LESSON 2: THE SEXUAL SELF
This lesson is designed to discuss facets of human
sexuality such as diversity of sexual behaviour,
understanding the human sexual response, identifying
sexual orientations and differentiating love from lust.
Human sexuality is influenced by physical,
psychological, spiritual and cultural factors. As sexual
beings, people are identified by gender, role,
assignment, and perception. Risky sexual behaviour
that may lead to sexual diseases and unwanted
consequences will also be explored. Though some
may feel uncomfortable with these topics, it is
important to keep in mind that discussing this
objectively will help the individual deal with issues that
are usually considered taboo.
PERSPECTIVES OF HUMAN SEXUALITY
Sexual selfhood is defined as how one w thinks about
himself or herself as a sexual individual. Human
sexuality is a topic that just like beauty is culturally
diverse. For the learner to be able to grasp it in its
totality, he should be aware of the varied ways in
which it can be understood.
1. Historical. In Ancient Greece, it is the male that
assumes the dominant role. The male symbol, the
penis, was viewed as the symbol of fertility and how
the male body was structured was greatly admired.
Their wives were considered as objects to be
possessed just like property. Women, on the other
hand, were forbidden to own property and had no
legal and political rights. Women were not allowed to
even read and write. Her only function was to bear
children. The Greek word for woman is "gyne
means-bearer of children.
The Middle Ages (476-1450), bore witness to the
strong influence of the church, particularly in matters
of sexuality. The church decreed that all sexual acts
that do not lead to procreation were considered evil.
Women were labelled as either a temptress (like Eve)
or a woman of virtue (like the Virgin Mary). Prostitute
In the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century
(1483-1546) Martin Luther, John Calvin and other
Protestant leaders initiated a movement against the
corruption of the Roman Catholic Church.
Protestantism believed that sexuality is a natural part
of life and that priests should be able to marry and
have families. Martin Luther and John Calvin asserted
that the reason for sexual intimacy was to strengthen
the physical and emotional bond between husbands
and wives and not just for procreation.
By the 17th and 18th century, the Puritans, a group of
people who were discontented with the Church of
England rallied for religious, moral and societal
reformation. They had positive views on marital sex
and did not condone sex outside of marriage.
Premarital sex, therefore, was considered immoral
(Cate and Lloyd 1992 in Rosenthal, 2013).
In the Victorian Era (1837-1901), homosexuality and
prostitution were rampant and considered to be
threats to social order. In this period the
Psychoanalytic Theory of Sigmund Freud became
popular. People in this era were not comfortable
discussing breast or buttocks, they used other terms
instead (like white meat or dark meat). Sex for women
was just a marital duty and it was assumed that they
were pure and asexual. Women were told that they
should not enjoy having sex, and if they did, there
was something wrong with them. Other beliefs that
proliferated in this era were: ejaculating more than
once a month would greatly weaken a man,
masturbation leads to blindness, insanity and death
(Robinson, 2005 in Rosenthal, 2013). Despite all
these beliefs. prostitution still flourished in the city of
London.
Through the years and in the 20th century, interest in
sexuality became more evident and accepted in
society. The separation of church and state reduced
the influence the church had over sexual mores. This
is the period when pregnancy can be controlled by
natural and artificial contraception. This period is also
marked by increased incidence of 11) sexually
transmitted infections because of high risk sexual
activities. The rise of feminism allowed for changes in
employment, home life, and sexual standards for
women. Over time, cultural diversity and social norms
offered varied views on what today may be
considered as sexually normal (Rosenthal, 2013).
2. Biological. Knowing the structures and functions of
the reproductive system is essential to the
understanding of sexuality. In the nervous system, it is
the brain that initiates and organizes sexual
behaviour. Through the process of sexual
reproduction, the next generation of human beings
are created by the fusion of the egg cell and sperm
cell. At the start of puberty, changes that happen in
the bodies of young males and females are both
secondary and primary sexual changes. As was
mentioned in the previous lesson, secondary sexual
changes are physical changes that distinguish the
males from females.
On the other hand, the primary sexual changes that
happen during the course of puberty prepare the male
and female's body for procreation. These involve
changes in the reproductive organs for these parts to
attain functional maturity. Female's ovaries begin
producing egg cells (ova) and the male's testicles
begin producing live sperm cells (spermatozoa) When
intercourse happens between a healthy, sexually
mature male and female then fertilization may take
place and pregnancy (gestation period) begins. In the
first few weeks of gestation, the internal as well as the
external genital structures of all human fetuses are
the same. The gender of the baby which is
determined during fertilization is not yet conspicuous.
It can only be physically noted within 16th to 18th
weeks of pregnancy
(http://www.livestrong.com/article/231357-when-does-
a- baby-develop-gender/).
