Interteach

Part One:

A natural development of adolescence is sexual growth and maturation. Puberty, cognitive changes, and social role changes all play a role in the development of sexuality. Psychologists have coined four stages of positive sexual development and have noticed unique gender and ethnic trends during this development. Adolescent homosexuality has become the focus of extensive research in recent years as well.

Adolescents undergo various changes, physical, cognitive, and social, as they mature. The physical changes often accompany puberty, the period of time in which the adolescent becomes able to sexually reproduce. Secondary sex characteristics, also begin to appear during puberty, which allows for sexual attraction among the young adults. Cognitive changes include those that alter the adolescent’s ability to manage their desires and feelings, particularly relating to sex and intimacy as a result of their increasing intellectual capacity. Lastly, social roles are affected during adolescence. Adolescents yearn for sexual activity to enhance the emotional aspect of relationships.

The four stages of positive sexual development “…serve as the basis for how parents and educators discuss sex with teenagers” (Steinberg 351). As Steinberg explains, the first stage is the adolescent feeling comfortable with their body and accepting the changes that accompany physical maturation. The next stage is to accept sexual arousal feelings as a natural result of puberty. The next stage relates to an adolescent’s decision to or not to engage in sexual activity. Psychologists stress that during this stage, adolescents need to feel comfortable with the decision they made regarding sexual activity. The last stage of positive sexual development i...

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...ly on how to engage in safe sex and avoid risky behavior rather than simply abstaining from the activity. I consider this shift a result of a society that is constantly seeking pleasure, a society that does not want to hear that they cannot, rather that they can as long as it is done in a cautious manner. This creates a more blurred line of acceptable adolescent sexual behavior and unacceptable adolescent sexual behavior because what is deemed appropriate and not appropriate by society is widely varied. With this being said, however, I am skeptical to believe that today’s generation has a higher teen pregnancy rate than previous generations simply because yes, they may be engaging in more sexual behavior and at younger ages, but they are being taught methods to prevent pregnancy also.

Works Cited

Steinberg, L. (2009). Adolescence. New York; McGraw-Hill Companies.