This literature review examines the nature of sexual fantasies and their impact (both negative and positive) on arousal. The effects of guilt and shame resulting from religious negativism—specifically Christianity—toward fantasies is explored. Implications for clinical treatment of highly religious persons presenting for treatment of decreased sexual arousal are discussed.
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American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(4th ed. TR). Washington, DC. Author .
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Bader, M.J. ( 2002). Arousal: The secret logic of sexual fantasies. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
4.
Bassett, R.L., Luzadder, C., Manley, P., Miano, R., Santore, C., & Putnam, J. ( 2006). The ACEmodel of emotions: What separates Righteous and Sinful Emotions? Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 25, 195-204.
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Birch, R.W. ( 2001). Sexual Fantasies. Retrieved May 17, 2010 , from the Not Alone website:http://www.enotalone.com/article/2278.html
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Cowden, C.R. & Bradshaw, S.D. ( 2007). Religiosity and sexual concerns. International Journal of Sexual Health, 19, 15-24. doi:10.1300/J514v19n01_03.
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Daniluk, J.C., & Browne, N. ( 2008). Traditional religious doctrine and women’s sexuality:reconciling the contradictions. Women & Therapy, 31, 129-142. doi:10.1080/02703140802145284.
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Davidson, J.K. Sr., & Hoffman, L.E. ( 1986). Sexual fantasies and sexual satisfaction: Anempirical analysis of erotic thought. The Journal of Sex Research, 22, 184-205.
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Fullam, L. ( 2009, April). Thou shalt: Sex beyond the list of dont’s . Commonweal, 8. Retrieved from http://www.commmonwealmagazine.org/thou-shalt-0
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Gil, V.E. ( 1990). Sexual fantasy experiences and guilt among conservative Christians: anexploratory study. The Journal of Sex Research , 27, 629-638.
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Gunderson, M.P., & McCary, J.L. (1979). Sexual guilt and religion . The Family Coordinator, 28, 353-357.
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Helm, H.W., Jr., Bereez, J.M., & Nelson, E.A. ( 2001). Religious fundamentalism and gender Differences. Pastoral Psychology, 50, 25-37.
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Hicks, T.V., & Leitenberg, H. (2001). Sexual fantasies about one’s partner versus someone else:Gender differences in incidence and frequency. The Journal of Sex Research, 38, 43-50.
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Hunt, M.E. & Jung, P.B. ( 2009). ‘‘Good sex’’ and religion: A feminist overview. Journal of SexResearch, 46, 156-167. doi:10.1080/ 00224490902747685.
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Kahr, B. ( 2007). Who's been sleeping in your head?New York: Basic Books.
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Kleinplatz, P.J. ( 1996). The erotic encounter. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 36, 105-123.
17.
Leitenberg, H. & Henning, K. ( 1995). Sexual fantasy. Psychological Bulletin , 117, 469-496.
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Mahoney, J.M., & Strassberg, D.S. (1993). Self-Involvement via self-schema activation duringsexual arousal. The Journal of Sex Research , 30, 70-74.
19.
Masters, W.H., & Johnson, V. ( 1970). Human sexual inadequacy. New York : Bantam Books.
20.
Murray, K.M., Ciarrocchi, J.W., & Murray-Swank, N.A. (2007). Spirituality, religiosity, shameAnd guilt as predictors of sexual attitudes and experiences. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 35, 222-234.
21.
Nicholas, L.J. ( 2004). The association between religiosity, sexual fantasy, participation in sexualacts, sexual enjoyment, exposure, and reaction to sexual materials among black southafricans. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 30, 37-42. doi:10.1080/00926230490247264.
22.
Nobre, P.J., & Pinto-Gouveia, J. (2008). Cognitive and emotional predictors of female sexualdysfunctions: preliminary findings. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 34, 325-342. doi: 10.1080/ 00926230802096358.
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Pelletier, L.A., & Herold, E.S. ( 1988). The relationship of age, sex guilt, and sexual experiencewith female sexual fantasies. The Journal of Sex Research, 24, 250-266.
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Peet, C. ( 2005). Defining religion: Strategies and reflections on an elusive figure. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, Vol. 24, 105-112.
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Renaud, C.A. & Byers, E.S. ( 2001). Positive and negative sexual cognitions: subjective experience and relationships to sexual adjustment. The Journal of Sex Research, 38, 252-262.
26.
Robertson, C.K. ( 2006). Religion and sexuality: Passionate debates. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc.
27.
Rosenau, D.E., & Sytsma, M.R. ( 2004). A theology of sexual intimacy: Insights into the Creator . Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 23, 261-270.
28.
Runkel, G. ( 1998). Sexual morality of Christianity. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 24, 103-122.
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Timmerman, J.H. ( 2001). When religion is its own worst enemy: how therapists can help peopleshed hurtful notions that masquerade as good theology. Journal of Sex Education andTherapy, 26, 259-266.
Wenger, J.L. ( 2003). Implicit components of religious beliefs. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 22, 223-229.
32.
Zamboni, B.D. & Crawford, I. ( 2002). Using masturbation in sex therapy: Relationships betweenmasturbation, sexual desire, and sexual fantasy. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 14, 123-141.