Chromosomes which are the threadlike structures
found in the nucleus of each cell of the body are
composed of genes which are the basic unit of
heredity. It is the sequence of DNA contained in the
genes that gives instructions as to how the body will
be structured and how it will function. Human beings
have 23 pairs (46) of chromosomes in the nucleus of
each body cell. The first 22 pairs are called
autosomes, and the 23" pair are the sex
chromosomes (XX or XY). It determines whether the
individual is male or female. Females normally have
XX chromosomes as her 23 pair while males normally
have XY (Rosenthal, 2013). In the early stages of
embryonic development, both sexes have similar
internal structures.
Sociobiological/Evolutionary. This perspective studies
how evolutionary forces affect sexual behaviour.
According to sociobiological theory, natural selection
is a process by which organisms that are best suited
to their environment are most likely to survive. Traits
that lead to reproductive advantage tend to be passed
on, whereas maladaptive traits are lost. On the basis
of human sexual behaviour, it all begins with physical
attraction.
Beauty is more than just a cultural standard. It is
primarily an evolutionary standard for attracting the
best male or female in the lot to ensure that one's
genetic characteristic will be passed on to the next
generation. Sexual preference for females with big
breasts or for males with broad shoulders and
muscular torsos is instinctively more for genetic
survival than for pleasure or social status. Big
breasted females produce more milk to ensure the
survival of the offspring while broad shouldered,
muscled males ensure safety and security of the
offspring.
Although survival is the goal of the evolutionary
perspective, physical attraction which ends in sex
does not mean that the attraction will be lasting. For
what is really important in human sexual relationships
is the love, care and responsibility each gender has
for the other. To have this is to ensure not only the
physical survival of the offspring but the kind of life the
offspring will pass on to the next generation.
4. Psychological, Rosenthal (2013) also explained
that sexuality is not a mere physical response. Rather,
it also involves emotions, thoughts and beliefs.
Sigmund Freud was one of the most prominent
people to explain sexuality through his theories.
According to him, human beings are faced with two
forces - sex instinct or libido (pleasure) and death or
aggressive instinct (harm toward oneself or towards
others). Sex instinct does not only pertain to the
sexual act rather it could also mean anything that
could give pleasure to the person. Thus, human
behaviour is geared towards satisfying the sex instinct
and/or death instinct. A person's libido or sexual
energy is located in an area of the body at different
psychosexual stages. These areas of pleasure are
called erogenous zones. It includes the mouth, anus
and genitals. There are five stages in Freud's
Psychosexual Stages of Development:
a. Oral stage, the child erogenous zone is the mouth
which receives gratification through eating and
sucking.
b. Anal stage, the erogenous zone is the anus in
which sexual gratification is derived from defecation.
c. Phallic stage, erogenous zone is the genitals. Here
the child experiences sexual attraction towards the
opposite sex parent. Oedipus complex (sexual
attraction of the boy child toward the mother) and
electra complex (sexual attraction of the girl child
towards the father).
d. Latency stage, sexual impulses lie dormant as the
child is occupied by social activities such as going to
school and playing.
e. Genital stage where the erogenous zone is again
the genitals. At this time, the sexual attraction is
directed towards others, usually one of the opposite
sex.
Freud also regarded personality as composed of
three structures: the Id, the Ego and the Superego.
The id is the part which always seeks for pleasure
and aggression. It follows the pleasure principle
because it wants the person to attain gratification
immediately. It is unconsciously saying "I want it now!"
The superego is the person's sense of morality
It follows the moral principle whose role is to restrict
the demands of the id. It is developed when children
are taught the difference between right and wrong.
The ego follows the analytical principle. It analyses
the need of the id and its consequences as dictated
by the superego and thinks of ways to satisfy the
need in an acceptable manner.
According to social learning theories, sexuality
develops from the behaviour learned in childhood,
from rewards and punishments, from Imitation and
identification and from thoughts and perception
(Rosenthal, 2013).
Religious. Judaism holds a positive and 5. natural
outlook toward marital sex which they consider as
blessed by God and pleasurable for both man and
woman. Sexual connection provides an opportunity
for spirituality and transcendence. In Islam, family is
considered of utmost importance, and celibacy within
marriage is prohibited. Muslim men are allowed to
have up to four wives but Muslim women can only
have one husband. Sex is permitted only within
marriage and extramarital sex is penalized. According
to Taoism, which originated in China, sex is not only
natural and healthy, but a sacred union necessary to
people's physical, mental and spiritual being. The
sexual union is a way to balance male and female
energy. In Hinduism, sexuality is seen as a spiritual
force, and the act of ritual lovemaking is a means of
both celebrating and transcending the physical.
