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.