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Course Code | Title | No. of units:
UDSELF030 Understanding the Self (3 units)
Course Description
This course is intended to facilitate the exploration of the issues and concerns
regarding self and identity to arrive at a better understanding to one’s self. It strives to meet
this goal by stressing the integration of the personal with the academic – contextualizing
matters for better learning, generation a new appreciation for the learning process, and
developing a more critical and reflective attitude while enabling them to manage and improve
themselves to attain a better quality of life. The course is divided into three major parts: The
Self from Various Disciplinal Perspectives, Unpacking the Self, and Managing and Caring for
the Self. This course also includes the mandatory topics on Family Planning and Population
Education.
Course Outcomes
At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
1. understood the construct of the Self from various disciplinal perspectives: philosophy,
sociology, anthropology, and psychology – as well as the more traditional division between the
East and West – each seeking to provide answers to the difficult but essential question of
“What is the self?
2. delved into some of the various aspects that make up the self (biological, spiritual, political,
material, and sexual, as well as of becoming gender-sensitive)
3. explored three areas of concern: learning, goal setting, and managing stress
4. practically applied the concept discussed in this course and has developed self-help plans for
self-regulated learning, goal setting, and self-care.
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MODULE 8: SEXUAL SELF
DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Gender – socially determined like being masculine or feminine
• Gender Identity – individuals’ concepts of themselves.
• Gender Role – adherence to cultural norms for feminine and masculine behavior
• Sex – determined by one’s physical anatomy.
• Sexual Behavior – refers to sexual activity or expression
• Sexual Identity – refers to how one thinks about himself/herself in terms of whom
he/she is sexually or romantically attracted to as defined by his/her biological sex
and gender.
SEX
• Two major forms of individual distinguishing as male or female.
• Physical activity that is related to an often includes sexual intercourse.
SEXUAL SELF
• Concept refers to the totality of oneself as a sexual being, including a positive and negative
feelings.
NINE SUB-TOPICS THAT ARE RELATED TO SEXUAL SELF
1. Human Sexuality
2. Development of Secondary Sex Characteristics
3. Human Reproductive System
4. Erogenous Zones
5. Chemistry of Beauty, Desire, Attraction, Lust, Love or Attachment
6. Dynamics of the Human Sexual Response, Biology or Diversity of Sexual Behaviors
7. Sex as a Divine Gift
8. Sexually-Transmitted Infections (STI)
9. Responsible Parenting
I. Human Sexuality
• The quality or state of being sexual
• Psychologically, it is the means to express the fullness of love between a man and a woman.
• Biologically, is the means through which a child is conceived and the lineage is passed on to
the next generation.
• A multidimensional, multifaceted expression of one’s unique sensuality, intimacy, sexual
identity and sexualization
Three Dimensions of Human Sexuality
1. Biological – Human Anatomy & Physiology, Genetic Influence, Physical Maturation
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2. Psychological – Sexual Identity, Parenting, Developmental Task
3. Socio-cultural – Cultural Belief System & Values, Religious/Socioeconomic Influence,
Education and Mass Media.
Sexual Orientation – enduring pattern of attraction to persons of the opposite sex, same sex, or to
both sex.
Variables Description Attracted to: Female Male
Heterosexual Individual who Opposite sex Androphilic Gynophilic Male
are “straight” female
Homosexual Considered as Same sex Gynophilic Andophilic Male
“lesbian or gays” female
Bisexual Romantically or Both sexes
sexually
attracted to
people of any sex
or gender
identity;
pansexual
Gender-dysphoria People who have Associated with
gender identity the sex one
that differs from possessed.
their assigned
sex; considered
as transgender
*Asexual – not sexually attracted to anyone
*Androphilic – those who are attracted to males
*Gynophilic – attracted to male
II. Development of Secondary Sex Characteristics
DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Primary Sex Characteristics - anatomical traits essential to reproduction
• Puberty – is the process of physical changes through which a child’s body matures into an
adult body capable of sexual reproduction
• Secondary Sex Characteristics – physical traits that are not essential to reproduction but
are influenced by male and female hormones
Physical Changes that Occur During Puberty in Boys
1. Broadening of chest and shoulders
• Onset of puberty brings many physical changes in boys.
