Complexity of sexuality: shifting to a focus on sexuality in close relationships.

The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships, Edited by John H. Harvey, Amy Wenzel, & Susan Sprecher. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004, 668 pages. Cloth, $125.00; Paper $65.00.

This book is an update of the pioneering edited book titled Sexuality in Close Relationships (McKinney & Sprecher, 1991) that shifted the focus in sexuality research and sex therapy from the predominant individual approach to a more close relationship approach. The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships will likely be one of the most helpful and scholarly books on sexuality to be published during this decade.

The list of chapter authors is impressive, and each one of them is on top of their research area. This exceptional book is full of interesting studies and research ideas, and it shifts the focus in sexuality away from the dominant individual perspective to explore how sexuality is influenced by the dyad and other contextual factors.

The editors and authors address many key conceptual issues throughout the book, including (a) definitions of sexuality, (b) the challenge of constructing dyadic and interactional models of sexuality rather than individual-level models, (c) complexity of sexuality in close relationships, (d) the impact of gender and the issue of whether distinct models of sexuality are needed for males and females, (e) the necessity to integrate race and ethnicity into theoretical models and sexuality research, (f) the importance of taking a developmental approach to individual sexuality and couple sexuality relationships, (g) the need for multiple levels of analysis of the phenomena of sexuality in close relationships, (h) a call for improved research on all aspects of sexuality and especially sex research in close relationships, (i) the need to move away from gender dichotomies to sociosexuality, and (j) the need to examine religions impact on sexuality in close relationships.

The handbook is organized into six major parts: Part I, Introduction; Part II, Role of Sexuality in the Formation, Development, and Maintenance of Close Relationships; Part III, The Dark Side of Sex; Part IV, Sexuality in Special Types of Couples and Contexts; Part V, Applications and Clinical Aspects; and Part VI, Commentaries.

As a reader of most of the better books on sexuality published over the past three decades, I found that The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships triggered a shift in how I teach sexuality, think about sexuality research and sex therapy, and work with couples. In teaching sexuality, I now give more attention to sexuality in close relationships and less attention to individual sexuality. Now when directing graduate students' research, I encourage more focus on the dyadic context of the research. Finally, in conducting sex therapy, I now pay even more attention to the dynamics of sociosexuality in close relationships and less attention to sex problems.

Much of the past research on sexuality has come from an individual, behavioral approach, yet most sexual expression is interpersonal and cognitive; thus the need for viewing sexuality systemically in close relationships. This perspective opens the view to examining the meanings of sexuality more closely. DeLamater and Hyde (Chapter 1) provide an excellent brief overview of theories of sexuality. The theoretical lens through which sexuality is viewed determines what is observed and how it is interpreted. Michael Wiederman (Chapter 2) provides a much-needed critique of the research literature and makes numerous recommendations for improving research in sexuality, especially the research methodology and statistical analyses. His chapter is a concise combination of research methodology and statistics and points to the importance of the two complementing each other. Many practitioners lacking grounding in research methodology and statistics will find an excellent explanation of the two areas that is very understandable.

The chapters focused on sociosexuality, romance, sexual attraction, communicative framing, romantic beliefs, attachment issues, dispositional tendencies, and mating/dating behaviors stretch the reader's mind as to possibilities for future research. The chapters that are theory-focused provide a rich introduction to how theory drives much of research and influences what is interpreted (and how it is interpreted). Sprecher and Cate's chapter reveals some of the challenges in measuring and determining sexual satisfaction, sexual expression, and relationship determinants. Throughout these chapters, the reader finds challenges to conduct more qualitative research to explore the meanings couples place on sex, love, commitment, jealousy, and close relationships.

The chapters on sexuality in special types of couples and contexts focus on the relationship aspects of these couples and the context in which their sexuality occurs. Often, quantitative data on frequency and behavioral aspects of couples' sexuality are reported, but researchers fail to explore what actually goes on in couples' bedrooms. Every bedroom could be different in ways that change the meanings of the quantitative data. Too often sex research has not explored the special purposes and meanings each couple gives to their sexuality. Most likely, sexuality among young people is strongly influenced by their respective families of origin. Families provide the first impressions about love, appropriate behaviors, and the meanings attached to sex, yet families are often overlooked in sexuality research. Every couple and family is a special context--a complex mix of ethnicity, culture, religion, belief systems, roles, and more that develops its own sexual meanings and behaviors. All of these constitute the context of sexuality.

The chapter addressing sexuality in midlife and later life reminds the reader that we have much to study and learn to expand our understanding of the sexual lives of older persons. This understudied population is rapidly increasing in size, underscoring the importance of empirical investigation of sexuality among elders.

Chapter 19 is a stimulating examination of the differing sexual realities of "his" relationship and "her" relationship. This chapter highlights systemic interactions of a couple and their influence on sexuality.

The chapters that address the clinical aspects of sexuality in close relationships are written by premier sex therapists and sexual health educators. Each chapter provides a useful overview of the state of the art and the best of the science of sex therapy, exploring sexual pathology and sexual health.

The final commentaries are thought-provoking and are written by some of the best thinkers in the field. They are a fitting conclusion to this outstanding handbook. Every chapter in The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships is a good compendium of the current state of research and offers vital direction for future research. This book belongs in every university library and on the shelf of every sexuality educator, therapist, and counselor, as well as all others who work with people who are involved in close relationship.

REFERENCE

McKinney, K. & Sprecher, S. (Eds.) (1991). Sexuality in close relationships. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Reviewed by Glen Jennings, Ed.D, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, 76204; e-mail: [e-mail].