William E. Hartman

Background

William E. Hartman was born on February 17, 1919 in Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States.

Education

William E. Hartman received his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in sociology at the University of Southern California.

Career

From 1950 to 1951 William E. Hartman worked as an instructor in sociology and psychology at El Camino College. In 1951 he began a lengthy association with California State University in Long Beach, becoming a professor of sociology in 1967 and serving briefly as department chair from 1960 to 1963. Hartman retired from the university in 1980.

William E. Hartman established a private practice as a marriage counselor in 1959. In 1968, he co-founded the Center for Marital and Sexual Studies in Long Beach with his collegue Marilyn A. Fithian to conduct sex therapy and observe, film and monitor the physiology of subjects in sexual activity. A resulting book "Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction" is still used as a text. The book was among the first to discuss the importance of having a good self-image to achieve sexual fulfillment. However, the center closed in 1984.

Hartman also advocated using trained sexual surrogates to help people with sexual difficulties. In 1984 Hartman co-authored with Marilyn A. Fithian "Any Man Can" about multiple male orgasms.

Hartman's first major research was a study of nudism. He once told of being apprehensive about asking for a grant to conduct the study because of its controversial nature in the early 1960's. In the end, he received the money, but with the caveat that he could not drive to nudist clubs in a campus-owned car.

In that research, Hartman first enlisted the help of Fithian to administer questionnaires. Their findings, that nudists were normal people who were comfortable with their bodies, were published in 1970 in "Nudist Society".

Achievements

• William E. Hartman earned notice for studies on orgasms and sexual dysfunction, as well as his teaching. Sexologists often include Hartman alongside figures like Alfred Kinsey, William Masters and Virginia Johnson. His best-known book was "Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction".
  
  

Works

More photos

• book

  • Any Man Can

    (Drawing on laboratory investigation, counselling experien...)

    1984
  • Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction: A Basic Approach

    (This text presents the technical procedures of the treatm...)

    1977
  • Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction: A Bio-Psycho-Social Approach 1972
  • Nudist Society: The Controversial Study of the Clothes-Free Naturist Movement in America

Religion

Shortly before his death, Hartman, who had been excommunicated from the Mormon Church, was trying to regain admission.

Connections

William E. Hartman had five sons, Larry, Paul, Steve, Taylor, and William Jr., and two daughters, Carol Whipple and Beverly Rasmussen.

Son:

Larry Hartman

Son:

Paul Hartman

Son:

Steve Hartman

Son:

Taylor Hartman

Son:

William Hartman Jr.

Daughter:

Carol Whipple

Daughter:

Beverly Rasmussen

colleague:

Marilyn A. Fithian

References

• Contemporary Authors New Revision Series