The Sexual

Self
What is sexual self in
understanding the self?
Sexual self-concept--defined
as an individual's evaluation of
his or her own sexual feelings
and actions
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the topic, you are
expected to:
1. Understand the development of sex
characteristics and human
reproductive system.
2. Understand the erogenous zones and
human sexual response.
3. Differentiate attraction, love, and
attachment.
4. Identify sexual orientation.
5. Determine the causes and
consequences of sexually transmitted
infections and early pregnancy.
6. Reflect on the importance of
contraception and Reproductive
Health Law.
 DEVELOPMENT OF SEX
CHARACTERISTICS AND THE
HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
• The beginning of adolescence is marked by
rapid physical changes, including the
maturation of the reproductive system and
development of the primary and secondary
sex characteristics.
• The primary sex characteristics are
physical characteristics that are present at
birth. They are directly involved in
reproduction. What are primary characteristics?
• Male primary somatic sexual characteristics are the
penis and the scrotum, all of which allow a male to make
and deliver sperm. Female primary sexual characteristics
are the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, clitoris, cervix,
and the ability to bear children.
• Primary and secondary sexual characteristics refer to
specific physical traits that set apart males and females
in sexually dimorphic species; that is, species in which
the males and females look different from each other.
Primary sexual characteristics are there from birth (for
The reproductive system is a system of sex organs designed for
reproduction or sexual function.

The secondary sex characteristics develop during the onset of puberty.

For males, secondary characteristics include facial and chest hair,
increased body hair, pelvic build (lack of rounded hips), upper body
muscular build, and the ability to generate muscle mass at a faster rate
than the female. These secondary characteristics are features such as
pubic hair, breast development in females,

