Sex is a touchy subject. Even though we are bombarded with multitudes of sexual content in the media and in public on a daily basis, most people still aren't comfortable discussing their own sexuality. (That is, until you get a few drinks in them)
Although sexual experimentation and sexual orientation development begins even before our teenage years, many people begin to actively explore their own sexuality in early adulthood. There could be many reasons for this including: cultural assumptions that young adults should be searching for life mates, relief from the taboos that regulated sexuality in adolsecence, identity formation, college, changing trends in the age that people marry, ect.
Erik Erikson's model for psychosocial development places teenagers at a phase of Identity versus Role Confusion and young adults at the phase of Intimacy versus Isolation. In our teenage years we are exploring who we are and what we like and in our early adult years we are trying to apply it to our lives, so a degree of exploration and confusion is probably still present for many people transitioning through young adulthood. Socially, we are expected to be meeting people of the other sex, falling in love, getting married, and beginning a family and carreer. Psychologically, many of us may not have worked through the identity confusion of our teenage years and have conflicting feelings about sex, intimacy, and commitment.
The transition from the teenage years to early adulthood is typically marked by a severence of parental dependence. Lots of people at the beginning of early adulthood are moving out on their own for the first time. This time is characterized by a surge of independence and decision making that was usually deterred when people were living under their parents' roofs and values. Being partially unchained from the sexual values of our parents, we are now free to make our own sexual decisions. For many people this means trying out many partners (possibly of different genders) and exploring different sexual activities and behaviors.
And then there's college. Of course, not everyone goes to college, but for some reason this seems to have an effect on most people. Maybe you went to college, maybe you had friends in college, or maybe you just went to some of the parties. There is something about the liberal, open atmosphere that seems to permeate everything even remotely involved with it. Its like a contagious illness that everyone wants to get (not to be confused with an STD of course). So, with the open exchange of ideas (and inhibition lowering substances) in college, you get personal exploration of all kinds. And, typically in college, we get to learn all the information about sex that was withheld and sugarcoated for us when we were younger- and we learn it from people with PHDs and credentials. Oh, the vastness of knowledge and information, given to people in the sexual prime of their life- its a powerful thing!
But, back to Erickson- I believe that there is some overlap between the teen and young adult phases, where we struggle with both identity development and intimacy issues. Obviously, intimacy will not be achieved without identity formation, but persons in their early twenties (and onward) seem to be grappling with both of these issues simultaneously. We are figuring out who we are and what we like by trying out different intimate relations with others. Both build on each other, until hopefully, you achieve both. We can't achieve our own identity formation without interaction with others as a comparison. And sexuality (because we are sexual beings- one of the few that does it for recreation and bonding) is an integral part of indentity formation- at least in my opinion.
All in all, early adulthood is probably one of the key times for sexual exploration in the life span (although this exploration only progresses as we get older obviously) because of our psychosocial development, the more liberal social mores associated with adulthood, and because of our overall increase in life experience and knowledge.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I think sex is a fabulous topic. Other people's sex - no, not even that - the idea of sex. And it's a good thing, too, that sexual experimentation mostly occurs in early adulthood, because, really, you're too young to feel really foolish in the morning. And, unless you're really working the pilates, some of those positions easily mastered in youth are just a bit painful these days.
Your topic is incredibly interesting and I look forward to reading more. You talked a little about substance use and sexual experimentation and I don't know how far you want to dive into that aspect of your topic but there is a lot of research on corelations between sexaul identity problems and substance abuse/addictions.
I’m glad that you decided to address this ‘touchy’ subject, as it is something I will inevitably have to delve into myself. Let’s face it: sex is going to be a major factor in any romantic relationship, regardless of whether or not the couple actually chooses to have it. One aspect of this topic which particularly interests me is the perceived difference in the way men and women view sex. We all know the generalizations, but are they really accurate? It will be interesting to see if differing perspectives offer us any answers.
This is an interesting topic. The advertising media says "Sex Sales" an in a sense it does. These sexual ads portray to young adults that sex is good and fun but also send the wrong message to teenagers. When teenagers view these ads some feel as if sex is the "in" thing to do and if you don't do "it" then you are not popular. Teens and some young adults struggle with self esteem problems that maybe just looking at a sexy ad may give them the push they need to care more about themselves. Sexual ads can send the wrong message but I guess it's how you read into them.
Post a Comment