AUGUSTE COMTE “social soul” in
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONIST
PERSPECTIVE
Social Sciences shifted the focus from
body and soul to the relationship
between the self and the external
world
The growth and development of the
person is a byproduct of the
interaction of the self with external
reality
SOCIAL
CONSTRUCTIONISM
A theory that examines how people
learn, develop or construct their own
understanding and knowledge of the
world including the self through
experiences
The self, cannot be separated from its
social context
The person’s identity, every now and
then, is impacted by the social
environment
The individual change and adapt
itself depending on the social
circumstance.
SOCIOLOGY
The term was coined by French
philosopher Auguste Comte
(1798–1857), who would become
known as the “Father of Sociology”
The word was derived from two words
namely:
o socius → group or partners
o logus → science or study
terms of religious and philosophic than
scientific
RODNEY STARK the “study of the
patterns and processes of human
relations”
EMILE DURKHEIM “Father of Modern
Sociology”
LUNDERG AND ASSOCIATES “a body
of scientific knowledge with theories
based on scientific investigations and
observations, rather than armchair
and speculations.”
The systematic study of the
relationship between the individual
and society and of the consequences
of different types of relationships
ANTHROPOLOGY
The scientific study of humanity,
concerned with human behavior,
human biology, and societies, in both
the present and past, including past
human species
Main focus is on the origin or evolution
of man including culture which man
possesses, creates, and controls
Other concerns include indigenous
groups and how these people maintain
their traditional culture despite the
changes and modernities of life
The word came from two words:
o anthropos → man
o logos → study
MARCEL MAUSS emphasized that
every self has two manifestations
★ PERSONNE - what it means to
be he is; taken in a social
context on how to behave in a
given expectations and
influences from others
★ MOI - person’s sense of who he
is; basic identity
Self is morphed according to
circumstance and context
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
Focuses on the relationships among
individuals within a society
Society is composed of several
symbols to which we act and react
based on meanings attributed to
those things and according to how the
person interprets the situations
MARGARET MEAD contribution is in
the development of Symbolic
Interactions Perspective
★ MACRO SOCIOLOGY looks at
the big picture of society
★ MICRO SOCIOLOGY is
concerned with the social
psychological dynamics of
individuals interacting in small
groups
★ SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
emphasizes that human
behavior is influenced by
definitions and meanings that
are created and maintained
through symbolic interaction
with others
Sociologist W.I. Thomas (1966)
emphasized the importance of
definitions and meanings in social
behavior and its consequences. He
suggested that humans respond to
their definition of a situation rather
than to the objective situation itself.
Hence Thomas noted that situations
that we define as real become real in
their consequences
It also suggests that our identity or
sense of self is shaped by social
interaction
We develop our self-concept by
observing how others interact with us
and label us. By observing how others
view us, we see a reflection ourselves
that Cooley calls the “looking glass
self.”
SOCIALIZATION
The process through which people are
taught to be proficient members of a
society
Is not the same as socializing, it is a
sociological process that occurs
through socializing
A person develops a sense of
self-conscious awareness of
possessing a distinct identity that
separates you from other members of
society
LOOKING GLASS SELF
THEORY
The self is mirrored in the reaction of
the others
According to sociologist CHARLES
HORTON COOLEY, individuals
develop their concept of self by
observing how they are perceived by
others
Describes the process wherein
individuals base their sense of self on
how they believe others view them
Using social interaction as a type of
“mirror,” people use the judgments
they receive from others to measure
their own worth, values, and behavior
Cooley’s theory is notable because it
suggests that self-concept is built not
in solitude, but rather within social
settings
Society and individuals are not
separate, but rather two
complementary aspects of the same
phenomenon
★ PRESENTATION how he
presents himself to others
★ IDENTIFICATION visualizes
how others evaluate him
★ SUBJECTIVE
INTERPRETATION develops
feeling about himself based
upon others’ perception of him
ROLE TAKING THEORY
One of the most important sociological
approaches to the self was developed
by American sociologist GEORGE
HERBERT MEAD
The self, which is the part of a
person's personality consisting of self-
awareness and self-image, is a
product of social experience
Conceptualizes the mind as the
individual importation of the social
process
Presented the self and the mind in
terms of a social process. As gestures
are taken in by the individual
organism, the individual organism also
takes in the collective attitudes of
others, in the form of gestures, and
reacts accordingly with other
organized attitudes.
Only certain people like family at a
certain periods of life influence
identity
He further believes that at a young
age, individuals were not actually
influenced by others in any way
because they see themselves as being
the focus of their own world aside
from the fact that they lack the ability
to take the perspective of another
person
But it is different when they grow up
because the perception of other
people about them becomes more
important
DRAMATURGICAL
PERSPECTIVE
Introduced by ERVING GOFFMAN
Everyday life is like a stage where
each individual needs to learn to
perform the assigned roles to him by
other people through the process
called socialization
 time and influence the direction
It is termed a "fully two-sided view of development takes
human interaction."

