Association Membership
YES
DOI
10.34296/03011061
First Page Number
27
Last Page Number
29
Abstract
Sex education is important both to individuals and to overall public health outcomes. In the United States, sex education curriculum is not guided by any federal standards, meaning materials and approaches vary widely. Drawing inspiration and evidence from countries with successful sexuality education standards, we know that comprehensive, evidence-based methods are the most effective for improving health outcomes across myriad domains. Materials that are guided by this standard of empirical basis should be identified and used in conjunction with other tools for providing responsible and effective sex education. This is a review of one such undergraduate textbook: \textit{The Psychology of Human Sexuality} (Lehmiller, 2018). Lehmiller’s (2018) textbook is not only guided by a rigorous commitment to empirical basis and medical accuracy, but features an understanding of the roles of psychological, social, and cultural issues in sexual development and behavior that other sexuality textbooks lack. Additionally, the intentional tone of sex-positivity and attempts at inclusivity present in this textbook set it apart from its counterparts. Benefits and shortcomings to this approach are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Kalafatis-Russell, A. R. (2021). Book Review: The Psychology of Human Sexuality, 2nd ed., Justin J. Lehmiller. Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education, 3 (1), 27-29. https://doi.org/10.34296/03011061