PCN-530 Sexual Development Worksheet

Directions: In the table below, list at least two aspects of sexual development that are relevant to each stage of development. An example has been provided for you. Be sure to cite the information you include in the table.

Life Stage

Sexual Development

Ex. Infancy

Sexual curiosity – At this stage, children can develop intrigue regarding sexual anatomy (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2013, p. 375)

Infancy

1. Boys usually have reflex boners during the period of prenatal and girls have lubrication of the vagina.
2. Babies become egocentric and normally stimulate themselves over others. However, in the developments of latency, babies usually hug, kiss and pat each other (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2013, p. 360)

Early childhood

A relatively large number of children begin to perform genital stimulation or masturbation.
Children tend to become more social and perform hand holding and hugging. They even form a marriage concept as well (Knowles, Trudy, and Brown, 2000, p. 20).

Preadolescence

Sexual interests of children as well as sexuality expression are lively all through this period.
Children usually have their initial experiences and acquire sexual attraction that helps in determining their sexual orientation.
Children begin to engage in more activities of gender mixing as well as going more events that are social with others (Knowles, Trudy, and Brown, 2000, p. 22).

Adolescence

A great increase in masturbation frequency in both girls and boys.
Most of the teens have sexual experiences with peers out of curiosity.
Majority of the young adults engage in sex before marriage than ever before (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2013, p. 377)

Adulthood

With age, adult women and men go through several psychological and physical changes that have effect on sexuality and sexual relationships.
In adult men, there is a decrease in testosterone production after 25 years while in adult women, ovaries stop to produce estrogen and menstrual period stop (menopause) (Knowles, Trudy, and Brown, 2000, p. 17).

References

Rathus, S. A., Nevid, J. S., & Fichner-Rathus, L. Human sexuality in a world of diversity (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.2013: Pp. 350-390. Print.

Knowles, Trudy, and Brown, Dave, F. What Every Middle School Teacher Should Know. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. 2000: Pp. 16-28. Print.