For the Roman Catholic Church, marriage is purely
for intercourse and procreation. Pope John Paul II
confirmed the idea that married couples should
engage in intercourse only for the purposes of
procreation as late as 1995 in the encyclical
Evangelium Vitae. They further believed that
homosexual orientation in itself is not sinful, but
homosexual acts are immoral and sinful. The use of
birth control is strongly opposed but they agree to
natural family planning and prohibit abortion.
(Rosenthal, 2013)
CLARIFYING SEXUAL TERMINOLOGIES
The word sex is derived from the Latin word secare
which means 'to divide' while the word sexuality
means 'to unite, thus it can be seen that the two
words have opposite meanings (Rosenthal, 2013).
According to the contemporary psychologist Shirley
Feldman of Standford University, sexual arousal has
emerged as a new phenomenon in adolescence and
that it is important that sexuality be viewed as a
normal aspect of adolescent development. Although
sexuality in adolescence is often associated with early
pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection, it
remains a fact that sexuality is a normal part of the
period of adolescence (Santrock, 2014). Adolescence
is a period of sexual exploration and experimentation
which includes sexual fantasies and realities. Thus,
sexuality can be incorporated into the adolescent's
identity (Santrock, 2016). An adolescent's sexual
identity includes sexual orientation (either
homosexual or heterosexual), his ability to manage
sexual feelings (such as sexual arousal and
attraction, activities, interest and style of behaviour)
and his capacity to regulate his sexual behaviour to
avoid undesirable consequences.
According to Santrock (2014) gender refers to the
characteristics of people as males or females. It is the
lived role of a boy or girl, man or woman. A set of
expectations that prescribes how females and males
should think, act and feel refers to gender roles.
In the DSM V (2013), the words sex and sexual refer
to the biological indicators of male and female or
having the capacity to reproduce. Gender assignment
(natal gender) refers to the initial assignment as male
or female which usually occurs at birth. Gender
reassignment denotes an official and usually legal
change of gender. While gender identity is a category
of social identity that refers to an individual's
identification as male, female or some category other
than male or female. It is a person's subjective sense
of being a man or woman.
Masculine refers to the qualities and behaviours
judged by a particular culture to be ideally associated
with or especially appropriate to men and boys
whereas feminine can be described as qualities and
behaviours judged by a particular culture to be ideally
associated with or especially appropriate to women
and girls. There are also those who have both
masculine and feminine traits, feelings and qualities.
They are referred to as androgyny. Asexuals are the
persons who do not experience sexual drives or
attraction to either sex while hypersexual are persons
with an excessive interest in sex to the point where it
can cause problems in one's life (Rosenthal, 2013).
THE PHASES OF HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE
Masters and Johnson categorized the human erotic
response into four stages which they called the
Human Sexual Response Cycle (HSRC):
Stages
Excitement- This is the body's initial physical
response to sexual arousal.
-It is characterized by an increase in heart rate and
blood pressure as well as heightened muscle tone.
Plateau
-This is the period of sexual excitement prior to
orgasm.
-It is characterized by intensification of the changes
begun during the excitement phase.
Orgasm
-This is characterized by waves of intense pleasure
(climax), often associated with vaginal contractions in
females and ejaculation in males.
Resolution
-In this phase the body returns to its non- excited
state.
Sexual response varies from person to person and
sexual fulfilment can occur without the completion of
all phases described by Master and Johnson.
Rosenthal (2013) has included the stage of desire
prior to excitement which is a drive or motivation to
seek out sexual objects or to engage in sexual
activities.
The Triaphasic Model of Sexual Response was
introduced by Helen Singer Kaplan which includes
only sexual desire, excitement and orgasm.
2. The Erotic Stimulus Pathway Theory by David
Reed did not focus on the physical changes of sexual
response but on the psychosocial aspects of sexual
response. His theory includes four stages: seduction
(all actions that enhance attractiveness such as what
people wear and how they act), sensation (sound,
touch and smell that affect arousal), surrender
(orgasm) and reflection (a positive or negative sexual
experience that affects future sexual patterns).
THE CHEMISTRY OF LUST, LOVE AND
ATTACHMENT
Attraction is a characteristic that causes pleasure or
interest by appealing to a person's desires or tastes,
and causes one to be drawn to the other. Human
societies greatly value physical beauty. A desire for
beauty lies within the brain. In a research conducted
by Langlois, et al., (1987), even infants who are not
yet exposed to cultural standards of beauty will show
a preference for beautiful faces. When 2- 8 month old
infants were shown pictures of women's faces that
had been previously rated for their attractiveness, the
infants spent more time looking at the faces of the
ones which are rated to be more attractive. In another
study, adult subjects were asked to rate the
attractiveness of flashed images of faces within 13
milliseconds. Though many of the participants
reported that they only guessed their responses, it
showed that they were able to rate the attractiveness
of the faces which means that images of beauty are
processed automatically in the brain (Olson and
Marshuetz, 2005 in Rosenthal 2013).
