Understanding the Self and Materialism

Understanding the Self

• The self is everything an individual considers to be their own, not just their body, but also their possessions, reputation, and beliefs.
• The material self is how an individual expresses their identity through their possessions.
• The body is a key aspect of the material self.
• Clothing represents the self.
• Possessions like houses, cars, and pets also contribute to the material self. Pets can reflect social status.
• Materialism involves prioritizing material possessions over intangible values.
• Compulsive buying disorder is an obsession with shopping and buying.
• Consumerism is the excessive consumption of goods and services beyond basic needs.
• Spirituality is the inner essence connecting a person to the sacred, supernatural, and universe.
• Spirituality involves a sense of oneness with a higher being.
• Family, school, and church play a vital role in spiritual development.
• Spirituality develops throughout life as people interact with their environment.
• Spiritus is the Latin word meaning breath or life force.
• Spirituality is the search for the sacred and transforming what is held sacred.
• It's a quest for wholeness and a relationship with a transcendent being.
• The Holy Spirit is a concept of spirituality in Christianity.
• Religion is an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and practices related to the supernatural.
• Man's search for meaning: A man, in a Nazi concentration camp, experiences three phases - shock, apathy, and liberation. Logotherapy is the pursuit of meaning, motivation for life.
• Man discovers purpose through his achievements, relationships, and struggles.
• Animism is the belief that inanimate objects have spirits.
• The political self is influenced by family structure, obligations, and power dynamics.
• Politics is a social institution where power is acquired and exercised.
• Political socialization is the lifelong process of learning about politics.
• Political participation can include actions impacting government.
• The family is the basis for political structure—roles, status, expectations, rights, responsibilities, influence, and power may differ among family members (e.g., father, mother, children).

Sex and the Sexual Self

• Primary sex characteristics are physical traits distinctive to males and females present at birth.
• Secondary sex characteristics develop during puberty.
• For females, this is breast development, menstruation, widening hips, and widening buttocks/growth of pubic hair.
• For males, this is testicular growth, sperm production, facial hair growth, body hair development, and deepening of voice.
• The female reproductive system includes the clitoris, vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
• The clitoris swells with blood and hardens when aroused.
• The vagina is a muscular tube receiving the penis and carrying sperm to the uterus.
• The uterus is where the fertilized embryo develops into a fetus.
• The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, expanding during childbirth, which connects to the vagina.
• The fallopian tubes carry the egg from the ovary to the uterus.
• Fertilization lasts approximately 260 days.
• The male reproductive system includes the penis, testes, scrotum, prostate gland, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, and epididymis.
• The penis is used for urination and delivering sperm.
• The testes, also called testicles, produce sperm and male hormones.
• The prostate gland and seminal vesicles produce semen.
• The vas deferens transports semen.
• The epididymis stores sperm.
• Ejaculation is the release of sperm.
• The male reproductive system contains an average of 300-500 million sperms.
• Sperm lives up to 48 hours in the uterus.

Sexual Arousal and Erogenous Zones

• Human sexual arousal is complex; it can be triggered by stimulation of erogenous areas.
• Erogenous zones are highly sensitive areas of the body that produce sexual responses.
• Genitals, mouth, breasts, ears, anus, and some parts of the body are erogenous zones.
• Sexual stimulation (e.g., masturbation) leads to pleasure and orgasm.
• Intimate kissing, cuddling, necking, and petting can be a part of sexual arousal.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

• Sexual orientation is attraction to the same or opposite gender.

  • Heterosexual - attracted to the opposite sex
  • Homosexual - attracted to the same sex
  • Bisexual - attracted to both sexes
  • Asexual - no attraction to any sex

• Gender identity is a person's internal sense of being a man, woman, both, neither, or another gender.

• Cisgender - gender identity matches assigned sex at birth.

• Transgender - gender identity does not match assigned sex at birth.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Early Pregnancy

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections primarily transmitted through sexual contact (e.g., vaginal, oral, or anal sex).
• Some STIs affect the sex organs; others have broader effects.
• Some STIs can be treated with antibiotics, others require more attention.
• HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted infection that damages the immune system.
• Infections like gonorrhea affect mucous membranes (mouth, throat, vagina, urethra).
• Syphilis affects multiple areas, including the brain, and untreated, can lead to paralysis or death.
• Chlamydia affects the reproductive system—leads to infertility.
• Genital herpes is caused by a virus and has no cure.
• Genital warts are caused by papillomavirus; may cause cervical cancer.

Contraception and Reproductive Health

• Virginity is a social construct, and education on different forms of contraception is important.
• Methods of contraception include condoms, oral contraceptive pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and birth control injections.
• The calendar method and cervical mucus method/billings ovulation method are natural family planning methods.
• The Reproductive Health Law guarantees access to contraception in many contexts

Attraction, Love, and Attachment

• As people mature, relationship patterns and commitments change.
• Dating and courtship are common during adolescence.
• Puberty marks the start of sexual attraction.
• Social exchange theory proposes attraction stems from an exchange process (e.g., liking, trust, love).
• Romantic love combines various emotions (fear, anger, sexual desire, joy, jealousy).
• Robert Sternberg describes love with intimacy, passion, and commitment.
• Helen Fisher emphasizes lust, attraction, and attachment in romantic love.

Practices Safe Sex

• Practice safe sex—use condoms.