UNIT 2: UNPACKING THE SELF

Lesson 2: The Sexual Self

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to: source: www.canva.com

1. Discuss the physical and sexual changes of a person and other factors that influences
growth and development.
2. Examine how sexuality influences a person in shaping his/her identity.
3. Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in identifying a healthy sexual self.

The Sexual Self

• during the childhood years, physical growth slowly progresses but by the time young
people reach the adolescence stage, rapid growth and development begin to take
place. In adolescents, this happens during the onset of puberty – the physical process
that happens from 10 to 18 years old. Puberty is derived from the Latin word
“pubescere” which means “to grow hairy.”
• During adolescence, a rapid growth spurt happens: rapid increments in height, weight
gain and sexual maturity are observed. Thus, it is the endocrine system which figures
prominently during adolescence stage. The endocrine system is responsible for
hormone production in the body.
• Puberty is marked by the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal system thus
a biological revolution is taking place:
a. Leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells in the body triggers the hypothalamus to
produce Gonadotrophin – a hormone responsible for pubertal changes (Medicine.net,
2012)
b. once a threshold of body fat is achieved in middle childhood, Gonadotropin-
releasing hormone is triggered
c. The pituitary gland, also known as the master gland, is responsible for growth

• Significantly, hormone levels begin to rise during adolescence

a. Females: Estrogens are especially important, for maturation of the uterus, ovaries,
and fallopian tubes. Progesterone, plays an important role in regulating
menstruation and preparing the uterus for a fertilized egg.

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 b. Males: Androgens, especially testosterone, are important in the maturation of the
penis and testes, and they enhance sexual feelings.

1. Pubertal Changes in Males and Females

Primary Sexual Characteristics
Growth of testicles and scrotal sac
Nocturnal emissions/spermarche
Secondary Sexual Characteristics in Males
Pubic, axillary (under arm), and facial hair
Increase in muscle mass
Increase in size of the larynx with deepening of
the voice
Acceleration of linear growth
Stimulation of libido
Sequence of Pubertal Events in Males
Initial testicular growth (age 11.75)
Early growth of pubic hair (age 12)
Development of penis begins (age 13)
Temporary breast development (age 13)
Voice cracking begins (age 13)
Growth spurt (age 13.5)
Hair in armpits (age 14)
Nocturnal emissions (age 14)
Adult voice attained (age 15)
Moustache begins to appear (age 15)
Whiskers appear (age 16)
source: Bjorklund & Blasi, 2012 and www.pamf.org/teen/health/puberty/physicalchanges.html
Primary Sexual Characteristics
Maturation of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian
tubes Onset of menstruation/menarche
Secondary Sexual Characteristics in Females
Breast development
Public and axillary (under arm) hair
Increase in body fat mass
Stimulation of skeletal growth
Sequence of Pubertal Events in Females
Initial breast development (age 11)
First wisps of pubic hair (age 11.25)
Growth spurt (age 12.25)
Breast growth midway (age 12.25)
Breast growth mostly completed (age 13)
First menstruation (menarche) (age 13)
Pubic hair adult distribution (age 14.25)
Skeletal growth completed (age 14.25)
Final breast development (age 15.25)

2. Some factors contributing to delayed onset of puberty

a. an inherited tendency (late puberty may run in your family)
b. having a long-term illness, such as cystic fibrosis (a hereditary disorder associated with
lung congestion and malabsorption of nutrients by the pancreas), diabetes, or kidney
disease
c. malnutrition, possibly from an eating disorder, or a chronic illness such as cystic fibrosis
d. over-exercising, such as in the case of professional athletes and gymnasts
e. tumours or other internal damage to your glands
f. hormonal conditions, such as an underactive thyroid gland
g. a genetic condition that affects sexual development, such as androgen insensitivity
syndrome (a rare condition where a person is genetically male, but their body is
insensitive to male sex hormones)

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3. The Social Construction of Gender
• Starts from the biological determination of sex (XX for females and XY for males).
However, there are people who are born and have Turner’s Syndrome (i.e. a female
having only one X or an incomplete X) or Klinefelter’s Syndrome (i.e. a male having both
XX and XY chromosomes)
• Some distinctions:
a. Sex refers to the biological categories of female and male, categories distinguished
by genes, chromosomes, and hormones
b. Gender, by contrast, is a much more fluid category. It refers to the social categories
of male and female
c. Gender role refers to the expectations that go along with being male versus female.
• One’s attitudes toward gender can be classified as
a. traditional (i.e. men’s sphere is work and women’s sphere is the home),
b. egalitarian (i.e. power is distributed equally between women and men, and women and
men identify equally with the same spheres), or
c. transitional (i.e. that it is acceptable for women to devote energy to both work and family
domains, but women should hold proportionally more responsibility for the home, and men
should focus proportionally more of their energy on work. (Hochschild, 1989 as cited by
Hegelson, 2012)

4. A Healthy Sexual Self

• The expression of sexuality begins with social attraction and it is a necessary component
for any friendship to begin. Although first meetings are by chance, attraction can be
the precursor to an intimate relationship (Hogg and Vaughan, p.289, 2010)
• According to the evolutionary concept of reproductive fitness, people guess whether a
prospective mate has good genes, using cues such as physical health, youthful
appearance, and body and facial symmetry (Hogg and Vaughan, p. 290, 2010)
• Social Psychologists who study attraction, however, have arrived at evidence that
physical characteristics are not the sole basis for attraction and eventual intimacy.

