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Week 7: Development & Expression Of Human Sexuality
Key Aspects Of Sexual Identity:
● Identity refers to a clear and stable sense of who one is in the larger society.
● Sexual Identity refers to the complex set of personal qualities, self-perceptions, attitudes,
values and preferences that guide one’s sexual behavior
● Sexual Identity Includes 4 Key Features:
1. Sexual Orientation
● Sexual orientation is part of one’s identity that includes one’s sexual and
emotional attraction to others.
● Individuals with a heterosexual orientation seek emotional-sexual
relationships with members of the other gender.
● Those with a same-sex orientation (also called homosexual orientation)
seek emotional-sexual relationships with members of the same gender.
● Those with a bisexual orientation seek emotional-sexual relationships
with members of more than one gender.
● Those with an asexual orientation feel little need for emotional-sexual
relationships with anyone, regardless of gender.
2. Body Image
● Your body image is how you perceive yourself physically.
● Your view of your physical self affects how you feel about yourself in the
sexual domain.
● A positive body image is correlated with greater sexual activity, higher
sexual satisfaction, and fewer sexual problems
3. Sexual Values
● In forming their values, people are taught that certain expressions of
sexuality are “right,” while others are “wrong.”
● The nature of these sexual messages is culture-specific and varies
depending on gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
● A lingering sexual double standard encourages sexual activity in males,
but not females.
● Individuals are faced with the daunting task of sorting through these often-
conflicting messages to develop their own sexual values and ethics.
● Absolutism - no sexual activity outside of marriage
● Relativism - the relationship determines whether sexual activity is
appropriate
● Hedonism - anything goes
4. Erotic Preferences
, ● Within the limits imposed by sexual orientation and values, people still
differ in what they find enjoyable.
● People’s erotic preferences encompass their attitudes about self-
stimulation, oral sex, intercourse, and other sexual activities.
Physiological Influences:
● Hormones have important effects on sexual development. Their influence on sexual
anatomy, however, is much greater than their influence on sexual activity
● Hormones & Sexual Differentiation:
○ During the prenatal period, a number of biological developments result in a fetus
that is identified as male or female at birth. Hormones play an important role in
this process, which is termed sexual differentiation.
○ Around the third month of prenatal development, different hormonal secretions
begin to be produced by male and female gonads —the sex glands.
■ In males, the testes produce androgens , the principal class of male sex
hormones. Testosterone is the most important of the androgens.
■ In females, the ovaries produce estrogens , the principal class of female
sex hormones.
○ Actually, both classes of hormones are present in males and females, but in
different proportions. During prenatal development, the differentiation of the
genitals depends primarily on the level of testosterone produced—high in males,
low in females.
○ There are instances, though rare, in which sexual differentiation is incomplete,
and individuals are born with ambiguous genitals, sex organs, or sex
chromosomes. People with these conditions, referred to as intersex, are born with
a combination of male and female hormonal or anatomical features
● Sexual Maturation & Puberty:
○ At puberty, hormones reassert their influence on sexual development.
○ Adolescents attain reproductive capacity as hormonal changes trigger the
maturation of the primary sex characteristics, the structures necessary for
reproduction (sex organs).
○ Hormonal shifts also regulate the development of secondary sex characteristics
(physical features that distinguish the genders but are not directly involved in
reproduction). For instance, in females, more estrogen leads to breast
development, widened hips, and rounded body contours. In males, more androgen
results in developing facial hair, a deeper voice, and angular body contours.
○ In females, a pivotal point in pubertal development is menarche —the first
occurrence of menstruation. American girls typically reach menarche between
ages 10 and 16, with the average age being 12.4 years
○ In males, there is no clear-cut marker of the onset of sexual maturity, although the
capacity to ejaculate is used as an index of puberty. Spermarche , or the first
ejaculation, is often experienced through nocturnal ejaculations, and age of onset
can be difficult to determine. Experts note that ejaculation may not be a valid
index of actual maturity, as early ejaculations may contain seminal fluid but not
active sperm.
, Psychosocial Influences:
● Sexual identity is shaped by one’s family, peers, schools, and religion, as well as the
media.