Criteria of beauty are subjective and vary over time in
different cultures. Girls of the Kayan tribe on the
border of Burma and Thailand wear brass rings
around their necks as a sign of elegance and status.
As the girls grow, more rings are added, elongating
their necks. Women of the Maori tribe of New Zealand
tattoo their lips and chin. A woman with full blue lips is
considered the most beautiful and desirable. In
Mauritania, a country on the northwest coast of Africa,
heavier is better. Thick ankles, plump arms, stretch
marks, and large buttocks are considered among the
most beautiful parts of the body. The universal
hallmarks of beauty include characteristics of
symmetry, averageness, skin, hair, eyes, height,
weight and age.
LOVE: EMOTION OR DRIVE?
Most romantic relationships begin with two individuals
falling in love with each other. The singer Robert
Palmer compares love with an addiction. This was
verified in a study in which 17 participants who were
madly in love were asked to go to the lab and bring a
picture of their loved one. Participants were then
placed in a brain scanner fMRI (functional magnetic
resonance imaging) which measures the neural
activity of the brain. Their brain activity was recorded
while they looked at the picture of their loved one. The
results revealed that when participants gazed at a
photo of their beloved, regions in the brain were
activated. Those parts are closely associated with the
anticipation of reward and with focused attention. This
is the dopamine system in the brain which is the same
system involved in pleasure and addiction. Fisher et
al., (2006) concluded that, rather than defining love as
an emotion, "being in love" can be considered a
strong motivation - an addictive craving to be with the
other person.
Thus, early passionate love is not an emotion in and
of itself. Rather, it is best characterized as a
"motivation or goal oriented state that leads to various
specific emotions, such as euphoria or anxiety."
Unlike many emotions, love is not associated with any
specific facial expression, and it is focused on a single
reward. The emotions associated with love - elation,
anxiety, joy, fear-may come and go. But the motivation
to be with the beloved - remains.
JOHN LEE'S LOVE STYLES
1. Eros (EH-ros). Love is based on a strong sexual
and emotional component. This type of love creates
the initial excitement of a new relationship. A romantic
and passionate love which emphasizes physical
attraction and sexual desire. The Eros lover dreams
of the ideal characteristics of a partner and usually
experiences love at first sight. The relationship,
however, seldom lasts forever because they tend to
be quick to fall in and out of love.
2. Agape (AH-gah-pay). This is altruistic and selfless
love. The person shows his love without expecting to
receive the same in return. He considers the wishes
of his partner as more important than his own. He
may not have a perfect partner but he will always be
there to support and offer his love. This type of love is
more acceptable to women than men
3. Storge (Store-gay). This is love-related friendship
and based on
nonsexual affection. The person experiences love as
a gradual and slow process. When love is strong, love
takes time. Storgic lovers don't suddenly fall in love
with an idealized lover. Commitment, stability and
comfort are their goals.
4. Ludus. For ludic lovers, love is just a game,
something for fun or entertainment. They do not
experience jealousy. They don't value commitment or
intimacy. They manipulate their partners by lying,
cheating and deceiving.
5. Mania. This is characterized by an intense feeling
which may lead to obsessive and possessive love
towards the loved one. Manic lovers always check the
partner's whereabouts. They easily get jealous and
their experience of love is out of control. They are
easily taken advantage of by ludic lovers.
6. Pragma. This is a practical and business-like love.
Pragmatic lovers may plan the best time to get
married, have children, and other future plans. Love is
based on what is appropriate. It is not intense nor out
of control (Rosenthal, 2013).
THE TRIANGULAR THEORY OF LOVE (BY
ROBERT STENBERG, 1986)
According to psychologist Robert Stenberg, love is
made up of three components:
1. Intimacy. This includes the desire to give and
receive emotional closeness, support, caring and
sharing.
2 Passion. This is the hot component of love which
can be described as intensely romantic or sexual
desire for another person usually accompanied by
physical attraction and physiological arousal.
3. Commitment. This is the cold component of love. It
is the decision to maintain the relationship through
good times and bad times.
Stenberg also described several types of love based
on the above components:
1. Liking (intimacy). This only involves emotional
intimacy and has no passionate intention for
long-term commitment. It is Just a friendly relationship
2. Infatuation (passion). This is associated with a high
degree of physiological arousal. There is only passion
without intimacy or commitment. It is usually called
"love at first sight" and may fade quickly.
