Masters and Johsnon research team

The Masters and Johnson Research Team consisted of Dr. William Masters (1915–2001) and Virginia Johnson (1925–2013), who studied human sexuality from the 1950s to the 1990s. Their studies involved the observation of men and women engaged in various sexual activities. The team also studied sexual dysfunction and developed treatments.

Masters and Johnson's work is most important for two reasons. First, they measured the physiological responses of sex—taking a scientific approach, as opposed to earlier studies that used questionnaires to understand individuals' backgrounds and attitudes. Second, in publishing their results they gave female sexuality equal weight with male sexuality.

Because of the nature of their work and the suspected fabrication of some of their results, Masters and Johnson sometimes came under fire. Still, their work was an important part of the study of human sexuality. Masters and Johnson even inspired a 2013 television series.

Research and Publications

In 1957, Masters, who held a medical degree, hired Johnson as a research assistant to help him conduct research on human sexuality. Although Johnson did not have a college degree, she and Masters worked together for the next several decades. Masters and Johnson conducted their research at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Their work included studies in human sexual response, sexual dysfunction, and sexual disorders. Hugh Hefner, the founder of the adult magazine Playboy, helped fund their work.

One of the unique aspects of Masters and Johnson's studies is that they used direct observation, which involved watching people engaging in sexual activity. Even before he hired Johnson, Masters had begun such observations, beginning in 1954 with the study of prostitutes. When Masters and Johnson became a team, they switched from observing prostitutes to observing both men and women who were not involved in the sex trade.

During their observations, Masters and Johnson focused on subjects' physiological responses to the sexual activity in which they engaged. The team observed subjects perform everything from masturbation to sexual intercourse. They measured subjects' physical responses, including muscular and vascular responses. For example, Masters and Johnson measured heart rate, blood pressure, and vaginal changes.

Besides observing others engage in sexual activities, Masters and Johnson themselves became involved in such activities. Shortly after they teamed up, Masters convinced Johnson to have sex with him, claiming that it was part of their studies. At the time, Masters was married, and Johnson was divorced.

In 1964, Masters and Johnson founded the Reproductive Biology Research Foundation. Masters served as the director of the organization. In 1973, the organization's name was changed to the Masters and Johnson Institute, and Johnson became the co-director. From 1978 to 1994, Masters and Johnson conducted research and also managed training workshops for researchers, therapists, and educators.

Masters and Johnson's early studies led to the publication of their first book, Human Sexual Response, in 1966. The book was groundbreaking and shocked many people because it answers many questions regarding sex. Masters and Johnson then wrote the book Human Sexual Inadequacy in 1970. This book addresses sexual dysfunction and offers behavioral treatments for such dysfunction. Both books were best sellers and were translated into many languages. Other books followed, including The Pleasure Bond (1974) and Homosexuality in Perspective (1979). Masters and Johnson also teamed up with Dr. Robert Kolodny to write several other books, including Ethical Issues in Sex Therapy and Research (1977), Masters and Johnson on Sex and Human Loving (1986), and Heterosexuality (1994). Kolodny worked with Masters and Johnson for about thirty years.

In 1970, Masters and his wife divorced after twenty-nine years of marriage. Shortly afterward, he and Johnson married. Although Johnson claimed that she did not love Masters romantically, the couple remained together for more than twenty years. Their marriage ended in 1992 in divorce. But their work together did not end with the marriage. They continued working together for the next several years.

Masters died in 2001 after battling Parkinson's disease. Johnson died in 2013 from multiple illnesses.

Criticism

Although Masters and Johnson were pioneers in the study of human sexuality, they were sometimes criticized for their work. For instance, they were condemned for their work regarding homosexuality. In keeping with the general opinion of the time, they viewed homosexuality as abnormal, and they even attempted to treat what they saw as atypical behavior. Masters believed that homosexuals could be converted to heterosexuals and claimed a high success rate.

Additionally, some of Masters and Johnson's findings were questioned. For example, the team reported a success rate of 80 percent in treating sexual dysfunction, and claimed that treatment could be completed in only two weeks. Many researchers believe this to be fabricated. As for converting homosexuals into heterosexuals, Masters reported a success rate of 71 percent, which was also thought to be fabricated. Even Johnson and Kolodny believed that Masters had fabricated, or at least exaggerated, the results.

Legacy

Despite such criticism, the groundbreaking work of Masters and Johnson has continued to draw attention and interest. Author and journalist Thomas Maier wrote a biography of Masters and Johnson entitled Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love. Published in 2009, the book was the inspiration for the television series Masters of Sex. The series debuted on Showtime in 2013. Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan star as the famed researchers.

Bibliography

Kerrigan, Larisa. "Masters and Johnson." Psychological History of Women. Natalie Fraize, Larisa Kerrigan, Kylie McFatridge, and Aicha Nadifi. Web. 17 June 2015. http://psychistofwomen.umwblogs.org/sexuality/post-kinsey/masters-and-johnson/

"The Masters & Johnson Collection." Kinsey Today. The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. Web. 17 June 2015. http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/newsletter/fall2011/mastersjohnson.html

"Masters of Sex." IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Web. 17 June 2015. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2137109/?ref‗=ttawd‗awd‗tt

Rowles, Dustin. "10 Real-Life Facts about Bill Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Inspiration for Showtime's 'Masters of Sex.'" Pajiba. Pajiba. 10 Aug. 2014. Web. 17 June 2015. http://www.pajiba.com/seriously‗random‗lists/10-reallife-facts-about-bill-masters-and-virginia-johnson-the-inspiration-for-showtimes-masters-of-sex.php

Teichner, Martha."Masters & Johnson: They Wrote the Book on Having Sex." CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. 15 Feb. 2015. Web. 17 June 2015. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/masters-johnson-they-wrote-the-book-on-having-sex/