UNDERSTANDING

THE SELF
SECOND SEMESTER
S.Y.: 2021-2022

CHIENE T. GUIBONG
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME

Learning Objectives:

1. Determine the condition of your physical self

2. Classify the physiological needs of the self in

each stage of life

3. Identify the forces and institutions that

impact the development of the various
aspects of identity and the self

4. Explain the importance of a good health

UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME

Erogenous zones
It refers to part of the body that are primarily receptive and increase
sexual arousal when touched in a sexual manner. Examples: mouth, breast,
genitals, anus. However, erogenous zones may vary from one person to
another. Some people may desire and enjoy being touched in certain area
more than the other area, like, neck, thighs, abdomen and feet.

Human Sexual Behavior

It defined as any activity – solitary, between two persons, or in a group – that
induces/ brings sexual arousal [Gebhard, P.H. 2017]. This behavior is
classifiedaccording to gender and number of participants.
Types of behavior: Solitary behavior [involving one individual]; and Socio-
sexual behavior [more than one individual]
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME

Solitary behavior
Self – gratification [begins at or b4 puberty] means self –stimulation that
leads to sexual arousal and generally, sexual climax. This takes place in
personal and private as an end in itself, but can also be done in a socio-sexual
relationship.
This is common for males but becomes less frequent or is abandoned
when socio-sexual activity is available.
Therefore, self-gratification is most frequent among the unmarried.
However thisself-gratification usually decreases as soon as an individual
develop socio-sexual relationship.
Nowadays, human are frequently being exposed to sexual stimuli esp.
from advertising and social media. Some adolescents become so much
aggressive when they respond to such stimuli.
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME

The rate of teenage pregnancy is recently increasing. The challenge is to

develop self-control so that to balance suppression and free expression. Why?
To prevent premarital sex and acquire STD.

Socio-sexual behavior
It is the greatest amount of socio-sexual behavior that occurs b/w only
one male and one female. This usually begins in childhood and may be
motivated by curiosity, such as showing or examining genitalia.
Physical contact involving necking and petting is considered as an
ingredient of the learning process and eventually of courtship and selection of
a marriage partner.
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME

Petting differs from hugging, kissing and generalized caresses of the

clothed body to produce stimulation of the genitals. This is done due to
affection as source of pleasure, preliminary to coitus [this is an insertion of
male reproductive organ into female organ]. This is regarded as an important
aspect in selecting partner but also a way of learning how to interact with
another person sexually.
A behavior may be interpreted by society or individual as erotic
depending on the context in which the behavior occurs. Example, kissing as a
gesture of intimacy b/w couples while other sees this as respect and reverence.

Physiology of human sexual response

Sexual response follows a pattern of sequential stages or phases when
sexual activity is continued.
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME

1. Excitement phase = it is caused by increase in pulse and blood pressure; a

sudden rise in blood supply to the surface of the body resulting in increased
skin temperature, flushing, and swelling of all distensible body parts
particularly noticeable in the male and female reproductive system, rapid
breathing, secretion of genital fluids, vaginal expansion, and a general
increase in muscle tension.

2. Plateau phase = it is generally of brief duration. If stimulation is continued,

orgasm usually occurs.

3. Sexual climax = a feeling of abrupt, intense pleasure, and rapid increase in

pulse rate and blood pressure, and spasms of the pelvic muscles causing
contractions of the female reproductive organ and ejaculation by the male that
last only for few seconds normally not over ten.
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME

4. Resolution phase = it refers to the return to a normal or subnormal

physiological state. Whereas males return to normal even if stimulation
continues, but continued stimulations can produce additional orgasms in
females. Females are physically capable of repeated orgasms without the
intervening “rest period” required by males.
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME
Nervous system factors
The nervous system plays a significant role during
sexual response. The autonomic system is
involved in controlling the involuntary responses.
The efferent cerebrospinal nerves transmit the
sensory messages to the brain to create stimulus
and later initiating a sexual response. The brain
will interpret the sensory message and dictate
what will be the immediate and appropriate
response of the body. The muscles contract in
response to the signal coming from the motor
nerve fibers while glad secretes their respective
product. So, sexual response is dependent
the activity of the nervous System.
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME

Hypothalamus and limbic system are part of

the brain believed to be responsible for
regulating the sexual response, but there is no
specialized “sex center” that has been located
in the human brain. Apart from brain-controlled
sexual responses is the reflex. This reflex is
mediated by the lower spinal cord that leads to
erection and ejaculation for male, vaginal
discharges and lubricant for female when the
genital areas are stimulated. But still, the brain
can overrule and suppress such reflex activity,
when sexual response is socially inappropriate.
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME
Sexual problems
These may be classified as physiological, psychological and social in
origin. Physiological problems are the least among the three categories.
Small number of people suffering from diseases due to abnormal
development of the genitalia or that part of the neurophysiology controlling
sexual response. Example: vaginal infection, retroverted uteri, prostatitis,
adrenal tumors, diabetes, senile changes of the vagina and cardiovascular
problems.

Medication: Through surgery

Psychological problems: usually caused by socially induced inhibitions,
maladaptive attitudes, ignorance and sexual myths held by society. Example:
mature sex must involve rapid erection, prolonged coitus and simultaneous
orgasm. Methods: magazines, married books and general sexual folklore
often strengthen these demanding ideals which are not always achieved;
therefore, can give rise to feeling of inadequacy anxiety and guilt. Hence,
resulting negative emotions can definitely affect the behavior of an individual.
UNPACKING THE SELF:
Unit 1: PHYSICAL SELF: THE BEAUTIFUL ME
Premature emission of semen is a common problem for young males.
Why? Because of the natural result of excessive tension in a male who has
been sexually deprived. Erectile impotence is almost always a psychological
problem in males under 40; in other cases, the impotence may be the result
of disinterest in the sexual partner, fatigue, and distraction because of
nonsexual worries, intoxication and other causes such as occasional
impotency is common and requires no therapy.

Ejaculatory impotence [inability to ejaculate in coitus] is uncommon and

usually of psychogenic origin. Why? It is due to the past traumatic
experiences. Warning! Occasional ejaculatory inability can be possibly
expected in older men or in any male who has exceeding his sexual capacity.

Lastly, vaginismus is a strong spasm [contraction] of the pelvic

musculatureconstricting the female reproductive organ so that penetration is
painful or impossible. It can be due to anti-sexual conditioning or
psychological trauma as an unconscious defense against coitus.
Medication: through psychotherapy and by gradually dilating/widening the
femaleorgan with increasing large cylinders.
LEARNING TASK
Slogan Making

1. Make a slogan that will raise the awareness of the college students and to
help eliminate sexually transmitted diseases especially among the youth.