Development Of Sexual Behavior Research Articles

Stress during pubertal development affects female sociosexual behavior in mice

Puberty is a crucial phase for the development of female sexual behavior. Growing evidence suggests that stress during this period may interfere with the development of sexual behavior. However, the neural circuits involved in this alteration remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated in mice that pubertal stress permanently disrupted sexual performance without affecting sexual preference. This was associated with a reduced expression and activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl). Fiber photometry revealed that VMHvl nNOS neurons are strongly responsive to male olfactory cues with this activation being substantially reduced in pubertally stressed females. Finally, treatment with a NO donor partially restored sexual performance in pubertally stressed females. This study provides insights into the involvement of VMHvl nNOS in the processing of olfactory cues important for the expression of female sexual behavior. In addition, exposure to stress during puberty disrupts the integration of male olfactory cues leading to reduced sexual behavior.

Associations between Home- and School-Based Violent Experiences and the Development of Sexual Behavior in Young Adolescent Girls in the Rural Southern Region of Malawi.

Studies show that adolescent girls who experience violence grow up with fear and develop survival mechanisms that increase their susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections including HIV. However, the relationship between violence and the development of sexual behavior in young adolescent girls is under-investigated. We examined the Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Study data to explore the associations between home- and school-based violence and sexual behaviors in 416 young adolescent girls in rural Southern Malawi. Bivariate Logistic Regression analysis was applied to determine associations. Of 353 (84.9%) girls who had sex with a male partner, 123 (34.8%) experienced home-based violence, and 53 (15%) experienced school-based violence. The odds of girls who experienced home-based violence (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.21, 5.01) and those who first experienced home-based violence between 13 and 14 years (OR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.35, 5.74) were higher among girls who had multiple sexual partners than those with a single sexual partner. With school-based violence, sexual initiation, having multiple sexual partners, and not using protection were positively associated with experiencing teasing, sexual comments, punching, and touching in private areas in transit to school and by a teacher. These results suggest that home- and school-based violence should be essential components of research and biobehavioral interventions targeting the sexual behaviors of young adolescent girls.

Treatment of orgasm disorder in women with the digital S-ONapp method

Objectives: The present body of work presents a case study addressing the development of sexual behaviors in a patient with primary anorgasmia in order to reduce emotional distress manifested by guilt, embarrassment and performance anxiety, as well as learning new sexual patterns to increase pleasure and sexual satisfaction. Specifically, we sought to create a positive attitude toward sexuality as part of mental health and increase self-confidence in expressing one's sexuality. Reaching orgasm by the patient was not a stated goal, not to accentuate the distress, but the development of sexual behaviors aimed to increase the duration and intensity of arousal and more frequent manifestation of sexual desire, designed to create the conditions for its occurrence. Method: This is a case study on a 44-year-old patient, during 20 sex therapy sessions of 1 hour each, for 22 weeks, May-September 2021. Assessment methods for Axis I and Axis II, anamnesis and clinical observation, structured, semi-structured and unstructured clinical interviews (Delcea C., 2021) and investigation of medical, family, sexual, socio-cultural, and psycho-social history (individual completion) - MCMI III psychometric tests (Millon), Scale of Anxiety Hamilton, HRSA (SEC), PDA Affective Distress Profile, Opris D., Macavei B. (SEC), YSQ-S3 Short Form Cognitive Questionnaire (SEC), DAS Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Beck A., Weissman A. ( SEC); For sexual testing: Genogram of excitatory stimuli, (Delcea C., 2021), FSFI Female Sexual Function Index, Rosen M. 2000, FSDS Female Sexual Distress Scale, Derogatis, 2019, FOS Female Orgasm Scale, McIntyre, Smith, 2019, ORS The Orgasm Rating Scale, Mah K., Binik, 2019, MISSA Multiple Indicators of Subjective Sexual Arousal, Mosher DL, 2019- SISES Sexual Inhibition / Excitation Scale, (Milhausen RR 2019). Methods used in sex therapy intervention (face to face): to identify stimuli of pleasure, arousal and sexual relaxation, having as source the partner's body we used the Genogram of excitatory stimuli, the technique of anticipating excitatory stimuli and the technique of defocusing irrelevant stimuli. (Delcea C., 2021). Sensate focus and directed masturbation to identify individual arousal stimuli, and self-monitoring through journals. 3. Cognitive restructuring of dysfunctional cognitions. 4. Progressive desensitization, in the construction and practice of new exciting sexual behaviors. 6. Psychoeducation. 7. Relaxation techniques (eg breathing, mindfulness). Results: Following the standard psychological assessment, the patient has no Axis I and II emotional disorders, and no history of sexual abuse. The MCMI profile shows a person without clinical personality disorders, but a very high level of Distress (PDA), present cognitive schemas, Negativism and Need for approval that outlines a possible anxious predisposition, as well as present dysfunctional attitudes of medium level, considered as predispositions for depression. Sexual testing with the score sc = 19 FSDS scale, (Derogatis, LR 2002) The sexual distress scale in women shows that the patient has a high level of stress that positively correlates with the existence of sexual dysfunction, manifested by feelings of shame, guilt , inadequacy, and average sexual satisfaction. From the 2 orgasm measurement scales, FOS (McIntyre - Smith, 2019) and ORS (Mah K., Binik, Y., 2019) there is a lack of experience of orgasm by the subject, throughout life and an increased dissatisfaction. The FSFI Scale Index of sexual functioning in women (Rosen R., 2000) shows the same difficulty in experiencing orgasm in the context in which sexual desire exists and the level of arousal is high, from the subjective assessment of the patient. Sexual desire - 4.2; Excitation - 5.1; Lubrication - 4.2; Orgasm - 1.2; Sexual satisfaction - 4.4; Disappearance - 0.9 (maximum = 6.0). The genogram of excitatory stimuli shows an insufficient register of excitatory stimuli on the partner's body, 4 out of 8 (face, chest and arms) and an absent register of excitatory physical stimuli having as source its own body, absent fantasies, unique, poor and repetitive scenarios. Conclusions: This is a patient without mental disorders with clinical significance, with predispositions for the installation of anxiety and depression, high level of distress. There is a poor sexual history and reduced and inadequate arousal. Absent fantasies, absent masturbation, dysfunctional cognitions about sex, "sex is unknown, forbidden, dangerous", register of excitatory stimuli on one's own absent body, and reduced for the partner's body, sexual pattern during predominantly passive sexual intercourse, on receiving pleasure, focused on the partner's body. There is a lack of development of arousal stimuli and consequently sexual behaviors maintain orgasm dysfunction.