Their chest and shoulders broaden and their muscles start
to develop.
2. Deepening of voice and appearance of facial hair
• The voice gets deeper. Hair begins to grow on the face that
later develop into moustache and beard.
3. Appearance of body hair and pubic hair
• Hair begins to grow on the chest, in the armpits, hands, legs,
and in the groin area. Hair in the groin region is called pubic
hair.
4. Increase in size of genitals
• The penis and the testicles grow bigger in size.
5. Growth spurt
• During puberty boys experience a rapid growth in height
over a span of 2 to 3 years. The rapid growth in height is called
growth spurt.
6. Ability to ejaculate
• Boys become capable of ejaculating which is the ejection of semen through the penis. The first
ejaculation marks the attainment of sexual maturity in a boy’s life.
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Physical Changes that Occur During Puberty in Girls
1. Development of breasts
• Between the ages 8-13 years, girls start developing
breasts. Morphologically (that is in terms of form
and shape), breasts look like a cone with the base at
the chest wall and the apex at the nipple. It is
possible that one of the breasts grows faster than
the other, but by the time the breasts are fully
developed, the differences in their shape and size
are reduced. For a majority of girls there is a small
difference in shape and size of two breasts which is
permanent and is totally normal. The size of the
breasts at the time when it starts to grow also varies
on an individual basis.
2. Appearance of hair in the armpit
• During puberty, hair begins to grow in your armpits.
3. Widening of hips and appearance of pubic hair
• Through the years of puberty, the hips of a girl widen
and hair begins to grow in the genital region. Hair in
the genital Region is known as the pubic hair.
4. Growth Spurt
• During puberty girls experience a sharp growth in their height. This is known as growth spurt.
By the time she is 16 years old, she attains about 98% of the final height that she will eventually
grow to.
5. Onset of Menstruation
• Menstruation is a process in which a sexually mature girl’s or a woman’s body releases of a
small amount of blood and tissue through her vagina. Menstruation is a normal process that
every healthy and sexually mature girl and woman undergo generally once every month. First
occurrence of menstruation is called menarche and it marks the age when girls become
sexually mature. Generally menarche occurs between the ages 9 and 14 years old and varies
on an individual basis.
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III. The Human Reproductive System
Male Reproductive System
• Two Parts:
o Testes (Testicles)
o Penis
• The penis and urethra belong to both
the urinary and reproductive systems
• Scrotum – an external pouch where
testes are carried.
Female Reproductive System
• External Structures:
o Clitoris
o Labia minora
o Labia majora
o Bartholin’s Glands
• Major Internal Organs
o Vagina and uterus
o Ovaries
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Fertilization
• Occurs if a sperm enters the fallopian tube and
burrows into the egg.
• Usually, the fertilization occurs in the oviduct,
but it can also happen in the uterus itself.
• Then, the egg implants itself in the lining of the
uterus and the process of embryogenesis and
morphogenesis begins.
IV. Erogenous Zones
• Greek word “eros” meaning “to love”
• English word “genous” meaning procreating and producing”
• Erogenous zones are believed to be the areas of the human body that are highly sensitive which
may generate.
o Relaxation
o Excitement
o Sexual Fantasies
o Sexual Arousal
• Various stages of the psychosexual growth and development also have different erogenous zones.
Sigmund Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development
A. The Oral Stage
• Age Range: Birth to 1 year
• The infant’s primary source of interaction occurs through the mouth, so the rooting and sucking
reflex is especially important
B. The Anal Stage
• Age Range: 1 to 3 years
• Erogenous Zone: Anal Region (Anus and Urethra)
o Freud believed that the primary focus of the libido was on controlling bladder and bowel
movement. The major conflict at this stage is toilet training – the child has to control his or her
bodily needs. Developing this control leads to a sense of accomplishment and independence.
