1. Chapter 5 Healthy Relationships and Sexuality
Making Commitments

2. Intimate Relationships
Close relationship
you offer and are offered
validation
understanding
sense of being valued intellectually, emotionally and physically

3. Characteristics Behavioral Interdependence mutual impact on each other
daily activities intertwined
grow together
missed if gone

4. Characteristics Need Fulfillment approval/sense of purpose…….
need for intimacy - share feeling
social integration (worries and concerns)…….
being nurturant - someone to take care of…….
need for assistance - help when needed……….
affirmation of worth - we matter…….

5. Characteristics Emotional attachment feelings of love and attachment
impossible to judge from outside
can be sexual or non-sexual
intimate relationships go beyond sexual contact
can be an important part but not a requirement

6. Emotional Availability
to give and receive emotionally
without the fear of being hurt or rejected
times to be less emotionally available - recovery from loss

7. Types of Intimate Relationships Balanced Intimacy…several dimensions
Sexual - expression of closeness
Intellectual - sharing of ideas
Emotional - significant feeling
Aesthetic - sharing experiences
Recreational - having fun
Work - house, family, employment and community
Crisis - successful coping with internal and external threats
Spiritual - sharing the meaning of life

8. Forming Intimate Relationships
Changes throughout life
family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances
Families - changed over the years both parents working, life’s demands and society
Is today’s Family………..
different???

9. Friendships: finding the Right Ingredients
Enjoyment
Acceptance
Trust
Respect
Mutual Assistance
Confiding
Understanding
Spontaneity

10. Significant Others, Partners, Couples
Sexual Relationships
Four Categories:
married heterosexual couples
cohabiting heterosexual couples
lesbian couples
gay male couples

11. Friendship with Passion
Fascination - spend as much time as possible with the other person
Exclusiveness - love relationship takes priority/only person
Sexual Desire - physical intimacy may not be acted upon b/c of religious, moral, or practical reasons
Giving the Utmost - other’s need/sacrifice
Being a champion/advocate - unselfish acts to help other succeed

12. LOVE Companionate: Passionate: family/close friends
relationship - common
interests/attached/well-being/express
reciprocal liking & respect
Passionate:
state of high
arousal/ecstasy of love - agony
of rejection

13. Passionate Love….. concept of “Falling in Love” excepted by culture
suitable “love Object”must be presented
taught attributes to seek out - parents,
peers, pop culture……..
physiological arousal in presence of person!

14. Attraction and Love!
Imprinting…… evolutionary patterns, genetic predisposition, past experiences….. trigger romantic response
Attraction……neurochemicals - feelings of euphoria and elation
Attachment……endorphins, natural opiates - peaceful, secure and calm
Production of a cuddle chemical…..
oxytocin - satisfaction and attachment during love making...

15. Fourth Year Divorce Rate - Present in 60 cultures
Tolerance to PEA levels drop and the feeling of love reduces
Past four years - endorphins - soothing substances that give lovers the feeling of peace, security and calm

16. Gender Issues: Men, Women, and Relationships
Understanding and communication very important
styles of men and women differ
can create problems / seems like different cultures
Differences Why?

17. Barriers to Intimacy - lack of personal identity, emotional immaturity, not responsible, fear of being hurt, low self-esteem….
Other reasons
Dysfunctional Family - interactions inhibit instead of enhancing psychological growth
Jealousy - adverse reaction to from actual or perceived relationships with a third party

18. Committed Relationships
Feeling of love or sexual attraction
and a committed relationship….?
Love without
Sex without
Committed - intention to perpetuate wellbeing of the other person, yourself and the relationship

19. Marriage - traditional committed relationship in many societies
Monogamy - exclusive sexual involvement / one partner
Serial monogamy- series of monogamous relationships
Open Relationship - agreed sexual involvement outside the relationship
Cohabitation - Living together / not married
Common-law marriage - cohabitation 3 years / similar to marriage but not all legal aspects

20. Success in Committed Relationships
Marriage - success based on how long the couple stays together
Cohabitation - meets other’s situations and needs
Both can be healthy and successful

21. Success in Committed Relationships
Partnering Scripts - what is expected from society / passed along from parents - “marry and have children”
Accountability - responsibility for personal decisions, choices and actions
Self-nurturance - developing individual potential / realistic /appreciation for self-worth and ability

22. Elements of a Good Relationship
Predictability - knowing your partner
Dependability - reliable / supportive
Faith - certain about partner’s intentions & behaviours
Trust

23. Ending a Relationship The Warning Signs! Communication breakdown
lack of interest
emotional confrontations
feelings of being unappreciated / unwanted / unloved
Autonomy -self-care / emotionally, socially, and physically

24. Seeking Help: Where to Look - trusted friends / trained professional counsellors
Seeking Help: Where to Look - trusted friend / trained professional counsellors
Trial Separations - time out to heal and to reflect on the relationship / professional help
Why Relationships End
Unmet needs, differences, loss of a child ….. Many …. many reasons

25. Deciding to Break Up
Troubled couples decide relationship not worth saving
Difficult - strong emotions, pain, guilt, revenge, hurt, confusion, worthlessness
Seek support and help to cope

26. Defining Your Sexual Identity
We are born sexual beings
Taboos, mores. Laws and sexual myths abound!
Must be comfortable with personal sexual identity
Sexual Identity - recognition of ourselves as sexual creatures
Genetic / environmental / physiological factors

27. XX a Female / XY a Male
Gonads - reproductive organs / male (testes) or female (ovaries)
Puberty - sexual maturation
Pituitary Gland - controls release of hormones from gonads
Secondary sex characteristics - associated with gender but not reproduction

28. Gender Identity and Roles
Gender - sense of Masculinity or Femininity / your society & culture
Gender Roles / stereotypes - generalization to how males and females should express their gender
Androgyny - male and female traits in same person

29. Gender Identity and Roles
Socialization - society identifies behaviours for it’s members
information from parents, schools, friends, popular culture, tradition…...

30. Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology External Female Genitals
Vulva - external genitalia
Labia Minora - “Inner lips”or
folds of tissues
Labia Majora - “Outer Lips”or
folds of tissues covering sexual
organs
Clitoris - pea-sized nodule on top
of the LM
Urethral opening - urination

31. External Female Genitals
Vagina - passage leading from vulva to uterus
Hymen - thin tissue covering the vaginal opening
Perineum - tissue extending from vulva to anus

32. Internal Female Genitals
Uterus (womb) - hollow area to contain foetus
Endometrium - uterine lining
Cervix - lower end of uterus
Ovaries - houses developing eggs and produces hormones
Fallopian Tubes - tubes extending from ovaries to uterus

33. Onset of Puberty and the Menstrual Cycle
Puberty - maturation of female and male reproduction systems
Pituitary Gland (in brain) - controls reproduction system
Hypothalamus - work with pituitary gland
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) - PG to release Gonadotropins

34. Onset of Puberty and the Menstrual Cycle
Follicle - stimulating hormone (FSH) - signals ovaries to release egg / produces estrogen
Luteinizing hormone (LH) - signals the release of egg + produce progesterone
Estrogens - hormones that control menstrual cycle
Progesterone - helps develop the endometrium

35. Onset of Puberty and the Menstrual Cycle
Menarche - first menstrual period
Ovarian Follicles (egg sacs) where individual eggs develop
Ovulation - egg passes through ovarian wall
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) - if egg is fertilized increases levels of estrogen and progesterone
Menopause - permanent cessation of menstruation

36. Male Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology
External Male Genitals - penis and scrotum
Penis - male sexual organ to release sperm into vagina
Scrotum - sac of tissues that encloses the testes

37. Male Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology
Internal Male genitals - testes, epididymides, vasa deferentia, ejaculatory ducts, urethra and accessory glands
Accessory glands - seminal vesicles, prostrate gland and Cowper’s gland
Ejaculation - propulsion of semen from the penis

38. Male Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology
Testes - Two Organs, located in the scrotum, manufacture sperm and produce hormones
Testosterone - male sex hormone
Spermatogenesis - development of sperm
Epididymis - place for sperm maturation

39. Male Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology
Vas deferens - tube transports sperm to penis
Seminal vesicles storage for sperm and nutrient fluids added
Semen - fluid comprised of sperm + nutrients
Prostrate gland - secretes nutrients and neutralizing fluids
Foreskin - flap covering penis / remove during circumcision

40. Expressing Your Sexuality
Human Sexual Response - male and female common stages
excitement/arousal
plateau
orgasm
resolution
refractory period (some males)
Vasoconstriction - engorgement of sexual organs with blood

41. Sexual Orientation - attraction and interest in members of the opposite sex, same sex, both sexes in emotional, social and sexual situations
Heterosexual - attraction and sexual preference for the opposite sex
Homosexual - same sex preferences and attraction
Bisexual - both sexes
Homophobia - irrational hatred and fear of homosexuality and homosexuals

42. Sexual Expression What are your Options?
Celibacy - a person not involved in sexual relationships
Autoerotic behaviours - sexual self-stimulation
Sexual Fantasies - sexually arousing thoughts and dreams
Masturbation - self-stimulation of genitals
Erogenous zones - areas of the body both male and female that when touched create sexual stimulation

43. Sexual Expression
Cunnilingus - oral stimulation of the female genitals
Fellatio - oral stimulation of male’s genitals
Anal Intercourse insertion of the penis into the anus

44. Sexual Expression
Vaginal Intercourse - insertion of penis into the vagina
Variant Sexual Behaviour - sexual behaviours not commonly practiced

45. Difficulties that Can Hinder Sexual Functioning
Sexual Dysfunction - problems preventing sexual satisfaction
Inhibited Sexual Desire - lack of interest in sexual behaviour
Sexual Aversion Disorders - sexual phobias/ anxieties about sexual contact

46. Difficulties that Can Hinder Sexual Functioning
Erectile Dysfunction - “AKA” impotence: a difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection during intercourse
Premature Ejaculation - ejaculation occurs just prior to or immediately following penetration of the vagina
Retarded Ejaculation -inability to ejaculate once penis is erect

47. Difficulties that Can Hinder Sexual Functioning
Preorgasmic - state of never achieving an orgasm
Dyspareunia - pain experiences by women during intercourse
Vaginismus - vaginal muscles contract so forcefully that penetration cannot be accomplished