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Humans are born sexual creatures. "The sexual response cycle as described by William Masters, M.D. and Virginia Johnson, M.A., is present at birth, and there is evidence that the neurological maturation necessary to produce penile erections occurs in utero." [1] We also learn about sexuality from our experience of the world. Thus sexuality has both a biological and cultural foundation. Studies of childhood sexuality explore biological / medical views or 'normative' (culturally appropriate behavior). Childhood sexuality is recognised as a stage in human sexual development (which is a changing process as we grow).
Children are naturally curious about their bodies and the bodies of others. It is normal behaviour for children to engage in sex play, which is specific and different to adult behaviour e.g. A child may find pleasure in touching their genitals, adults from having sexual intercourse. [2]
"Babies and children are sexual creatures. .. In the vast majority of cultures in the world, children witness adult sexuality as part of their everyday life experience. Things are different in the West where children are required to be 'innocent' and seen as empty slates. .. If it could be proven that by allowing children to gain knowledge of sexuality naturally as they grow up that we would be harming or damaging them in any way, we would of course, be against it - but there is no proof. On the contrary, work done by Margaret Mead and others suggests in societies where children are not repressed sexually, they show no preoccupation with sex and grow up sexually balanced. In such cultures, perversions and deviations are rare." (Dr Philip Cauthery, Dr Andrew and Penny Stanway, The Complete Book of Love and Sex, 1989) [3]
Two famous analysts, Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) and Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956) studied childhood sexuality.
"Popular opinion has quite definite ideas about the nature and characteristics of the sexual instinct. It is generally understood to be absent in childhood, to set in at the time of puberty in connection with the process of coming into maturity and to be revealed in the manifestation of an irresistible attraction exercised by one sex upon the other, while its aim is presumed to be sexual union, or at all events action leading in that direction. We have every reason to believe, however, that these views give a very false picture of the true situation. If we look into them more closely we shall find that they contain a number of errors, inaccuracies and hasty conclusions." (Sigmund Freud, Three Essays of the Theory of Sexuality, 1905)[3]
"The sexual maturation of a child reflects the overall pattern of development, from absorption in and dependency on the family of origin through the gradual acquisition of a sense of the autonomous self, to the confidence and desire to establish an intimate bond and form the family of choice. The erotic response of infancy is global, undifferentiated and polymorphously perverse. In childhood, it moves toward a genital focus (more surely for boys than for girls) and is expressed through purposefully directed masturbatory activity and perhaps some negotiated social interaction (often with same sex partners). At pubescence, the genital focus intensifies, the acquisition of opposite sex partners gains importance for heterosexual youth and sexual experience per se is the paramount goal. In adolescence, this motivation of curiosity and self gratification emerges into one of sexual reciprocity and mutual sharing. Partnerships are increasingly stable, interdependent and emotionally intimate. It is well to note that this developmental schema appears to be stable in all cultures, whether they be sexually repressive, restrictive, permissive or supportive; however, it is enhanced by, but not dependent on, the child's ability to engage in sexual behavior and is seen as a mental construct in the absence of sexual experimentation. There is considerable evidence that adult sexual health and pleasure are positively correlated with age appropriate childhood sexual behavior. The interplay between the individual sex drive, importance of sex in a person's life and the sexual values of the culture (sex-negative or sex-positive messages) will determine the opportunity for sexual behavior in childhood and adolescence." [1]
"The ability to love and to accept love, to form relationships and to enter into mature, adult sexual bonds depends to a larger extent on the experiences one has as a young child. Early experiences can destroy the development process and can cause adults to be psychologically immature. The impact of parents and a warm, stable loving home environment is important to psychological well-being. If this is absent, distortions are likely to result which may not be resolvable without help later in life." (Peter Vardy, The Puzzle of Sex, 1997) [3]
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