Implications of the sexual revolution.

PIP: 2 sexual revolutions have occurred in the last 30 years: an immense increase in knowledge of sexual matters and the accompanying expansion of providing therapy for sexual disorders; and a radical change in sexual attitudes and behavior. Discussion focuses on the ethical implications of these changes. The standards of sexual morality in this society are derived from the Judeo Christian tradition. In the beginning of Genesis there are 2 passages which are fundamental for the origin and understanding of traditional morality. In these 2 passages sexuality is first linked with establishing a man woman permanent relationship and secondly as the means of giving rise to new life. The origins of the standard Christian mortality about sex was that it was good for procreation and procreation was confined to marriage. All sexual activity before marriage and outside marriage was condemned; fornication and adultery were both wrong. This tradition of confining sex to marriage for the purpose of procreation has continued to the present when it has been widely challenged and contravened. The advent of birth control has had a pronounced effect. For the 1st time sexual intercourse and procreation are totally and effectively separated. As a result sexual activity in previously forbidden situations is now rampant. There exists an extensive preoccupation with sex. Many lavish praise on love making, yet it all depends on what is meant by lovemaking. There are at least 3 ways of understanding lovemaking: solitary sex; transient sex between a couple; and sexual intercourse within marriage. There are single people who extol solitary sex, people who insist that they do not need other people in their life. Masturbation has a place in the life of adolescents and may reassert itself when men and women are separated, but the pleasure of mutual involvement is so much greater that masturbation readily yields to heterosexual activity in the majority of cases and homosexual activity in a small minority. Transient sex has gained most from birth control. The objective is an orgasm. If this is achieved, nothing more is required. But this is untrue, and attention turns to sex in marriage. The very heart of sexual intercourse is continuity and the security of being together with someone who has given such immense joy. The immediate aftermath of successful intercourse is the desire to give thanks. All married couples know that intercourse is a powerful way of initiating or cementing reconciliation. In the overwhelming majority of occasions sexual intercourse has changed from being an instrument of new life to being the means of sustaining, healing, and encouraging the growth of life of the couple.^ieng

Psychological stress in wives of patients with myocardial infarction.

In a study of the psychological consequences of myocardial infarction on 65 wives of husbands admitted to a coronary care unit feelings of loss, depression, and guilt were common at the time of infarction. Many wives (38%) found the period of convalescence after discharge very stressful, attributing this to fears of a recurrent infarct and marital tension owing to their husbands' increased irritability and dependency. These anxieties and tensions gradually diminished and at one year after the initial illness only eight wives whose husbands had made a good physical recovery still showed considerable psychological disturbance. It is suggested that unnecessary emotional distress, particularly in the initial period after discharge from hospital, can be alleviated by increased help and support from the hospital and family doctor.