Aantekeningen hoorcollege youth and sexuality
Hoorcollege 1: introduction and Psychosexual development in children and young people
Sexuality:
Definition: A central aspect of being human throughout life (that) encompasses sex, gender identities
and roles, (sex is the biological foundation of being male or female you also have intersex when your
both male and female, like a female missing the womb, gender identities and roles is more how you
feel and lot of differences), sexual orientation (who you are attracted to), eroticism, pleasure,
intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires,
beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. So it is a lot more than
behaviour. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic,
political, cultural, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors.
In this course spoking about youth so most literature and lectures so from 12-25
Psychosexual development in children and young people
sexual development is a life-long process, so it is not only in
children and adolescence.
Sexual development is multidimensional, so it is not one
subject
Sexual development is context-related, so genes (biological),
social and psychological.
Interaction between individual and context, it is two way
street, so the individual influences own environment and
context and the other way around
Sexual development has many paths
Early childhood (age 0-5)
Context:
- Attachment, the style based on how their parents treat them, so secure or not secure
influences the later relationships and sexuality
- Motor skills, learning to grab things and touch things, so is also part of sexuality
- Self-awareness and self-appreciation, forming their own identity, like recognising themselves
and self-esteem.
- Language, learning the language for genitals for instance.
- Toilet training
Sexual development
Discovering things like:
- Own body and that of others
- Language and genitals
- Gender
- Social rules
,Not a lot of science or research of this age group, has limitations so the research is based on
observations from parents. Mostly white highly educated and not a generalisable group.
Childhood (age 6-11)
Context:
- Taking the others’ perspectives,
- Conscious of social norms, learn what they can and can’t do, also on the internet
- School
- Friendships (mostly same-sex)
- (social) media
- Parents important, mostly support
Sexual development
- First insecurities, the ability to compare themselves and take others perspectives comes with
forming their first insecurities
- Exploring behaviour in privacy, like in their bedroom.
- Shame about nudity
- Being in love and going steady
- Some basic knowledge, knowing where children come from
- Curiosity about sexuality
,Early adolescence (age 12-14)
context
- Physical changes
- Identity development
- Brain development
- Secondary education
- Parents still important
- Friends more important, peer pressure
- (social) media
Sexual development
- Insecurity, more in the girls than the
boys
- Arousal and masturbation
- Love and relationships
- Kissing and occasionally touching
- Most not ‘ready’ for more
Young starters run greater risks
- Access to information is lower,
because a lot of sex education is not
yet given.
- Less knowledge of sex. Std’s and contraceptives
- Less well protected against pregnancy and std’s
- More likely to be persuaded or forced the first time having sex
The first time is a more positive experience if …
- Step by step progression
- Expecting the sexual debut
- Autonomous decision making
- Open communication with important others
Mid-adolescence (age 15-18)
Context
- Physical changes continues
- Peer pressure gradually decreases
- 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-by-step
People start having sex at a later age that is shown in the model here, except masturbation
, Step-by-step development has benefits
- Greater control over each step
- Better prepared
- Better protected, condoms and contraceptives
Late adolescence (age 19-24)
Context:
- Self control increases, frontal lope more developed so see risks and take measures.
- Legally adults, but cognitively not so still brain development
- Leaving home
- Going out, drinking and drugs
- Few responsibilities, also freedom
to explore because not that many
responsibilities like adults.
Sexual development
- Serial monogamy, changes in this
generation because there is more
than only monogamy. You have
different kind of relationships
- Satisfied with appearance
- Positive view of sex
- Peak in sexually activity
- Peak in problems and risks
Can you be ‘too late’?
- That depends on the reason
- Sometimes the result of less social competence,
- Could result in societal, interpersonal and emotional difficulties
Hoorcollege 1: introduction and Psychosexual development in children and young people
Sexuality:
Definition: A central aspect of being human throughout life (that) encompasses sex, gender identities
and roles, (sex is the biological foundation of being male or female you also have intersex when your
both male and female, like a female missing the womb, gender identities and roles is more how you
feel and lot of differences), sexual orientation (who you are attracted to), eroticism, pleasure,
intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires,
beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. So it is a lot more than
behaviour. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic,
political, cultural, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors.
In this course spoking about youth so most literature and lectures so from 12-25
Psychosexual development in children and young people
sexual development is a life-long process, so it is not only in
children and adolescence.
Sexual development is multidimensional, so it is not one
subject
Sexual development is context-related, so genes (biological),
social and psychological.
Interaction between individual and context, it is two way
street, so the individual influences own environment and
context and the other way around
Sexual development has many paths
Early childhood (age 0-5)
Context:
- Attachment, the style based on how their parents treat them, so secure or not secure
influences the later relationships and sexuality
- Motor skills, learning to grab things and touch things, so is also part of sexuality
- Self-awareness and self-appreciation, forming their own identity, like recognising themselves
and self-esteem.
- Language, learning the language for genitals for instance.
- Toilet training
Sexual development
Discovering things like:
- Own body and that of others
- Language and genitals
- Gender
- Social rules
,Not a lot of science or research of this age group, has limitations so the research is based on
observations from parents. Mostly white highly educated and not a generalisable group.
Childhood (age 6-11)
Context:
- Taking the others’ perspectives,
- Conscious of social norms, learn what they can and can’t do, also on the internet
- School
- Friendships (mostly same-sex)
- (social) media
- Parents important, mostly support
Sexual development
- First insecurities, the ability to compare themselves and take others perspectives comes with
forming their first insecurities
- Exploring behaviour in privacy, like in their bedroom.
- Shame about nudity
- Being in love and going steady
- Some basic knowledge, knowing where children come from
- Curiosity about sexuality
,Early adolescence (age 12-14)
context
- Physical changes
- Identity development
- Brain development
- Secondary education
- Parents still important
- Friends more important, peer pressure
- (social) media
Sexual development
- Insecurity, more in the girls than the
boys
- Arousal and masturbation
- Love and relationships
- Kissing and occasionally touching
- Most not ‘ready’ for more
Young starters run greater risks
- Access to information is lower,
because a lot of sex education is not
yet given.
- Less knowledge of sex. Std’s and contraceptives
- Less well protected against pregnancy and std’s
- More likely to be persuaded or forced the first time having sex
The first time is a more positive experience if …
- Step by step progression
- Expecting the sexual debut
- Autonomous decision making
- Open communication with important others
Mid-adolescence (age 15-18)
Context
- Physical changes continues
- Peer pressure gradually decreases
- 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-by-step
People start having sex at a later age that is shown in the model here, except masturbation
, Step-by-step development has benefits
- Greater control over each step
- Better prepared
- Better protected, condoms and contraceptives
Late adolescence (age 19-24)
Context:
- Self control increases, frontal lope more developed so see risks and take measures.
- Legally adults, but cognitively not so still brain development
- Leaving home
- Going out, drinking and drugs
- Few responsibilities, also freedom
to explore because not that many
responsibilities like adults.
Sexual development
- Serial monogamy, changes in this
generation because there is more
than only monogamy. You have
different kind of relationships
- Satisfied with appearance
- Positive view of sex
- Peak in sexually activity
- Peak in problems and risks
Can you be ‘too late’?
- That depends on the reason
- Sometimes the result of less social competence,
- Could result in societal, interpersonal and emotional difficulties
