MARIA BEISERT
ON REASONABLE SUPPORT OF HUMAN SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
The article addresses the issue of diverse methods of influencing human sexuality. The author presents her own
proposition of reasonable support of sexual development. That is combining different (sometimes contradictory)
stands in search for novel, creative solutions. Sexual expression and the impact that various people and institutions
have over it were analysed in subsequent stages of life – from the moment of birth, through the time of childhood
and adolescence to the phase of ageing. Special emphasis was laid on such aspects of sexual development as an array
of figures that have influence on it and the significance of taking risk and experimenting in this sphere of life. In
particular, the role of parents in the process of forming an individual’s sexuality was presented along with potential
forms of their impact starting from the pathologically excessive presence in child’s sexual life to the abandonment of
a child in this sphere. In the field of parental influence special attention was given to the problem of protecting the
child from sexual abuse, particularly the criteria of differentiating the touch that expresses protection and positive
affection from the one that constitutes a form of a sexual abuse. As for the later phases of development, attention was
given to the problem of the partner’s participation in sexual interaction. Three different phenomena illustrating
different types of sexual relations were described: masturbation, cybersex and fucking friends.
Key words: sexual development, child sexual abuse, masturbation, cybersex, FWB.
ANDRZEJ JACZEWSKI
THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEED FOR EMOTIONAL BONDING
According to the author, the need for emotional bonding is, quite simply, a need to be loved and a need to love. The
ability to form attachments to other people is a determinant of not only family life. It primarily affects the
development of eroticism and sexuality of man. Moreover, the ability to feel empathy and compassion, as well as
selfless kindness to others are also the result of a developed need to bond.
The first relationship fulfilling this need is the relationship between a mother and a child, which lasts from infancy
until the child enters a homophile phase. Then the mother is replaced by a peer group, whose members usually
belong to the same sex. The next stage in the development of a young person is a heterosexual phase, in which close
relationships with the opposite sex are established.
The article describes the different phases of human development and the changes that occur in a person’s relationship
with the parents (mostly with the mother) and later with his/her peers. A particular emphasis is placed on the
relationship with the mother, which is necessary for proper child development and the building of correct
relationships with other people in adult life, particularly in the erotic sphere.
The article mentions the irregularities that can occur when building bonds. A particular attention is drawn to errors
made by mothers of adolescent children, as they are the most common cause of the dysfunction in the creation of
further ties with family and friends.
Key words: emotional bonding, homophile phase, heterosexual phase.
TOMASZ SZLENDAK
THE PERVERTED, CONSUMPTIONIST, NARCISSISTIC AND EVIL? ON THE SELECTED CAUSES OF
DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF SEXUALITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Since 1995, Polish sociologists and psychologists have observed a noticeable growth of aggressive and risk
behaviors of adolescent girls and significant changes in sexual behavior of adolescent boys. The paper is an attempt
of a sociological analysis of the factors hypothetically responsible for social changes in sexual morality and sexual
folkways of young Poles. The paper also indicates accessible data for all of these factors. Amongst the latter, we
find: 1) a growing income gap in the Polish society, 2) the sexualization of childhood, 3) the materialisticallyoriented media content, 4) the formation of gimnazjum (middle school), 5) the new media and easily accessible
pornography, and 6) new patterns of behavior of young boys and girls in metropolitan peer groups.
Key words: sexuality, deviant behavior, sexualization of childhood, adolescent.
JACEK PRUSAK SJ
MASTURBATION: BETWEEN SEXOLOGICAL AND RELIGIOUS NORMS
Masturbation is considered to be the first human sexual activity, but its evaluation is heavily influenced by culture
and ideology. On the one hand, there is an opinion that masturbation is an inherently disorganized behavior and a
morally evil act; on the other hand, it is recognized as one of the normal, desirable and regular sexual activities.
Research shows that masturbation is a difficult topic for Christians, regardless of denomination. In this article the
author would like to show that neither the sexual norm accepting masturbation as a healthy behavior nor the
deontological principle condemning it capture the psychodynamic structure of masturbation treating it as a repression
of sexuality or a neutral behavior.
Key words: masturbation, sexology, moral theology, sexual health principle, deontological principle, the Bible,
Christian ethics, sex education, controversies about masturbation.
