LESSON 1: SEXUAL SELF

• Perspective of Human Sexuality: Sexual selfhood is defined as how one thinks about himself or herself as a sexual individual.
• 1. Historical

  • Makes have the dominant role.
  • Females were considered as objects to be possessed like property.
• Historical: The Middle Ages (476-1450)


  Church decreed that all sexual acts that do not lead to procreation were considered evil.
• Historical: Protestant Reformation of the 16th century

  • John Calvin and Martin Luther.
  • Protestants believe that sexuality is a natural part of life. (Priest should be married and have families.)
  • Luther and Calvin asserted that the reason for sexual intimacy was to strengthen the physical and emotional bond between husband and wives and not just procreation.
• Historical: By the 17th and 18th Century

  • Puritans had a positive views on marital sex.
  • Premarital sex is considered to be immoral and may lead to danger and health concerns.
• Historical: Victorian Era

  • Homosexuality and prostitution were rampant.
  • People were not comfortable discussing sex.
  • Sex for woman is just marital duty.
• Historical: 20th Century

  • Interest in sexuality became evident and accepted in the society.
  • Separation of the church and state.
  • Pregnancy can be controlled by natural and artificial contraception.
  • Increased incidence of STI's.
  • Rise of feminism.
• 2. Biological

  • Knowing the structures and functions of the reproductive system is essential to understand sexuality.
  • Human beings are created by the fusion of sperm and egg cells through the process of sexual reproduction.
• Biological: Secondary Sex Characteristics (Male)

  • Lower voice
  • Hair Growth
  • increase muscle size
  • Skin becomes oily and pores enlarge
• Biological: Female

  • Breast enlarge
  • Hair growth
  • Hip widens
  • skin becomes oily and large pores
• Biological: Primary sexual changes


  happen during the course of puberty prepare the male and female's body for procreation.
• Genitalia


  organ for reproduction
• When intercourse happens, fertilization may take place and pregnancy begins.
• Chromosomes 


  threadlike structures found in the nucleus of cell that composed of genes.
• • Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes.
  • The first 22 pairs are called autosomes.
  • The 23rd pair is the sex chromosomes.
• Sociobiological/Evolutionary

  • Natural Selection is a process where the organism can survive in the environment.
  • Human sexual behavior begins with physical attraction.
  • Beauty is more than just a cultural standard.
  • Sexual preference is more genetic survival than for pleasure or social status.
  • Physical attraction which ends in sex does not mean that attraction is lasting.
  • Love, care, and responsibility are more in human relationships.
• Psychological

  • Sexuality is not just a physical response. It involves emotions, thoughts and beliefs.
  • Sigmund Freud through Psychoanalytic Theory.
  • Eros produces libido, located in an area of the body at different psychosexual stages.
  • Erogenous Zones - area of pleasure.
• Freud's Psychosexual Stages

  1. Oral Stage - mouth
  2. Anal Stage - anus and bladder
  3. Phallic Stage - genitals
  4. Latent Stage - libido inactive
  5. Genital Stage - maturing sexual intercourse.
• Fixation is when the libido is permanently invested in the stage.
• Oral Fixation: Smoke, gum-chewing, nail-biting.

  Anal Fixation: Orderliness, obsessiveness, rigidity

  Phallic Fixation: Vanity, exhibitionism, pride
• Love: Emotion or Drive?

  • "being in love" can be considered strong motivation. It is an addictive craving to be with other person. (Fisher et al., 2006)
  • Early passionate love is not an emotion.
  • Love is a motivation or goal oriented state that can be euphoria or anxiety.
  • Unlike emotions, not associated with any facial expression but focused on a single reward.
• Love can be characterized by:

  • concern for other's well-being.
  • physical presence and emotional support.
• John Lee's Love Styles

  1. Eros - based on strong sexual and emotional component.
  2. Agape - altruistic and selfless love.
  3. Storge - a love-related friendship based on nonsexual affection, a gradual and slow process.
  4. Ludus - love is just a game, fun, and entertainment.
  5. Mania - intense feeling that leads to obsessive and possessive love.
  6. Pragma - practical and business-like love, planning the best time to be married and have children.
• The Triangular Theory of Love (Stenberg 1986)


  Love is made up of three components:

  1. Intimacy - emotional support
  2. Passion - physiological arousal/ human touch
  3. Commitment - to maintain and stay in relationship.
• Types of Love

  • Liking
  • Infatuation
  • Empty Love
  • Romantic Love
  • Companionate Love
  • Fatuous Love
  • Consummate Love
• Liking


  Involves emotional intimacy. Friendly relationship. (INTIMACY ALONE)
• Infatuation


  High degree of physiological arousal. (PASSION)
• Empty Love


  Involves only commitment. (COMMITMENT)
• Romantic Love


  Present during the first phase of relationship. Emotional intensity and sexual excitement. (Passion and intimacy)
• Companionate Love


  Experience in long deeply committed friendship or marriage where passion ends. (Intimacy and Commitment)
• Fatuous Love


  Spent short time in courtship. (Passion and commitment)
• Consummate Love


  Exists a healthy balance of 3 components. (Passion and Intimacy and Commitment)
• Psychological Theories of Falling in Love

  1. Physiological Arousal Theory - someone received a reward such as favor from another.
  2. Behavioral Reinforcement Theory - bodies experience a psychological change first, then people assign an emotion to that sensation.
  3. Evolutionary Theories - love arose due to some sociobiological need.
• Evolutionary Theory Cycle

  1. Physical Attraction
  2. Reciprocity
  3. Proximity