Kinsey report and recent studies - - adults are questioned about their childhood sexual behavior
- alternative = to interview children, however would arouse opposition and raise ethical issues
Many studies of adolescent behavior have been done, how? - Asked about multiple aspects of
adolescents' lives, with a subset of questions about sexuality
Attachment - A psychological bond that forms an infant and the parent or other caregiver
- quality of the relationship can be very important for a child's capacity for later sexual and emotional
relationships
Self-stimulation - Infants and children self-stimulation is quite normal
- orgasms are even possible at an early age
Child-child encounters - By age 4-5, some sex play occurs such as hugging, holding hands, and "playing
doctor"
In 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
Infancy and the Preschool Years (Birth-4 years): knowledge about gender - By the age 2 1/2 or 3, they
know what gender they are
Knowledge about gender: ages 4-6 - At ages 4-6, ideas about gender are rigid; but as they gain
experience, these beliefs become more flexible
Knowledge about gender: ages 5-6 - By 5-6, they understand genitalia differences between males and
females
, Childhood: some sex hormone action occurs before adolescence - Adrenarche = the maturation of the
adrenal glands, leading to increased androgens in both boys and girls
Childhood: masturbation - Generally boys start masturbating earlier than girls
- boys typically learn about it from others, while girls learn about it through accidental self-discovery
childhood: heterosexual behavior - Children commonly hear about heterosexual intercourse for the first
time in this period
Childhood: same-gender sexual activity - Children have gender-segregated social organization = boys
okay with boys, girls with girls
- sexual exploring is therefor likely to be with partners of the same gender
- lesbian, gay and bisexual youth report their first experience of same-gender sexual attraction at age
10-11
Childhood: sex knowledge and interests - Heteronormativity = heterosexuality as the only pattern that is
normal and natural
Childhood: sexualization - Major concern of some parents, educations and researchers is the
sexualization of U.S. girls and boys
- person's value comes from sexual appeal or behavior
- person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness with being sexy
- person is sexually objectified
- sexuality is inappropriately imposed on a child
- sexualization may lead to reduced self-esteem
Childhood: ways to counteract sexualization - 1. Within school
2. Within families
3. Parents, educators and boys and girls can campaign against companies that use sexualization images
Adolescence (12-18 years): social and biological factors - - sexual interest surges around puberty
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