Human Sexuality: Dimensions, Behaviors, and Development

Posted on Mar 16, 2025 in Psychology and Sociology

Dimensions of Sexuality

• Biological: Encompasses the anatomical, physiological, and endocrine aspects that differentiate males and females.
• Psychological: Involves emotions, feelings, beliefs, and values. Personality, thoughts, desires, and identity are also key factors.
• Sociocultural and Ethics: Each society shapes the development and expression of sexuality, setting guidelines and values for these behaviors.
• Clinical: Issues such as anxiety or depression can cause psychological problems that impact sexual life and relationships.

Common Sexual Dysfunctions

In Women

• Inhibited Sexual Arousal: Often referred to as frigidity. Causes include education, sexual ignorance, shame, or fear of rejection.
• Vaginismus: Muscle spasms that hinder sexual activity.
• Anorgasmia: Difficulty or inability to achieve orgasm.
• Dyspareunia: Genital pain during intercourse, often due to lack of vaginal lubrication.

In Men

• Inhibited Sexual Arousal: Characterized by inhibited desire and absence or decrease of erection.
• Premature Ejaculation: Ejaculation that is not controlled and not synchronized with a partner.
• Inhibited Orgasm: Absence of ejaculation after a suitable period of sexual excitement.

Key Aspects of Sexuality

• Physical Contact: The body conveys feelings and emotions through touch, often more spontaneously and sincerely than verbal language.
• Pleasure: Feelings of pleasure and displeasure are essential for personal development. Pleasure results from a rewarding relationship with oneself and others.
• Reproduction: While sexuality is constant throughout life, reproductive capacity is limited to certain ages.

Attitudes Toward Sexuality

• Prohibitive: Advocated by those who view sex as taboo or shameful. This can lead to ignorance and negative attitudes, hindering healthy relationships.
• Permissive: A superficial change in attitude, often driven by trends rather than genuine understanding.
• Growth-Oriented: Focuses on personal potential and development within the context of sexuality.

Variations in Sexual Behavior

• Exhibitionism: Exposing one’s genitals to others for arousal or shock.
• Voyeurism: Achieving sexual satisfaction through observing nudity or sexual acts.
• Transvestism: Using clothes of the opposite sex for sexual stimulation.
• Fetishism: Sexual attraction to inanimate objects.
• Sadism and Masochism: Deriving sexual pleasure from inflicting pain (sadism) or receiving pain/humiliation (masochism).
• Pedophilia: Sexual attraction towards children, often stemming from an inferiority complex.

Goals of Adolescence

• Develop cognitive and emotional skills.
• Construct a personal identity.
• Acquire new social skills.

Psychological Changes During Adolescence

• Reaffirmation of self.
• Autonomy.
• Rich inner world and psychic possibilities.
• Retreat.

Identity Crisis During Adolescence

• Introduction of masculinity or feminism based on one’s sex.
• Bisexual confusion.
• Need to cope with demanding social roles.
• Research for an ideological commitment against value confusion.
• No ambiguous statutes; teenagers now set social norms.

Youth Culture

• New forms of communication.
• Individualization.
• Valorization of the body.
• Cult of image.
• Focus on the present.
• Sensitivity’s time.
• Consumerism.
• Nomadism.

Behavioral Styles

• Passive Behavior: Difficulty expressing thoughts and feelings due to lack of confidence or self-defeating tendencies.
• Aggressive Behavior: Using physical, psychological, or emotional force to violate the rights and feelings of others.
• Assertive Behavior: Expressing needs and desires without manipulating or harming others.

Basic Components of Love

• Intimacy: Feelings of closeness, communication, and connection.
• Passion: The emotional power of physical attraction.
• Commitment: The effort to care for and maintain love so it evolves and does not disappear.