Sexuality and the life cycle Flashcards
Data sources
- interviews of children (Kinsey) or adolescents
- surveys among adults (retrospective data)
- observations
- taking computer interviews
Attachment
A psychological bond that forms between an infant and the parent/other caregiver
- quality of the relationship can be very important for a child’s capacity for later sexual and emotional relationships
Self stimulation
- Infants have been observed fondling their genitals
- between 6-12 months, infants discover their genitals by unintentionally touching them
- Orgasm from self-stimulation is possible, but before pruberty cannot ejaculate
Child-chilld sexual encounters
- Initially infants are self-centered by age 4/5 children become more social
- boys and girls may hug or hold hands
Infancy and the preschool years
- birth - 4 years
- physical contact
- to examine own body parts
- being curious about bodies
- to use ‘dirty’ words
Cross-gender gedrag
Sommige kinderen die zich niet identificeren met het gender wat ze toegeschreven is bij de geboorte beginnen met het vertonen van cross-gendergedrag
Preschool years
In the preschool years, children begin to develop a simple understanding of sexuality
- interested in viewing people nude, postures for urinating
- learn to identify different genders based on the genitals
By age 2 they know what gender they are and what parent they match.
Genital differences are undertod by age 5 or 6
Infancy and childhood
- 4-6 years old
Learn and play
- Learning how to behave in public
- being curious; to play doctor
- where do babies come from
- gender roles: clear ideas how boys and girls should behave
Childhood
- 6-9 years old
- liking someone –> being in love
- being curious; genitals have a sexual function, but not in public
- friendships: gendersegregated social organization
- social comparisons; opinions of others matter
Pre-adolescence
- 9-12 years old
- andrenarche
- being ashamed
- first courtship
- being curious; want to know more about sex
- a changing body
Andrenarche
The maturation of the adrenal glands (between 8 and 10 years old). It leads to increased levels of andorgens (= a group of sex hormones, including testosterone)
Heteronormativiteitspatroon
Het idee dat heteroseksualiteit het enige seksuele patroon is wat normaal en natuurlijk is
Puberty
- 12-15 years old
- longing to be independent
- friends become more and more important
- being curious; social media
- sexual attraction and interesse
Almost an adult
- 15-18 years old
Generally, there is a progression beginning with kissing, petting, moving to oral sex and then to penis-in-vagina intercourse
- try out relationships
- wishes anf boundaries
- sexual experiences
- covert –> overt (sexuality)
Masturbation
- adolescence 12-18
A sharp increase in the incidence of masturbation for boys between ages 13 and 15
- by age 15, 82% of the boys had masturbated
- girls also begin masturbating in adolescence, however, the increase in behavior is much more gradual
Student (19-22)
- hooking up
- friends with benefits
- fuck buddy
- booty call
Sexting
The sending of sexually charged messages or images, has gained national attention
- common, but the majority do not engage
- consequences can be serious
Seksuele socialisatie
Beelden in de media geven inzicht in seksuele relaties en hoe dat werkt
- scripts
Risky sex and the adolescent brain
Brain researchers believe engaging in risky sexual behaviors has a lot to do with the uneven pace of brain maturation across adolescence
- areas of the brain that have to do with emotion and seeking feel-good rewards develop earlier than those that have to do with impulse control
- probably leads teens to be more open to new experiences; but can lead them to engage in risky behaviors
Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development
A model of psychosocial development according to which we experience crises at each of the eight life stages
- each one of these crises may be resolved in one of two directions
- social influences are particularly important in determining the outcomes
According to Erikson
- in early childhood, there is a crisis between autonomy and shame, and later, between initiative and guilt
- the child who masturbates at age 5 is showing autonomy and initiative
- if parents react by punishing the child, their actions may produce shame and guilt
Crisis at each stage
Infancy: basic trust versus mistrust
Age 1.5 to 3: autonomy versus shame and doubt
Age 3 to 5.5: initiative versus guilt
Age 5.5 to 12: industry versus inferiority
Adolescence: identity versus role confusion
Young adulthood: intimacy versus isolation
Adulthood: Generativity versus stagnation
Maturity: ego integrety versus despair
Teen pregnancies in the EU and UK
- In the NL: the number of teenage mothers has been declining for some time
- at the beginning of this century, there were still around 3500, representing 7-8 mothers per 1000 girls under 20
- in 2010, ther e were 5.2 per 1000 and in 2020 there were 2.4 per 1000
Varieties of loving and committed relationships
- heterosexual vs same-sex
- married vs. cohabiting
- monogamous vs. nonmonogamous
