The choice to have oneself restrained about a sensitive area such as the testicles may stem from several sexual desires. Testicle cuffs can be part of cock and ball torture and other parts of the BDSM culture. Some men enjoy the feeling of being 'owned', and some people enjoy the feeling of 'owning' their partners. Making the man wear testicle cuffs gives a sense that his sexual organs belong to his partner. Equally, there is a certain level of humiliation inherent in the devices, by which some people are aroused. Finally, cuffs may form part of ...

See also:

Testicle cuff, Testicle cuff - Motivations, Testicle cuff - Dangers

Read more here: » Testicle cuff: Encyclopedia II - Testicle cuff - Motivations

As a general rule, public nudity is not considered "proper" in most societies. There are, however, many exceptions and particular circumstances in which nudity is tolerated, accepted, or even encouraged. In general and across cultures, most restrictions are found for exposure of those parts of the human body that put in evidence sexual arousal between male and female adults. Therefore, sex organs and women's breasts are often covered, eve ...

See also:

Nudity, Nudity - Terminology, Nudity - Historical overview, Nudity - Various modern-era attitudes, Nudity - Children, Nudity - Non-Western attitudes, Nudity - Nudity beyond social norms, Nudity - Depictions of nudity

Read more here: » Nudity: Encyclopedia II - Nudity - Various modern-era attitudes

Under a tough fibrous shell, the tunica albuginea, the testis contains very fine coiled tubes called the seminiferous tubules. The tubes are lined with a layer of cells that, from puberty into old-age, produce sperm cells. The sperm travel from the seminiferous tubules to the rete testis, the efferent ducts, and then to the epididymis where newly created sperm cells mature (see spermatogenesis). The sperm move into the vas deferens (also called the ductus deferens) which opens into the urethra. Upon any sufficient sexual arousal, the ...

See also:

Testicle, Testicle - Function, Testicle - Structure, Testicle - Testicular size, Testicle - Health issues

Read more here: » Testicle: Encyclopedia II - Testicle - Structure

Many non-nudists believe that nudity in a social setting is sexually stimulating and arousing. Nudists disagree, claiming that there is more sexual tension in the near-nude environment of a pool or a beach than at a nudist site. Nudists and nudist organizations maintain and enforce a policy prohibiting sex in public, and many nudist sites describe themselves as family-oriented. The possibility of spontaneous erection is a concern often cited by men who are apprehensive of nudism, but nudists do not generally consider this to be ...

See also:

Nudism, Nudism - General, Nudism - Association with sex, Nudism - Manners, Nudism - Naturist terminology, Nudism - History of nudism, Nudism - Major nudist organizations, Nudism - Public outdoor nudist areas

Read more here: » Nudism: Encyclopedia II - Nudism - Association with sex

Studies have shown that there is a correlation between committing sexual crimes against children and being left-handed. Cantor, et. al in their article Handedness in pedophilia and hebephilia (Archives of Sexual Behavior, August 2005, vol 34 n. 4, p447ff), based on a sample of 404 adult men under treatment for pedophilia or ephebophilia, found that: Under phallometric testing, those more aroused by stimuli of depictions of prepubescent children were more left-handed, while those more aroused by adult stimuli were f ...

See also:

Left-handed, Left-handed - Statistics of left-handedness, Left-handed - Causes of left-handedness, Left-handed - Evolutionary theories, Left-handed - Biological theories, Left-handed - Environmental theories, Left-handed - Social stigma and repression of left-handedness, Left-handed - Linguistic suggestion, Left-handed - Daily suppression, Left-handed - Left-handedness and health, Left-handed - Left-handedness and intelligence, Left-handed - Disappearing Left-Handers, Left-handed - Left-handedness and developmental disorders, Left-handed - Left-handedness and sexual offences, Left-handed - Left-sidedness, Left-handed - In humans, Left-handed - In animals, Left-handed - Source

Read more here: » Left-handed: Encyclopedia II - Left-handed - Left-handedness and sexual offences

Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, eg. one's ability to resist transient sexual tension, hormones levels influencing sexual arousal (Physiology & Behavior, 2005 Oct 15; Vol. 86 (3), pp. 356-68), one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture. E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter[1]. "Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an e ...

