Intimate Demeanor Complexities - Essay Example

Sexual Behavior / STDs (Course Name and Code) (Institutions Name) (Departments Name) (Students Name) (Students Number) (Instructors Name) November 12, 2008 Sexual behavior is not basically a constituent of biological importance but also a central social importance. Its importance is not in procreation but also a central behavior in families by the way that there are formed and defined, an important aspect of psychological well-being and a foundation of problems to the society. The paper objectively and subjectively expounds on the issue sexual behavior. Sexual behavior or practice brings in a wide range of acts that forms strategies that enables partners to attract each other, show physical or emotional intimacy, sexual contact or the interactions between the individuals. This may be either through people from the same sex or different sex resulting in either homosexuality or heterosexuality. Different cultures define sexual contact acceptable to married couples; however, there are extramarital sexual practices. Moreover, the issue of sexual behavior and especially in the case of unprotected poses certain risks including STDs, unwanted pregnancies and sexual abuses (Yancey 2002, p. 123). Cultural and social norms and rules depict how sexual behavior is practiced in the society. Many people due to their complex and unique sexual activity have practiced wide sexual activities. Hence, many people enjoy certain type of sexual activity, which may be seen as appropriate or inappropriate. There are reasons that may make people not to have sex such as religious and other different reasons e.g. sexual abstinence and chastity. Hence, different principles that guides sexual behaviors underlies on sexual morality and sexual norms that forms the basic of any cultural groups (Kandlec 2006, p. 134). Sexual morals, ethics and norms bring issues that relates on honesty/deception, fidelity, consent and legality. In certain jurisdictions, some activities are categorized as sex crimes, which include sex that is conducted between competent adults and who have consented e.g. adult-adult incest and sodomy law. Additionally, there are certain sexual activities that are practiced as a business transaction. These activities include prostitution, strip clubs, telephone sex operators and pornography. Many societies are against forced sexual behavior against someone who does not consent. It is mostly referred to as sexual assault and if penetration occurs, it is termed as rape. Moreover, there are different rules depending on jurisdiction that determines what is meant by consent and the minimum age to have sex – adolescent sexual behavior. In different societies and cultures that supports arranged or forced marriage, the issue of consent cannot encompass sex crime. Nevertheless, there is sexual activity that does not require a partner and it may be termed as sexual fantasy or masturbation (McConaghy 1993, p. 230). In the issue of sexual activity, there are risks that are associated. Some risks include choosing a physically risk partner, unwanted pregnancy, sexual transmitted disease (STDs) and engaging in activity which is legally and culturally disapproved. People decide to take such risks because of conditions that impairs judgment e.g. drugs or alcohol, and emotional states e.g. depression, euphoria and loneliness (Zinner 2005, p. 94). Sexual transmitted disease is a disease that is associated with sexual behavior that causes contact of bodily fluids, which contributes in transmission of STDs, which can be controlled by safe sex practices. STDs possesses major dangers to the infected people. Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are likely to make people sterile, which may result in never having a baby, sores in the geneticals, which is caused by herpes causes swelling which usually reoccurs. Other types of HPV cause genital warts, which may lead to cervical cancer in women while HIV has high chances of killing. STDs are spread in different ways ranging from anal, oral or vaginal sex. Other types of STDs can be spread through contact between vagina, penis or anus; even though there is no intercourse that has occurred. Using condoms - both male and females reduces the risk of infection of some STDs, limiting the number of partners and testing partners to ensure that they are safe. Some STDs are unique such that people and persons are able to transmitted and spread the infection without anything which shows signs of the disease. Hence, in the case of herpes, for example, herpes is likely to spread when there are blisters (STD) than when the blisters are absent (STI). Another example is HIV that can be spread by a person without symptoms of the AIDs been seen (Kandlec 2006, p. 133). Hence, sexually transmitted diseases are spread by certain sexual activities rather than been caused by the sexual activity. The causative agents of most STDs are fungi, protozoa, bacteria and viruses. Other STDs are transmitted because of pregnancy that is related with sexual behaviors. Transmission of STDs varies on various sexual activities depending on the method that is employed. Assortative mixing of sexual partners is a factor that determines the level and extent of transmission of STDs (Zinner 2005, p. 98). Another problem that is associated with sexual behaviors is unwanted pregnancy. Those sexual behaviors that results in the vagina and semen coming together have a likely chance that results in pregnancy. However, various ways that people employ to prevent pregnancy are generally termed as birth control measures. Some of these methods include spermicides, condoms, sterilization and hormonal contraception. There are legal laws that control sexual behavior. There have been laws that control or prohibit same – sex. However, some laws have changed over time such as the 2003 United States case of Lawrence v Texas. These laws encompass age consent and decency that is generally termed has sodomy laws. Child sexuality is a sexual behavior that exhibits the sexual feelings, developments and behaviors in children. In most cases, children are usually curious about their sexual and bodies functions. Curiosities such as where babies come from, anatomical differences between females and males, which results in them engaging in genital play. Therefore, sexual behavior in children begins at an early stage (Fergus 2007, p. 1097). Sexual behaviors have resulted in the abuse of children - child abuse. In this case, the child is abused because of sexual gratification in which an adult engages in sexual activity with minor or exploiting the minor for sexual gratification. Additionally, child abuse may result in an adult exposing their genitals to a minor, pressures or asks a child for sexual activity, displays phonograph to the child and producing child pornography. There is also a unique transgenerational sexual contact in which toddlers genitals are handled for the intention of sexual training. Generally, there are three factors that determine the effect of human sexuality behavior; capacity, motivation and performance. Sexual capacity depends on physical condition of the person especially in terms of muscular and nervous systems. This usually varies greatly depending on persons. Sexual motivation is determined by specific hormones that are in the body and usually dependent on psychological factors. Hence, it varies greatly between individuals and varies a lot in terms of time in the same individual. Moreover, sexual performance is not determined only by the psychological and physiological factors but also on opportunities that are present at that time. Sexual behavior is an important aspect in the society because it defines physiology and psychological issues that individuals have to fulfill. This means that sexual behavior defines the society and ensures the norms, moral and ethical issues are brought into consideration. Sexual behavior activities range from actual sex to intimacy between different individuals. Sexual behaviors results into certain complexities that include people of the same sex having sexual activity, breaking ethical laws, sexually abuses, unwanted pregnancy and STDs. This means that when sexual behavior is not managed it leads to sexual complexities such as sexual assault, pornography, child abuse and commercial sex. References Fergus, S. (2007). Growth Trajectories of Sexual Risk Behavior in Adolescence and Young Adulthood. Is J Public Health, 97, 1096-1101. Kandlec, H. (2006). Sexual Revictimization: The Role of Sexual Self Esteem and Dysfunctional Sexual Behaviors. Child Maltreat, 11, 131-145. McConaghy, N. (1993). Sexual Behavior: Problems and Management. New York: Springer Publishers. Yancey, D. (2002). STDs: What You Don’t Known Can Hurt You. New York: Twenty-First Century Books. Zinner, S. (2005). Human Sexuality Behavior. London: Oxford University Press. Read More