3. Empty love (commitment). This involves only
commitment. A relationship with no intimacy and
passion. Couples only stay together for their children
or other important reasons.
4. Romantic love (passion and intimacy). It is a
combination of both passion and intimacy which may
be present during the first phase of a relationship.
This is characterized by emotional intensity and
sexual excitement. The experience of passionate love
may be positive and negative.
5. Companionate love (intimacy and commitment).
The components are both intimacy and commitment
which is experienced in long deeply committed
friendship or marriage where passion has faded. It is
more durable than romantic love and may grow over
time.
6. Fatuous love (passion and commitment). A
combination of passion and commitment experienced
by a couple who spent a short time in courtship and
suddenly decided to get married.
7. Consummate love (passion, intimacy and
commitment) There exists a healthy balance of
passion, intimacy and commitment shared by couples
considered to be ideal for each other
THE CHEMISTRY OF LOVE
Why do people fall in love? From a biological
perspective, there is a part of the brain that is active
when people are truly, deeply and madly in love. The
activity of the brain in the areas of positive emotions,
motivational drives and reward increases whereas
brain activities in the areas related to negative
emotions, fear, aggression and social judgement
decreases. Similar reactions were seen in couples
who have been in love for 20 years. Oxytocin (for
uterine contraction, love and bonding functions) and
vasopressin (for water levels in the body, bonding and
parenting behaviour) are hormones that affect
bonding. Another is the physiological reaction that
occurs when people are in love, which is not looking
or giving attention to other people of the opposite sex.
The Chemistry of Love explains how several chemical
substances in the body have been found to naturally
influence the experience of love:
1. Dopamine (DA) and Norepinephrine (NE)- are
neurotransmitters that are involved in mood,
motivation, attention and excitement. Brain areas that
fire when people view a picture of their romantic
partner are pathways that are rich in dopamine, Drugs
such as cocaine, amphetamines, and Ritalin raise DA
levels that lead to physiological reactions such as
Increased attention, exhilaration, pounding heart, loss
of sleep and appetite, and anxiety.
2 Serotonin- is a neurotransmitter that has been
associated with mood, obsession, sex and sleep. The
level of serotonin decreases during infatuation, which
may cause the obsession one feels during the early
phase of love. It is also low in patients who have
obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. It is
believed that passionate romantic love generally lasts
within 6-18 months based on a study conducted
which suggests that people who are madly in love
have increased the level of serotonin after this period.
3. Phenylethylamine (PEA)- is a neurochemical that
can increase the levels of DA and NE especially in the
pathways involving mood and pleasure. This has
been called the "love drug" because high levels of this
substance has been associated with love and orgasm
and to people who are happy with their relationship.
Some studies suggest that PEA levels decrease
within 18 months to 3 years. During breakup the PEA
levels are low. Chocolates have high levels of PEA
causing some to believe that it is a popular gift during
courtship because it elevates levels of "love drug."
However, the PEA in chocolates is broken down
before it reaches the brain. Amphetamine-like PEA is
partially responsible for the feelings of euphoria and
exhilaration experienced during infatuation.
4. Oxytocin and vasopressin are neuropeptides
released from the pituitary gland. The oxytocin causes
the uterus to contract during childbirth and allows the
release of breast milk. It is also important to trust.
empathy, emotional accessibility, pair bonding and
close relationships. It also promotes positive
judgments. When the brains of couples who said they
were still in love after 20 years of marriage were
scanned, areas rich in oxytocin showed increased
activity. Orgasm increases levels of oxytocin
promoting a desire to be with their partner and
enhancing the pair bonding process. Vasopressin is
also important in pair bonding and social behaviour,
memory formation, as well as blood pressure.
5 Endorphins were named for "endogenous
morphine," the body's natural opiates, similar to the
man-made drugs morphine or heroin. If PEA, DA and
NE are responsible for cocaine-like euphoria in the
beginning of a relationship, at some point in time it
may drop, losing the feeling of exhilaration. After the
infatuation ends and if the long-term relationship is
continuous, endorphin levels may increase. It gives a
feeling of security, euphoria and peace. Being
separated from the beloved can make you lovesick
like an addict who needs drugs to maintain the feeling
of euphoria.
The psychology of love shows that there are
psychological theories that would explain why people
fall in love.
1. Behavioral Reinforcement Theory. When someone
receives a reward such as a free ride or other favors
from another, a positive feeling may be experienced.
The better the feelings associated with the behaviour
of a person, the more likely it is for the behaviour to
be repeated.
