Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Chapter Twelve Sexuality Across the Life Span

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Infancy and Childhood - 1 Infancy Infants are born with a functioning sexual response system. Both boys and girls have been observed masturbating to the point of orgasm as early as 6 months of age. Childhood Research is difficult, but masturbation, mutual sex experiences (e.g., talking about sex, looking at pornography, showing genitals, and touching the genitals of another child).

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Infancy and Childhood - 2 Parent-Child Communication About Sexuality Studies suggest that parent-child sexual communication is most effective when it is initiated prior to an adolescent’s sexual debut. Personal Choices: Exposing Children to Parental Nudity? An 18-year study on early childhood exposure to parental nudity concluded that beliefs in the harmfulness of parental nudity are exaggerated.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Adolescence - 1 Adolescence The developmental period in which youth move from childhood to adulthood. Adolescence is a time when one becomes increasingly aware of one’s own and others’ sexuality. Physical Changes  Puberty: Developmental stage in which a youth achieves reproductive capacity  Menarche and semenarche

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Adolescence - 2 Psychological Changes Psychological changes include moving from a state of childish dependence to a state of relative independence, resolving sexual identity issues, and feeling secure that one is normal. New Sexual Behaviors Adolescents report a typical progression of increasingly intimate sexual behaviors; kissing occurs prior to petting, which is followed by intercourse or oral sex.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Adolescence - 3 Behaviors include”  Masturbation  Petting and oral sex  Sexual intercourse Teen Pregnancy  Although the rate has declined, pregnancy is still a concern.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Adolescence - 4 Parent-Adolescent Communication about Sex  Parent communications threatening  Adolescents want more understanding School-based Sex Education Programs  Programs are usually abstinence education programs.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Early Adulthood - 1 Table 8-1 The Case for Singlehood Benefits of Singlehood:Limitations of Marriage: Freedom to do as one wishesRestricted by spouse or children Responsible for oneself onlyResponsible for spouse and children Close friends of both sexesPressure to avoid other close-sex friendships Spontaneous lifestyleRoutine, predictable sex/lifestyle Feeling of self-sufficiencyPotential to feel dependent Freedom to spend money as one wishes Expenditures influenced by needs of spouse and children Freedom to move as career dictatesRestrictions on career mobility Avoid being controlled/influenced by spouse Potential to be controlled/influenced by spouse Avoid emotional and financial stress of divorce Possibility of divorce

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Early Adulthood - 2 Sexuality Among Cohabitants Cohabitation A living situation in which two adults involved in an emotional and sexual relationship share a common residence for four nights a week for three months.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Early Adulthood - 3 Most Americans choose marriage, and many married couples enjoy a satisfying sex life.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Early Adulthood - 4 Sexuality Among the Married Marital sex is characterized by its social legitimacy, declining frequency, and its superiority in terms of physical and emotional satisfaction. Satiation Psychological term that refers to the repeated exposure to a stimulus which results in the loss of ability of that stimulus to reinforce.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Early Adulthood (continued) Sexuality Among the Divorced Some divorced people use sex to mend their self- esteem, others use it to test their sexual adequacy. Some simply enjoy the sexual freedom their divorced status offers.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Early Adulthood - 5 Extradyadic Sexual Involvement Sexual relationship that occurs outside the couple, as when an individual of a dyad (couple) becomes sexually involved with someone other than the partner or mate. Extramarital Attraction of a spouse to someone other than one’s mate.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Early Adulthood - 6 Types of Extradyadic Encounters  Brief sexual encounters  Romantic affairs  Open marriages  Polyamory  Swinging  Computer affairs

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Early Adulthood - 7 Motivations for Extradyadic Sexual Encounter  Variety, Novelty, and Excitement  Friendship  Relationship Dissatisfaction  Revenge  Involvement in Homosexual Relationship  Aging  Absence from Partner

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Early Adulthood - 8 Personal Choices: Consequences of Extradyadic Sex Potential Negative Outcomes  Partner’s sense of distrust  Decision-making becomes individual  Pattern of affairs  Termination of the primary relationship  Economics  STDs  Jealously leading to violence

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Early Adulthood - 9 Personal Choices: Consequences of Extradyadic Sex Potential Positive Outcomes  Bridge out of marriage  Partners more sensitive to relationship problems  Partners become more sensitive to needs of spouse

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Middle and Late Adulthood - 1 Middle age Time in a person’s life that begins when the last child leaves home and continues until retirement or the death of either spouse; defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as age 45

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Middle and Late Adulthood - 2 Women and Menopause  Menopause: The permanent cessation of menstruation that occurs in middle age  Climacteric: Term often used synonymously with menopause, refers to changes that both men and women experience at midlife

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Middle and Late Adulthood - 3 Men and the Decrease in Testosterone Some researchers suggest that men go through their own menopause because there is also a drop in sex hormones similar to that in women. In some men, the level can drop so low that men may experience depression, anxiety, hot flashes, decreased libido, difficulty achieving/maintaining an erection, and diminished memory.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Middle and Late Adulthood - 4 Sexuality of Elderly Men As men age:  Getting an erection takes longer.  The erection may be less rigid and there is usually a longer delay before ejaculation.  Orgasm is usually less intense.  The erection is lost rather quickly after ejaculation.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2004 Sexuality in Middle and Late Adulthood - 5 Sexuality of Elderly Women As women age:  Vaginal lubrication takes longer.  Both the length and the width of the vagina decrease.  The resolution phase of the sexual response phase occurs more quickly.  Clitoral retraction and orgasmic platform disappear quickly after orgasm.