Sexual behaviour and development

What is Sexuality?

Sexuality is a term we use to describe how we think about our bodies and how we think about our relationships. This encompasses all facets of who we are, including our values and beliefs, bodies, desires, relationships, gender, and our thoughts and feelings regarding all of these. The most important thing to remember about sexuality is that it is self-defined, which means that everyone is free to discuss and understand their own sexuality in whatever way makes sense to them.

Sexuality is fluid and ever-changing, and we may find that various aspects of our lives connect in both confounding and affirming ways. This is perfectly natural and part of our development. Exploring our own sexuality and adhering to the values of consent and sexual rights is an important factor in our overall health and well-being.

 “Sexuality is emotional, social, cultural, and physical.”

Sexual behaviour and development – childhood, adolescence and adult life.

One aspect of sexuality is sexual development, which starts much earlier in life than puberty. Infants and children do not think about sexuality in the same way as adults do, but they do learn and perceive signals about sexuality that will influence their acts and behaviours in the future. Children are constantly learning social norms and what is expected or appropriate in interactions and relationships. There are healthy and common expressions of sexuality that children are likely to show at different developmental stages.

Human sexual development is a process that occurs throughout the lifespan. There are important biological and psychological aspects of sexuality that differ in children and adolescents, and later in adults and the elderly.

Another aspect of sexuality is sexual behaviour, which is a process by which humans demonstrate and/or express sexuality. Sexual behaviour varies along one's lifespan. Children are still learning and therefore have a higher level of curiosity, which they may express through questions and other behavioural cues. Adults, on the other hand, generally tend not to express their sexuality very openly because they consider the subject taboo and believe it is something to be displayed only in front of one's partner(s).

Childhood

Children’s sexual awareness starts in infancy and continues to strengthen throughout preschool and school-age years. All aspects of children’s development—including cognitive, language, motor, social, emotional, and sexual development—are linked to each other. For example, young children seek pleasure and avoid discomfort or pain, so if they are uncomfortable in their clothes, they will take them off, not thinking about being nude in front of others. Preschool-age children have little sense of modesty. 
Knowing about children’s behaviour and how it changes as they grow can help caregivers determine if a child’s sexual behaviour is typical or something to be concerned about.

Adolescence

As children progress into adolescence, signs of development become more pronounced and the need for accurate information about sexuality and sex continues. Young adults also need assistance in locating reliable sources of knowledge and services, in addition to more specific questions regarding sexuality and sexual health.

Adult life

Unlike childhood or adolescence, the challenges and milestones of adulthood are less observable and are not as obviously universal. Individuals who have achieved physical maturity seem to shift little after the rapid changes of childhood and adolescence. Adulthood is thought to be a period of stagnation or even stasis when it is considered at all. This is especially true of the study of adult sexuality. Popular belief holds that once humans reach physical maturity, sexual development stops. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. Recognizing, embracing, and expressing one's self as a sexual being is an ongoing process of sexuality and its development. Whether it is choosing a mate, giving birth to a child, or adjusting to the effects of old age, sexual development is a lifelong process that affects and is affected by every aspect of our life.

Why learning about this is important?

Understanding healthy childhood sexual development plays a key role in child sexual abuse prevention. Many adults are never taught what to expect as children develop sexually, which can make it hard to tell the difference between healthy and unhealthy behaviors. Adults who recognise the distinction between healthy and unhealthy habits are better able to promote healthy attitudes and behaviours and react to teachable moments. Adults should foster healthy development by understanding what behaviours are developmentally anticipated at various stages of childhood, rather than interpreting a child's behaviour from an adult viewpoint of sex and sexuality. They are also better equipped to intervene when there are concerns related to behavior or abuse. 

Discussing sexual development within the context of child sexual abuse prevention can cause discomfort and raise tough questions. Conversations about children and sexuality are often seen as taboo. Thus, education, including accurate information about childhood sexual development, is rare. This leaves the media and pop culture, which often hyper-sexualize or exploit children, as the primary information source for both adults and children. Adults can help the youth by learning about the common and risky sexual behaviors and teach them the difference and guide them in understanding of their sexuality.