Human sexuality
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Human sexuality refers to the expression of sexual sensation and related emotional intimacy between human beings.
| Contents |
Physical aspects
Human sexuality can be influenced by hormonal changes in the development of the fetus during pregnancy. Some claim its manner of expression is largely due to genetic predisposition. Others say it is due to one's own personal experimentation in early life, and thus the establishment of preferences. A less divisive approach recognises that both factors may have a mutual role to play. Human physiology and gender makes certain forms of sexual expression possible.
Social aspects
Human sexuality can also be understood as part of the social life of humans, governed by implied rules of behavior and the status quo. Thus, it is claimed, sexuality influences social norms and society in turn influences the manner in which sexuality can be expressed. Since the invention of the mass media, such as advertising, sexuality has further molded some environments in which we live. Some see sexuallity as distilled (often into stereotypes) and then repeatedly expressed in commercialized forms.
Human sexuality is distinguished from gender identity. Gender identity includes the social environment to which one is exposed in childhood and adulthood, e.g. media may portray a little boy playing with a toy truck, and a girl a doll.
Psychiatric aspects
Human sexual choices are usually made using cultural norms. For example, some may choose to abstain from sex before marriage because their religion forbids such actions.
Those who wish to express a dissident sexuality often form sub-cultures within the main culture. In many cases, forms of sexuality may develop into a fetish or develop into a psychiatric disorder.
Topics in human sexuality
- Sexual development
- Sexual acts & practices
- Opposite-Gender sexual practices
- Same-Gender sexual practices
- Sexual arousal
- Flirting
- Kissing
- Masturbation
- Sexual intercourse
- Oral sex
- Anal sex
- Anal masturbation
- Group sex
- Cyber sex
- S&M
- Erotic spanking
- Bondage
- Swinging
- Fisting and handballing
- Exhibitionism and Voyeurism
- Frottage
- Tribadism
- Dirty Talk
- Socio-cultural aspects
- Religious aspects
- Sexology (the study of sex)
- Homophobia
- Homosexuality and psychology
- Eroticism
- Paraphilias and fetishes (Some may be considered sex crimes in various jurisdictions).
- Sex crimes
- Rape or sexual assault
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual abuse or molestation
- Various paraphilias/fetishes (legality varying by jurisdiction)
- Pornography (legality varying by jurisdiction and type and audience)
- Incest
- Bestiality
- Male reproductive physiology:
- Female reproductive physiology:
- Related medical fields
- Other related issues
External links
- History of Surveys of Sexual Behavior (http://www.uvm.edu/~dhowell/EBS/History_of_Surveys_of_Sexual_Behavior1.pdf) from Encyclopedia of Behavioral Statistics (http://www.uvm.edu/~dhowell/EBS/)
- A History of Western Love and Sex From 1300 B.C. to the Twentieth Century (http://www.neo-tech.com/pleasures/history.html)
- History Of Sexuality (http://www.historyofsexuality.com)
- Adolescent Sexuality Guide (http://www.adolescentsexuality.com)
- Sexuality Guide (http://www.sexuall.org)
- Women's Sexuality (http://www.femalesexual.com)
- Sexual Aspect of Love (http://swami-center.org/en/chpt/ecology/page_16.shtml)
- [1] (http://www.the-clitoris.com/) Women's Sexuality
bg:Сексуалност
da:Seksualiteteo:Sekseco
fr:Sexualit humaine
mk:Сексуалност
nl:Seksualiteit
no:Seksualitet
pt:Sexualidade
sr:Људска сексуалност
ja:性別
ko:성문제
ru:Секс
sk:Ľudsk sexualita
sv:Sexualitet