See also:

Masturbation, Masturbation - Etymology, Masturbation - Masturbation techniques, Masturbation - Female, Masturbation - Male, Masturbation - Masturbation frequency age and sex, Masturbation - Health and psychological effects, Masturbation - Possible issues with prone masturbation Traumatic masturbatory syndrome, Masturbation - Masturbation in history and society, Masturbation - Antiquity, Masturbation - Religion, Masturbation - Philosophical arguments regarding masturbation, Masturbation - Medical attitudes, Masturbation - Law, Masturbation - Euphemisms, Masturbation - Humour and masturbation

Read more here: » Masturbation: Encyclopedia II - Masturbation - Masturbation frequency age and sex

Pornography has an extensive history. Sexually suggestive and explicit artwork is as ancient as artwork of any other content; explicit photographs date to very shortly after the invention of photography; and among the earliest films are works depicting nudity and explicit sex. Nude human beings and sexual activities are depicted in some paleolithic art (e.g. Venus Figurines); however, it is not certain that the purpose was sexual arousal, as the images may have had instead a spiritual significance. There are numerous pornographic pain ...

See also:

Pornography, Pornography - Terminology, Pornography - History, Pornography - Technology and pornography, Pornography - Video: Betamax VHS DVD and future formats, Pornography - Video and computer games, Pornography - Photo manipulation and computer-generated pornography, Pornography - The Internet, Pornography - Legal status, Pornography - Anti-pornography movement, Pornography - Pornography and sex crimes, Pornography - Japanese study, Pornography - Pornographic stereotypes, Pornography - Pornography by region, Pornography - Sub-genres of pornography, Pornography - Media

Read more here: » Pornography: Encyclopedia II - Pornography - History

Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, eg. one's ability to resist transient sexual tension, hormones levels influencing sexual arousal (Physiology & Behavior, 2005 Oct 15; Vol. 86 (3), pp. 356-68), one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture. E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter[1]. "Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an e ...

See also:

Masturbation, Masturbation - Etymology, Masturbation - Masturbation techniques, Masturbation - Female, Masturbation - Male, Masturbation - Masturbation frequency, age and sex, Masturbation - Health and psychological effects, Masturbation - Masturbation in history and society, Masturbation - Antiquity, Masturbation - Religion, Masturbation - Philosophical arguments regarding masturbation, Masturbation - Medical attitudes, Masturbation - Law, Masturbation - Euphemisms, Masturbation - Humour and masturbation

Read more here: » Masturbation: Encyclopedia II - Masturbation - Masturbation frequency, age and sex

Frequency of masturbation is determined by many factors, eg. one's ability to resist transient sexual tension, hormones levels influencing sexual arousal (Physiology & Behavior, 2005 Oct 15; Vol. 86 (3), pp. 356-68), one's attitude to masturbation formed by culture. E. Heiby and J. Becker examined the latter[1]. "Forty-eight female college students were asked to complete a sexual attitudes questionnaire in which a frequency of masturbation scale was embedded. Twenty-four of the women (the experimental group) then individually viewed an e ...

See also:

Masturbation, Masturbation - Etymology, Masturbation - Masturbation techniques, Masturbation - Female, Masturbation - Male, Masturbation - Masturbation frequency age and sex, Masturbation - Health and psychological effects, Masturbation - Masturbation in history and society, Masturbation - Antiquity, Masturbation - Religion, Masturbation - Philosophical arguments regarding masturbation, Masturbation - Medical attitudes, Masturbation - Law, Masturbation - Euphemisms, Masturbation - Humour and masturbation

Read more here: » Masturbation: Encyclopedia II - Masturbation - Masturbation frequency age and sex

The beetle contains up to 5% cantharidin. The powder made from dried and crushed beetle has been used as an aphrodisiac, under the mistaken impression that the urinary irritation created was sexual arousal. Its medical use dates back to descriptions from Hippocrates. A similar powder from Myalabris beetles (also in the Meloidae), called "vuka-vuka" (vuka = wake up), is known in Zimbabwe. The cantharides is currently used, as a potentized form, in homeopathic medicine. < ...

See also:

Spanish fly insect, Spanish fly insect - Medical use, Spanish fly insect - History, Spanish fly insect - Use in North African cuisine

Read more here: » Spanish fly insect: Encyclopedia II - Spanish fly insect - Medical use

Subjects typically oscillate between emotional numbing and highly sensitive arousal: insomnia, irritability, restlessness, and attention deficits. Recollections of the traumatic events intrude in the form of dreams, night terrors, flashbacks, and distressing associations. Long term coping mechanisms include the development of compulsive rituals to fend off obsessive thoughts. Other psychological consequences include cognitive impairment, reduced capacity to learn, memory disorders, sexual dysfunction, social withdrawal, inability to m ...

