Unpacking the Sexual Self

Prepared by: Karen Cristina B. Balatbat, MA, RGC

 What do you want to know
about the topic “Sexual Self”?
 The Sexual Self
The part of yourself that you learn about your
sexual development and how people’s sexual
activity, beliefs and unlimited access from the
internet on sex can influence your sexual
behaviors and responses.
 Erogenous
Zones of the Body
Sigmund Freud’s concept of the Erogenous Zone
Erogenous Zones
• Areas of the body that are highly
sensitive to stimuli and are often (but
not always) sexually exciting.
“Highly Sensitive”
• Means that these areas of the body
have a high number of sensory
receptors or nerve endings that react
to stimuli.
 The Skin
• serves as the primary erotic stimulus.
• 2 types
 Nonspecific type
• It is similar to any other portion of the usual
haired skin.
• The nerves supplying it are composed of the
usual density of dermal-nerve networks &
hair-follicle networks.
• Pleasurable sensation felt from these region
is simply an exaggerated form of tickle.
 Nonspecific type
• Sides and back of the neck
• Axilla (armpit and underarm)
• Sides of the thorax (chest)
 Specific type
• Found in the mucocutaneous regions
of the body or those made both of
mucous membrane and cutaneous
skin.
• These regions favor acute perception.
 Specific type
Penis Female external
Prepuce
genitalia (vulva)

Perianal skin Lips Nipples

 • The retractable fold of the
1 skin covering the tip of the
penis.
• Nontechnical: foreskin
Prepuce • It is also a similar fold of skin
covering the tip of the
clitoris.
 2
Penis
• Male erectile organ of
copulation by which urine
and semen are
discharged from the body.
 3 •
•
Mons pubis
Clitoris: a female organ
that is small, sensitive,
Female and located in front of
external the opening of the
vagina.
genitalia
 3 •
•
Labia majora
Labia minora

Female
external • Vaginal Introitus
• Hymen:
genitalia membrane that
surrounds or partially
covers the external
vaginal opening
 4 •
•
The skin surrounding the anus
Is very sensitive
Perianal • Very susceptible to injury and
damage.
Skin
 • Soft, movable and
5 serve as the opening for
food intake and in the
articulation of sound &
Lips speech.
• Designed to be
perceived by touch,
and can be an
erogenous zone when
used in kissing and any
other acts of intimacy.
 • Raised region of tissue
7 on the surface of the
breast.
• Acc. to studies,
Nipples sensation from the
nipples travels to same
part of the brain as
sensations from vagina,
clitoris and cervix.
Understanding the Sexual
Response
Sexual intercourse
• Also called coitus, or
copulation, is the
reproductive act in which
the male penis enters the
female vagina.
• If the reproductive act is
complete, an average of
100 million sperm are
ejaculated from the male
body into the female.
William Masters & Virginia Johnson
• Pioneered research to
understand human sexual
response, dysfunction, and
disorders.
• Theory of 4-stage model of
sexual response (also
known as the human sexual
response cycle)a
Phase 1: EXCITEMENT

Phase 2: PLATEAU

Phase 3: ORGASM

Phase 4: RESOLUTION
 • “foreplay”
• Muscle tension increases.

Phase • Heart rate quickens and breathing is

accelerated.

1 • Skin may become flushed (blotches of redness

appear on the chest and back).
• Nipples become hardened or erect.
EXCITEMENT
can last • Blood flow to the genitals increases, resulting in
from a few
minutes to
swelling of the woman's clitoris and labia
several minora (inner lips), and erection of the man's
hours penis.
• Vaginal lubrication begins.
• The woman's breasts become fuller and the
vaginal walls begin to swell.
• The man's testicles swell, his scrotum tightens,
and he begins secreting a lubricating liquid.
 • The changes begun in phase 1 are
intensified.
• The vagina continues to swell from
Phase increased blood flow, and the
vaginal walls turn a dark purple.

