Vaginal Orgasm Is Associated with Less Use of Immature Psychological Defense Mechanisms

Abstract

Introduction Freud implied a link between inability to have a vaginal orgasm and psychosexual immaturity. Since Kinsey, many sexologists have asserted that no such link exists. However, empirical testing of the issue has been lacking. Aim The objective was to determine the relationship between different sexual behavior triggers of female orgasm and use of immature psychological defense mechanisms. Methods Women reported their past month frequency of different sexual behaviors and corresponding orgasm rates and completed the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40). Main Outcome Measure The association between ability to have vaginal intercourse orgasm (versus clitoral orgasm) and the use of DSQ-40 immature psychological defense mechanisms (associated with various psychopathologies) was examined. Results In a sample of 94 healthy Portuguese women, vaginal orgasm (triggered solely by penile–vaginal intercourse) was associated with less use of DSQ-40 immature defenses. Vaginal orgasm was associated with less somatization, dissociation, displacement, autistic fantasy, devaluation, and isolation of affect. Orgasm from clitoral stimulation or combined clitoral-intercourse stimulation was not associated with less use of immature defenses, and was associated with more use of some immature defenses. In one regression analysis, more masturbation and less vaginal orgasm consistency made independent contributions to the statistical prediction of immature defenses. In another regression analysis, any use of extrinsic clitoral stimulation for intercourse orgasm, and lack of any vaginal orgasm, made independent contributions to the statistical prediction of immature defenses. Vaginally anorgasmic women had immature defenses scores comparable to those of established (depression, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorder) outpatient psychiatric groups. Results were not confounded by social desirability responding or relationship quality. Conclusions The results linking penile–vaginal orgasm with less use of immature psychological defense mechanisms are consistent with both early psychoanalytic personality theory and recent advances in sexual physiology. Implications for diagnosis and sex therapy are noted.

Condom Use for Penile–Vaginal Intercourse is Associated with Immature Psychological Defense Mechanisms

“…This result provides further support that it is specifically PVI without condoms that is associated with healthy psychological function. Neurotic defenses tend to be associated with indices of psychological impairment (although less consistently so than are immature defenses) [28,36,40], but uncorrelated [38] or even positively associated with more specific measures of interpersonal functioning [37]. Thus, neurotic defenses might inhibit the seeking and obtaining of PVI without condoms, but (unlike immature defenses) without increasing the seeking of sexual activity with less emotional interaction.…”

“…Validity studies using the DSQ‐40 demonstrated that immature defenses scores are directly associated with several indices of poorer mental health and poorer adaptiveness, including depression [28], anxiety disorders [28,57], personality disorders [58], alexithymia [36], poorer coping styles [37], and poorer marital adjustment [37]. Lesser mature defenses scores and more neurotic defenses scores tend to be associated with poorer functioning, but these relationships are less consistent than those obtained for immature defenses [28,36,40].…”

“…The opportunity sample consisted of 210 Portuguese participants (99 women) contacted directly by one of the authors (R.M. Costa) or research assistants in a variety of institutional settings in Lisbon to complete a questionnaire on sexual behavior and personality (94 of the women were participants in the recent study linking lack of vaginal orgasm with immature psychological defenses [40]). Anonymity, confidentiality, and ability to discontinue participation at any time were assured.…”

The DSM Diagnostic Criteria for Female Orgasmic Disorder

“…There are still, however, a few researchers who maintain that ''clitoral'' orgasm is somehow ''inferior'' to ''vaginal'' orgasm (Brody, 2007). Brody and Costa (2008) and Costa and Brody (2007) have suggested that so-called ''vaginal'' orgasm (as opposed to clitoral orgasm) is associated with less use of ''immature'' psychological defence mechanisms and higher satisfaction with mental health and relationships.…”

Female sexual arousal: Genital anatomy and orgasm in intercourse

“…This view, that there is a mature and psychologically healthy form of female orgasm, has become less prevalent, but is still promoted more than 100 years after Freud's proposals. For example, there are those who argue that women experiencing orgasms in intercourse have better mental health than women who reach orgasms through other means (Brody and Costa, 2008). Similarly, there are self-help programs whose goal is for women to achieve orgasm solely from vaginal intercourse (Kline-Graber and Graber, 1975).…”