Kaplan’s model of sexual response

Kaplan’s model describes sexual response as a progression through three stages: excitement, plateau, and orgasm. In the excitement phase, physical signs of arousal begin. During the plateau, arousal intensifies and stabilizes. Finally, in the orgasm stage, involuntary muscle contractions and pleasurable sensations occur. Unlike earlier models that focused mainly on physiological responses, Kaplan’s approach emphasizes the importance of psychological and emotional factors that influence each stage, highlighting that successful sexual experiences depend on reaching and maintaining arousal through these interconnected phases.