● Families:
○ Parents and the home environment are significant influences on sexual identity in
the early years. Before they reach school age, children usually engage in some sex
play and exploration, such as “playing doctor.” They also display curiosity about
sexual matters, asking questions such as “Where do babies come from?” This
curiosity increases with age.
○ Parents who punish innocent, exploratory sex play and who stutter and squirm
when kids ask sexual questions convey the idea that sex is “dirty.” As a result,
children may begin to feel guilty about their sexual urges and curiosity.
○ Direct communication between parents and children about issues related to sex is
important. However, only 79% of girls and 70% of boys report talking to their
parents about sex
○ Almost 50% of teens report getting information about birth control from someone
other than their parents. And even when communication does occur, many young
people feel dissatisfied with the sexual information they receive from their
parents, in terms of both quantity and quality.
○ Although most parents recognize that it is important to communicate with their
children about issues related to sexuality, many don’t because they simply feel
uncomfortable. Further, even when parents do provide information, it is not
uncommon for their knowledge about sexually related topics to be incorrect,
incomplete, or outdated, prompting experts to encourage sex education for the
parents of teens
● Peers:
○ Friends provide a lot of information regarding sex, and positive peer influence is
associated with less risky sexual behavior and reduced risk of sexually transmitted
infections
○ Indeed, the sexual behaviors of one’s friends are a strong predictor of one’s own
sexual behavior
○ But it’s not just actual behaviors that individuals use for information; adolescents’
sexual attitudes and behavior are also positively associated with their perceptions
of their friends’ sexual attitudes and behavior
○ However, peers can be a source of highly misleading information and often
champion sexual behavior at odds with parents’ views.
● Schools:
○ Surveys find that the vast majority of parents support sex education programs in
the schools, despite the media attention given to isolated, vocal protests. In 2017,
93% of parents supported sex education in middle and high schools
○ The type of sexual education schools offer varies. Abstinence-only programs offer
no information about contraceptive methods but encourage students to abstain
from sex, while abstinence plus programs include additional information about
sexually transmitted diseases and contraception. Comprehensive programs offer
information on a wide variety of topics, such as contraception, abortion, sexually
Week 7: Development & Expression Of Human Sexuality
Key Aspects Of Sexual Identity:
● Identity refers to a clear and stable sense of who one is in the larger society.
● Sexual Identity refers to the complex set of personal qualities, self-perceptions, attitudes,
values and preferences that guide one’s sexual behavior
● Sexual Identity Includes 4 Key Features:
1. Sexual Orientation
● Sexual orientation is part of one’s identity that includes one’s sexual and
emotional attraction to others.
● Individuals with a heterosexual orientation seek emotional-sexual
relationships with members of the other gender.
● Those with a same-sex orientation (also called homosexual orientation)
seek emotional-sexual relationships with members of the same gender.
● Those with a bisexual orientation seek emotional-sexual relationships
with members of more than one gender.
● Those with an asexual orientation feel little need for emotional-sexual
relationships with anyone, regardless of gender.
2. Body Image
● Your body image is how you perceive yourself physically.
● Your view of your physical self affects how you feel about yourself in the
sexual domain.
● A positive body image is correlated with greater sexual activity, higher
sexual satisfaction, and fewer sexual problems
3. Sexual Values
● In forming their values, people are taught that certain expressions of
sexuality are “right,” while others are “wrong.”
● The nature of these sexual messages is culture-specific and varies
depending on gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
● A lingering sexual double standard encourages sexual activity in males,
but not females.
● Individuals are faced with the daunting task of sorting through these often-
conflicting messages to develop their own sexual values and ethics.
● Absolutism - no sexual activity outside of marriage
● Relativism - the relationship determines whether sexual activity is
appropriate
● Hedonism - anything goes
4. Erotic Preferences
, ● Within the limits imposed by sexual orientation and values, people still
differ in what they find enjoyable.
● People’s erotic preferences encompass their attitudes about self-
stimulation, oral sex, intercourse, and other sexual activities.
Physiological Influences:
● Hormones have important effects on sexual development. Their influence on sexual
anatomy, however, is much greater than their influence on sexual activity
● Hormones & Sexual Differentiation:
○ During the prenatal period, a number of biological developments result in a fetus
that is identified as male or female at birth. Hormones play an important role in
this process, which is termed sexual differentiation.