2. Physiological Arousal Theory. This explains the
most acceptable theories about emotions: the bodies
experience a physiological change first, then people
assign an emotion to that physical sensation. It is
based on the interpretation of the brain. For instance,
when a big spider falls in front of an individual, the
stress reaction would be: the person
might gasp, the heart would pound faster, and
breathing would quicken, The brain would interpret an
emotion associated to this experience as the feeling
of FEAR. In another situation a girl who happens to
see her crush walking by will have the same
experience as the person who encounters the spider
(a person might gasp, the heart and respiratory rate
would elevate), the brain would have different
interpretation in the second case, a feeling of LOVE.
3. Evolutionary Theories. This explains that love
arose due to some sociobiological need. Males tend
to look for young, healthy female mates to carry their
offspring. Females prefer males who have the
resources to support them and their offspring.
Based on social psychological data, the factors that
would determine with whom people fall in love are
(Rosenthal, 2013):
1. Physical attractiveness (though beauty is in the eye
of the beholder)
2. Reciprocity (people tends to like an individual who
also like them)
3. Proximity (being around anytime physically or
virtually)
4. Similarities (same age, religion, education, race,
physical attractiveness,
intelligence and socio-economic class)
DIVERSITY OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
Adolescence is not only a time of physical changes, it
is also the period of increased sexual behaviour such
as preoccupation with sexual curiosity, fantasies,
masturbation and sexual experimentation. These
sexual desires may lead to poor social judgments,
high risk behaviours and lack of discrimination
(Rosenthal, 2013),
Human sexual behaviour is any activity, solitary, by
pair or by group which induces sexual arousal. It can
be classified according to the gender and the number
of participants. Not all sexual arousal could lead to
sexual activity. Humans are constantly exposed to
sexual stimuli when seeing attractive persons or
seeing advertisements with sexual themes through
mass media.
The response to sucks stay and other stimuli should
be regulated. Thus, one of the necessities takes some
and we are learning to cope with one's sexual arousal
and to achieve some balance between when and
where to properly express and suppress it.
Sociosexual behaviour is sexual behaviour involving
more than one person. It is generally expressed in
heterosexual behaviour (male with female) and
homosexual behaviour (male with male or female with
female). 1.
2. Solitary behaviour is self-masturbation or
self-stimulation with the intention of causing sexual
arousal, a feeling of pleasure and often results in
orgasm. It involves only one individual which is
commonly done in private by males and also females
at the beginning of adolescent period. Many myths
persist, such as this is physically harmful and a sign
of immature behaviour. But the psychological
significance of masturbation depends on how the
individual regards it and his thoughts and feelings
during and after it is done
(https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-
sexual-behaviour).
According to Rosenthal (2013) children may
masturbate at a very young age which may be
spontaneously expressed unless or until the child is
taught to repress or inhibit these behaviours. It was
explained that there are therapeutic benefits to health
in self-stimulation. Aside from producing sexual
pleasure, it may relieve stress and lower blood
pressure. It improves man's fertility because
ejaculation flushes out the old, less motile sperm left
behind in the urethra. It also lowers a man's chance of
getting prostate cancer. Recent findings contradict
historical beliefs that masturbation is dangerous and
sinful. Masturbation was once thought to lead to
impaired morals, depression, social failure, epilepsy,
tuberculosis, blindness, insanity, sterility and early
death (Shannon, 1913 in Rosenthal, 2013).
During the sexual revolution of the 1960s,
masturbation began to be more accepted. When
former U.S. Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders stated
that because masturbation was safe and healthy, it
should be mentioned in school curricula. She was
misinterpreted by the people and President Clinton
fired her in 1994, Masturbation is treated differently in
different cultures. Society's response to masturbation
may vary depending on the age or sex of the
participant, and where or when it occurs. If
masturbation begins to interfere with your life such as
frequently missing work or social engagements - then
it is a sign that a person has a problem (Rosenthal
2013)
Erotic dreams are involuntary images that occur when
people are asleep. Most females and almost all males
report of having erotic dreams at some point in their
lives. These images alone can result in vaginal
lubrication and penile erection and orgasm. In males,
these are called nocturnal emission or wet dreams.
However, not all erotic dreams are wet dreams and
not all wet dreams are erotic. Nocturnal emissions are
most likely to occur during teenage and early adult
years but they can occur throughout one's life. In
general, the less often a man masturbates, the more
nocturnal emissions he will have.
There are, however, sexual behaviors that the
majority of societies will always consider wrong or
deviant. For instance, having intercourse
indiscriminately with several partners is not healthy
due to the risk of acquiring sex related diseases and
engaging in paraphilic behavior, a condition
characterized by abnormal sexual desires, typically
involving extreme or dangerous activities (such as
exhibitionism, voyeurism, sexual sadism and
masochism) (https://www.google.com.ph.paraphilia).