Most of the time in our life is spent in

the front stage. We need to deliver
and perform accordingly in front of
others. But we need to allow ourselves
to retreat too and be at the
backstage or our private space where
we can be our real selves
ECOLOGICAL THEORY
Views human behavior as the result of
the relationship between individuals
and their environments
Introduced by URIE
BRONFENBRENNER
Explains how the inherent qualities of
children and their environments
interact to influence how they grow
and develop
LEVELS OF EXTERNAL INFLUENCE
THE SELF FROM
PSYCHOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES
PSYCHOLOGY
The word was derived from two words
namely:
o psyche → soul or spirit
o logos → knowledge or study
The Scientific study of behavior and
mental processes
Study of human beings- how they behave,
how they feel, how they think, how they
adjust or fail to adjust, how they get along
with one another, and how they become
individuals that they are
DIFFERENT THEORIES OF
DEVELOPMENT

★ MICROSYSTEM the everyday

PSYCHOANALYSIS
immediate environment
SIGMUND FREUD is the founder of
★ MESOSYSTEM the connections
Psychoanlaysis
or interrelationships among the
various aspects of the
Focused on childhood traumatic
microsystem
conflicts and experiences affecting the
★ EXOSYSTEM contexts that the
self
individual is not part of but
that may nevertheless influence Individuals are innately aggressive
their development
★ MACROSYSTEM larger cultural, He described the self or personality as
social class context in which multi-layered that consists of the
development occurs conscious, pre conscious and
★ CHRONOSYSTEM changes in unconscious mind
the individual or the
environment that occurs over
The PRECONSCIOUS contains those
psychic materials that are out of
awareness but are accessible to
conscious awareness as need arises
The CONSCIOUS operates in the
reality principle it navigates the
environment in a reasonable, mindful
and functional manner
Contains all of the thoughts,
memories, feelings, and wishes of
which we are aware at any given
moment
This is the aspect of our mental
processing that we can think and talk
about rationally
The UNCONSCIOUS mind is the
storehouse of individual’s rugged
instincts, painful memories, unfulfilled
wishes,childhood fantasies and
unacceptable impulses which might
trigger anxiety in the individual if they
are not foreced out of the conscious
awareness
Freud also asserted about a SELF that
is consist of the ID, EGO and
SUPEREGO
ID
The primitive and instinctual part of
the mind that is impulsive (and
unconscious) as it responds directly
and immediately to basic urges, needs
and desires
Operates on the pleasure principle so
that every wishful impulse should be
satisfied immediately, regardless of
the consequences
EGO
The decision-making component of
personality as it ideally works by
reason
Operates according to the reality
principle, working out realistic ways of
satisfying the id’s demands, often
compromising or postponing
satisfaction to avoid negative
consequences of society
Considers social realities and norms,
etiquette and rules in deciding how to
behave
The ego has no concept of right or
wrong; something is good simply if it
achieves its end of satisfying without
causing harm to itself or the id
SUPER EGO
Incorporates the values and morals of
society which are learned from one's
parents and others
Develops around the age of 3 – 5 years
THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
ERIK ERICKSON said that
individuals develop a “healthy
personality” by mastering “life’s outer
and inner dangers”
Erikson maintained that personality
develops in a predetermined order
through eight stages of psychosocial
development, from infancy to
adulthood
During each stage, the person
experiences a psychosocial crisis
which could have a positive or
negative outcome for personality
development
For Erikson (1958, 1963), these crises
are of a psychosocial nature because
they involve psychological needs of
the individual (i.e., psycho) conflicting
with the needs of society (i.e., social)
According to the theory, successful
completion of each stage results in a
healthy personality and the
acquisition of basic virtues
Basic virtues are characteristic
strengths which the ego can use to
resolve subsequent crises. Failure to
successfully complete a stage can
result in a reduced ability to complete
further stages and therefore an
unhealthier personality and sense of
self. These stages, however, can be
resolved successfully at a later time
TRUST VS. MISTRUST (birth to 1
year) Human life is a social endeavor
that involves linkages and interactions
among people.
o Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (2
to 3 years) as children begins to crawl,
walk, climb, and explore, a new
conflict confronts them; whether to
assert their will or not.
INITIATIVE VS. GUILT (4 to 5
years) the repertoire of motor and
mental abilities that are open to
children greatly expands
Parents who give their children
freedom in running, sliding, bike
riding are allowing them to develop
initiative
Parents who curtail this freedom are
giving children a sense of themselves
as nuisances and inept intruders in an
adult world
INDUSTRY VS. INFERIORITY
(6 to 11 years) during elementary
school years, a child becomes
concerned with how things work and
how they are made
As children move into the world of
school, they gain a sense of industry
by winning recognition for their
achievements
But they may also acquire a sense of
inadequacy and inferiority

