Lecture 1 - Psychosexual development in children and young people
Sexuality (WHO definition, 2006):
- A central aspect of being human throughout life (that) encompasses sex (biological
foundation of being male or female), gender identities and roles (subjective feeling
of feeling like a men or woman), sexual orientation (who you are attracted to),
eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction.
- Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs,
attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships -> more than just
behavior.
- Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social,
economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors.
Youth: between the age of 12-25
Why this course matters:
- Adolescents are faced with many developmental tasks related to sexuality. Young
people are the drivers of change in society
- Polarizing debates -> debate about Rutgers sex education program
- “18 is the new 15” when it comes to dating and sex. Young people start having sex
later. What are the causes? Increased perfectionism, influence of SM, high beauty
standards? Is it a good thing that young people start later?
- Decline in condom use. Increasing risk of STI’s and unplanned pregnancy’s
- Debate about hormonal contraceptives. Lots of side effects, debate about how they
can be improved
- LGBTQ+ acceptance, decrease of acceptance
- …and mental health consequences. Acceptance has it consequences. Suicide risk by
gender identity if it differs from the norm
- Toxic masculinity & manosphere
- Consent, social media, porn, etc. -> new consent law, the bar has been lowered to be
accused of sexual harassment behavior
Principles:
- Sexual development is a life-long process
- Sexual development is multidimensional
- Sexual development is context-related
- Interaction between individual and context
- Sexual development has many paths
1
,Early childhood age 0-5
Context:
- Attachment -> important domain, young children develop attachment style based on
how parents treat them. This influences sexual development
- Motor skills -> e.g. touch and grab things, but also touch your own body
- Self-awareness and self-appreciation -> develop a sense of identity, recognize
themselves in the mirror, important for self-esteem
- Language -> learning the language for the genitals
- Toilet training
Sexual development, discovering:
- Own body and that of others
- Language for genitals
- Gender
- Social rules
Discovering behaviour: parents’ observations (%)
Knowledge of 3-6-year-old children (% correct)
- Male genitals are better known than the female genitals -> more words for female
genitals
Childhood age 6-11
Context:
- Taking the others’ perspectives
- Conscious of social norms -> learn what they can and can not do
2
, - School
- Friendships (mostly same-sex)
- (Social) media
- Parents important
Sexual development:
- First insecurities
- Exploring behaviour in privacy
- Shame about nudity
- Being in love and going steady
- Some basic knowledge about sexuality
- Curiosity about sexuality -> ask a lot of questions
Sexually tinted behaviour: parents’ observations (%)
Childrens’ self-report in a survey (%)
Early adolescence age 12-14
Context:
- Physical changes -> girls earlier than boys
- Identity development
- Brain development -> mainly focus on rewards and less on the risks, impulsive
behavior
- Secondary education
- Parents still important
- Friends more important
- (Social) media
3
, Sexual development:
- Insecurity
- Arousal and masturbation
- Love and relationships
- Kissing and occasionally touching
- Most not ‘ready’ for more
Experience with love and sex (% among ages 13-14)
‘I’m not ready for sex’ (% agree among participants with no sexual experience)
Young starters run greater risks
- Access to information
- Less knowledge of sex, STDs and contraceptives
- Less well protected against pregnancy and STDs
- More likely to be persuaded or forced the first time
Early start more likely to be a positive experience if...
- Step-by-step progression
- Expecting the sexual debut
- Autonomous decision making
- Open communication with important others
Mid-adolescence age 15-18
Context:
- Physical changes continue
4
Sexuality (WHO definition, 2006):
- A central aspect of being human throughout life (that) encompasses sex (biological
foundation of being male or female), gender identities and roles (subjective feeling
of feeling like a men or woman), sexual orientation (who you are attracted to),
eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction.
- Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs,
attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships -> more than just
behavior.
- Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social,
economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors.
Youth: between the age of 12-25
Why this course matters:
- Adolescents are faced with many developmental tasks related to sexuality. Young
people are the drivers of change in society
- Polarizing debates -> debate about Rutgers sex education program
- “18 is the new 15” when it comes to dating and sex. Young people start having sex
later. What are the causes? Increased perfectionism, influence of SM, high beauty
standards? Is it a good thing that young people start later?
- Decline in condom use. Increasing risk of STI’s and unplanned pregnancy’s
- Debate about hormonal contraceptives. Lots of side effects, debate about how they
can be improved
- LGBTQ+ acceptance, decrease of acceptance
- …and mental health consequences. Acceptance has it consequences. Suicide risk by
gender identity if it differs from the norm
- Toxic masculinity & manosphere
- Consent, social media, porn, etc. -> new consent law, the bar has been lowered to be
accused of sexual harassment behavior
Principles:
- Sexual development is a life-long process
- Sexual development is multidimensional
- Sexual development is context-related
- Interaction between individual and context
- Sexual development has many paths
1
,Early childhood age 0-5
Context:
- Attachment -> important domain, young children develop attachment style based on
how parents treat them. This influences sexual development
- Motor skills -> e.g. touch and grab things, but also touch your own body
- Self-awareness and self-appreciation -> develop a sense of identity, recognize
themselves in the mirror, important for self-esteem
- Language -> learning the language for the genitals
- Toilet training
Sexual development, discovering:
- Own body and that of others
- Language for genitals
- Gender
- Social rules
Discovering behaviour: parents’ observations (%)
Knowledge of 3-6-year-old children (% correct)
- Male genitals are better known than the female genitals -> more words for female
genitals
Childhood age 6-11
Context:
- Taking the others’ perspectives
- Conscious of social norms -> learn what they can and can not do
2
, - School
- Friendships (mostly same-sex)
- (Social) media
- Parents important
Sexual development:
- First insecurities
- Exploring behaviour in privacy
- Shame about nudity
- Being in love and going steady
- Some basic knowledge about sexuality
- Curiosity about sexuality -> ask a lot of questions
Sexually tinted behaviour: parents’ observations (%)
Childrens’ self-report in a survey (%)
Early adolescence age 12-14
Context:
- Physical changes -> girls earlier than boys
- Identity development
- Brain development -> mainly focus on rewards and less on the risks, impulsive
behavior
- Secondary education
- Parents still important
- Friends more important
- (Social) media
3
, Sexual development:
- Insecurity
- Arousal and masturbation
- Love and relationships
- Kissing and occasionally touching
- Most not ‘ready’ for more
Experience with love and sex (% among ages 13-14)
‘I’m not ready for sex’ (% agree among participants with no sexual experience)
Young starters run greater risks
- Access to information
- Less knowledge of sex, STDs and contraceptives
- Less well protected against pregnancy and STDs
- More likely to be persuaded or forced the first time
Early start more likely to be a positive experience if...
- Step-by-step progression
- Expecting the sexual debut
- Autonomous decision making
- Open communication with important others
Mid-adolescence age 15-18
Context:
- Physical changes continue
4