Rosenthal (2013) defined sexual orientation as a
person's predisposition or inclination regarding sexual
behaviour, emotional attachment or physical attraction
to one or both sexes. The phrase 'sexual orientation'
is preferred over 'sexual preference' which implies a
conscious or deliberate choice of a sexual partner.
The following are types of sexual orientations:
1. Homosexual refers to a person whose sexual
orientation is toward another of the same sex. om
a. Lesbian is a term used to describe a woman whose
sexual and romantic attraction is toward women.
b. Gay is a man whose sexual and romantic attraction
is towards other men.
2. Heterosexual is a person whose sexual orientation
is toward others of the opposite sex.
3. Bisexual is a person who may be sexually oriented
to both men and women.
Pansexual is a new sexual orientation of persons who
are sexually 4. attracted to people regardless of their
sex or gender identity. The word "pan" is a Greek
word for "all or every." Thus, they may also be called
"gender blind" for they believe that gender and sex
are not determining factors for getting sexually
attracted to others. It differs from bisexual in such a
way that bisexuals are attracted to both males and
females whereas pansexual is more fluid. Aside from
men and women they may also be attracted to
transgender, transsexuals, androgynous and other
gender categories
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansexuality).
5. The transgender according to DSM V (2013), refers
to the broad spectrum of individuals who transiently or
persistently identify with a gender different from their
natal gender. Transsexual denotes an individual who
seeks, or has undergone, a social transition from
male to female or female to male, which in many, but
not all, cases also involve a somatic transition by
cross-sex hormone and genital surgery (sex
reassignment surgery). In the clinical viewpoint, a
person is suffering from gender dysphoria if there is a
distress that may accompany the incongruence
between one's expressed gender or gender identity
and one's assigned gender. Although not all
individuals will experience distress as a result of
incongruence, many are distressed if the desired
physical interventions by means of hormones and/or
surgery are not available.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIS)
Sexually transmitted infections are diseases that are
contracted primarily through sexual contact with an
infected individual. It is an increasing health problem.
The following are some examples of STIs:
1. HIV/AIDS- stands for Human Immunodeficiency
Virus while AIDS stands for Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Thus, HIV is a virus
while AIDS is a condition or syndrome: HIV can lead
to infections that attack and destroy the CD4 (Tcells)
of the immune system which is the body's natural
defense against such illnesses as tuberculosis,
pneumonia and cancer. HIV without treatment can
lead to AIDS but not all cases of HIV develop AIDS.
Only untreated HIV may lead to AIDS. Presently,
there is no effective cure for HIV. But the condition
can be controlled with proper medical care.
The antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a combination of
medications that are used to prevent HIV from
replicating to protect the body against the virus and
infection. However, ART is not a cure. It helps those
with HIV positive to live longer and happier and
lowers the risk of advancing the condition into AIDS.
AIDS can be diagnosed by the number of CD4 cell
counts. A count of less than 200 cells/mm3 in the
blood indicates AIDS, whereas a typical, healthy
individual has around 500-1,600 cells/mm3 in a blood
sample. When someone dies of AIDS, it is typically
because they got sick with another type of disease or
infection. The immune system is not strong enough to
fight the infection (https://www.stdcheck.com/blog/
whats-the-difference-between-hiv-and-aids/).
In the statistics of Philippine Department of Health
(DOH), in 2008, there was one (1) newly diagnosed
HIV case per day. In 2010, it increased to four (4)
cases per day. In 2012, there were nine (9) cases per
day. In 2014, it has blown to seventeen (17) cases per
day and in 2016, there are twenty-six (26) reported
daily cases of newly diagnosed HIV
(www.doh.gov.ph). According to a news article
(news.abs-cbn.com) posted August 1, 2017, the
Philippines has the highest HIV infection growth in
Asia-Pacific as reported by the health ministry and the
United Nation.
The first AIDS care in the Philippines was reported in
1984. The highest recorded number of cases since
1984 was in May 2017 alone, with a record of 1,998
(33%) cases of HIV-AIDS (newsinfo.inquirer, with a
March 2017, 315 (33%) cases were among youth
aged 15-24 years old. Males represent the majority
and reported modes of transition were sexual contact
males who have sex with males (MSM), needle
sharing among injecting drug users (IDU), and other
to child transmission (http://
www.doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/statistics/EB_HIV_
March-AIDSreg 2017.pdf)
2. Genital Herpes. This is a sexually transmitted
infection caused by a large family of viruses of
different strains. These strains produce other
non-sexually transmitted diseases such as chicken
pox and mononucleosis.
3. Genital Warts. This is an STI caused by the human
papillomavirus; genital warts are very contagious and
are the most commonly acquired STI in the United
States in the 15 to 24 year old age group.