IDENTITY VS. ROLE
CONFUSION (12 to 18 years)
The psychological question one must
answers in this age is “Who am I?”
In the process, teenagers must
develop an integrated and coherent
sense of self
When the adolescent fails to develop a
“centered” identity, he or she becomes
trapped in either role confusion or a
“negative identity”
INTIMACY VS. ISOLATION
(Young Adulthood) As Erikson view
intimacy is the capacity to reach out
and make contact with other people
It means to fuse one’s own identity
with those others
Intimacy finds expression in deep
friendship, close involvement, however
may result in rejection
Consequently, some individuals opt for
relationship of a shallow sort
GENERATIVITY VS.
STAGNATION (Middle Adulthood)
GENERATIVITY defined as a reaching
out beyond one’s own immediate
concerns to embrace the welfare of
society and of future generations, it
entails selflessness
STAGNATION is a condition in which
individuals are preoccupied with their
material possessions or physical
well-being.
INTEGRITY VS. DESPAIR (Old
age) As individuals approach the end
of life, they tend to take stock of the
years that have gone before
Some feel a sense of satisfaction with
their accomplishments. Others
experience despair- “the feeling that
the time is now short, too short for the
attempt to start another life and to try
out alternative roads to integrity"
HORNEY’S PSYCHOANALYTIC
SOCIAL THEORY
KAREN HORNEY (pronounced
Horn-eye) built on the assumption that
social and cultural conditions,
especially childhood experiences, are
largely responsible for shaping
personality
People who do not have their needs
for love and affection satisfied during
childhood develop basic hostility
toward their parents and, as a
consequence, suffer from basic
anxiety
Horney theorized that people combat
basic anxiety by adopting one of three
fundamental styles of relating to
others:
➔ Moving toward people
➔ Moving against people
➔ Moving away from people
Normal individuals may use any of
these modes of relating to other
people, but neurotics are compelled to
rigidly rely on only one
Their compulsive behavior generates a
basic intrapsychic conflict that may
take the form of either an idealized
self-image or self-hatred
The idealized self-image is expressed
as (1) neurotic search for glory (2)
neurotic claims or (3) neurotic pride
Self-hatred is expressed as either
self-contempt or alienation from self
REAL VS. IDEAL SELF
The real self and the ideal self are
terms used to describe personality
domains
The real self is who we actually are
It is how we think, how we feel, look,
and act
This can be seen by others, but
because we have no way of truly
knowing how others view us, the real
self is our self-image
The ideal self, on the other hand, is who
want to be
It is an idealized image that we have
developed over time, based on what
we have learned and experienced
The ideal self could include
components of what our parents have
taught us, what we admire in others,
what our society promotes, and what
we think is in our best interest
THE IMPORTANCE OF ALIGNMENT
If the way that I am (the real self) is
aligned with the way that I want to be
(the ideal self), then I will feel a sense
of mental well-being or peace of mind.
If the way that I am is not aligned
with how I want to be, the
incongruence, or lack of alignment,
will result in mental distress or anxiety
The greater the level of incongruence
between the ideal self and real self,
the greater the level of resulting
distress
HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY
CARL ROGERS (1902-1987) was a
humanistic psychologist who agreed
with the main assumptions of
Abraham Maslow
Humans have one basic motive, that is
to self-actualize
Every person could achieve their
goals, in life when self-actualization
took place
The self-actualizing tendency which
help shape/develop his/her
self-concept over a period of time
based on the feedback from this field
of reality
However, Rogers (1959) added that for
a person to "grow", they need an
environment that provides them with
genuineness (openness and
self-disclosure), acceptance (being
seen with unconditional positive
regard), and empathy (being listened
to and understood)
A person can be a fully functioning
individual when they’re in touch with
the here and now, his or her subjective
experiences and feelings, continually
growing and changing

