GEUTS01X Understanding the Self PDF

GEUTS01X: Understanding the Self Sexual Self Chapter 7 1. Is there really such thing as love at first sight? 2. Do you believe that one particular person is intended for each of us to marry and that fate will guide us together? 3. Is it better to marry any person than to remain single...

GEUTS01X: Understanding the Self Sexual Self Chapter 7 1. Is there really such thing as love at first sight? 2. Do you believe that one particular person is intended for each of us to marry and that fate will guide us together? 3. Is it better to marry any person than to remain single and lonely throughout life? 4. Is long courtship, like many months or years, the best for a lasting relationship? 6. If the couple is truly in love, is the condition permanent? 7. Is it sinful to have sexual intercourse before marriage even if the couple has a meaningful relationship? 8. Is it true that when the couple is truly in love, hardships and trials will have little or no effect on their relationship? 9. Are old more people capable of genuine love than young people? 10. Do you agree that people who are truly in love will not fight and argue? 11.Can I just allow my partner to touch any part of my body to express affection? 12.Is becoming a better person a sign that one is truly in love? 13.Is it better to introduce sex education at the age of reason than in the primary grades? 14.Is safe sex really safe?  Development of Secondary Sex Characteristics and the Human Reproductive System Sexual development takes place when humans are still inside the womb of mothers. The development continues when they are born and mature. Primary sex characteristics are seen after birth because of the sex organs. Hermaphrodites have both male and female sex organs. Secondary sex characteristics refer to the other visible changes that are seen in puberty. The Human Reproductive System Erogenous Zones  Understanding the Human Sexual Response As sexual beings, humans have desires for sexual pleasure and satisfaction. These things have psychological and physiological bases. Libido is sex drive or the desire for sexual activity. Sexologists have identified desire as the coming together of visual, biochemical, emotional, and biomechanical cues that trigger a hormonal cascade that may culminate in the successful fertilization of an egg by a sperm.  The Role of the Brain Cerebral Cortex → The upper part of the brain that controls a higher order functioning, such as language and judgment. Ventral Tegmental Area → Located in the midbrain, this area is part of the brain’s reward system and the activity changes when we begin to fall in love.  The Role of the Brain Basal Ganglia → Involved in promoting attachment. Angular Gyrus → Mirror neuron system, this region helps you anticipate the actions of a loved one.  The Role of the Brain Limbic System → known to be the “seat of emotions”. Hypothalamus → key structure in sexual arousal; the activator of the autonomic nervous system; hormone balance, temperature, and the constriction and dilation of blood vessels. Love and the Brain 1. Cortisol → During the initial phase of romantic love, people’s cortisol level increases. As the cortisol level increases, the level of serotonin becomes depleted. Low levels of serotonin leads to intrusive, maddeningly preoccupying thoughts, hopes, terrors of early love associated with infatuation.  Love and the Brain 2. Dopamine →It activates reward circuit, helping to make love a pleasurable experience. →It is also responsible in enhancing the release of testosterone. →Mood and emotions are also influenced by the release of dopamine, which leads to feelings of excitement and happiness.  Love and the Brain 3. Oxytocin → The love hormone; it deepens feelings of attachment and makes couples feel close to one another; it provokes feelings of contentment, calmness, and security. 4. Vasopressin →Linked to long-term relationships →plays a major role in defensive behaviors such as mate guarding. Love and the Brain 5. Norepinephrine →A stimulant; it causes individuals to feel alert, potentially unable to sleep, and enables them to notice and remember even the smallest details about their partners.  Three Components of Love Intimacy → Being open and vulnerable to that person whom we deeply trust, who we feel connected with, and who values us with unconditional positive regard, which is viewing the other person with complete trust and devoid of suspicion or negative thought. → Communication is a key component in developing intimacy, where self- disclosure is practiced which leads to profound and meaningful conversations that nurture and strengthen intimacy. Three Components of Love Commitment → An act of deciding to consistently fulfill and live by agreements made with another person, and where the values of respect and integrity serve as a guide to one’s behavior and thinking. → Caring and loving actions for the beloved. Three Components of Love Passion → The intense state of being that drives and consume a person to pursue an interest. → sexual attraction The Sexual Response Cycle 1. Excitement Phase → Sexual stimuli lead to changes in the body of women and men. The phase includes increased heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension. The woman's breasts become fuller and the vaginal walls begin to swell. The man's testicles swell, their scrotum tightens and begin secreting a lubricating liquid. 2. Plateau Phase → Excitement becomes enhanced, and the body prepared for orgasm.  The Sexual Response Cycle 3. Orgasm Phase → known as the “climax or peak” of the sexual excitement. There is a sudden, forceful release of sexual tension. In women, the muscles of the vagina contract. The uterus also undergoes rhythmic contractions. In men, rhythmic contractions of the muscles at the base of the penis result in the ejaculation of semen. 4. Resolution Phase → the last stage of sexual arousal. This leads to the return of unaroused state.  Sexually Transmitted Diseases Chlamydia → It is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia Trachomatis; it can infect both men and women. Women can get chlamydia in the cervix, rectum, or throat. Genital herpes → caused by a Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). It can cause sores on your genital or rectal area, buttocks, and thighs. The virus can spread even when sores are not present. Mothers can also infect their babies during childbirth. Gonorrhea → most common in young adults.  Sexually Transmitted Diseases HIV → Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It harms your immune system by destroying the white blood cells that fight infection. oAIDS → Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Final stage of infection with HIV. Not everyone with HIV develops AIDS. Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) are a group of related viruses. They can cause warts on different parts of your body. There are more than 200 types. Some of those can put you at risk for cancer. Ways of preventing STIs Practice monogamy Refrain from the use of alcohol and other drugs Discuss STI concerns with potential partners Avoid high-risk behaviors Use condoms and other barriers Use some other protective measures  Diversity of Sexuality Heterosexual → It is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between persons of the opposite sex or gender. Homosexual → Romantic and sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between persons of the same sex or gender. Bisexual → refers to a person who is attracted to both sexes.  Diversity of Sexuality Transgender → refers to people who identify differently from their biological sex. Transsexual → a person who physically transitions from male to female or vice versa. Sexually fluid → It refers to the idea that sexual preferences have the capability to change over a lifetime.