ALICJA DŁUGOŁĘCKA
BARRIERS TO SEX EDUCATION IN ADOLESCENCE
The goal of this study was to analyze the actual barriers to sex education of teenagers in Poland, which are the
reasons of low effectiveness of such education and which increase difficulties in accomplishing the program
“Education for family life”. The analysed objects describe the following barriers: unsatisfactory accomplishment of
the goals of sexual education, inadequate rules in introducing sexual education to Polish schools, program
indications, needs and individual features of a student and an educator.
Key words: sex education, sexual upbringing, adolescence.
IZABELA FORNALIK
SEXUALITY EDUCATION OF THE DISABLED. NOTES IN THE MARGINS OF MINISTERIAL
REGULATIONS
The article concerns the issue of sex education of disabled people, which is the subject that still does not receive
sufficient care in the Polish educational reality. Many disabled boys and girls are left without professional support
and therefore their way towards adulthood remains difficult and frightening.
On the basis of personal experience, after a number of visits to various educational institutions and many talks with
the disabled people, the author critically estimates the effects of the classes given and activities conducted by the
tutors nowadays. The author also points out what qualities and skills a professional educator should possess and what
kind of professional workshop should be developed for him/her to make his/her knowledge more available to
students from the intellectual, physical and sensorial points of view.
The author emphasizes the role of appropriate choice of educational materials which, beyond the basic issues, should
include the extended ones like sexual abuse, sex and contraceptives, and parenthood of the disabled.
Key words: sex education, pro-family education, disability, sexual educator/tutor.
DAGMAR MARKOVÁ
IVAN LUKŠÍK
SEXUALITY EDUCATION IN SLOVAKIA
In the paper we outline selected problem areas of sexuality education in Slovakia. We briefly present the historical
context of sexuality education in Slovakia, the present state of such education linked to the analysis of a valid
curriculum of Education to Marriage and Parenthood at elementary schools. We marginally present also the
documents which make legal frame of sexuality education or Education to Marriage and Parenthood in Slovakia. We
analyze some present discourse related to the Methodological Handbook of Sexuality Education because the hidden
duality within the curriculum of Education to Marriage and Parenthood has become open during a conflict of
discourses to the methodological handbook. Finally we formulate recommendations for sexuality education in
Slovakia.
Key words: sexuality, sexual education, discource about sexuality, messages of sex education, legal frame of sex
education.
WILLIAM L. YARBER
BARBARA W. SAYAD
SEXUALITY EDUCATION FOR YOUTH IN THE UNITED STATES: CONFLICT, CONTENT, RESEARCH
AND RECOMMENDATION
In the U.S. there are large differences in views on the sex education of young people. Two dominant approaches,
abstinence and comprehensive ones, promote different models of education. Many controversies surround the
question whether teenagers are sexual beings and whether they need sex education. An increase in public awareness
makes more and more people support the introduction of this subject, but the content that should be presented still
remains a contentious issue.
The article discusses the abstinence and comprehensive approaches to sex education and the related cultural conflict.
The first type of program promotes premarital sexual abstinence as the only possible solution to the problems of
unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI). These programs are supported and funded by the
U.S. government. The abstinence approach often provides unreliable information about sexuality and reproductive
health and also quite often ignores the issue of contraception.
The comprehensive approach includes a broad range of topics related to sexuality at different stages of human
development. The goal of sex education is to affirm the positive, healthy practices and to eliminate risky behaviors.
The advocates of this concept appeal for moving away from the conservative model.
The article also contains information about the sexual behavior of adolescents in the United States and presents a
public opinion survey concerning the content that should be taught. More and more adults are in favor of the
introduction of sex education in schools and want their children to receive accurate information about contraception
methods.
Research on the effectiveness of the two paths showed that the comprehensive approach does not accelerate sexual
initiation (and often delays it) and may limit the number of unintended pregnancies and STIs, through the use of
contraceptive methods (mainly condoms). Most research on abstinence programs did not confirm a statistically
beneficial effect on the sexual behavior of young people.
The conclusions include recommendations based on research and on the assumption that sex education is necessary
for the development of healthy sexuality. They clearly show that the comprehensive approach fulfils its educational
role better than the abstinence approach.
Key words: sex education, comprehensive education, abstinence education, sexuality of young people, contraception,
STI, unintended pregnancies, social awareness, educational programs.
