Summary lectures Y&S
part 1 = introduction
Part 2: concepts , definitions
Youth+ their age group -> lot of different ideas on. It can be 0-30 but we focus on adolescence 12-25.
Sexuality can be a lever in adolescent development, because:
- Independence from parents
- Development of personal morality and identity
- Development of meaningful intimate relationships more independence from parents, so it
is different
- Crucial in finding balance between autonomy and connectedness
- First steps in terms of exploring sexual desires and boundaries (consent) yourself and others.
Definition of sexuality: who definition: “…a central aspect of being human throughout life
encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and
reproduction. about sexual orientation and intimacy
Concept we talk about
Sex: having sex mostly penetrated, that’s what is meant with
first time sex, but it is much wider than that
Sexuality: your preference or what you are attracted to.
Gender is not biological while sekse is.
Sexual health: narrow sense as dealing with sexual risks like std or
pregnancy. Wider can it also include violence or positive sex etc.
Sexology: narrow sense is often related to sex therapy or sexual disfunction. Wider way is signtific
study of it.
Part 3: historical overview of sexuality research
1906: really important birth
of sexology as a science. First
steps of moving away from
LGBT as a disease, immoral or
a crime
,Alfred kinsey: pioneer of sex research: Biologist, zoologist, sexologist
- Kinsey reports
- Revolutionairy: moved the field from medical to interdisciplinariy
- Taxanomy of human sexual behaviors (including pedophilia)
- Controversial in his time: revelations about mastrubations, orgasms, premarital sex, homos.
John money: psychologist + sexologist
- Groundbreaking clinical empirical study on gender identity development among intersex
children
- Introduced term gender: all those things a person says or deos to disclose himself or herself
as having the status of a man or women. It includes, not restricted, to sexuality in sense of
eroticism gender not same as biological sex
- Critized for e/g/ David reimer sex reassignment study unethical. ( study guy raised as boy)
William masters & Virginia Johnson
- Discovery in 1966 of human sexual response cycle, 4 stages
1. 1.. excitement
2. Plateau
3. Orgasm
4. Resolution
- A natural pshyological process, can be blocked by psychological inhibitions
- Controversial methods: observing people having sex, they couldn’t find anyone els
- layed foundations for behavioral therapy of sexual dysfuntions
The 70’s Michel Foucault, Jonh Gagnon, William Simon Shere Hite, Susan Brownmiller
- shift to: emergence of social constructive perspective, not only biological
- dismissal of Freudian idea of sexual instinct
- growing attention for sexual violence, sexual equality, feminism (M/F)
- sexuality = product of societal regulation, norms, meaning, and the freedom/right to express
themselves
- sexual behaviour = social behaviour (sensitive for interpersonal+ intra-psychological cultural
scripts & important to understand the larger shift on sexuality)
1974: removal of homosexuality from the DSM it was no longer
a mental disorder, this increased awareness in what is
normal/abnormal and what sexual deviance or variation is.
1998/2005: ‘discovery’ of the full anatomy of the clitoris - Helen
O’Connell, US urologist
same size dick as guys inside us?!!!!
Part 4 in pursuit of pleasure
Ellen laan( 1962-2021): psychologist, sexologist & professor
- Groundbreaking research into female sexual arousal
myths that maintain sexual inequalities:
- Men have a biological need for sex libido doesn’t exist!
, - Penis and vagina are important for reproduction and therefore sex only heterosexual men
have vaginal orgasms
- ‘vaginal orgasms’ do not exist the wall of the vagina isn’t sensitive
- Sex differences lead to sexual gender differences the capacity for sexual pleasure is very
similar for men and women
Sexual inequality observation 1: orgasm gap
- In heterosexual relationships women have fewer orgasms than the men whom they have sex
with, in lesbian relationships they have more orgasms.
Sexual inequality observation 2: sexual pain
- 10% women always pain during intercourse, in men this is rare.
- Pain during intercourse is prevalent in youn women
- Expectation of pain impairs arousal more pain
Sexual inequality observation 3: sexual coercion & sexual violence
- Women experience sexual coercion & sexual violence significantly more than men:
- 215.000 violent sex crimes recorded in the EU o 90% female victims o 99% male imprisoned
for these crimes
- 9 out of 10 victims of rape are female
Sexual equality observations
- Men and women are similar in the capacity to experience sexual pleasure
Responsivity to sexual stimuli
Sexual desire
Sex drive/ hormones (no, men aren’t always in the mood…)
- But: men and women have different opportunities for sexual pleasure (in heterosexual
relationships)
Gendered scripts, coital imperative (penis-in-vagina sex does not facilitate women’s
orgasms)
Towards sexual equality
- CSE:; prioritization of pleasure health benefits
- Diversity/inclusion reduce impact of coital imperative/gendered scripts
- Divosurse of m/v/x similartiies instead of differences
LECUTURE 1B Psychosexual development in children and young people
Sexual development is
- a lifelong process
- multidimensional
- context-related bio/social/psycho is really important.
- Interaction between individual and context not only individual as focus, they do have
active role
- Many paths
Early childhood age 0-5
, Context what is important in that
fase. Attachement, motor skills, self
awareness and appreciation,
language & toilet training.
Sexual development discovering
fase, own body and that of others,
language for genitals, gender, social rules
Childhood age 6-11
Context: taking the others perspective,
conscious of social norms, school,
friendship, social media, paretns
important
Sexual development: first insecurities,
masturbation in privacy, shame about
nudity, being in love ang going steady, some basic knowledge, curiosity about sexuality
Early adolescence: age 12-14
Context: physical changes, identity development,
neurological development (area rewards further
than planning/decision making), secondary
education, parents still important, frieds more
important, social media
Sexual development: insecurity,
arousal&masturbation, love&relationship, kissing&occasionally touching, most not ready for more.
Young starters run greater risks: access to information < , less knowledge about sex, STD and
contraceptives < , less protected against pregnancy and STD <, more likely to be persuaded or forced
the first time >.
Early start more likely to be positive experience if steps by step progression, expecting the sexual
debut, autonomous decision making, open communication with important others.
Mid adolescence: age 15-18
Context: Body continues to grow, Less sensitive to social
pressure, Parents less important, Partner more important,
(Social media)
Sexual development: Appearance important, less insecure,
Relations more personal and intimate, Important sexual
orientation milestones, Sex progresses step-b y-step has its
benefits = greater control over each step, better prepared and
protected
Late adolescence: age 19-24