Testosterone, the hormone responsible for the secondary sexual

characteristics that develop in the male during adolescence, stimulates
spermatogenesis.
oestrogen – a hormone produced by the ovaries which controls the development of
female secondary sexual characteristics, for example breast development.
SEXUAL AROUSAL AND
EROGENOUS ZONES: WHAT
TURNS PEOPLE ON
• Human sexual aro
usal may be
produced by direct stimulation of
the body’s erogenous zones.
• Erogenous zones are areas of the
body that provide pleasure.
• Erogenous zones include the genitals,
mouth, breast, ears, and anus.
• O n e o f t h e m o s tb a s i c
s e x u a l stimulation is
masturbation.
• O th e r s e x u a l ac ti vi tie s suc h
as
intimate kissing, cuddling, necking,
petting, or touching the erogenous
zones may be uniquely important to
“An erogenous zone is an area of the body that has heightened sensitivity and can lead
to a sexual response. Although there is some consistency among individuals regarding
which zones are arousing, each person may have unique arousal patterns based on
their biology and their experiences,”
However, all the senses play a huge role in the experience
of sex and the erotic reality! Sight gives a sense of
vulnerability to a person, seeing all of who they are when
at their most exposed, and more often than not being seen
by someone in such a vulnerable state is enough to create
an intimate relationship on its own. Smell not only
subconsciously picks up pheromones, the scent that we
cannot perceive yet release certain hormones in the body
when smelled, but it helps associate memories with the
person whom the smell we perceive originates! Think of
the smell of a partner’s clothes, pillows, or other personal
items. Taste has a huge role in sexual arousal, especially in
oral sex, but I will not go into the explicit details on that
one. Finally, hearing your partner during sex is one of the
main ways to understand the feelings that the other person
is feeling during those pleasure filled moments and can
give context clues about the mood in the moment to create
a more powerful environment.
• In many species, sexual arousal is
closelytiedtovariation
s i n hormonal levels.
• In humans, hormones play less of a
role. In males, sexual libido and
arousal have long been associated
with the presence of androgens
• The brain is where sexual desire
originates andwherese
x u a l behavior is controlled.
• Cognitive factors thus play an
important role in sexual arousal in
humans. The limbic system, which encircles the
upper end of the spinal cord below the cortical
hemispheres in the brain, plays a crucial role in
regulating emotions and sexual behaviors.
Stimulation of parts of the limbic system can
• C u l t u r e a l s o i n f l u e n c e s t h e
expression of sexual desire.
• What are the factors that shape your sexual behavior?
• Our sexual attitudes are shaped by our parents, peer groups,
media and teachers. Where you are born, who your parents
and family are, your culture, religion and social circumstances
will all have a profound influence on your sexual attitudes.
Your friends will be very influential in shaping your ideas
about sex.
• We all have views, thoughts, beliefs and attitudes about sex.
Some people think that sex is something to be ashamed of;
others are very open and comfortable about their sexuality.
Some societies and some families are very comfortable
talking about sexual matters while others prefer not to.
•Sexual activity continues to be positively regarded for men but not for
women.
THE PHASES OF SEXUAL
RESPONSE
• William Masters and Virginia
Johnson use the term sexual-
response cycle to describe
the changes that occur in the
body a s m e n a n d w o m e n
b e c o m e sexually aroused.
• Sexual-responsecycl
eis divided into four
p h a s e s : excitement,
plateau, orgasm, and
resolution.
• The excitement phase is the start of
sexual arousal and can last from
one minute to several hours. Pulse
rate increases, blood pressure
rises, breathing quickens, and
the skin shows a rosy flush
particularly on the chest and
breast areas during this phase.
The nipples harden and erect in
both men and women. In men, the
penis becomes erect, the skin of the
scrotum thickens, and the testes
increase in size. In women, the
clitoris swells, the lips of the vagina
open, and the inside of the vagina
moistens in preparation for
sexual intercourse.
• In the plateau phase, the changes in
the body are continued. In men,
the penis becomes more erect,
the circumference of its head
increases, and releases few drops
of fluid. In women, the outer part
of the vagina swells with
increased amounts of blood to
that area, while the clitoris
retracts under the clitoral hood but
remains highly sensitive. The
outer lips of the vagina become
redder in color. Breathing becomes
more rapid, h e a r t r a t e i n c r e
ases, body temperature
r i s e s , a n d b l o o d pressure
increases during this stage.
• During the orgasmic phase, the
orgasmic contractions of the
muscles in and around the penis
stimulate the release of the
semen which contains the sperm
cells. Men usually achieve one
intense orgasm. In
women,
orgasm involves the contraction
of the pelvic muscles
that
surround the vaginal walls and
can happen multiple times.
• In the resolution phase, the
body returns to its normal
state after orgasm. In men, the
erection is lost, the testes
decrease in size, and the
skin of the scrotum thins
again. In women, the clitoris,
the color of the outer lips of
the vagina, and the lips of the
vagina return to its normal
state.
ATTRACTION, LOVE, AND
ATTACHMENT
• During adole scence, dating and
c ou r t s hi p b e c om e i n c r e a s
i n g l y important.
• Puberty is a stage when
m a n y adolescents experience
their first sexual attraction.
• Romantic love is essential among
college students.
• Attraction is a positive attitude held
by one person toward another person.
• Psych ologist Robert Sternberg
s u g g e s t s that there are three
components of love: intimacy,
passion, and commitment.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
• Sexual orientation refers to a
person’s sexual and romantic
interests either people of
the opposite sex or people of
the same sex.
• Themostcommonsexu
a l orientation is
heterosexual, in w h i c h p e
o p l e a r e s e x u a l l y
attracted to members of the
opposite sex.
• In homosexual orientation, people are
attracted to people of the same sex.
• Men with homosexual orientation are
referred to as gay while women
with homosexual orientation are
referred to as lesbians.
• Bisexual people are attracted to both
men and women.
• Transgender people are those who
believe they were born with the body
of the opposite sex. Some seek sex-
change operation.
• Transsexual people are those whose
genitals are surgically removed
and are fashioned as the genitals
of the desired gender.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED
INFECTIONS (STIs) AND
EARLY PREGNANCY
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
or sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs) are diseases that are
primarily contracted through sexual
contact.
• STIs are increasing health problems.
• STIs affect the sex organs. Some
STIs have broader and more l ife-
threatening effects.
• STIscommonlyincludehum
a n immun odeficien cy virus/
acquired i m m u n o d e f i c i e n c y
s y n d r o m e ( HIV/ AIDS),
gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia,
genital herpes, and genital warts.
METHODS OF
CONTRACEPTION AND THE
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW
• Contraception refers to methods
that are used to prevent pregnancy.
• S o m e m e t h o d s
of contraception such as condom
can also be used to prevent some
sexually transmitted
infections (STIs).
• Other commonmethods
of
contraception available in
the
Philippines include
intrauterine
d e v i c e o r I U D ,b i r t h c o
ntrol
in j e c t i o n , withdrawal
meth od,
• Responsible Parenthood
and Reproductive
Health Act of 2012 or
otherwise known as
Reproductive Health
Law or RH Law, is a law
that g u a r a n t e e s u n i
versal access to
methods on contraception,
fertility control,
sexual education, and
maternal care.
Source:

Go-Monilla, J., & Ramirez, N.

(2018). Understanding the
self. Philippines:
C&E Publishing, Inc.