Understanding Human Sexuality

Introducing the Dimensions of Human Sexuality

• Chapter focuses on understanding the multifaceted nature of human sexuality
• Aims to explore biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that shape sexual experiences and behaviors

Chapter Objectives

• Identify and discuss the dimensions of human sexuality, including biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors
• Discuss the historical aspects of human sexuality, including the sexual revolution, the role of gender, and the role of culture.
• Apply critical thinking methods to human sexuality
• Outline the reasons to study human sexuality, including the steps of the decision-making process.

Introduction to Sexuality

• Sexuality exploration begins with the story of Lisa, an 18-year-old college freshman in her first serious relationship
• The scenario presents issues about sexuality, cultural heritage, and personal choices.
• Lisa is a Korean-American, whose parents had an arranged marriage and value traditional views of sexuality, including virginity before marriage
• Lisa faces a conflict between her traditional values and the more permissive attitudes toward sexuality in U.S. culture
• Lisa's story highlights the many dimensions of human sexuality and the challenges individuals face in integrating these dimensions into their personal lives.

Dimensions of Human Sexuality

• Human sexuality is a part of one's total personality and involves an interrelationship of biological, psychological, and sociocultural dimensions
• The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) defines human sexuality as encompassing an individual's sexual knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors
• Includes anatomy, physiology, biochemistry of the sexual response system, identity, orientation, roles, personality, thoughts, feelings, and relationships
• Ethical, spiritual, cultural, and moral concerns also influence the expression of sexuality
• The Alberta Society for the Promotion of Sexual Health (ASPSH) defines sexuality to include feelings about ourselves, societal roles, reproduction, physical, emotional, and spiritual responses, thoughts, and feelings

Biological Dimension

• Physiological knowledge about how bodies work forms the basis of understanding sexuality
• Factual information is necessary for informed decision making. The more knowledgeable someone is, the more likely they are to take responsibility for their sexual health
• There has been a shift from the physiology-focused research to more psychological factors recently
• Model of the human sexual response cycle, published by Masters and Johnson in 1966, mainly focused on physiology
• Some scientists state genetics encode unconscious tendencies that motivate our actions regarding sexuality
• Belief that the essence of sexuality is biological and is called essentialism

Gender Dimensions

• Parents often assign gender roles from birth based on biological gender, which is reinforced by cultural norms and socialization
• However, there are gender inequalities in society, for example, women earn 83 cents for every dollar earned by men ("wage gap")
• Women have a tougher time to get promoted into upper management referred to as the “glass ceiling.”
• Gender is an essential component of one’s sexuality

Psychological Dimensions

• Psychological aspect of sexuality is important to overall wellness
• Psychological factor affecting sexual wellness = body image
• Positive body image = overall wellness
• Negative self-image = psychological disorders or drug abuse

Sociocultural Dimensions

• Society and culture affect the biological and psychological components of sexuality
• Cultural and social influences shape our thoughts and actions
• Social constructionism suggests that sexual identities and experiences are acquired from and influenced by an ever-changing social environment
• Society shapes how we think and act and provides signals from others to indicate how we should behave

Religious Influences

• Religion influences feelings about morality, sexual behavior, premarital sex, adultery, divorce, contraception, abortion, and masturbation
• Surveys have showed young adults' morals and values are looking to return to more traditional values
• For Lisa's parents, abortion may be a possibility as a means of saving face for the family in the opening story
• Religiosity = negative correlation with number of sexual partners, frequency of petting, extensiveness of sexual experiences, frequency of thinking about sexuality, and ideal frequency of coitus

Political Influences

• Legislation can prevent amusements like dancing, singing, and the theater
• Negative attitudes toward same-gender sexual behavior were common: people who practiced that behavior were put to death.
• The 19th century, sexual drives = generally repressed

Historical Influences

• Premarital sexual intercourse has steadily increased from the 1900s to the 1970s, then decreased recently
• 5-19-year-old females participating in premarital sexual intercourse increased from 28.6% in 1970 to 53% in 1988 and 55% in 1990
• 50% reported having premarital intercourse in 1997

Socioeconomic Influences

• Socioeconomic status and education affect attitudes and behaviors

Ethical Influences

• Ethics of sexuality involves questioning we treat ourselves and others. Examples include certain sexual behaviours, use a prostitute etc

Media Influences

• Media is mostly used to entertain and sell products, therefore don't provide us with realistic depictions.
• Number of programs of sexual content increased to 68% from 1997-98 to 2000-01

Control of Sexual Behavior

• Throughout history of cultures and religions, there are many ways that attempted to control behavior. For example people believed in witches who had relations with the devil, etc
• Increasing reliable contraceptives , like “the pill” (introduced in the United States in 1960), were developed
• Books, classes, TVs and other media became common outlets for sex education

Cultural differences

• What was once thought of as "normal" was different than current " normal"
• Some cultures believed if you became to attached to your own body, it would lead to "soul decay"

Decision-Making Model (Important Steps)

• The first step is Recognition. Only when the problem or issue is recognized, a decision can be fully made.
• The second step is Evaluation. Gathering information, analyzing the possible choices and deciding the best alternatives must be done.
• The third step is Implementation. the plan becomes a course of action.
• The final step is Review. This is a time to look over your progress and the effects of what you have implemented in your life. Was it actually a change for the better?

Explore the multifaceted nature of human sexuality. Discover how ethical, spiritual, cultural, and moral considerations influence its expression. Learn the key aspects of sexuality beyond physical attraction.