5 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
FULLY FUNCTIONING PERSON
OPEN TO EXPERIENCE
The person accepts the experience of
both positive and negative emotions
He/she does not deny negative
feelings but worked it through rather
than resorting to ego defense
mechanisms
EXISTENTIAL LIVING
The individual is in touch with different
experiences as they occur in his/her
life
Being able to live and fully appreciate
the present, not always looking back
to the past or forward to the future
TRUST FEELINGS
As the individual lives in the present
moment, they pay attention to their
feelings, instincts, and gut-reactions
The person trusts that their own
decisions are the right ones, and trust
that he/she makes right choices
CREATIVITY
A functioning individual manifests
creative thinking and risk-taking
behaviors in his/her life
They do not play safe all the time
This involves the ability to adjust and
change and seek new experiences
FULFILLED LIFE
The person is happy and satisfied with
life, and always looking for new
challenges and experiences
INNER PERSONALITY OR
SELF-CONCEPT
This is defined as "the organized,
consistent set of perceptions and
beliefs about oneself
Without these, relationships and healthy
personalities will not develop as they
should
Also called self-construction, self-identity,
self-perspective or self-structure
Self-concept includes the person’s
characteristics, attitudes and dispositions
It differs from self-esteem
Since self-concept is a cognitive or
descriptive component of one's self (ex. "I
am a fast learner"), while self-esteem is
evaluative and opinionated (ex. "I feel
good about being a fast learner")
According to Rogers, we want to feel,
experience and behave in ways which are
consistent with our self-image and which
reflect what we would like to be like, our
ideal-self
The closer our self-image and ideal-self
are to each other, the more consistent or
congruent we are and the higher our sense
of self-worth
THE SELF-CONCEPT HAS 3
DIFFERENT COMPONENTS
SELF-IMAGE
the mental picture that is quite
resistant to change
It depicts the details that are
potentially available to objective
investigation by others (height,
weight, hair color, etc.) as well as the
items that have been learned by that
person from personal experiences or
by internalizing the judgments of
others
A person's self-image is their answer
to the question "What do you believe
people think about you?".
SELF-IMAGE MAY CONSIST OF 3 TYPES
➔ How the individual sees themself
➔ How others see the individual
➔ How the individual perceives
others see them or not
SELF – ESTEEM /SELF WORTH
The value that the individual places on
himself/herself
Reflects a person's overall subjective
emotional evaluation of his or her own
worth; belief about oneself; as well as
emotional states such as triumph,
despair, pride and shame
It is a judgment of oneself as well as
an attitude toward the self.
Ex. "I am competent“; "I am worthy"
IDEAL SELF
What the person wishes to be really
like
3 QUALITIES RELATED TO SELF
CONCEPT
➔ PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
are physiological attributes
➔ PERSONAL
CHARACTERISTICS are
personality traits
➔ SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS
explain the person’s association
or inclusion in a group
PHYSICAL SELF
Refers to the body which is a
wonderful and complex container
A responsive machine with which we
interface with our environment and
fellow beings.
A concrete dimension; tangible aspect
of the person that can be directly
observed and examined
BEAUTY
The person or nature or things’
combination of qualities, such as shape,
color, or form that pleases the aesthetic
sense, especially the sight
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
A. BEAUTY IS UNIVERSAL
According to De Mello (2014), this is
true if all cultures appear to have the
same notion of what beauty is
B. BEAUTY IS NOT UNIVERSAL.
● Cultural conditioning influences
perception of beauty
● Ideas of beauty vary
throughout history and across
different cultures.
● Tastes change over time hence
BEAUTY IS NOT UNIVERSAL
● Beauty is a subjective concept
Evolutionary perspective explains that
both men and women have considered
certain physical features such as
HEALTH AND GOOD GENE as
indicators of beauty
Fitness and BEAUTY is characterized
by a clean and unblemished skin, thick
shiny hair, and symmetrical face.
That is, individuals with unusual facial
features are seen as more beautiful
since they are more noticeable than
those with average facial features.
Swami and Harris (2012) further
added that a person’s inclination for
physical attractiveness and choice of a
mate is dependent on the latter’s
capability for reproduction
Female beauty is also defined
by youthfulness and fertility.
Male beauty on the other hand is said
to be associated with physical traits
that are predominantly determined by
their hormone
HOWEVER, a woman who is thinking
of a long-term or short-term
relationship with a man would have
varied preferences.
It is mentioned that for women who
intend to have a long- term
relationship, men with capabilities to
raise their family on the basis of
financial means are said to be more
attractive than those who possess
physical masculinity and fertility
INFLUENCE OF CULTURE TO
BEAUTY
Beauty is cultural as well.
For scientists, a face is attractive when
ideal measurement is achieved for the
space between the eyes, the length of
the chin, the height of the eyes, the
length and width of the nose, and the
width and the shape of the mouth.
However, what we observe in the
physical appearance may be different
from the way we perceive them
Both men and women, although
women appear to be more conscious
of their beauty, take extra effort, time
and money to engage in activities that
enhance their appearance just to meet
the beauty standards that modern
society seem to promote.
REASONS WHY SOME PEOPLE
ADAPT TO THE SEEMINGLY
UNREALISTIC AND
UNATTAINABLE STANDARDS OF
BEAUTY
The harsh treatment from various
media
This kind of treatment has
psychological implication as it affects
women at its core. The latter leads to
the development of low self-esteem,
negative body image, eating
disorders, stress, and anxiety
Putting photo-shopped and
computer-enhanced models in
advertisements, society has built up
impossible standards of beauty, which
has led to feelings of inadequacy
among women.
Why is it that women and men
alike feel bad when their physical
appearance is put in bad light?
GOOD LOOKS SEEM TO BE ONE
SELF-MORTIFICATION comprises
avoidance of activities that gives
pleasure to the body like sex and
eating meat to the extent of assuming
a modest living condition

