ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the various psychological and social factors that influence a man’s sexual functioning throughout the course of his life.
Sexuality is a complex phenomenon, determined by anatomy, physiology, and psychology together with culture, relationships with others, and developmental experiences throughout the life cycle. Sex and procreation are associated with some of the great joys of existence. Perceptions, thoughts, feelings and behaviors connected with sexual gratification and reproduction, and the attraction of one person for another are influential determinants of a man’s sexual function. A new relationship, a successful lifelong relationship, a newborn child, and sex itself, are all deeply appreciated experiences; however, sexuality can also be associated with feelings of sadness, shame, or guilt, perhaps due to disappointing early sexual encounters, sexual misbehavior, a lost relationship, betrayal, or death of a partner. In fact, few individuals have a sexual life that is completely free of negative feelings.
