PSY 3122 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Premarital Sex, Sex Therapy, Sexting

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 3122
• Professor: Krystelle Shaughnessy

Document Summary

A surge of sexual interest occurs around puberty and continues throughout adolescence. This increase of sexuality is likely due to a number of factors including rapid physical transition, rises in levels of sex hormones, changing relationships, and a social and cultural emphasis on sex. Studies have shown that testosterone levels have a substantial impact on the sexuality of both males and females; whereas permissive attitudes, absence of father, and/or attendance at church has been linked to higher levels of sexuality in females. According to kinsey data, there is a sharp increase in the incidence of male masturbation between the ages of 13 to 15 (girls typically start later into adolescence) Attitudes towards masturbation are now considerably more positive; sex therapists often recommend masturbation as a way for people to increase awareness of their own sexual response. Young men and women today are engaging in first intercourse at younger ages than did people 30 years ago.