ZBIGNIEW IZDEBSKI
SEXUAL ACTIVITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE
This article is an attempt to present a picture of sexual activity of young people. The diagnosis is based on the results
of research carried out in 2004 in 250 secondary schools on a sample of 5,173 students, as part of international
research carried out in 10 countries of the Baltic Sea Region. The survey was representative because of the region
and the type of secondary school. The article discusses such issues as manifestations of psychosexual maturation,
masturbatory experience, or teenage love. Quite a lot of space is devoted to sexual initiation, considering data about
the age at which it happened, its reasons and conditions in which it happened, as well as to how important this event
is for young people. The paper also includes data illustrating the sexual activity of young people after sexual
initiation, including the use of contraception and the youthful relationships. At the end, the article points out to the
risks associated with young people becoming sexually active and the scale of the risky behaviors of young people.
Key words: youth, sexual activity, adolescence, risky behaviours.
LIDIA HENDLER
ZBIGNIEW IZDEBSKI
FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION TEACHERS’ VIEWS ON SELECTED ASPECTS OF HUMAN SEX LIFE
The article presents the results of the research carried out as part of the Baltic Sea Regional Study on Adolescent
Sexuality by seven countries (Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia and Poland) in cooperation with
Children at Risk. The participants were second grade students of upper secondary education and, exclusively in
Poland, teachers of upper secondary education.
The article presents some findings of the research conducted among PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)
teachers on their views about the most controversial issues concerning sexual life in the modern world like, among
other things, social standards, marriage and pre-marriage intercourses, masturbation, homosexuality, post-coital
contraception, escort agencies and pornography. Their views were analyzed in regard to their sociodemographic
backgrounds and classified according to the types of sexual ethics developed by Mikołaj Kozakiewicz, such as
permissive ethics, ‘golden mean’ ethics or restrictive ethics.
Key words: teachers’ opinions, social standards, marriage and pre-marriage intercourses, masturbation,
homosexuality, post-coital contraception, escort agencies, pornography, the types of sexual ethics: “the golden
mean” ethics, restrictive ethics, permissive ethics.
KRYSTYNA KOMOSIŃSKA
POOR KNOWLEDGE, INCORRECT BELIEFS AND RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIORS RELATED TO HIV/AIDS
AMONG WARSAW UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
The main purpose of the research was to collect data about the knowledge, beliefs and behaviors related to
HIV/AIDS among the students of the third-year full-time studies of 18 faculties at Warsaw University during the
2005/2006 academic year. 1,345 students were questioned, of whom 474 were men and 871 were women. The
survey was conducted via an anonymous questionnaire, which to some extent was based on the questionnaire titled
“The knowledge and beliefs concerning HIV/AIDS” from the international research related to health behaviors
among schoolchildren. The results of this research revealed poor level of knowledge and beliefs and a lot of risky
behaviors relating to HIV/AIDS. The number of correct answers was small, as only 39% of the questioned students
knew that most people infected by HIV would die of AIDS and 54% believed that most HIV infected would develop
AIDS. The students questioned (especially women) did not take into account that having sex during the period
rapidly increases the risk of being infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases – only 23% correct
answers, while 39% of students chose the answer “I don’t know”. Only 14% of students believed that young people
should avoid sexual contacts because of AIDS and only 54% of students admitted that they wanted to maintain a
monogamous relationship in the future. 69% of students already had their sexual initiation, whereas 31% of students
had two or more sexual partners during the year prior to the survey. Despite having knowledge of the main ways of
contracting HIV and the main risk factors, the students questioned displayed a wide variety of risky behaviors. The
results of this research indicate that it is necessary to further educate the students about HIV/AIDS.
Key words: HIV/AIDS knowledge and beliefs, sexual behavior, university students.
KRZYSZTOF WĄŻ
PARENTS’ ROLE IN CO-PROMOTION OF THE EARLY PARENTHOOD PREVENTION SCHOOL
PROGRAM
In the years 2004–2005, an early parenthood prevention program was developed and implemented in Poland. It was
based on an American teaching aid – an electronic baby simulator. The article is devoted to the presentation of the
special role of parents in this program. The paper presents the project assumptions and methods of implementation
which led to parents becoming real co-promoters of the program proposed by the school. The article also presents the
outcome of the research carried out during the evaluation process, which confirm both the efficiency of the entire
program and the advisability of such solution in which parents carry out important tasks in close cooperation with
teachers. This not only reinforces the opportunity to achieve the basic educational goal, which in this case means
taking more responsibility for adolescents becoming sexually active, but is also conducive to conversations in
students’ homes about the family, childhood, parenthood and future plans in this regard.
Key words: prevention, sexual socialization, early parenthood, parents.