C. The Phallic Stage
• Age Range: 3 to 6 Years
• Erogenous Zone: Genitals
• The primary focus of the libido is on the genitals. At this age, children also begin to discover the
difference between males and females.
D. The Latent Stage
• Age Range: 6 to Puberty
• Erogenous Zone: no specific erogenous zone (sexual feelings are inactive)
• During this stage, the superego continues to develop while the id’s energies are suppressed.
Children develop social skills, values and relationships with peers and adults outside of the family.
• The latent period is a time of exploration in which the sexual energy is repressed or dormant.
E. The Genital Stage
• Age Range: Puberty to Death
• Erogenous Zone: Genitals
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• The onset of puberty causes the libido to become active once again. During the final stage of
psychosexual development, the individual develops a strong sexual interest. This stage begins
during puberty but lasts throughout the rest of a person’s life.
V. The Chemistry of Beauty, Desire, Attraction, Lust, Love, and Attachment
Beauty
• Criterion we set on who we would find beautiful or handsome
• Each of us has unique and personal druthers about beauty
• “Beauty is altogether in the eyes of the beholder”
Scientific social science researches on human behaviors found that beauty, desire, attraction, lust,
love, and attachment have scientific explanations. All these tend to be founded on biology and
hormones.
Love
• Three components of romantic love (each
component is characterized by its own set
of biogenic amines or hormones that
emanate from the brain):
o Lust
o Attraction
o Attachment
• Testosterone
o Primary male sex hormone
o An anabolic steroid
o Plays a key role in the development of the male reproductive tissues such as testes and
prostate
o Promotes secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle and bone mass, and the
growth of body hair.
• Estrogen
o Primary female sex hormone
o Responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and
secondary sex characteristics
• Dopamine
o Is released when we do things that feel good to us
o Include spending time with loved ones having sex
• Norepinephrine
o Is released during attraction
o This chemical makes us giddy, energetic, and euphoric, even leading to decreased appetite and
insomnia – which means you actually can be so “in love” that you can’t eat and can’t sleep
• Serotonin
o A hormone that’s known to be involved in appetite and mood.
• Oxytocin
o Known also as the love hormone
o Provokes feelings of contentment, calmness, and security, which are often associated with
mate bonding
• Vasopressin
o Linked to behavior that produces long-term, monogamous relationships
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VI. Dynamics of the Human Sexual Response, Biology and Diversity of Sexual Behaviors
• The human sexual response starts when then the hypothalamus stimulates the production of sex
steroids, testosterone (male) and estrogen (female). These hormones increase libido (enhances
sexual desire).
o Dopamine
▪ Released when things are gleeful
▪ High-level release of dopamine and norepinephrine includes:
• Spending time with loved ones
• Being close to them in casual meetings
• It was revealed that attraction led to deficient releases of exogenously produced serotonin.
o Serotonin:
▪ A hormone that heralds one’s appetite and mood or emotional disposition.
▪ The forerunner of the feeling of inevitable infatuation
▪ Signals the beginning of love and attachment
• These hormones are involved in sexual behaviors, social recognitions, and stress responses which
acquired them the term “peptides of love and fear”
o Oxytocin and Vasopressin
▪ Were known for their functions in labor, childbirth, milk production, and blood pressure
dynamics.
▪ Were also known for their roles in maternal-infant bonding and closeness (induces a
trusting relationship and cooperation between mother and child.
VII. Sex as a Divine Gift
Hansel and Rose Dwight
- States that one often tends to be engrossed with the physical aspects of sexuality, without
knowing that everything we do are all reflection of our sexuality and is related to how we see
ourselves.
Love of Intimacy
1. Courtesy
2. Acceptance
3. Caring
4. Trust
5. Affection
6. Sensuality
7. Genital Intimacy
• Other social issues:
o Equal rights
o Women’s liberation
o Same-sex marriage
o Reproductive health
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VIII. Sexually Transmitted Infection
• An infection passed from one person from one person to another person through sexual
contact.
