Skip to main content

Issues in the Treatment of Sexually Dysfunctioning Couples of Afro-American Descent

  • Chapter
  • 409 Accesses

Part of the book series: Perspectives in Sexuality ((PISE))

Abstract

The question of whether or not sex therapy is an effective and viable treatment option for minority groups has never been addressed directly. Although there has been some research done, most of it has centered on the disparity in life-style between the patient and therapist and has not dealt with sex therapy per se.

In this chapter the authors examine some of the issues that need to be dealt with when attempting to do sex therapy with Afro-American couples. They use the case report of one couple to illustrate their points and give an outline of the structure of therapy.

Many of the issues the authors raise are likely to be relevant for sex therapy with any minority or ethnic group. Such issues include the effects of racial myths and stereotypes about sexual performance on a patient’s self-image, and the patient’s mistrust of the therapist.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bell, A. Black sexuality, fact and fancy. Bloomington, Indiana: Black America Series, Indiana University, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, V. W. Psychoanalysis and members of minority groups. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1953, 1, 256–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, V. W. Interracial practice in the midst of change. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1972, 128, 92–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calneck, M. Racial factors in the countertransference: The black therapist and the black client. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1970, 40, 39–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curry, A. Myth, transference and the black psychotherapist. Psychoanalytic Review, 1964, 51, 7–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, N. An interracial analysis: Transference and counter transference significance. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1971, 19, 736–745.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, N. The roots of prejudice against the Negro in the United States. Boston: Boston University Press, 1948.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haller, J. The physician versus the Negro: Medical and anthropological concepts of race in the late nineteenth century. Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 1970, 44, 154–167.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B., and Redlich, F. C. Social class and mental illness: A community study. New York: Wiley, 1958.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, M. Sexual behavior in the 1970’s. Chicago: Playboy Press, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jourard, S. M. The transparent self. Princeton, New Jersey: Van Nostrand, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, H. S. The new sex therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kardiner, A., and Ovesey, L. The mark of oppression. Cleveland: World Publishing, 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, J. A. Problems posed in the analysis of Negro patients. Psychiatry, 1952, 15, 313–327.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lobitz, W. C., and LoPiccolo, J. New methods in the behavioral treatment of sexual dysfunction. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 1972, 3, 265–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lobitz, W. C., LoPiccolo, J., Lobitz, G. K., and Brockway, J. A closer look at “simplistic” behavior therapy for sexual dysfunction. In H. J. Eysenck (Ed.), Case studies in behavior therapy. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • LoPiccolo, J., and Lobitz, W. C. Behavior therapy of sexual dysfunction. In L. A. Hamerlynck, L. C. Handy, and E. J. Mash (Eds.), Behavior change: Methodology, concepts, and practice. Champaign, Illinois: Research Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters, W. H., and Johnson, V. E. Human sexual inadequacy. Boston: Little, Brown, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oberndorf, C. P. Selectivity and option for psychotherapy. American Journal of Psychiatry, 1954, 110, 754–758.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Obler, M. Systematic desensitization in sexual disorders. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 1973, 4, 93–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rainwater, L. Some aspects of lower-class sexual behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 1966, 22, 96–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, B. Observations of the therapist factor in interethnic psychotherapy. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 1971, 8, 71–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, I. The social context of pre-marital sexual permissiveness. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sager, C., Brayboy, T., and Waxenberg, B. Black patient-white therapist. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1972, 42, 415–423.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, J. S., and Butts, H. Transference and countertransference in interracial analysis. Journal of American Psychoanalysis, 1968, 16, 792–808.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staples, R. Sex behavior of lower income Negroes. Sexology, October 1967, pp. 52–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staples, R. Is the sexual revolution by-passing blacks? Ebony, March 1974, pp. 111–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, B. A. Two case reports on the modification of the ejaculatory response with the squeeze technique. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1973, 10, 297–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, A., and Sillen, S. Racism and psychiatry. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vontress, C. The black male personality. Black Scholar, June 1971, pp. 10–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waite, R. R. The Negro patient and clinical theory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1968, 32, 427–433.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolpe, J. The practice of behavior therapy. New York: Pergamon, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, L. C. Are black women taking care of business? Essence, May 1974, p. 58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelnik, M., and Kanfner, J. Sexuality, contraception, and pregnancy among young unwed females in the United States. In U.S. Commission on Population Growth, Demographic and social aspects of population growth, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1978 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wyatt, G.E., Strayer, R.G., Lobitz, W.C. (1978). Issues in the Treatment of Sexually Dysfunctioning Couples of Afro-American Descent. In: LoPiccolo, J., LoPiccolo, L. (eds) Handbook of Sex Therapy. Perspectives in Sexuality. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3973-1_35

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3973-1_35

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3975-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3973-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics