Chapter 9 - Sexuality Over the Lifespan

Question 1

Sexuality in Infancy

Answer 1

• Sexual development starts while the fetus is growing in the womb
• Erections have been noted in male fetuses
• Males may experience reflexive erections beginning shortly after birth
• Vaginal lubrication has been noted but is harder to detect
• Enjoy sucking and may find pleasure from self-stimulation
• Attachment is important

Question 2

Sexuality in Young Childhood

Answer 2

• Will begin to “masturbate” around 2 or 3 as a way to self soothe
• Motivated by curiosity instead of sexual desire
• Around 1 or 2 they notice physical differences between genders
• Around 2 to 5 they may “play doctor” and explore with others

Question 3

Sexuality education during childhood

Answer 3

• Sex ed should start in childhood to ensure the kids feel comfy talking about it
• Encourage curiosity
• Can be important for their safety
• Ensure it is age appropriate

Question 4

Askable parents

Answer 4

• Welcome opportunities to talk to their kids about sexuality rather than waiting for questions
• Key is to take advantage of teachable moments or golden opportunities

Question 5

Sexuality in Preadolescence

Answer 5

• Between the ages of 8 and 12
• Interest in sex increases during this stage (especially around 10)
• Usually masturbation
• Boys are more likely to masturbate more frequently than girls
• May be more forced to conform to societal norms (ex: girls quit sports)
• May have sexualization

Question 6

Primary sex characteristics

Answer 6

• Main sex organs that are necessary for reproduction

Question 7

Secondary sex characteristics

Answer 7

• Features not directly related to reproduction that develop at puberty
• Ex: Hair

Question 8

Sexuality in adolescence

Answer 8

• Primary and secondary sex characteristics
• Males experience their first ejaculation and increased erections

Question 9

Puberty

Answer 9

• Begins earlier for girls than boys
• Females: 10 or 11
• Boys: 12 or 13
• Lasts around three to four years (males last a bit longer)
• May be starting earlier because increases in childhood obesity

Question 10

Sexual activity during adolescence

Answer 10

• Primary expression is maturation
• Sexual exploration between boys and girls follows the traditional sexual script (may be difficult for SGD)
• Average age of first intercourse is 17
• The emotional reaction to first intercourse is related to later adult sexual adjustment
• Oral is more common than intercourse

Question 11

Sexual double standard

Answer 11

• Culturally maintained standards for sexual behaviour reflecting more permissive and less restricted sexual expression by men than by women

Question 12

Teen pregnancy

Answer 12

• Ineffective and inconsistent use of contraception was the greatest predictor of teen pregnancy
• Correlated with low SES, being single, residing in western Prairies, having previously experienced abuse
• Babies often face numerous health and social challenge’s, like being underweight
• Rates are decreasing

Question 13

Sexuality among SGD teens

Answer 13

• Dating can be hard
• May have different gendered partners to experiment
• Bullying is very common

Question 14

Cohabitation

Answer 14

• People involved in a romantic and/or sexual relationship living together without being married

Question 15

Casual sexual encounters

Answer 15

• Increasingly common among single men and women, especially in younger adults
• One night stands, booty calls, fuck buddies, and friends with benefits
• Increasingly accepted
• Online apps, but most people still meet their partners in the wild
• Love as a motivation is stronger than casual sex as a motivator

Question 16

Dating

Answer 16

• Period of dating is normal where you may spend time with a variety of people to determine whether any might be suitable partners
• Dating has changed since the introduction of online communication
• Being online more can lead to higher rates of jealousy

Question 17

Living together

Answer 17

• More people are living together without being married
• Many couples who live together eventually marry
• People in common law relationships are entitled to many not not all of the same legal rights as married individuals

Question 18

When we get married

Answer 18

• We’re getting married later
• Around 29 for women and 31 for men
• It was around 22 and 24 respectively
• This trend can be explained by several factors

Question 19

Sexual frequency during marriage

Answer 19

• Age 18 to 24 have sex at least 2 to 3 times a week
• About half of older adults have sex at least a few times per month
• Tends to be highest at the beginning of marriage, decrease when children are born, increase once children have left the home

Question 20

Association between sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction

Answer 20

• Happy couples report being happy with their sex lives and couples who are happy with their sex lives report being happy in marriage
• Happy sex may make them want to hang out more.

Question 21

Marital satisfaction trends

Answer 21

• Peaks during the first few years and then declines until mid-life when it starts to rise again
• Friendship between spouses is important in martial satisfaction
• Need a good cost reward ration
• Relationship satisfaction for SGD increased when same sex marriage was legalized

Question 22

Extradyadic Sex

Answer 22

• Agreed upon sexual relationships outside the relationship
• A lot of people do it (more than reported)
• The people who do it tend to be male, more educated, and less religious
• Usually due to boredom, sexual dissatisfaction, lack of support in the marriage, and conflict
• Could be consensual “swinging”

Question 23

Divorce

Answer 23

• Rates are 38 to 41% of marriages end in divorce
• Young couples are more likely to divorce
• If you’ve been divorced once you’re more likely to divorce again
• Average age is 42 for women and 45 for men

Question 24

Sexuality in older adults

Answer 24

• Frequency decreases for some, but moving away from the traditional sexual script can increase pleasure and intimacy
• ED medications have helped (men have more bio issues with sex than women)
• Menopause may have an impact

Question 25

Postmenopause

Answer 25

- Hormones fluctuate for about five years into postmenopause - Some women struggle with sexual transition in this stage more than others - Typically less sexual desire and less self-stimulation - Sex usually decreases but they can still have a happy sex life if they communicate

Question 26

Physical and hormone related changes in men

Answer 26

- Decrease in testosterone - Longer to get an erection because the penis becomes less sensitive - Erections are less firm and reliable - Testicles decrease in size - Refractory period after sex and before erection becomes longer - ED - Decrease sexual desire - More difficulty having an organism

Question 27

ED medications

Answer 27

- Relax the penile blood vessels to allow blood to flow into the penis, thereby facilitating erection - May be hard psychologically for some men

Question 28

Sexual activity in older adults

Answer 28

- More than 50% of adults over 75 still engage in sexual activity three or more times a month - Half of men and women aged 50+ with partners were having sex at least once a week - More quality than quantity - Don't really need to worry about pregnancy but still need to worry about STIs

Question 29

Two fundamental discoveries for babies

Answer 29

- Individuation: They are a being distinct from the outside word (6 months) - Gender identity: They have a sex (18 months old)

Question 30

Stages of gender identity

Answer 30

1. People are divided into two categories: male or female 2. Your body belongs to one of the sexes. Criteria: hair or clothing. Begins to learn the behaviour expected of their sex 3. Its anatomical sex is the same as at birth and will not change. Criteria: genitalia around 5-6 years 4. Moving from a physical sense of belonging to a psychological sense of belonging

Question 31

Attachment

Answer 31

- Lasting, reciprocal emotional bond between a child and a person from whom he or she receives care (attachment figure)

Question 32

Attachment style

Answer 32

- Influences the child's ability to establish social relationships - Preferences have been observed as early as 6 months - This will later influence whether or not they are able to maintain satisfying emotional and sexual relationships

Question 33

Second childhood and gender orientation

Answer 33

- Expanding the child's social universe (5-6 years to 10 years) - Increasing interpersonal relations - Partnerships, friendships, crushes (Teacher, classmates, cousin, neighbour...) - Seduction and desire to please: learning how to behave with the sex you are attracted to and reactions to conformity to the group and its standards

Question 34

Sexuality and Disability

Answer 34

- People with disabilities can have sex - They probably need more communication because they can't follow the same traditional script