HUMAN SEXUALITY

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

⮚ Discuss the sexual development involving the
human reproductive system, sexual behaviour
and human sexual response.

⮚ Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in

understanding one’s sexuality, chemistry of lust,
love and attachment and the psychological aspect
of being turned on.

⮚ Examine the diversity of human sexuality, sexual

health, sexually transmitted diseases and methods
of contraception.
 INTRODUCTION
HUMAN SEXUALITY – sexuality is much more than sexual feelings
or sexual intercourse, it is an important part of who a
person is and what she/he will become.

⮚ It includes all the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors

associated with being female or male, being attractive
and being in love, as well as being in relationships that
include sexual intimacy and sensual and sexual
activity.

⮚It also includes enjoyment of the world as we know it

through the five senses.
 THE FIVE CIRCLES OF SEXUALITY

1. Sensuality – is awareness and feelings about your own body

and other people’s bodies, especially the body of a
sexual partner.
⮚ Sensuality enables us to feel good about how our bodies’
look and feel what they can do
⮚ Sensuality also allows us to enjoy the pleasure of our
bodies can give us and others.

2. Sexual Intimacy – is the ability to be emotionally close to

another human being and to accept closeness in return.
⮚ Several aspects of intimacy include sharing intimacy, caring
about another, liking or loving a person, emotional risk-
taking and vulnerability to a loved one.
THE FIVE CIRCLES OF SEXUALITY
3. Sexual Identity – is a person understands of who he/she is sexually,
including the sense of being male or female.
⮚ Sexual Identity consists of three "interlocking pieces” that together,
affect how each person sees himself/herself.
THE FIVE CIRCLES OF SEXUALITY
FOUR COMPONENTS OF SEXUAL IDENTITY

1. BIOLOGICAL SEX – sex is a label — male or female— that

you’re assigned by a doctor at birth based on the genitals
you’re born with and the chromosomes you have. It goes on
your birth certificate.

⮚ Sex refers to a person's biological status and is typically

categorized as male, female or intersex. There are a
number of indicators of biological sex, including sex
chromosomes, gonads, internal reproductive organs and
external genitalia
THE FIVE CIRCLES OF SEXUALITY
2. GENDER IDENTITY – this is how you feel inside and how you
express those feelings.  Clothing, appearance, and behaviors
can all be ways to express your gender identity.

⮚ Most people feel that they’re either male or female.  Some

people feel like a masculine female, or a feminine male. Some
people feel neither male nor female.
 THE FIVE CIRCLES OF SEXUALITY
3. GENDER ROLE - also known as a sex role, is a social
role encompassing a range of behaviors and attitudes that are generally
considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on that
person's biological or perceived sex.

⮚ Traditionally, men and women had completely opposing roles, men were

seen as the provider for the family and women were seen as the
caretakers of both the home and the family.
 THE FIVE CIRCLES OF SEXUALITY
4. SEXUAL ORIENTATION - is an enduring pattern of romantic or sexual
attraction to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or
gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender

⮚ a person's sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are

attracted; the fact of being heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.
THE FIVE CIRCLES OF SEXUALITY
4. Reproduction and Sexual Health – these are a person’s
capacity to reproduce and the behaviors and attitudes that
make sexual relationships healthy and enjoyable.

⮚ refers to the many factors that impact sexual function and

reproduction. These include a variety of physical, mental, and
emotional factors.
 THE FIVE CIRCLES OF SEXUALITY
5. Sexualization – is that aspect of sexuality in
which people behave sexually to influence,
manipulate, or control other people; often
called “shadowy” side of human sexuality.

⮚ These sexual behaviors include flirting,

seduction, withholding sex from an intimate
partner to punish him/her or to get something,
sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and rape.

⮚ Also, teens need to know that no one has the

right to exploit them sexually and that they do
not have the right to exploit anyone else
sexually.
 THE CHEMISTRY OF LUST, LOVE &
ATTACHMENT
THE CHEMISTRY OF LUST, LOVE & ATTACHMENT - there are
physiological and psychological aspects in being in love and
attached to another person; it lies in our brains, which is the
humans’ most important sex organ.
 THE CHEMISTRY OF LUST, LOVE &
ATTACHMENT
1. LUST – this is a phase which is driven by the sex
hormones testosterone and estrogen in both
men and women—these are the two basic types
of hormones present equally in men and
women’s body that excite the feeling of lust
within the brain.

⮚ Feeling a strong desire for someone or

something, especially of a sexual nature.

⮚ Lust is a state of mind that focuses on body parts,

seduction, power, fantasy and excitement. Love is
risky and scary on an emotional level.
 THE CHEMISTRY OF LUST, LOVE &
ATTACHMENT
❑ Testosterone -  is the primary male sex hormone and anabolic
steroid.
❑  It plays a key role in the development of male reproductive
tissues such as testes and prostate, as well as promoting
secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle
and bone mass, and the growth of body hair.
❑ A man with low levels of testosterone may lose his desire
for sex. Testosterone levels can drop during a long period
of sexual inactivity. Low testosterone can also result in
erectile dysfunction (ED).
❑ Sexual stimulation and sexual activity
cause testosterone levels to rise. 
 THE CHEMISTRY OF LUST, LOVE &
ATTACHMENT
❑  Estrogen – any of a group of steroid hormones which promote
the development and maintenance of female characteristics
of the body.

