H&W Week 6: Chapter 8 Intimate Relationships

sexuality

a state of physical emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity

sexual health requires

a respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences free of coercion, discrimination, and violence, and sexual rights for all persons must be respected and protected

Dimensions of sexuality

sexuality is NOT solely about physical gratification and includes physical, psychosocial, orientation, behavioral, and relationship dimensions

Physical dimension (biological dimension)

the fundamental function of sexuality is biological reproduction; biologic sex is determined at conception with XY sex chromosomes = male and XX sex chromosomes = female

psychosocial dimension

emotions relate to sexuality; health sexual experience includes joy, excitement, pleasure, love, & affection while dysfunctional experience includes fear, withdrawal, freeze, anxiety, stress

socialization

the process by which individuals or social groups confer attitudes and behavioral expectations

gender

refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls, and boys that are socially constructed, including norms, behaviors, and roles associated with culture

gender stereotypes

beliefs about the typical characteristics of males and females

gender roles

social expectations based on biological sex

gender identity

parents may influence gender expression, not gender identity; some children will modify their gender expression to comply or seek rewards from their parents and society, but this will not change their gender identity (their internal sense of self)

Orientation Dimension

sexual orientation is the propensity to be sexually attracted to a particular sex; it is rarely a conscious choice but instead a natural feeling

sexual orientation

the propensity to be sexually attracted to a particular sex; who you're with or who you've had sex with before does not dictate your sexual orientation nor does it fully define who you are and who you can be

same-sex orientation

is not considered a mental disorder (including asexuality)

relationship dimension

intimacy is a feeling of closeness, trust, and openness with another person; our innermost self can be shared without fear of attack or emotional hurt

intimacy

a feeling of closeness, trust, and openness with another person; it takes time and effort to develop

self-disclosure

leads to intimacy when the person is making reassuring feedback about the information shared and communicates trust by engaging in reciprocal self-disclosure

communication

to convey a message to another person; this message is a mental image, idea, or wish

form of communication

includes words, body language, and behaviors

body language

as a person sits and talks, they maintain eye gaze and lean toward the person

behaviors

include holding the person's hand as they talk, random hugs, and cleaning the dishes

purpose of communication

to demonstrate a relationship exists, share feelings and or information, and help each other understand messages and needs