What are the four stages of sexual responding described by Masters and Johnson?

• A. Sexual response cycle
• B. Sexual arousal stages
• C. Masters and Johnson stages
• D. Four-stage sexual sequence

Answer: (A)

The four-stage model of sexual response described by Masters and Johnson is best labeled the sexual response cycle. It explains a typical progression from initial arousal through peak arousal, leading to orgasm, and then a recovery phase. The four stages are excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. This term—sexual response cycle—is the standard label you’ll see in psychology textbooks and lectures for this sequence. The other phrasings are not the established name for the model. Some variation in timing or experience can occur among individuals, but the cycle provides a clear framework for understanding how physiological and psychological changes unfold in a common sequence.