Nijah Clifton PSY/265 November 20, 2011 Psychology of Human Sexuality Axia Faulty

Sex is a significant act of life. The deed is commonly initiated by arousal and results in conception or sheer satisfaction. A great deal of thought rarely goes into the execution of the actual performance, as sexual urges are instinctive. The true brainpower lies within the thought processes associated with sex. Love, commitment, and friendship are three aspects that I have always questioned upon engaging in sexual activities with others. I identified with the hedonistic value system before taking this course. I justified my sexual endeavors by maintaining that my choices felt right, at the time. I now favor the rationalist value system because it provides me with the chance to foresee pain or troubles that may be connected to a spur the moment decision. Physical and social aspects of my world have played a large part in me discovering my sexual orientation. Once I came to understand myself as a heterosexual individual, historical and scientific perspectives helped me to further understand the world around me. Relationships have been rare in my love life. I find that my early attraction to others stem from their physical appearance and is then heightened by the individuals personality. I think that the relationships I have been a part of, would have fared better if I possessed healthier communication techniques. Communication is by far one of the most important parts of any relationship and there are multiple techniques that can be exercised to improve every bond. Overall, my entire sexual experience has been positively affected by the information that I have learned in this course. I found the first time that I engaged in sexual intercourse to be exhilarating.

It was as if I had tried a new drug, that I could not get enough of. From that point onward, I had sex whenever I wanted to. I could not imagine being anything other than what I am today. Attraction does not discriminate according to gender. Human sexuality is hard in a world of diversity. While these two categorizations seem quite clear and concise there are still people who find themselves attracted to both members of the opposite sex as well as members of the same sex. I truly believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Sexual orientation has become a controversial issue. Parents usually view their child as male or female. As a teenager I had completely different value systems when it came to sexual decisions. I believe that the most important thing that I can do in life is have children and a family. I feel comfortable being a female. I automatically apply my critical thinking skills before making any sexual decisions. Outward appearance is usually how society determines a persons gender. My personal belief is that Personal Response on Sexual Identity physical attraction is one of the biggest driving forces in human nature. My parents raised me to be feminine and to portray characteristics that were considered to fit my gender. I also believe that it is one of the greatest achievements that a person can have in life. My sexual identity will continue to change as I grow and mature through the various stages of life. Women were meant to bear children and create a family. Those with homosexual orientation find themselves attracted to members of the same sex. Overall I see sexual identity as an elusive human characteristic that is constantly changing and evolving. I was raised to be lady-like and feminine. I also base my decisions upon situation ethics. Feminine traits seem to come naturally to me. When it comes to the sexual decision

making process its important to keep in mind that knowledge is power. Not only do I believe that it is normal for a man and woman to bear children and raise a family. The environment that I was raised in reflected my chromosomal sex. During my teen years I was not as informed as I am now. That resulted in reckless decisions that could have led to disastrous outcomes. I am attracted to men. It has been an interesting and eye opening experience to discover my underlying value systems as well as my critical thinking process. It has become a social norm to bear children and create a family. Attraction and Relationships Attraction plays an important role in sexual identity. Which I believe is influenced by my gender identity. Several things that may influence the development of our sexual identity can include: gender identity. These factors may lead up to the gradual formation of our sexual identity. It has definitely influenced my personal sexual identity. Without physical attraction two people may never show interest in one another at all. I have chosen to engage in romantic relationships strictly with men. It is hard to control who we are attracted to. I believe that this tradition continues to influence society today. I would say that my gender identity has been heavily influenced by society and culture. Some people may base their gender identity on societal norms. I have come to realize that when it comes to value systems I am a rationalist. The difference between ones assigned gender and ones gender identity lies within the psychological realm. One person may be completely unattractive to you while they may seem completely irresistible to another person. These influences have been consistent from the time I was born up to today. I am not easily influenced by others. Throughout history human sexuality has remained eminently constant. When it comes to

thinking critically I would definitely describe myself as a skeptic. Many people actually base their life upon this tradition. I like to analyze the situation from all points before making any set conclusions. I have learned a great deal about myself by doing so. Physical attraction is what first drove me to engage in a relationship. That it was taboo for a woman to be with another woman or a man to be with another man. It can also play a large role in our sexual orientation and preference. Many stereotypes have been created based upon historical and cultural perspectives. The way a person is treated as an infant or child can help shape ones gender identity. At this point in my life I have developed a good set of values and I am able to make responsible decisions regarding sex. Development of Gender Identity Ones gender identity is. The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to sexual identity is that no two people are the same. While there may be some universally attractive features. Obviously historic traditions have influenced me greatly. I was born female. Throughout this course I have taken the time to determine what set of values define me on a personal level. As I have matured and become more of an individualist I have come to realize that there is no right or wrong when it comes to love and attraction. I would never discriminate against someone who does not share the same sexual preference as I do. Physical attraction is based upon personal preference. As I grew up I realized that it was normal for a man and a woman to be together. I also find myself judging the attractiveness of other women. Physical attraction is one of the driving factors behind human sexuality. Environmental and Historical Influences My personal environment had

a big influence on the development of my gender identity. Its all a matter of personal preference. It is one of the things that make us unique and different from every other person on this earth. There are countless factors that can influence ones sexual identity. Our sexual identity is a part of who we are. After participating in this course I have learned many new things about my own sexuality and my sexual decision making process. Homosexuals have been condemned for many years. Society and culture can also play an important role in determining gender identity. I also believe that attraction plays a large role in sexual preference. I might even go as far as stating that as a teen I leaned toward the hedonist set of values when it came to sexual decision making. There are many things in my life that have influenced the development of my sexual identity. Its a traditional man-woman relationship that is driven by attraction. When it comes to sexual orientation I have a heterosexual orientation. Not only can attraction help determine our gender identity. As the child grows older they tend to adopt either masculine or feminine traits according to how they are raised. Our sexual identity begins to develop at birth and continues to develop as we grow. There are several factors that can affect ones gender identity. After getting to truly know one another we became more intimate and committed to one another.