The intellectual, moral and spiritual growth of adolescents is accompanied by the emergence of their sexuality, conceptualized by Sarrel and Sarrel (1979) as a sexual unfolding." Through a series of nine interactive processes young people develop a sexual identity and an increased capacity for emotional and sexual maturity:
1. An evolving sense of the body _ towards a body image that is gender specific and fairly free of distortion (particularly about the genitals).
2. The ability to overcome or modulate guilt, shame, fear and childhood inhibitions associated with sexual thoughts and behaviour.
3. A gradual loosening of the primary emotional ties to parents and siblings.
4. Learning to recognize what is erotically pleasing and displeasing and being able to communicate this to a partner.
5. Resolution of conflict and confusion about sexual orientation.
6. A sexual life free of sexual dysfunction or compulsion.
7. A growing awareness of being a sexual person and of the place and value of sex in one's life, including options including celibacy.
8. Becoming responsible about oneself, one's partner, and society, e.g. using contraceptives and not using sex as a means of exploitation of another.
9. A gradually increasing ability to experience eroticism as one aspect of intimacy with another person - not that all eroticism occurs then, in an intimate relationship, but that this fusion of sex and love is possible.
Some terms
Adolescence Sexual development - Class notes
Hershel Thornburg (1975) coined the term Social Puberty to describe the
situation of heterosexual involvement, which is trust upon the
preadolescent prior to physiological maturity. This occurs, he argues as a
result of the highly suggestive stimuli presented to young people, usually
through the medium of television, but also in films, literature, and pop
music. It is Thornburg's contention that young people are thus almost
bullied into sexual activity by the social environment. long before they
are mature or have reached puberty proper. (Coleman J, and Hendry, L. )
Teenagers are more influenced in their sexual behaviour by the behaviours
engaged in by their peers than by the physical maturity.
Homosocial behaviour
Gagnon and Simon (1973) describe as homosocial the tendency for the
adolescent boy to engage in heterosexual activity as a way of improving
their status in their male group. This is in contrast to heterosocial
behaviour where it is the relationship with the girl that is important
rather than with one's male friends. G and S. believe that homosocial
behaviour is more common in working -class groups, as reflected in the
greater incidence of coitus in young working class males. (Bancroft,
1983).
"The timing of puberty also have a bearing on gender identity and
personality development. Boys who are late in reaching puberty tend to be
less popular and less assertive (McCandless, 1960)." Society is presenting
fewer preset rules of behaviour.
As Rutter puts it " manliness and sexual vigour are highly regarded
attributes among adolescent males, and boys who still have not reached
puberty by 16 or so may well begin to doubt their masculinity and become
anxious and introspective about their development." Girls' reactions to
early or late puberty are more complex and there are less clear-cut
advantages to early maturation. (McCandless, 1960).
Teenagers are grappling with a new, expanding sense of their sexuality.
How they feel about their sexual self" will greatly affect their general
self-image and confidence. To the extent that we can help them become
comfortable with their bodies and sexual expression, and clearer about
their sexual values, the more effectively they will function in all other
areas of their lives.
The use of fantasies:
I. Help direct and define our erotic goals. Concrete images and specific content.
II. Plan or anticipate situations that may arise. Rehearsal.
III. Provide escape from dull or oppressive environment.
IV. Bring novelty and excitement to a relationship, even if satisfactory in "reality terms". Explore without over stepping boundaries and/or hurting anyone.
V. Expressive function, in same way dreams do. Express the unconscious. May be indicative of dissatisfaction.
Does engaging in sexual fantasies increase the likelihood that these fantasies will eventually be acted on? Does it relax one's sexual boundaries?