OF THE SOURCES OF ESTEEM

While FASTING is said to be an act of
refuting oneself which may take in the
But this is not a good source of esteem
form of refraining from consuming
since beauty fades as one gets older;
meat during the Lenten season as
still a lot of women and men conform
practiced by the Christians, the
to the society’s standards of beauty to
purpose of which is to attain oneness
maintain their youthful look.
with Christ
Ultimately, looking young despite
old age, increases one’s self-esteem
Another practice which promote the
latter is part-taking in the EUCHARIST.
CAREER AND RELATIONSHIP
The mentioned religious practices
PUSH WOMEN TO CONFORM TO
have been an important part of
BEAUTY STANDARDS Christian life which for many years
provided guidance in terms of what to
According to psychologists, the
do with the body
overwhelming emphasis on beauty
results to difficulty in obtaining
gratification in their relationship for BEAUTY or BEING BEAUTIFUL is
both men and women, as well as, a concept that we automatically
women being forced to subscribe to attached to the body or physical
costly beauty products and risky appearance. The society’s
cosmetic surgeries standards of beauty sometimes
contribute to the development of a
person’s unhealthy body image or
Others go to extreme measures as
incapacitating beliefs.
body modification to meet the
society’s standards of beauty.
Therefore, beauty should not be the
only measure of a person’s worth.
Body modification refers to the
Nonetheless, the physical aspect is
physical alteration of the body
one of the areas that a person may
improve on so that he can achieve a
Some practices are promoted for body
healthy self-image.
preservation, these are usually
observed in some religious practices
like fasting, abstinence, and
self-mortification