See also:

Psychology of torture, Psychology of torture - Background, Psychology of torture - The torture process, Psychology of torture - What is psychological stress and pain, Psychology of torture - Psychology of torture, Psychology of torture - Psychology of pain, Psychology of torture - Extending torture to family and friends, Psychology of torture - The perversion of intimacy, Psychology of torture - Forced absorption of the torturer's perspective, Psychology of torture - Psychology of torturers, Psychology of torture - Psychological results of torture, Psychology of torture - Torture trauma and survival

Read more here: » Psychology of torture: Encyclopedia II - Psychology of torture - Psychological results of torture

In modern times in Western cultures, anal sex is popularly associated with gay men, and studies (Lauman, for example) claim that about 80% of gay men in the United States have engaged in anal sex. Not all gay/bi men regularly engage in anal sex or find it pleasurable, however. It may be that some gay/bi men try anal sex once or a few times and then rarely if ever engage in the practice, and others may never try it at all. Some may reserve it only for committed relationships. Since data on gay (or bi) sexual behavior tends to arouse such con ...

See also:

Anal sex, Anal sex - Overview, Anal sex - Anal sex among heterosexuals, Anal sex - Anal sex among gay/bisexual men, Anal sex - Cultural issues, Anal sex - Health issues, Anal sex - Condoms & Anal Sex, Anal sex - Legal issues, Anal sex - Religious views

Read more here: » Anal sex: Encyclopedia II - Anal sex - Anal sex among gay/bisexual men

In 1978, Chikatilo moved to Shakhty and committed his first documented murder. On December 22, he lured a nine-year-old girl to an old shed and attempted to rape her. When the girl struggled, he stabbed her to death. He ejaculated in the process of knifing the child, and from then on he was only able to achieve sexual arousal and orgasm through stabbing and slashing women and children to death. Despite evidence linking Chikatilo to this first killing, a young man, Alexsandr Kravchenko, was arrested and later tried and executed for the crime. Chikatilo lost his teachin ...

See also:

Andrei Chikatilo, Andrei Chikatilo - Early life, Andrei Chikatilo - Murder spree, Andrei Chikatilo - First arrest, Andrei Chikatilo - Capture and trial, Andrei Chikatilo - Andrei Chikatilo in Popular Culture, Andrei Chikatilo - External information

Read more here: » Andrei Chikatilo: Encyclopedia II - Andrei Chikatilo - Murder spree

Fetish

(derived from a Portuguese word for medals and crucifixes worn by sailors and extended by them to amulets used by Africans; first used as a generic term by Ch. de Brosses in 1760)

1)    An article of paraphernalia used in religious practice, or a physical object representative of religious authority. Fetishes commonly are misunderstood to be objects accorded magical or supernatural powers by their users. Objects such as the perfect ear of corn or Corn Mother, important in religious practices of Pueblos (American Southwest), medicine bundles of various North American tribes, and objects that represent the religious authority of clans in Native American communities are often referred to as fetishes.

2)    Small carved stone objects and feather arrangements, with no religious significance, manufactured for commercial sale by modern Native American peoples.

3)    An object or body part that arouses sexual desire, sometimes to the exclusion of genital attraction.

(See also: Fetish, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Fetish

(derived from a Portuguese word for medals and crucifixes worn by sailors and extended by them to amulets used by Africans; first used as a generic term by Ch. de Brosses in 1760)

1)    An article of paraphernalia used in religious practice, or a physical object representative of religious authority. Fetishes commonly are misunderstood to be objects accorded magical or supernatural powers by their users. Objects such as the perfect ear of corn or Corn Mother, important in religious practices of Pueblos (American Southwest), medicine bundles of various North American tribes, and objects that represent the religious authority of clans in Native American communities are often referred to as fetishes.

1)    Small carved stone objects and feather arrangements, with no religious significance, manufactured for commercial sale by modern Native American peoples.

1)    An object or body part that arouses sexual desire, sometimes to the exclusion of genital attraction.

(See also: Fetish, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Fetish

(derived from a Portuguese word for medals and crucifixes worn by sailors and extended by them to amulets used by Africans; first used as a generic term by Ch. de Brosses in 1760)

1)    An article of paraphernalia used in religious practice, or a physical object representative of religious authority. Fetishes commonly are misunderstood to be objects accorded magical or supernatural powers by their users. Objects such as the perfect ear of corn or Corn Mother, important in religious practices of Pueblos (American Southwest), medicine bundles of various North American tribes, and objects that represent the religious authority of clans in Native American communities are often referred to as fetishes.

2)    Small carved stone objects and feather arrangements, with no religious significance, manufactured for commercial sale by modern Native American peoples.

3)    An object or body part that arouses sexual desire, sometimes to the exclusion of genital attraction.

(See also: Fetish, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

In modern times in Western cultures, anal sex is popularly associated with gay men, and studies (Lauman, for example) claim that about 80% of gay men in the United States have engaged in anal sex. Not all gay/bi men regularly engage in anal sex or find it pleasurable, however. It may be that some gay/bi men try anal sex once or a few times and then rarely if ever engage in the practice, and others may never try it at all. Some may reserve it only for committed relationships. Since data on gay (or bi) sexual behavior tends to arouse such con ...

