Childhood Development and Sexual Behavior

Sexual behavior starts in infancy and continues to increase as children mature. Infants are can express attraction and can masturbate. Early childhood is filled with curiosity as the body continues to change. However, sexual desire does not begin in adolescence, but rather during preadolescence. Sexual desire and activity increases during adolescence. Most adolescents experiment with others to see what is comfortable sexually. Sexual identity is beginning to form during adolescence.

Infancy

Sexual curiosity typically begins to develop as early as one year. According to Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus (2005, p. 427), “Infants discover the pleasure of self-stimulation (masturbation) for themselves when they gain the capacity to manipulate their genitals with their hands.” The reflexes of infant lubrication and erection are not the child’s way of showing interest in sexual pleasure. Infant thrusting may be an expression of affection, not sexual attraction. Infants are capable of masturbation with a towel, doll, or bedding but infants do not masturbate to reach orgasm until they reach the second year of age.

Early Childhood

Between the ages of three and eight, children become curious of other children’s bodies and how they are similar or different. Curiosity between the sexes usually occurs at three to four years of age. Girls play sexual games with their Barbie dolls. According to Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus (2005, p. 432), “Girls respond intuitively to the doll’s sexuality, and it lets them play out those roles in an endlessly compelling and yet ultimately safe manner (McDonough, 1998, p. 70).” Same-sex groups begin comparing body parts and genitals and at times, male-female individuals compare genitals. Boys may play games such as peeing the farthest.

Preadolescence

During preadolescence, children form close relationships with friends of the same sex; sharing secrets, learning the norms about the peer groups, and discussing issues such as drugs and sex. Although preadolescent children show no interest in the opposite sex, the desire for experimenting with the opposite sex increases. At this stage, many sexual impulses are solitary with masturbation but some may explore with same-sex experiences. “These activities are usually limited to touching of each other’s genitals or mutual masturbation” (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2005, p. 433). Any sexual activity with the same-sex or opposite-sex is for exploration. Most preadolescents socialize in large groups of males and females; relationships with the opposite-sex begin to form during the middle of adolescence.

Adolescence

Adolescence starts with puberty and an increase in hormones such as estrogen in females and testosterone in males. Primary sex characteristics form during adolescence with an increase of hormones. The hormones testosterone and estrogen increase sexual desire and urges. Many adolescents curb these impulses with masturbation, either solitary or with a partner. According to Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus (2005, p. 445), “Many adolescents use petting to express affection, satisfy their curiosities, heighten their sexual arousal, and reach orgasm while avoiding pregnancy and maintaining virginity.” Others may use oral sex for the same reasons. For those adolescents who choose to experiment with sexual intercourse do so for a variety of reasons: love, peer pressure, conformity, domination, and recognition or status quo. Yet, there are some adolescents who abstain from sexual activity for moral, religious, or parental reasons.

Children experience many changes staring with infancy into adolescence. These changes help prepare the child for adulthood. Many parents are not ready for these changes and even try to inhibit these changes from occurring. However, the child must experiment with sexuality to form healthy relationships.

References

S. A. Rathus, J. S. Nevid, and L. Fichner-Rathus (2005). Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity. Pearson Education, Inc. Allyn and Bacon. Sixth Edition.