The+Society+for+the+Scientific+Study+of+Sexuality

 Sara Hanahan

** The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality **
The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, also referred to as SSSS (logo seen in the picture) or “quad S” was founded in 1957in an attem  pt to encourage the systematic study of sexuality. It is a non-profit organization that has a strong commitment to “the next generation”. The Society’s mission statement supports their dedication to advancing knowledge of sexuality, which is acquired by freedom of inquiry, support for research, and an interdisciplinary network of collaborating scholars. Members believe in the importance of quality research and communication of accurate information about sexuality to professionals, policy makers, and the general public (SSSS 2010). **History ** Albert Ellis, Ph.D. has received credit for founding SSSS and was the Society’s first president. Ellis has now published 54 books and over 600 articles on sex and marriage ( Heery, Myrtle 2000 ). Hugo Beigel, Harry Benjamin, Henry Guze, Hans Lehfeldt, and Robert Sherwin also are recognized as Society Founders and most have served terms as presidents. Since its beginning, SSSS has been dedicated to promoting human welfare by reducing ignorance and prejudice about sexuality. Long term objectives were created and are included on the official website, which include: **Membership ** Currently, over 700 individuals hold memberships from many different professions, such as biologists, educators, historians, anthropologists, nurses, physicians, psychologists, sociologists, theologians, and therapists. Members receive voting rights within the society and participate in regional activities and conferences at reduced prices. Members also receive an abundance of current research, including //The Journal of Sex Research, Annual Review of Sex Research, Sexual Science// (online newsletter including information about conferences, training opportunities, job announcements and more), and The Membership Directory (online yearly directory of the membership and other information on SSSS). There are several different types of membership categories, ranging in price from $85 to $355. These include: Members can contribute in many ways and are welcome to be involved in the many committees offered. Currently, there are three Region Councils: Eastern Region Council, Midcontinent Region Council, and Western Region Council. **Awards ** The Society sponsors many awards, offered annually and periodically. These Honors include: Each Region gives awards its own honors, as well. **Events ** <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">SSSS has two upcoming events, The Western Region 2011 Conference and the 2011 Annual Meeting, Houston Texas. The Western Region Conference is to be held on April 14-17, 2011 at the Hilton in San Francisco’s Financial District. The topic is “Revolutionary Sex” and will consist of many different workshops, conferences, films, speakers, and information sessions involving extensive sexual communication. The workshops last around 3 hours and cover subjects such as “Understanding and Healing Love/Lust Splits”, “BDSM and Enpowerment- Guideline for Clinicians, Educators, and Health Care Providers Working with Kinky People”, and “Sex in Psychotherapy: Sexuality, Passion, Love, and Desire in the Therapeutic Encounter”. It also includes student presentations on social issues and theories, clinical and medical issues, women’s sexuality, gender/sexual orientation, and other various topics (SSSS 2010). This conference will attempt to reflect upon what has been accomplished in the national reinvention of sex, through alliances and collaborations during conflict and much controversy (Garcia, Richard 2010). <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The next event will be held on November 3-6, 2011 at the Intercontinental in Houston, Texas. It will discuss the topic of “Coming Together: Integrating Sexuality Theory, Research, and Practice” (SSSS 2010). **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Publications ** <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">SSSS compiles many sexually related articles into publications for its members. **<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Testimonies ** <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In a video interview of a woman after the Sexology Symposium in the Springtime Sun, which occurred April 9-11, 2010, the smiling interviewee stated that it “It’s just been really sweet to connect with people. There are so many genuine, really thoughtful, intelligent people here… All of the lectures were awesome, I learned so much. I got to go home and read my notes and come up with the whole picture of life.” (Western Region 2010). **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Contact ** <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Website: http://www.sexscience.org <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The Society Office SSSS P.O. Box 416 Allentown, PA 18105-0416 U.S.A. Phone: (610) 443-3100 <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Fax: (610) 443-3105 e-mail: thesociety@sexscience.org **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">References ** <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Garcia, Richard. //The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Western Region Annual// //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Meeting //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">. (Dec 2 2010). Retrieved from http://nsrc.sfsu.edu/organization_spotlight <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">/society_scientific_study_sexuality_western_region_annual_meeting <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Heery, Myrtle. An Interview with Albert Ellis, PhD. (2000). Retrieved from <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> http://www.psychotherapy.net/interview/albert-ellis-rebt#section-the-interview //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">SSSS: The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">. (2010).Retrieved <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">http://www.sexscience.org <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Taylor and Francis: Taylor and Francis Group. (2010). //The Journal of Sex Research: Annual// //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Review of Sex Research //<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">. Retrieved from http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/spissue/hjsr- <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> si.asp <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Western Region. (2010). Sexology Symposium in the Springtime Sun: April 9-11, 2010. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Retrieved from http://sssswr.org/symposium-post.html
 * · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Advancing the quality and quantity of the knowledge base in sexual science
 * · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Fostering the recognition of sexual science as rigorous and multidisciplinary within the community of science, with public policy makes, and the general public
 * · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Communicating the implications of sexual science
 * · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Enhancing the human resources of The Society by recruiting members and developing the skills of the membership
 * · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Maximizing revenues from existing financial resources and expanding sources of income
 * · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> //Members//: hold advanced degrees in their areas of expertise
 * · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> //Associate Members//: undergraduate degree in relevant academic discipline
 * · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> //Couple Members//: reduced fees, receive one of copy of publications
 * · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> //Retired Members//: retired professionals over 65 years of age and have reduced their professional activities
 * · <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> //Developing Professional Members:// 1st year, 2nd year, and 3rd year after a terminal degree
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Student Members //
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The Ira and Harriet Reiss Theory Award //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">: highlights and supports theoretical advances in social science theories concerning human sexuality. Given annually to the author(s) or the best social article, chapter, or book published in the previous year to explain valid human sexual attitudes and behaviors.
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Founders Award //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">: Given to Albert Ellis, Ph.D. in 2003
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Kinsey Award //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">: Chosen by the Midcontinent Region acknowledging contributions to the field of sex research, sex therapy, and sexology.
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Fellows of the Society //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">: elected for outstanding contributions to the phase of sexual knowledge
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Honorary Members of the Society Award //
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Distinguished Service to SSSS Award //
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">SSSS Public Service Award: //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">outstanding achievement in areas such as public awareness of sexual issues and public advocacy
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hugo G. //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> //Beigel Research Award//: Promote and reward research excellence in sexology
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Distinguished Scientific Achievement //
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">FSSS Grants-in-Aid Program: //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Provides up to $1000 to support scientific sexuality research in areas not likely to receive support from other sources
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Student Research Grants: //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Two grants up to $1,000 each to student members who are doing human sexuality research
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Honors/David Weis Student Paper Award //
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The Journal of Sex Research //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">: (a scientific quarterly) first produced in 1990. Scholarly journal publishing articles designed to stimulate research and promote interdisciplinary understanding of the diverse topics covered in sexual science. These articles include empirical reports, theoretical essays, literature reviews, methodological articles, historical articles, teaching papers, book reviews, and letters to the editor. Submissions from outside researchers are accepted and all information has undergone peer review.
 * · //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Annual Review of Sex Research //<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">: synthesizes recent theoretical and research advances and is the primary source for authoritative reviews in the field of sexuality. Articles focus on psychological, medical, and cultural aspects of sexual response and sexual dysfunctions, offering insights into the understanding and treatment of sexual problems. Can be purchased separately by non-members (Taylor and Francis 2010).