a. Robert Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory or Love

• An important adolescent developmental milestone among adolescents is the capacity
to manage their capacity to manage their sexuality. This means that with physical and
sexual maturity, they must also incorporate into their personal identity a set of attitudes
about what it means to be male or female; and about expressing attraction towards
others. (Havighurst as cited by Ingersoll, n.d.).
• Love can be understood into three components that interact with each other:

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 a. Passion – refers to the drives that lead to romance, sexual consummation, strong
liking or desire
b. Intimacy – refers to feelings of familiarity, “bondedness” or connectedness with
another
c. Commitment – refers to the decision to love another to maintain that love; connotes
responsibility
Non-love the kind of relationship where the 3
components are absent.
source: http://www.robertjsternberg.com/love
Liking friendship due to the presence of
intimacy only.
Infatuation one night stand or hook-ups where only
passion is present.
Empty Love the presence of commitment alone like
arranged marriages
Romantic Love likened to ‘Hollywood’ relationships
where emotional and sexual bond is
apparently established due to the
presence of intimacy and passion but
would later break up because of the
absence of meaningful and
b. LOVE LANGUAGE by Dr. Gary lasting commitment.
Chapman Fatuous Love whirlwind courtship and marriage that
• Words of Affirmation later faces compatibility problems
• Quality Time because of the existence of passion
• Receiving Gifts and commitment but without genuine
intimacy
• Acts of Service
Companionate love distinguished by deep affection
• Physical Touch
Love and dedication to the relationship due
to the presence of intimacy and
c. Reproductive Health Care Program
commitment without passion. It also
of the Philippines describes the ideal love between
The Adolescents Health family members and very strong
Program of the Philippines is guided platonic friendship.
by various international laws such as Consummate an ideal and encompassing
the United Nations (UN) Convention Love relationship where all the three
on the Rights of Children and the UN elements of love are present.
Action for the Promotion and
Protection of the Health of Adolescents. Locally, counterpart laws have also been created to
complement the international laws to ensure that young people grow up in healthy
environments and are informed about their reproductive rights. The Adolescent Health

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Program is anchored on the principle that making informed choices is necessary to achieve a
healthy lifestyle.

d. Family Planning Methods

Natural Family Planning Methods Artificial Family Planning Methods

1. Continuous abstinence 3. Barrier methods
2. Natural family planning/rhythm method • Contraceptive sponge
• cervical mucus method • Diaphragm, cervical cap, and cervical shield
• basal body temperature, • Female condom
• sympto-thermal method • Male condom
• standard days method 4. Hormonal methods
• Oral contraceptives — combined pill ("The
pill")
• Oral contraceptives — progestin-only pill
("Mini-pill")
• The patch
• Shot/injection
• Vaginal ring
5. Implantable devices
• Implantable rods
• Intrauterine devices
6. Permanent Methods
• Sterilization implant
• Surgical sterilization
*7. Emergency Contraception

e. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Medical News Today, 2018)

• Refers to infections that are passed on from one person to another through sexual
contact (MedlinePlus, 2018). STDs are also known as venereal diseases (VD)
• Mode of transmission can be from mother to infant during childbirth or breastfeeding,
blood transfusions, through vaginal secretions, through the semen, and through
needle-use.
• Fast facts:
Globally, more than 1 million new STDs are acquired each day
People between the ages of 15-24 acquire half of all new STDs
• Most common diseases transmitted:
- Chlamydia caused by a bacteria around the genital area
- Chancroid is a bacterial infection which causes painful sores to develop in the
genital area

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 - Crabs or pubic lice
- Genital herpes cause by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) which affects the skin,
cervix, and genitals
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) results in serious liver damage and can sometimes be
chronic
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system leaving a
person vulnerable to infections. Can be transmitted through blood to blood
contact, sexual contact, childbirth, sharing of needles. If left untreated, it can
progress into stage , AIDS.

f. Reproductive Health Risks in Adolescence

• Unintended and too early pregnancy
• Sexually Transmitted Illnesses including HIV/AIDS
• Sexual violence and unwanted sexual activity

Sources:
Alata, E.J.P., Caslib, B.N.Jr.; Serafica, J.P.J. & Pawilen, R.A. (2018) Understanding the self. (1st ed.). Manila: Rex
Publishing Company.
Bjorklund & Blasi, (2012). Child and adolescent development: An integrated approach. USA: Cengage
Wadworth Learning.
Hegelson, V.S. (2012). The psychology of gender. (4th ed.). USA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Hogg, M.A & Vaughan, G.M. (2010). Essentials of social psychology. England: Pearson Education Limited
Medical News Today. (2019). Sexually transmitted diseases. Retrieved October 2, 2018 from
www.medicalnewstoday.com.
Quinatocan-Pestaňo, A.E. & Almerez-Wong, M. (2018). Understanding the self. Cebu: University of San Jose
Recoletos
Singh, S. (2008). The concept of physical self in psychology. Retrieved September 19, 2018 from
https://www.all-about-psychology.com/
Sternberg, R. Duplex theory of love: Triangular theory of love and theory of love as a story. Retrieved September
24, 2018 from http://www.robertjsternberg.com/love/
UB Psychology Department. General psychology manual. (2014 ed). Baguio City: University of Baguio.
Villafuerte, S.L., Quillope, A.F., Tunac, R.C., & Borja, E.I. (2018) Understanding the self. Quezon City: NIEME
Publishing House, Co. LTD.
Vinluan, M. (2012). Adolescent and youth health program. Retrieved October 1, 2018 from www.ncpdc.gov.ph.

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