2 • The woman's clitoris becomes highly

sensitive (may even be painful to
touch) and retracts under the
PLATEAU clitoral hood to avoid direct
stimulation from the penis.
extends to
the brink of • The man's testicles are withdrawn up
orgasm into the scrotum.
• Breathing, heart rate, and blood
pressure continue to increase.
• Muscle spasms may begin in the
feet, face, & hands.
• Muscle tension increases.
Phase 1: EXCITEMENT

Phase 2: PLATEAU

Phase 3: ORGASM

Phase 4: RESOLUTION
 Phase • Involuntary muscle contractions
begin

3 • Blood pressure, heart rate, and

breathing are at their highest rates,
with a rapid intake of oxygen.
ORGASM • Muscles in the feet spasm.
climax of the
sexual response • There is a sudden, forceful release of
cycle sexual tension.
shortest of the • In women, the muscles of the
phases and
generally lasts
vagina contract. The uterus also
only a few undergoes rhythmic contractions.
seconds
• In men, rhythmic contractions of the
muscles at the base of the penis
result in the ejaculation of semen.
• A rash, or "sex flush" may appear
over the entire body.
 • The body slowly returns to its normal
level of functioning, and swelled and
erect body parts return to their previous
Phase size and color.

4 • This phase is marked by a general sense

of well-being, enhanced intimacy and,
often, fatigue.
• Some women are capable of a rapid
RESOLUTION return to the orgasm phase with further
sexual stimulation and may experience
The Final multiple orgasms.
Phase
• Men need recovery time after orgasm,
called a refractory period, during which
they cannot reach orgasm again.
• The duration of the refractory period
varies among men and usually
lengthens with advancing age
Phase 1: EXCITEMENT

Phase 2: PLATEAU

Phase 3: ORGASM

Phase 4: RESOLUTION
Sex & the Brain
Role of the Brain
It responsible for translating the nerve impulses
sensed by the skin into pleasurable sensations.

It controls the nerves and muscles used in sexual

activities.

Sexual thoughts and fantasies are theorized to lie in the

cerebral cortex , the same area used for thinking and
reasoning.

Emotions and feelings (which are important for sexual

behavior) are believed to originate in the limbic system.

The brain releases hormones considered as the

physiological origin of sexual desire.
Role of Hormones in Sexual
Activity
Luteinizing Hormone
• Crucial
in regulating the testes in
men and ovaries in women.
• Stimulates testosterone.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS TO ASK
• Am I pressuring my partner?
• Who am I doing this for?
• Does it go along w/ values of waiting until
marriage?
• Do I only feel the desire to have sex when I am
drunk or high?
• Am I having sex to keep my partner or to make him
or her happy?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS TO ASK
• What would I gain or lose from having sex?
• If the relationship breaks up, will I be glad I had sex
with this person?
• Do my partner and I share the same feelings and
attitudes about the meaning of sex and
relationships?
• Am I ready to deal with a possible pregnancy or
sexually transmitted infections?
• Am I being pressured to do it?
Human Sexuality
What is sexuality?
• It is much more than sexual
feelings or sexual intercourse.
• It includes all feelings,
thoughts, and behaviors
associated with being male
or female, being attractive
and being in love, as well as
being in relationships that
include intimacy and sensual
and sexual activity.
 Sensuality

Sexualization Sexual
Intimacy
Sexuality

Reproduction
Sexual
& Sexual
Health
Identity
 • Awareness and feeling about your own body &
other people’s bodies
Sensuality • Enables us to feel good about how our bodies look
and feel and what they can do.

• Ability to be emotionally close to another human

Sexual being and to accept closeness in return.
Intimacy • Caring about another, liking or loving the person
and vulnerability to a loved one.
 • A person’s understanding of who
Sexual he/she is sexually.
Identity • Sense of being male/female.

•Person’s capacity to reproduce &

Reproduction
behaviors and attitudes that make
& Sexual
Health sexual relationships healthy and
enjoyable.
 • Aspect in which people behave
sexually to influence, manipulate
or control other people.
Sexualization • “shadowy” side of human sexuality
that range from behaviors that are
harmless to sadistically violent,
cruel and criminal.
 Sensuality

Sexualization Sexual
Intimacy
Sexuality

Reproduction
Sexual
& Sexual
Health
Identity
The Chemistry of
Lust, Love &
Attraction
LUST
• A phase w/c is
driven by the
sex hormones
(Estrogen and
Testosterone)
ATTRACTION
• Phase when a person
actually starts to feel
the love/
• Neurotransmitters
involved: adrenaline,
dopamine and
serotonin
Attachment
• A bond that helps the
couple take their
relationship to advanced
levels.
• Instigates the feeling of
bearing children and
falling in love w/ them
wholeheartedly.
Major hormone:
Oxytocin & Vasopressin