• An infection is when a bacteria, virus, or parasite enters and grows in or on your body.
How can Someone Get an STI?
• Vaginal sex
• Anal Sex
• Oral Sex
• Transmission from a mother to baby during childbirth
• Skin to skin contact
• Sharing equipment
Who gets STI’s?
• Young peoples age 15-24 years old
• Long-term travelers
• Sex Workers
• People who experience Sexual Molestation
Three Types of STI
1. Bacterial STIs
2. Parasitic STIs
3. Viral STIs
I. Bacterial STI
• Chlamydia
o Among the most common bacterial STIs in the world
o Passed by having unprotected oral, anal or vaginal sex
o Condoms can help prevent the spread of chlamydia during vaginal/anal sex
o Condoms or dental dams can be used for protection during oral sex
o Most people have no symptoms
o The infection can be cured with a single dose of antibiotics
o A person can get the infection again, so their parents should also be tested
o CURABLE
• Gonorrhea
o Sexually transmitted bacterial infection
o Passed along by having unprotected oral, anal or vaginal sex
o Condoms can help prevent the spread of gonorrhea during vaginal or anal sex
o Condoms or dental dams can be used for protection during oral sex
o Most people have no symptoms
o The infection can be cured with antibiotics
o A person can get the infection again so their partners should also be tested.
o CURABLE
• Syphilis
o Rare sexually transmitted bacterial infection
o Can cause serious damage to the body if not cured, including death
o Condoms can help prevent the spread of syphilis during vaginal or anal sex
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o Condoms or dental dams can be used during oral sex.
o Syphilis produces a wide range of symptoms that are often confused with other
illnesses.
o Some people have no symptoms at all
o The infection can be cured antibiotics
o A person can get the infection again, so their partners should be tested.
o CURABLE
II. PARASITIC STIs
III. VIRAL STIs
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
o Very contagious virus
o Some people never get symptoms
o HPV is spread through skin to skin contact, oral, anal and vaginal sex with an infected
partner
o Some types cause genital warts and other types can cause of the cervix
o Treatment:
▪ Remove warts but does not remove the virus from the blood.
▪ Most warts will clear over time.
▪ There is no cure for HPV.
• Genital Herpes
o Caused by the Herpes Simple Virus (HSV)
o Spread through skin to skin contact and oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
o Some people with herpes never develop sores but are still contagious and may spread it
to others without knowing.
o People who have an initial outbreak can have more outbreaks throughout the rest of their
life.
o Herpes is NOT CURABLE. It is TREATABLE.
• Hepatitis
o Hepatitis is a virus that affects your liver
o It can cause permanent liver disease and cancer of the liver
o Hepatitis A and B can be prevented by vaccines
o There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C
o NOT CURABLE
o Mode of Transmission:
▪ Hepatitis A – fecal oral route
▪ Hepatitis B – blood and bodily fluids
▪ Hepatitis C – mostly through blood but also through bodily fluids
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) & Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
o HIV is the viral infection
o AIDS is the advances stage of the disease
o Over a period of time, the virus attacks damages the body’s immune and nervous
system
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o How does HIV/AIDS spread?
▪ The virus is spread through bodily fluids
▪ Decrease risk with condom use
▪ There is no cure for HIV infection
▪ Once infected, you have HIV for life
How Can We Prevent STI? – Abstinence
• If you do have sex, lower your risk of getting an STI with the following steps:
1. Get vaccinated
2. Use condoms
3. Get tested
4. Be monogamous
5. Limit your number of Sex Partners
6. Do not douche
7. Do not abuse alcohol or drugs
IX. RESPONSIBLE PARENTING
• is the will and a shared responsibility between parents to determine the desired the desired
number, spacing and timing of their children according to their own family time aspirations
taking into account psychological preparedness, health status, socio-cultural and economic
concerns.
Republic Act No. 10354
• also known as the Act for a National Policy on Responsible Parenthood of 2012
Optimal Environment
• parents shall be stable in all perspectives; biopsychosocial-spiritual-cultural-sexual stability