Human sexuality

This article is about human sexual anatomy, sexuality and perceptions. For information specifically about sexual activities, see Human sexual activity. For the book, see Human Sexuality (book).
"Sexuality" redirects here. For sexual behavior among other animals, see Animal sexual behaviour. For other uses, see Sexuality (disambiguation).


Relationships
(Outline)
Types
Genetic or adoptive
By marriage
Partner(s)
Intimate and sexual
Activities
Endings
Emotions and feelings
Practices
Abuse

Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually.[1][2] This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors.[3][4] Because it is a broad term, which has varied with historical contexts over time, it lacks a precise definition.[4] The biological and physical aspects of sexuality largely concern the human reproductive functions, including the human sexual response cycle.[3][4]

Someone's sexual orientation is their pattern of sexual interest in the opposite and/or same sex.[5] Physical and emotional aspects of sexuality include bonds between individuals that are expressed through profound feelings or physical manifestations of love, trust, and care. Social aspects deal with the effects of human society on one's sexuality, while spirituality concerns an individual's spiritual connection with others. Sexuality also affects and is affected by cultural, political, legal, philosophical, moral, ethical, and religious aspects of life.[3][4]

Interest in sexual activity normally increases when an individual reaches puberty.[6] Although no single theory on the cause of sexual orientation has yet gained widespread support, there is considerably more evidence supporting nonsocial causes of sexual orientation than social ones, especially for males. Hypothesized social causes are supported by only weak evidence, distorted by numerous confounding factors.[7] This is further supported by cross-cultural evidence, because cultures that are tolerant of homosexuality do not have significantly higher rates of it.[8][9]

Evolutionary perspectives on human coupling, reproduction and reproduction strategies, and social learning theory provide further views of sexuality.[10] Sociocultural aspects of sexuality include historical developments and religious beliefs. Some cultures have been described as sexually repressive. The study of sexuality also includes human identity within social groups, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and birth control methods.

  1. ^ Sex and Society, Volume 2. Marshall Cavendish. 2010. p. 384. ISBN 978-0-7614-7907-9. Retrieved 21 June 2017. The term human sexuality broadly refers to how people experience and express themselves as sexual beings.
  2. ^ Ferrante, Joan (2014). Sociology: A Global Perspective. Cengage. p. 207. ISBN 978-1-285-74646-3. Retrieved 21 June 2017. Sexuality encompasses all the ways people experience and express themselves as sexual beings.
  3. ^ a b c Greenberg, Jerrold S.; Bruess, Clint E.; Oswalt, Sara B. (2016). Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality. Jones & Bartlett. pp. 4–10. ISBN 978-1-284-08154-1. Retrieved 21 June 2017. Human sexuality is a part of your total personality. It involves the interrelationship of biological, psychological, and sociocultural dimensions. ... It is the total of our physical, emotional, and spiritual responses, thoughts, and feelings.
  4. ^ a b c d Bolin, Anne; Whelehan, Patricia (2009). Human Sexuality: Biological, Psychological, and Cultural Perspectives. Taylor & Francis. pp. 32–42. ISBN 978-0-7890-2671-2.
  5. ^ "Sexual orientation, homosexuality and bisexuality". American Psychological Association. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  6. ^ Carlson, Neil R. and C. Donald Heth. "Psychology: the Science of Behaviour." 4th Edition. Toronto: Pearson Canada Inc., 2007. 684.
  7. ^ Bailey, J. Michael; Vasey, Paul; Diamond, Lisa; Breedlove, S. Marc; Vilain, Eric; Epprecht, Marc (2016). "Sexual Orientation, Controversy, and Science". Psychological Science in the Public Interest. 17 (2): 45–101. doi:10.1177/1529100616637616. PMID 27113562. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  8. ^ LeVay, Simon (2017). Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why: The Science of Sexual Orientation. Oxford University Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-0199752966. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  9. ^ Balthazart, Jacques (2012). The Biology of Homosexuality. Oxford University Press. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-0199838820. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  10. ^ Sexual Strategies Theory: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Mating Archived 25 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine by David M. Buss and David P. Schmitt