SEXUAL SELF
Another aspect of one’s humanity is
the experience of oneself as a
SEXUAL BEING
One who is capable of experiencing
pleasurable sensations and sexual or
romantic attractions with another
body
This is called HUMAN SEXUALITY
HUMAN SEXUALITY: is a subject
matter that has been subject of taboo
and too much social regulation at
some point in the history of human
society
CONSEQUENCES: OF TABOO AND
SOCIAL REGULATION
● Lots of generation grew up
developing confused attitudes
about it
● Curiosity which is often met not
with clear information but with
resounding “NO” or “DON’T”
from adults
● Teens explore other sources like
peers, pornographic reading and
video materials to satisfy
cravings for sexual information
● Relying on age stories among
folks in the neighborhood
In the mid 20th century, there was a
slow opening of more informed
discussion on SEXUALITY.
CONDITION OF HUMAN
SEXUALITY IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Philippines is said to be predominantly
dominated by conservative views and
little understanding of HUMAN
SEXUALITY and oneself as a sexual
being
Hence, there is no systematic program
geared towards promoting sex
education in any domain in the
country.
OBJECTIVE OF SEXUAL SELF
DISCUSSION IN UTS
● Provide one scientific
understanding of the topic
“Sexual Self”
● Lessen, if not eradicate,
ignorance, prejudices and
stigmatizing attitudes towards
sexuality-related factors
● Promote a more healthy and
meaningful attitude towards
one’s sexual self
BASIC CONCEPTS ON THE
STUDY OF SEXUALITY
Sexuality refers to the WAYS in which
human beings EXPERIENCE
and EXPRESS themselves as SEXUAL
BEINGS
Components of Sexuality:
● Sex
● Sexual orientation
● Gender expression
● Gender identity
SEX
from the Latin word which stands for
“TO CUT or DIVIDE” which is
expressed as MALE or FEMALE based
on the external genitalia of penis and
vagina that sets the biological
structural difference
GENDER
Signifies the STATE or EXPERIENCE of
being male or female which results
from SOCIALIZATION WITHIN ONE’S
CULTURE
GENDER IDENTITY
One’s concept of being male or female
GENDER ROLES
are the behavioral expectations of
both male and female within a society
or culture
GENDER EXPRESSIONS
How a person actualizes hid/her
gender identity through manner of
dressing, appearance or conduct
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
One’s erotic attraction and romantic
interest with the opposite or same
gender
Ex. homosexuality, bisexuality and
heterosexuality
THE STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT
OF OUR SEXUAL BODY
The sex of an individual depends on
the 23rd pair of chromosome during
fertilization…
XX – female XY – male
Around the end of the 2nd month of
pregnancy, sexual differentiation and
development of the external sex organ
begins
At birth, the basis of assigning one’s
sex or gender is determined by the
structure of the external genitalia or
the structures of reproduction which
are called PRIMARY SEXUAL
CHARACTERISTICS
SECONDARY SEX
CHARACTERISTICS
Begins to develop during puberty or
the start of teen years
Not essential to reproduction but as
they develop they set for a more
visible differentiation between a male
and a female
With the appearance of secondary sex
characteristics comes the
maturation of the reproductive system
for both sexes.
Upon the onset of menstruation for
girls through the advent of first
menstruation called the menarche and
initial seminal emission in males
usually through nocturnal emissions or
“wet dreams,” the female and male
bodies are ready to fulfill
reproductive functions or to produce
offspring.
THE BIOLOGY OF SEXUAL
BEHAVIOR
Human sexuality is not just sexual
anatomy.
Human Sexuality is also characterized
by expression (or suppression of in
some cases) of sexual feelings and
thoughts into certain actions either
individually or with another sexual
being
THE BIOLOGY OF SEXUAL
BEHAVIOR
Specific Sexual Behaviors:
● Sharing of erotic or affectionate
feelings with others to add
meanings in our relationships
● When we stimulate our bodies for
sexual satisfaction
● When we engage in a sexual act
with another being for the purpose
of reproduction
Why do we even feel the urge to
express our sexual feelings and
thoughts into certain actions?
Because the human body has been
created to be sensitive to sexual
excitation
TOUCHING, CARESSING, STROKING
and other related modalities are
capable of eliciting sexual arousal
especially in sensitive regions of the
body where there are concentration of
nerve endings.
There are specific parts of the body
that are sensitive to sexual
stimulation that are called