❑ It is responsible for the development and regulation of the

female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics

❑ Estrogen levels begin to fluctuate while progesterone levels

start a steady decline. As your hormone levels drop, your
vagina may become less lubricated. Some people experience a
decrease in their libido and their menstrual cycle becomes
irregular.
 THE CHEMISTRY OF LUST, LOVE &
ATTACHMENT
2. ATTRACTION – this is the phase when a person actually
starts to feel the love. Scientists think that three main
neurotransmitters are involved in this stage:
adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin.

⮚ Something that attracts or is intended to attract people by

appealing to their desires and tastes.

⮚ His attraction to her grew over the course of their

time together.
⮚ A good relationship is based on more than just
physical attraction.
 END OF
MODULE 7 COMING UP: BONUS
LECTURE ABOUT LOVE
BAKIT ‘DI
KA CRUSH
NG CRUSH
MO?
FACTORS THAT
AFFECT ATTRACTION
 several factors on attraction
include proximity, familiarity,
physical attractiveness, similarity,
reciprocity, and intimacy
PROXIMITY
proximity states that the closer two people live to one
another, the more likely they are to interact.
The more frequent their interaction, the more likely they will
like one another then
FAMILIARITY
MERE EXPOSURE EFFECT - the more frequently we are
exposed to a stimulus, even if it is negative, the greater our
liking of it will be and that this holds true for inanimate
objects but also interpersonal attitudes.

Typical faces are also found to be more attractive than

distinctive faces.
Physical Attractiveness
we choose who we spend time with based on how attractive they
are.

halo effect - when we hold a favorable attitude to traits that are

unrelated.

beauty bias - beautiful people get away with most things

unattractive people cannot get away with

Although there is a beauty bias, the authors found that its strength
has weakened over the past few decades.
SIMILARITY
We are most attracted to people who are like us in terms of our
religious and political beliefs, values, appearance, educational
background, age, and other demographic variables. Thus, we tend to
choose people who are similar to us in attitudes and interests as this
leads to a more positive evaluation of them. Their agreement with our
choices and beliefs helps to reduce any uncertainty we face regarding
social situations and improves our understanding of the situation. You
might say their similarity also validates our own values, beliefs, and
attitudes as they have arrived at the same conclusions that we have.
RECIPROCITY
We choose people who are likely to engage in a mutual exchange with us. We
prefer people who make us feel rewarded and appreciated and in the spirit of
reciprocation, we need to give something back to them.

If you were told that a stranger you interacted with liked you, research shows
that you would express a greater liking for that person as well, and the same
goes for reciprocal desire
INTIMACY
intimacy occurs when we feel close to and trust in, another person.
This factor is based on the idea of self-disclosure or telling
another person about our deepest held secrets, experiences, and
beliefs that we do not usually share with others. But this revealing
of information comes with the expectation of a mutual self-
disclosure from our friend or significant other.

there is a possibility we can overshare, called overdisclosure,

which may lead to a reduction in our attractiveness.
selective strategy given the
incredible time investment
MATE
SELECTION
having a child involves since men can father a
and the fact that she can nearly unlimited number of
only have a limited children they favor signs of
number of children during fertility in women to include
her life. She looks for a being young, attractive, and
man who is financially healthy. Since they also
stable and can provide for want to know that the child
is their own, they favor
her children, typically
women who will be sexually
being an older man. faithful to them.
PINAGTAG
PO PERO
‘DI
TINADHAN
A
PREDICTING THE END
OF A RELATIONSHIP
 Four Horsemen of
the Apocalypse
from the New
CRITICISM
Testament to
describe CONTEMPT
communication DEFENSIVENESS
styles that can
STONE WALLING
predict the end of a
relationship.
 To combat criticism, engage in
gentle start up. Talk about your
feelings using “I” statements and
not “you” and express what you
need to in a positive way.
 To combat contempt, build a
culture of appreciation and
respect. Regularly express
appreciation, gratitude, affection,
and respect for your partner. The
more positive you are, the less
likely that contempt will be
expressed.
 To combat defensiveness, take
responsibility. You can do this for
just part of the conflict.
 To combat stonewalling, engage in physiological self-soothing.
Arguing increase one’s heart rate, releases stress hormones, and
activates our flight-fight response. By taking a short break, we
can calm down and “return to the discussion in a respectful and
rational way.” Failing to take a break could lead to stonewalling
and bottling up emotions, or exploding like a volcano at your
partner, or both. “So, when you take a break, it should last at least
twenty minutes because it will take that long before your body
physiologically calms down. It’s crucial that during this time you
avoid thoughts of righteous indignation (“I don’t have to take this
anymore”) and innocent victimhood (“Why is he always picking
on me?”). Spend your time doing something soothing and
distracting, like listening to music, reading, or exercising. It
doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as it helps you to calm
down.”
LUCKY I’M
IN LOVE
WITH MY
BEST
FRIEND
Triangular Theory of
Love
 The triangular theory of love
holds that love can be understood
in terms of three components that
together can be viewed as forming
the vertices of a triangle.
INTIMACY refers to feelings of closeness,
connectedness, and bondedness in loving relationships

PASSION refers to the drives that lead to romance,

physical attraction, sexual consummation, and related
phenomena in loving relationships.

COMMITMENT refers, in the short-term, to the

decision that one loves a certain other, and in the
long-term, to one's commitment to maintain that love.