Adolescent Sexuality and
Sexual Behavior
Broad Objective
To enable the participants to talk freely
about sex and sexuality with the young
people.
Specific Objectives
• Define the sex and sexuality
• Discuss the core dimensions/components abd
other aspects of sexuality
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–
–
–
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•
Intimacy
Sexual identity
Reproductive and sexual health
Sexualization
Sensuality
Discuss the adolescent psychosexual and social
development
Specific Objectives…
• Describe the human sexual response cycle
• Explain sexual dysfunctions and variations
and there management
• Discuss skills in management of sexual
dysfunctions/variations
• Discuss
community
perceptions,
misconception and myths for the young
people on sexuality and sex education.
• Discuss how sexuality affects behavior
• Explain the difference between feeling and
behavior
• Describe the consequences of sexual behavior
of young people.
Definitions
• Sex: Whether a person is male or female and
is determined by reproductive organs and how
people express their gender and it also means
sexual intercourse. Sex is part of sexuality
• Sexuality: This is more than sexual feeling
and sexual intercourse sexuality includes
thinking of ones self as sexual being feeling
attractive
and
behaving,
dressing
or
communicating in a sexy way it includes
feeling thinking or behaving as male or female.
Being attractive being in love and being in
relationships with sexual intimacy and sexual
activities.
Definitions…
is the ability and need to
emotionally be close to another human being
and have that closeness reciprocated.
Intimacy makes personal relationship rich. A
couple can have intimacy without having
sexual intercourse.
• Sexual Identity: This is a persons
understanding of whom he or she is sexually.
• Intimacy:
Definitions…
• Reproductive and sexual health is the
capacity to reproduce,attitudes and behaviors
that make sexual relationships healthy both
physically and emotionally.
• Sexualization is using sex or sexuality to
influence, manipulate or control other people.
Behaviors include offering money for sex,
giving grades to students in exchange for
sexual favors (sexual transmitted marks),
sexual harassment, sexual abuse or rape or
withholding sex from a partner to ‘punish’ or
to get something you want.
Definitions…
• Sensuality is the awareness and feelings about
your own body and other people’s bodies.
Sensuality enables us to feel good about our
bodies, how we look and feel and what the body
can do. It enables us to enjoy the pleasure our
bodies can give others and us. It reflects our body
image (whether we feel attractive and proud of our
body). It satisfies our need for physical closenessto be touched and held by others in loving and
caring ways. It is in adolescence that this
awareness and feelings begin and this affects how
we think, relate and behave.
Aspects of sexuality
• Body image: How we look and feel about
ourselves, and how we appear to others.
• Gender roles: The way we express being
either male or female, and the expectations
people have for us based on our sex.
• Relationships: The ways we interact with
others and express our feelings for others.
• Intimacy: Close sharing of thoughts or
feelings in a relationship, it can or cannot
involve physical closeness.
Aspects of sexuality…
• Love: Feelings of affection and how we
express those feelings for others.
• Sexual arousal: The different things that
excite sexually.
• Social roles: How we contribute to and fit
into society.
• Genitals: The parts of our bodies that define
our sex. They are part of sexual pleasure and
reproduction.
ADOLESCENT PSYCHOSEXUAL
AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
• ADOLESCENT
PSYCHOSEXUAL
AND
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
•
• The process of adolescent psychological and
social development is characterized by a
range of normal adolescent behaviour.
CHARACTERISTICS BEHAVIOURS
OF ADOLESCENT
Development Early
Adolescence
al stage
(10 to 13
years old)
Middle
Adolescence
(14 to 16
years old)
Late
Adolescence
(17 to 19
years old)

Transition
to adolescence
Characterised
by puberty.

Essence of
adolescence.
Strong
peer
group influence.

Transition
to adulthood
Assumption of
adult roles

Challenge
s
authority,
parents,
and
other
family
members
oves
away
from parents,
and
towards
peers.
Is
emancipated:b
egins to work
or persue hire
education
Enters adult life
Independenc
e
CHARACTERISTICS BEHAVIOURS
OF ADOLESCENT…
Early
Adolescence
(10 to 13
years old)

Cognitive
Development abstract
thought
difficult
Peer Group
Middle
Adolescence
(14 to 16
years old)
Finds •Starts
develop
abstruct
thoughts.
Late
Adolescence
(17 to 19
years old)
to Firmly
establishes
abstract thought.

Has •Forms strong
intense
peer
friendships
allegencies.
with members
of the same
sex
•Is
less
influenced by
peers rgarding
decisions and
values
than
before.
CHARACTERISTICS BEHAVIOURS
OF ADOLESCENT…
Early
Adolescence Middle
(10 to 13 years old) adolescent
14
to
16
years old)
 Is preoccupied with
Image physical changes

Is critical of
appearance
Is anxious about
menstruation, wet
dreams, masturbation,
breast or penis size.
Body
Late
Adolescence
(17 to 19
years old)

Is less 
Is usually
concerned
comfortable
about
body with
body
image
than image
before
Is more
interested in
looking
attractive
teCHARACTERISTICS
BEHAVIOURS OF ADOLESCENT…
Early Adolescence Middle
(10 to 13 years Adolescence
old)
(14 to 16
years old)
Sexuality 
Begins to feel
attracted to others

May begin to
masturbate

May
experiment with sex
play
Compares own
physical
development with
that of peers

