pdf

“…Notably, node PSS5 ("Sex with my partner is an exciting experience") showed moderate-to-large associations with almost all other nodes in the same positive sexuality cluster. This is coherent with the sex-positive perspective, where sexual arousal and excitement are recognized as crucial components to understand and enhance sexual well-being (Werner et al, 2023;Williams et al, 2023). It also aligns with evidence that feeling sexually aroused within monogamous, heterosexual romantic relationships accounted for a considerable amount of the variance in sexual satisfaction for both men and women, as partnerinduced sexual arousal may increase the amount of pleasure and enjoyment derived from sexual activity within the couple (Lawless et al, 2022).…”

What Sexual Problems Does a Sample of LGB+ People Report Having, and How Do They Define Sexual Pleasure: A Qualitative Study to Inform Clinical Practice

“…Sexual pleasure has been gaining attention lately, mainly since it is considered a basic sexual right [9]. Several researchers have also emphasized the importance of defining it more comprehensively [10,11]. According to a recent conceptual framework [10], sexual pleasure can be either a state and/or a trait.…”

“…Several researchers have also emphasized the importance of defining it more comprehensively [10,11]. According to a recent conceptual framework [10], sexual pleasure can be either a state and/or a trait. A state implies that a certain set of conditions must be met at a given moment to achieve pleasure (e.g., pleasure associated with specificities related to individual characteristics such as enjoying foreplay), while a trait is a predisposition or tendency to seek and the capacity to enjoy sexual pleasure.…”

“…Both types are situational responses and differ in the cause that leads to sexual pleasure. That framework [10] emphasized that sexual pleasure is a complex experience that involves much more than just arousal and orgasm. Furthermore, there are various rewards that people can experience during sexual activity, which should be considered when defining sexual pleasure.…”