Childhood and
Adolescence
© Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.
How does early positive
physical affection help?
• Helps in establishing physically intimate
relationships.
What sexual response is
there in infancy?
• Male and female infants apparently
experience orgasm
• Breast feeding may stimulate a genital
or sexual response in the child and
parent.
What happens with first
menstruation?
• Called menarche
• May occur without
ovulation
• May be irregular
• Girls are starting to
reach puberty at age
eight
When does first
ejaculation occur?
• Occurs when prostate and seminal
vesicles begin functioning
• Called spermarche
Do you remember?
• How does early positive physical
affection help?
• What can you tell me about first
menstruation?
• What can you tell me about first
ejaculation?
What motivates first intercourse?
• For women - affection for partner
• For men - curiosity and readiness or
sex
What are the positive aspects
of adolescent masturbation?
• Relieves sexual tension
• Important part of their sexual
development.
• Learn about your body and what feels
good
– May aid sexual expression with a partner.
How should you respond
to early masturbation?
• Boys learn from friends
• Girls learn by accident
• Response to masturbation
– Confirm it feels good, & indicate it is
something you should do when alone in
private
Do you remember?
• What motivates first intercourse?
• What are the positive aspects of
adolescent masturbation?
• How should you respond to a child’s
early masturbation?
What can you tell me
about teen pregnancy?
• Teen pregnancy in the US is the
highest in the western world
• One in five sexually active adolescents
become pregnant each year
• Only half of teen pregnancies end in
live births
What is early intercourse
associated with?
• Poverty
• Low educational expectations
• History of sexual abuse
Do teenagers use birth control?
• Only a minority of teenagers use
reliable birth control
• “I’m not that kind of girl” syndrome
What problems do pregnant
teenagers have? (compared to
mothers in their 20’s or older)
• More likely to
hemorrhage when
delivering
• More likely to miscarry
• More likely to get
inadequate prenatal care
What problems are children born to teen
mothers likely to have?
• More likely to:
– Be abused
– Die as infants
– Demonstrate deficits in
intellectual ability
– Have physical and
emotional problems
Does early same sex behavior
mean they are gay?
• Adolescent same sex behavior does not =
gay
• Many heterosexual persons have has
early homosexual experiences
• Same sex contact may be experimental
• Person with homosexual orientation may
not act on those feelings until adulthood.
Do you remember?
• How many sexually active adolescents
become pregnant each year?
• How many pregnancies end in live births?
• What problems do pregnant teenagers
and their children have?
• Does early same sex behavior mean the
child is gay?