Cluster Two: Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and midterm


LESSON 7

CHAPTER 11:

SEXUALITY AND THE LIFE CYCLE: CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE

Learning Outcomes:

Distinguish between the development issues of sexuality in childhood and adulthood according to stage and life span theorists

We know that “…a capacity for sexual response is present from infancy." For some reason, we don’t want to admit that children are conscious or behave in ways involving sexual response; we have a myth based on “sex is dirty,” that children don’t yet experience sexual arousal and response and that they are still “pure.” We will admit that children grow in stages of physical, emotional, cognitive and perhaps spiritual development (given developmental stages from Freud to Erikson, see below), but admitting to the development of sexual experience itself is a mental leap. Even in Kinsey’s time, his reports indicated that about 10% of children had masturbated to orgasm by age 10. The implication for us in this historical time frame is that children are maturing earlier (girls used to start their “cycles” at 11-12 years and now it is not unusual for girls to start at 9 – 10.) Earlier development of children may be attributed to better nutrition, more knowledge of child development and parenting skills. Regardless, children are different beings than thirty – forty years ago in many ways.

If you want to be more conscious of the differences in development (values, longevity, time consciousness, general attitudes) between the generations, look for “Generations Collide” which helps delineate these factors per generation. The author (Lynn Lancaster), hasn’t included a term for the present generation who are yet children; she does describe our span of generations as Traditionalists, Baby Boomer, Generation X and Millenia.

We also know that not only are children beginning to masturbate and experience (girls) cycles earlier than a generation or so ago, some children also do take part in some heterosexual play and some homosexual activity. Today’s adolescents experience an increase in sexual activity influenced by early interaction of biological (testosterone levels), social and psychological factors (i.e., a more sexually permissive environment including media). Consider attitudes toward masturbation alone, a century ago parents who found their children masturbating were worried about hairy palms, insanity and a host of unscientific threats.

Not only do our children engage in masturbation a majority of teenage males and females have premarital sex an increase over that reported in the Kinsey studies (50 years ago). Further, teen-agers use a variety of sexual techniques not reported 50 years ago (are we more willing to report on our sexual activities now than in the past? Probably). We also know that premarital intercourse differs among various racial and ethnic groups at least in the United States and probably greater variability from one country to another.

Our “permissiveness with affection” means that sex is acceptable outside marriage, provided that there is an emotional commitment demonstrated by the couple.

Freud introduced the concept of life development stages, but limited his theory to childhood and adolescents; his student, Erik Erikson, expanded the theory to a lifespan concept to understand development (and certainly, sexual development) throughout the course of our lives. These theorists by constructing stages also helped us appreciate that children are developing specific life skills and above all are not little adults and cannot be held accountable as adults (remember the history of child labor and legal practices? Erikson also introduced the concepts that adults continue to experience learning through stages (emotionally, i.e., self and relationships) and expanded Freud’s stages from focus on the individual to focus on the person’s social environment. Jean Piaget focused his studies on the child’s developing cognitive life as well as sense of self although his stage theory is like Freud’s limited to childhood and adolescent life.

Are stage development theories scientifically based? Well we know that most of our information about childhood sexual behavior is based on self report, that is by case studies recalling events by individuals in later life concerning their childhood. Today our country is experience the result of at least three significant longitudinal (over life span studies) which have been conducted over forty years with the same people being interviewed at certain intervals. Recently innovative techniques have been developed in data gathering about the sexuality of children that involves the use of a “talking” computer that preserves the confidentiality of the child. From observations we know that the capacity of the human body to show a sexual response is present from birth, and further the capacity for masturbation emerges between the first and third year of life. One interesting conclusion in your text is the role of mothering; apparently, infants who had good relationships with their mothers (in comparison to those who had problematic relations) were more likely to masturbate. Another point that our grandmothers could have told us is that some infants cuddlers (versus noncuddlers) masturbate more frequently and enjoy physical contact.

Children know what gender they are and have begun to have a vague awareness of differences from the other gender by age 2.5 years (if not before). Some heterosexual play typically begins by the age of 4 years. We can say that interest in sexuality in terms of genitals, sex play, and differences between females and males begins to develop between 3 to 7 years with typical play during this time. Typical age play for example is that between ages 4 to 5 exhibiting one’s own genitals is the most common kind of heterosexual behavior of a sexual nature.

About 50 percent of males have begun masturbating by age 13 and most often learn about masturbation by being told by peers. Girls, however, most often learn about masturbation by self-discovery.

While it appears that preadolescent homosexual behavior is typically a form of sexual exploration and is a normal part of sexual development, most males and more than 30 percent of females engage in some type of homosexual play before puberty. A real increase in sexual interest begins around puberty and continues throughout adolescence and the most significant reason for this surge as measured by having engaged in sexual intercourse is the testosterone level of both boys and girls. Well with children reaching (girls in their cycles) preadolescence earlier, will sexual activity increase at an earlier time? Recent research concerning the relationship between hormones and sexual activity has demonstrated that the hormone most strongly associated with sexual activity in girls is testosterone. One huge influence is the media with research indicating that the effects of heavy media usage by teenagers is that they are more likely to have had sexual intercourse. Our next question is which influenced each other?

Parents have tried to limit sexual activity by their children; ever eat graham crackers or Kellogg’s corn flakes? Well both products were designed and marketed as being useful in curbing masturbation.

Well, what about homosexuality in teen age years? Research tells us that adolescent homosexual encounters tend not to take place with adults and there has been no increase in adolescent homosexual behavior in recent years. We do know (from reports) that males are more likely to experience homosexual behavior than are females. One reason for homosexual behavior in adolescents is that most teenagers have been found to be naïve about homosexual behavior and the social (negative) attitudes toward it.

Teen sex in general (15-19) has attracted a great deal of attention and today, researchers estimate that about one-half of both females and males have engaged in sexual intercourse. Perhaps our researchers should move that age span to 12-19 years due to children maturing earlier? Yes over the last part of the twentieth century, age at first intercourse for females has remained stable (for both males and females).

Not surprisingly, the average age of males in relation to the average age of females at first intercourse is that the males are younger. We do have some variety per ethnic/race/sex backgrounds with black American males most likely to have sexual intercourse at an earlier age than others. We do have an economic influence in that living in neighborhoods where the average incomes are high and the female unemployment rate is low is associated with later age of first intercourse. Even internationally we find a variance with females (age 20-24) in the United States reporting significantly higher incidents of intercourse (as compared to other countries: Africa, South American and Latin America). We also find that the teenagers with the highest pregnancy rates are American (compared to Canadian, Swedish and French).

What happened to marriage, well, right now, the most common sexual patterns for most individuals, both premaritally and martially, is serial monogamy with an attitude of faithfulness to the partner during the period of the marriage.

Well, what about Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development?

1. Parents who accept their five-year-old’s masturbatory behavior are Encouraging the development of autonomy (task at that stage).

2. The crisis for adolescents (which comes at the time of an increase in hormones) Is identity vs. role confusion.

3. The crisis to be resolved during young adulthood is between intimacy and isolation (the ability to form committed relationships).

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Note: plan on using quotations (few) and paraphrasing from the text as well as your own observations. Respond to two other students (explain your responses). Be sure that you post three times separately to receive full credit for your responses.

How does the mass media shape and define the sexual expectations of the preadolescent and the adolescent.


QUIZ

Remember to take the two quizzes this week.