sensate focus

an approach in which people with sexual dysfunction are trained to focus attention on their own natural sensual cues and gradually achieve the freedom to enjoy sensory stimuli. Therapy is conducted by teams of male and female professionals in joint interviews with the partners. The procedures use prescribed body-massage exercises designed to give and receive pleasure, initially involving body parts other than the breasts and genitals and then moving to these areas. This approach eliminates performance anxiety and allows the partners to relax and enjoy the sensual experience of body caressing without the need to achieve erection or orgasm. Sensate focus therapy is one component of the program developed by U.S. sex researchers William H. Masters (1915–2001) and Virginia E. Johnson (1925–2013).

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Psychology term of the day

February 25th 2025

error of commission

a category of human error in which an operator performs an incorrect or additional action, such as pressing a control button twice, leading to inappropriate or duplicate performance of a function. Compare error of omission.