4. Gonorrhea. This is a sexually transmitted infection
caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae
which thrives in the moist mucous membrane linings
of the mouth, throat, vagina, cervix, urethra, and the
anal tract. Symptoms for males are discharge from
the penis and burning sensations during urination. For
females, sometimes irritating vaginal discharge.
Complications for males may include prostate,
bladder and kidney problems as well as sterility. For
females, it may lead to infertility.
. Syphilis. This is a sexually transmitted infection
caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, a
spirochete. If left untreated, syphilis may progress
through four phases: Primary (chancre sores appear)
Secondary (general skin rashes occur), latent (a
period that can last for several years with no overt
symptoms), and tertiary (cardiovascular disease,
blindness, paralysis, skin ulcers, liver damage, mental
problem and even death may occur).
6. Chlamydia. This is one of the most common
sexually transmitted infections, named for Chlamydia
trachomatis, an organism that spreads through sexual
contact and infects the genital organs of both sexes.
Many females with chlamydia are asymptomatic.
Although they can occur without sexual contact,
urinary tract or bladder infection and vaginal yeast
infection are common among sexually active females
(Santrock, 2014).
METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION (ARTIFICIAL AND
NATURAL)
In 1930 the first mainstream Christian sect-the
Angelican Church-officially permitted certain forms of
birth control. Nowadays, some religions, including the
Roman Catholic Church, a few Protestant
denominations, and many Hindus condemn the use of
contraception. Contraceptives are medicines and
other devices that are used to prevent unwanted by charting the menstrual cycle. It is also known as
pregnancy. natural family planning or fertility awareness.

1. Hormonal method of contraception (prevents the b. Abstinence or celibacy - It refers to the avoidance
release of an egg or ovulation) of sexual intercourse.

a. oral contraceptives (Pills) - These are daily oral
contraceptives. Some contain estrogen and
progestogen; others are progestin only and are over
99% effective if used according to instructions.
b. The patch-it is a small patch you stick on to the skin
that releases estrogen and progestogen. It stops
ovulation and is over 99 percent effective if used
according to instructions.
c. The ring- The contraceptive vaginal ring is a small
plastic ring a woman inserts into her vagina every
month and releases hormones to stop ovulation. It is
over 99 percent effective if used appropriately based
on the instructions.
c. Outercourse - It is a sexual activity that does not
include the insertion of the penis into the vagina.
d. Withdrawal (Latin - coitus interruptus) - It happens
when a man removes his penis from the vagina and
ejaculates outside of the woman's body.
4. Sterilization (procedures that make an individual
permanently incapable of conceiving or fertilizing a
partner)
a. Tubal ligation / sterilization- It is the surgery for
women in which fallopian tubes are tied to prevent
eggs from traveling to the uterus so a woman cannot
get pregnant.

d. Implants - The contraceptive implant is a small b. Vasectomy- It is an operation in which the surgeon
flexible rod that is placed under the skin of the upper makes a small cut in the upper part of the scrotum
arm by a health professional and releases then ties or blocks the vas deferens. Men can still
progestogen to stop ovulation. have orgasm or ejaculation after the operation.

e. Injectable - The contraceptive injection which is a
long-acting reversible contraception does not depend
on you taking it daily and is more than 99 percent
effective.
2. Barrier methods (methods that physically or
chemically block the sperm from reaching an egg and
provide a barrier between direct skin to skin contacts)
5. Intrauterine Device (IUD) - It is a small device that
is placed in the uterus by a doctor to prevent
pregnancy.
6. Emergency Contraception (EC) - It is a measure
that protects against pregnancy after unprotected sex
has already occurred. It could be through IUD or
higher dosage of pills (Rosenthal, 2013).

a. Diaphragm - It is a soft dome made of latex or

silicone and is used with spermicide. It is put into the
vagina to cover the cervix and is 92 to 96 per cent
effective when used correctly.

b. Cervical Caps - These are similar to the diaphragm,

though they are generally always made of silicone.
They are put into the vagina to cover the cervix and
are 92 to 96 per cent effective when used correctly.

c. Male and Female Condoms or spermicides - Male

condom is made up of thin latex put over the penis to
stop the sperm from entering vagina. It is 98%
effective when used exactly according to instructions.
The female condom is made of thin polyurethane that
loosely lines the vagina and stops sperm from
entering. It is 95% effective if properly used
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/16-types-birth
-control-need-know/)http://www.telegraph.
co.uk/women/sex/16-types-birth-control-need-know/.

3. Behavioral Methods

a. Rhythm or Calendar Method - It is a way to

determine a woman's most fertile and infertile times