See also:

Anal sex, Anal sex - Introduction, Anal sex - Overview, Anal sex - Anal sex among heterosexuals, Anal sex - Anal sex among gay/bisexual men, Anal sex - Cultural issues, Anal sex - Health issues, Anal sex - Condoms & Anal Sex, Anal sex - Legal issues, Anal sex - Religious views

Read more here: » Anal sex: Encyclopedia II - Anal sex - Anal sex among gay/bisexual men

Pramantha (Sanskrit) [from pra-math to stir about violently]

The upper stick used by the ancient Brahmins to kindle fire. By rubbing it against the arani or under stick, the friction produced the heat and subsequent flame. It would be wide of the inner significance of the pramantha and arani to concentrate attention upon their supposed phallic or sexual significance as these are described both pragmatically and mystically in ancient Hindu works, although unquestionably the language used is at times suggestive.

Mystically, the pramantha stands for the will in man, whirling and unceasingly active in and upon the passive portion of the human constitution, arousing the latter into corresponding activity, bringing about there the fire and flame of animate life. When the will is stilled the being is dormant; when the will acts all portions of the constitution touched by the whirling activity of the will react and spring themselves into corresponding motion.

(See also: Pramantha, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

tantrism: The enlightenment path outlined in the Tantra scriptures.

1)    Tantrism is sometimes considered a parallel stream of history and tradition in Hinduism, running alongside and gradually interweaving with the Vedic brahminical tradition.

2)    Tantrism refers to traditions, mainly within Saivism and Shaktism, that focus on the arousal of the kundalini force, and which view the human body as a vehicle of the Divine and an instrument for liberation. Tantrism's ultimate aim is a channeling of the kundalini life force through the sushumna, the gracious channel, upwards into the sahasrara chakra and beyond, through the door of brahman (brahmarandhra) into Parasiva, either before or at the time of death. The stress is on the transformation of all spheres of consciousness, spiritual, psychic, emotional and material. It is a path of sadhana.

Shakta Tantrism: Brings a strong emphasis on the worship of the feminine force. Depending on the school, this may be symbolic or literal in rites involving sexual intercourse, etc. Shakta Tantrism's main principle is the use of the material to gain the spiritual. In certain schools, historically, this implies embracing that which is normally forbidden and manipulating the forces to attain transcendent consciousness rather than lower consciousness. There are three main streams:

-       the righthand path (dakshina marga or dakshinachara) of conservative Hindu practice,

-       the left-hand path (vama marga or vamachara) involving the use of things normally forbidden such as taking intoxicants, meat, ritual sex, etc., and

-       the yogic path of the Kaula sect. Gorakshanatha followers are sometimes grouped with the latter.

See: Shaktism, kundalini, kundalini yoga, raja yoga, tantra.

(See also: Tantrism, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

There is some debate in lay circles as to whether a chemical called phenylethylamine present in chocolate is an aphrodisiac. This compound, however, is quickly degraded by the enzyme MAO such that significant concentrations do not reach the brain. Medical science has not substantiated claims that any particular food increases sexual desire or performance. However, a new drug called PT-141 seems to be the first real aphrodisiac. It stimulates sexual desire in men as well as women and is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of sexual ...

See also:

Aphrodisiac, Aphrodisiac - Other drugs, Aphrodisiac - Not just drugs

Read more here: » Aphrodisiac: Encyclopedia II - Aphrodisiac - Other drugs

While lie detector tests are commonly used in police investigations in the US, no defendant or witness can be forced to undergo the test. In United States v. Scheffer (1998) [1], the US Supreme Court left it up to individual jurisdictions whether polygraph results could be admitted as evidence in court cases. In most European jurisdictions, polygraphs are not considered reliable evidence and are not generally used by police forces. In Canada, the use of a polygraphs are sometimes employed in screening employees for gover ...

See also:

Polygraph, Polygraph - Admissibility of polygraphs in Court, Polygraph - Related techniques, Polygraph - Notes

Read more here: » Polygraph: Encyclopedia II - Polygraph - Admissibility of polygraphs in Court

A related technique called the bogus pipeline involves connecting a person to a non-functioning polygraph (or other sophisticated looking device), and convincing him or her that the device can detect deception. One example might be a metal colander placed on the subject's head, with non-functional wires leading to a Xerox photocopier. When a lie is suspected, the copy button could be pushed - thus spitting out a piece of paper with the words "LIE DETECTED". There have not been any confirmed examples of this actually being used by a police department (although it was depicted in the TV series "Homicide"See also:

Polygraph, Polygraph - Admissibility of polygraphs in Court, Polygraph - Related techniques, Polygraph - Notes

Read more here: » Polygraph: Encyclopedia II - Polygraph - Related techniques