• masturbation- universally practiced, considered normal precursor to sexual activity with another person
  • generally last throughout life
• kissing
• mutual touching
• oral sex- fellatio, cunnilingus
• intercourse- vaginal, anal

• development of self esteem and healthy body image vs. development of shame
• genital stimulation normal in babies (most pronounced 15-19 months)
• as youngsters acquire playmates, there will be natural curiousity about your own and others genitalia
  • leads to exhibitionism and exploration
  • also learn through teaching ad behavior of parents, other adults, media, etc.

• puberty intensifies sexual curiousity
• masturbation and sexual fantasies
• body image, sexual adequacy, desirability
• learn by kissing, carressing, and in context of peer group through experimentation with nudity and with different partners

• much sexual behavior is learned
• early sexual experienced if associated with pleasure and release of tension are likely to be repeated
• sexual learning and experimentation continues throughout life cycle compatible with cultural norms

• whether each partner is satisfied and comfortable with sexual relationship
• cultural attitudes, religious beliefs and law may play role in determining normal
  • couples beliefs are crucial to determining what is normal for them
• human beings may respond to wide variety of arousing stimuli
  • as long as sexual fantasy or behavior does not lead to emotional or physical discomfort, conflict in relationship, problems in other aspects in their lives, it shouldnt' be source of concern

• need feelings of self confidence
• free from anxiety
• the presence of arousing mental and physical stimulation
• ability to focus attention on sexually arousing thoughts and behavior

Anything interfering with these conditions can disrupt a sexual encounter. If one or more of these conditions is routinely absent, an inability to perform can become a lasting problem.

• mental stimulation of partner they love or find attractive
• combined with appropriate physical stimulation

Need for direct physical stimulation increases with age

• premarital sex has become increasingly common
  • people spending longer and longer periods of their sexual life outside of marriage
  • number of lifetime sexual partners grown
• cohabitation (due to rise in premarital sex, coupled with delays in marriage)
  • fewer sexual partners than those who are unmarried not cohabiting
  • people who are cohabitating have more sexual partners

• connection between marriage and procreation has lessened
• 1/3 births to unmarried women (double in blacks than that of whites)
• caused by expansion in premarital sexual activity, in turn leading to increased cohabitation

once a week (most sexually active as young, old, but decreased in middle age)

• more common in younger adults
• twice as high among husbands as oppose to wives

• being younger
• marriage three years or less
• rating ones marriage as happier

UNRELATED TO GENDER WHEN CONTROL FOR THESE FACTORS

• ability to give and receive love with minimum of fear, conflict
• trust and vulnerability central to intimacy
• in intimate relationship, person actively strives for growth and happiness of loved person

• person, while loving permits himself to be loved
• in such a loving relationship, sex acts as catalyst
• values of sexual love as an expansion of self awareness, experience of tenderness, increase self affirmation and pride, and loss of feelings of separateness
• sex and love reciprocally enhancing and healthily fused