○ Around the third month of prenatal development, different hormonal secretions
begin to be produced by male and female gonads —the sex glands.
■ In males, the testes produce androgens , the principal class of male sex
hormones. Testosterone is the most important of the androgens.
■ In females, the ovaries produce estrogens , the principal class of female
sex hormones.
○ Actually, both classes of hormones are present in males and females, but in
different proportions. During prenatal development, the differentiation of the
genitals depends primarily on the level of testosterone produced—high in males,
low in females.
○ There are instances, though rare, in which sexual differentiation is incomplete,
and individuals are born with ambiguous genitals, sex organs, or sex
chromosomes. People with these conditions, referred to as intersex, are born with
a combination of male and female hormonal or anatomical features
● Sexual Maturation & Puberty:
○ At puberty, hormones reassert their influence on sexual development.
○ Adolescents attain reproductive capacity as hormonal changes trigger the
maturation of the primary sex characteristics, the structures necessary for
reproduction (sex organs).
○ Hormonal shifts also regulate the development of secondary sex characteristics
(physical features that distinguish the genders but are not directly involved in
reproduction). For instance, in females, more estrogen leads to breast
development, widened hips, and rounded body contours. In males, more androgen
results in developing facial hair, a deeper voice, and angular body contours.
○ In females, a pivotal point in pubertal development is menarche —the first
occurrence of menstruation. American girls typically reach menarche between
ages 10 and 16, with the average age being 12.4 years
○ In males, there is no clear-cut marker of the onset of sexual maturity, although the
capacity to ejaculate is used as an index of puberty. Spermarche , or the first
ejaculation, is often experienced through nocturnal ejaculations, and age of onset
can be difficult to determine. Experts note that ejaculation may not be a valid
index of actual maturity, as early ejaculations may contain seminal fluid but not
active sperm.
, Psychosocial Influences:
● Sexual identity is shaped by one’s family, peers, schools, and religion, as well as the
media.
● Families:
○ Parents and the home environment are significant influences on sexual identity in
the early years. Before they reach school age, children usually engage in some sex
play and exploration, such as “playing doctor.” They also display curiosity about
sexual matters, asking questions such as “Where do babies come from?” This
curiosity increases with age.
○ Parents who punish innocent, exploratory sex play and who stutter and squirm
when kids ask sexual questions convey the idea that sex is “dirty.” As a result,
children may begin to feel guilty about their sexual urges and curiosity.
○ Direct communication between parents and children about issues related to sex is
important. However, only 79% of girls and 70% of boys report talking to their
parents about sex
○ Almost 50% of teens report getting information about birth control from someone
other than their parents. And even when communication does occur, many young
people feel dissatisfied with the sexual information they receive from their
parents, in terms of both quantity and quality.
○ Although most parents recognize that it is important to communicate with their
children about issues related to sexuality, many don’t because they simply feel
uncomfortable. Further, even when parents do provide information, it is not
uncommon for their knowledge about sexually related topics to be incorrect,
incomplete, or outdated, prompting experts to encourage sex education for the
parents of teens
● Peers:
○ Friends provide a lot of information regarding sex, and positive peer influence is
associated with less risky sexual behavior and reduced risk of sexually transmitted
infections
○ Indeed, the sexual behaviors of one’s friends are a strong predictor of one’s own
sexual behavior
○ But it’s not just actual behaviors that individuals use for information; adolescents’
sexual attitudes and behavior are also positively associated with their perceptions
of their friends’ sexual attitudes and behavior
○ However, peers can be a source of highly misleading information and often
champion sexual behavior at odds with parents’ views.
● Schools:
○ Surveys find that the vast majority of parents support sex education programs in
the schools, despite the media attention given to isolated, vocal protests. In 2017,
93% of parents supported sex education in middle and high schools
○ The type of sexual education schools offer varies. Abstinence-only programs offer
no information about contraceptive methods but encourage students to abstain
from sex, while abstinence plus programs include additional information about
sexually transmitted diseases and contraception. Comprehensive programs offer
information on a wide variety of topics, such as contraception, abortion, sexually
