Neither the biophysical nor the psychosocial systems which influence expression of the human sexual component have a biologically controlled demand to make specifically positive or negative contributions to sexual function.
This fact does not alter the potential of the systems interdigitational contribution to the formation of effective patterns of sexual response. When this potential is not realized by the natural development of psycho physiological sexual complements, the result is sexual dysfunction.
The initial psychosocial contributions toward realization of this potential may come through positive experience of early imprinting. Imprinting is a process whereby a perceptual signal is matched to an innate releasing mechanism which elicits a behavioral pattern. Established at critical periods in development, imprints thereafter are considered more or less permanent.
Infantile imprinting of sexually undifferentiated sensory receptivity to the warmth and sensation of close body contact is considered a source of formative contribution to an individual's baseline of erotic inclinations and choices.
This material essentially is unobtainable in specific form during history-taking. It becomes important to the rapid-treatment program only as it is reflected by statements of preference in physical communication or other recall pertinent to ongoing patterns of sexual responsivity.
Treatment Of Orgasmic Dysfunction
Foundation personnel make use of two primary sources of material. These sources reliably reflect the female's prevailing sexual attitudes, receptivity, and levels of responsivity. The first source, derived from the history, is identification by the non orgasmic woman of erotically significant expectations or experiences (positive or negative) currently evoked during sexual interchange with her marital partner.
The cotherapists must identify those things which the husband does or does not do that may not meet the requirements of his wife's sexual value system previously shaped by real or imagined experience or expectation.
Past experiences of positive content involving other partners, or unrealizable expectations perceived as ideal, may be over idealistically compared by her to the current opportunity; or negative experiences or negative expectation-related attitudes may intrude upon receptivity to her partner's sexual approach.
Thus, a rejection or blocking of sexual input may be the end result.
A discussion of memories of perceptual and interpretive reactions associated with specific sexual activity may add further dimension to knowledge of the wife's currently constituted sexual value system, since these memories often have been noted to function as signals for subconscious introduction of stored experience, either positive or negative in nature.
The second source of reliable, directly applicable material upon which the rapid-treatment therapy relies for direction indeed, it characterizes this particular mode of psychotherapy is developed from the daily discussions that follow each sensate-focus exercise.
As repeatedly stressed, defining the etiology of the presenting sexual inadequacy does not necessarily provide the basis for treatment. A reasonably reliable history is indispensable, but it is used primarily to provide interpretive direction and to amplify definition of that which is of individual significance. (It even is used from time to time to demonstrate negative patterns of sexual behaviors)