EROGENOUS ZONES (Nevid, et. al,
1993).
Our SKIN is the largest zone of
pleasure in the body that is sensitive
to tactile stimulation.
Primary erogenous zones like the
genitals, inner thighs, lips and mouth,
tongue, earlobes and breasts, neck
and navels are endowed with more
nerve endings, thus, their extreme
sensitivity to stimulation
Secondary erogenous zones are body
parts that are not naturally sensitive
to sexual stimulation but they have
become sexually excitable due to
repeated experience.
One may feel sexual arousal when a
partner strokes one’s hair, or arms, or
legs, since these have been the usual
parts that receive affectionate
attention from the partner over time.
BIOLOGICAL BASES OF LUST,
LOVE, ATTACHMENT
As sexual beings, humans normally
experience the need to be physically
intimate, to feel desire for somebody,
or to long for deep and constant
affiliation with another person.
Biologically speaking, the three
emotion systems rely on specific
neurobiological circuity in the human
brain.
SEX DRIVE OR LUST is
characterized by the urge to
experience pleasure through sexual
intimacy with someone and is
influenced by neurophysiological
mechanisms such as certain areas in
the brain and the production of
hormones like estrogens and
androgens
ESTROGEN is any of a group of
steroid hormones that promote the
development and maintenance of
female characteristics of the body.
Such hormones are also produced
artificially for use in oral
contraceptives or to treat menopausal
and menstrual disorders
ANDROGENS are a group of
hormones that play a role in male
traits and reproductive activity.
Present in both males and females, the
principle androgens are testosterone
and androstenedione
Our experience of lust is mediated by
both the cerebral cortex (or the
thinking part of the brain) and the
subcortical regions, consisting of the
limbic system, which regulate sexual
processes specifically through the
hypothalamus, which subsequently
oversees the body’s hormonal system
through the pituitary gland
The limbic system is the portion of the
brain that deals with three key
functions: emotions, memories and
arousal (or stimulation). ...
The thalamus is located within the
brainstem and is part of the pathway
of information into the cerebrum,
which is the section of the brain that is
responsible for thinking and
movement
The pituitary gland directs the sex
glands in both males and females to
secrete sex hormones like estrogen
and progesterone in females, and
androgens like testosterone
in males
ROMANTIC LOVE
Often the beginning of most long-term
relationships or the most common
reason why people decide to commit
or marry in due time.
This love is characterized by strong
feelings of attraction and passionate
desire for the other person.
It may start as an infatuation where
one may find himself or herself
preoccupied most of the tim with the
thought of the person of interest, the
urge to be in the presence of the
other— a situation people often call
“being in love” or “falling in love.”
Our experience of such kind of
“love” seems to be governed by
the attraction system in our brain
characterized by an increased
production of the neurotransmitters
dopamine and norepinephrine and
low level of serotonin (chemical
messenger that carries, boosts, and
balances signals between neurons, or
nerve cells, and other cells in the
body)
Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter
that plays an important role in
alertness is involved in the body's
fight or flight response
Dopamine plays an important role in
the coordination of body movements
 relations with another, while being
Serotonin plays an important role in deeply attracted to another person,
regulating and modulating mood, and is in a committed relationship with
sleep, anxiety, sexuality, and appetite yet, another individual

ATTACHMENT
A phenomenon regulated
by emotion system in the brain
through the neuropeptides oxytocin
and vasopressin which are released by
hypothalamus

In humans, these pituitary

neuropeptides are usually released on
the following instances:

● After partners experienced

fullness of sexual union
(vasopressin)
● During childbirth, nursing a
baby and cuddling (oxytocin)
● Other emotionally intimate
activities.

These brain chemicals facilitate pair

bonding, group bonding and
mother-infant bonding in mammals

These three emotion systems in the

brain are used interchangeably or
simultaneously, referring to, every
time, LOVE.

These emotion circuits in the brain are

intertwined with one another, yet, they
could function differently and
independently. That explains why
some people may have sexual