Shows an
increase
in
sexual interest

May
struggle with
sexual identity
May initiate sex
inside or
outside of
marriage
Late
Adolescence
(17 to 19
years old)
Begins to
develop serious
intimate
relationships
that replace
group
relationships as
primary
relationships
The human sexual
response cycle
(Phases)
• Stage I: Excitement
Changes that can be seen include:
 Vasocongestion in both men and women
 Increased sensitivity of all senses
 Nipple changes in both women and men
 Increase in pulse, blood pressure,
respiration
 Erection in men
 Lubrication in women
•
The human sexual
response cycle
(Phases)…
Stage II : Plateau
 Tension of the muscles – myotonia
 Development of the orgasmic platform
in which the diameter of the outer half
of the vagina decreases by 50% while
the upper part surrounding the cervix
dilates by 300%.
The human sexual
response cycle
(Phases)…
• Stage III: Orgasm
 A complex interaction of physical, emotional,
social and hormonal factors i.e., involuntary
contraction of erectile tissues, and in women
results in dissipation of accumulated blood
into general circulation
 There is pelvis throbbing as well as
constriction of muscles surrounding the
trachea resulting in an involuntary deep
groan
The human sexual
response cycle
(Phases)…
Stage IV: Resolution
 Return of the body to the normal flaccid
and relaxed state of the body
Stage V: Refractory
 No further stimulation until arousal.
Definition of sexual
dysfunction and variations
• Sexual dysfunction
Is a sexual response which is different
from normally expected conventional
physiological response
Sexual variation(s)
Is expression of sexuality in a socially
unacceptable manner
Common Sexual
Dysfunctions
Dysfunctions in women
•
•
•
•
-
Orgasmic difficulty
Dyspareunia
Vaginismus
Inhibited sexual desire/arousal
Dysfunctions in Men
• Premature ejaculation
•
•
•
•
-
Retarded ejaculation
Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
Retrograde ejaculation
Difficult in arousal and desire
Examples of sexual deviants
and sex variations
• Sadism -the act of men/women inflicting pain on their
sexual partners to achieve sexual gratification
• Masochism (sadomasochism)-
is deriving
sexual gratification when pain is being inflicted on them
• Transvetism - is deriving sexual gratification by
putting on or dressing like the opposite sex.
• Transsexualism - is when men/women derive sexual
gratification by entertaining feelings and wishes of sex
enjoyment as if they were the opposite sex. These people hate
their own sex and believe they are victims of biological
accident at conception or at birth
Examples of sexual deviants
and sex variations…
• Voyeurism (peeping Toms) - occurs in men or
women who derive sexual satisfaction and gratification by
peeping and observing from a vantage point other people
engaging in sexual intercourse
• Beastialism - Men or women who derive sexual
satisfaction from animals
• Fetisnism - occurs when men or women derive sexual
pleasure by touching a non sex object from an admired
opposite sex e.g. handkerchief, handbag, etc.
• Exhibitionism - occurs when men or women get
sexual satisfaction by displaying their sexual organs (genitals)
at a public place either at market place or at cross roads.
Examples of sexual deviants
and sex variations…
• Homosexuality - Is where men or women engage in
sexual activity with same sex partners e.g. lesbians, gays.
• Bisexuality - This is when men or women display both
homosexual & heterosexual behaviour
• Pedophilia - Occurs when men or women derive sexual
satisfaction from minors (children)
Rapists or sexual abusers - These are women
or men who get sexual satisfaction by violent unconsented sex
Examples of sexual deviants
and sex variations…
• Incest - Occurs when men or women engage in sexual
intercourse with close biological relatives (blood relatives).
• Co-prophilia-
Occurs when men or women derive
sexual satisfaction by passing and handling faeces especially
in a swimming pool or bath basin
• Tele-Scaltogia - Refers to sexual satisfaction when
listening to the voice of an admired opposite sex e.g. through
talking face-to-face, telephone or singing, reciting a poem
• Frotteorism - Occurs when a man or woman derives
sexual satisfaction from brushing or rubbing against an
admired opposite sex
Examples of sexual deviants
and sex variations…
• Foudlists - Men and women who derive sexual
gratification by being held, kissed or cuddled by an admired
opposite sex. They derive lots of pleasure from oral sex and
masturbation
• Necrophilia - Occurs when men or women derive
sexual satisfaction from dead bodies
• Paraphilias - These are men or women who
display a variety of sexual deviations.
E.g. bisexuality, bestiality, sadism, rape, all at the same
time
Community perception on Sex
Education and sexuality
• Education on sexuality, reproduction,
HIV/AIDS and safe sex will encourage
adolescents to engage in sex
• Information generally leads to more
responsible and safer attitudes towards
sex and sexual relationships
Community perception on Sex
Education and sexuality…
• Studies have shown no evidence that
education leads to an increase in sexual
activities
• Research has shown that sex education
significantly reduces rates of teenage
pregnancy and abortion
• Sexuality education provides knowledge
about sexuality related reproductive functions
and processes, puberty and pregnancy
prevention
Community perception on Sex
Education and sexuality…
• Sexuality education emphasizes a broad
approach to sexuality
• Telling the truth about sexuality will
make it easier for young people to
discuss about sexuality
Sexuality and behavior
• Sexuality influences social behavior.
• Human sexuality can also be understood as
part of the social life of humans, governed by
implied rules of behavior.
• Sexuality influences a person’s sexual identity.
• Sexual identity can be shaped by social
environment to which one is exposed
Feelings and Behavior
• Feelings cannot be seen they are
carried within the individual while
behavior can be observed and
normally involves other people
Consequences of sexual
behavior of young people
• Unintended or unplanned pregnancy
• Sexually transmitted infections including
HIV/AIDS
• Unsafe abortion
• Dropping out of school
• Unattained goals/loss of opportunities
• Loss of self esteem due to guilt and loss of
reputation
• Depression
• Death