Associations between Home- and School-Based Violent Experiences and the Development of Sexual Behavior in Young Adolescent Girls in the Rural Southern Region of Malawi

Associations between Home- and School-Based Violent Experiences and the Development of Sexual Behavior in Young Adolescent Girls in the Rural Southern Region of Malawi

Vulnerabilidades de adolescentes às infecções sexualmente transmissíveis: Uma revisão integrativa

A adolescência é um período de crescimento heterogéneo que marca a passagem da infância à vida adulta, estando associada ao desenvolvimento do comportamento sexual, que pode levar ao aumento do risco de infeções sexualmente transmissíveis, devido às relações sexuais desprotegidas. O obtivo do presente estudo é analisar a produção científica sobre as vulnerabilidades de adolescentes às infecções sexualmente transmissíveis. A pesquisa baseou-se nos métodos de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, a qual possibilita a incorporação de evidências, foi realizado uma seleção de estudos nas bases de dados da saúde como: Lilacs, Scielo e Scopus. Os critérios de inclusão foram: artigos científicos, publicados entre os anos de 2013 a 2020. O período de coleta ocorreu em junho de 2020. A pesquisa mostrou que os adolescentes se encontram em um processo de vulnerabilidade individual por utilizar os métodos de prevenção às IST de forma irregular, como o preservativo, associada à falta de informação sobre questões relacionadas à sexualidade na adolescência como: corpo; sexo; gênero; prevenção as IST. Foi relatado sobre a importância da família para orientar os adolescentes sobre sexualidade e saúde, como também do enfermeiro por ser um profissional que atuam em ações educativas em saúde nos serviços de saúde. Há uma necessidade de ampliar e fortalecer as ações de prevenção entre os adolescentes dentro das escolas, como proposto pelo Programa Saúde na Escola, envolvendo alunos, docentes, família e comunidade em geral. Fortalecer as ações educativas em saúde construindo estratégias que tenham um alcance aos adolescentes, a fim de reduzir as infecções neste grupo.

Examining the relationship between the knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and sexual myths among university students in Turkey

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the level of knowledge among university students on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and to compare the level of knowledge of this sample on STDs and their sexual myths. Methods: The sociodemographic data of 200 university students studying at several universities in Turkey randomly selected between January and March 2019 were evaluated with the “Sociodemographic Questionnaire,” their knowledge of STDs with the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Knowledge Questionnaire (STDKQ), and their beliefs in sexual myths with the Sexual Myths Scale (SMS). Results: There was no difference between the STDKQ and the SMS in terms of demographic variables. However, differentiation was seen between the “sexual behavior,” which is one of the subscales of sexual myths, and STDs. The STDKQ scores revealed that individuals who were previously informed received higher scores than those who did not. The level of knowledge about STDs was higher in men than in women. Conclusion: The knowledge of STDs among university students and their beliefs in sexual myths were evaluated based on sociodemographic variables. According to the results, we obtained from our research to increase the level of knowledge about STDs, and for the healthy development of sexual behavior, formal education including sexual health issues should be provided, research should be done for each region in Turkey on this subject, and in line with the results, necessary information should be provided regarding sexual health.

Experimentally measured susceptibility to peer influence and adolescent sexual behavior trajectories: A preliminary study.

A performance-based measure of peer influence susceptibility was examined as a moderator of the longitudinal association between peer norms and trajectories of adolescents' number of sexual intercourse partners. Seventy-one 9th grade adolescents (52% female) participated in an experimental "chat room" paradigm involving "e-confederates" who endorsed sexual risk behaviors. Changes in participants' responses to risk scenarios before versus during the "chat room" were used as a performance-based measure of peer influence susceptibility. Participants reported their perceptions of popular peers' number of sexual intercourse partners at baseline and self-reported their number of sexual intercourse partners at baseline and 6, 12, and 18 months later. Susceptibility was examined as a moderator of the longitudinal association between perceptions of popular peers' number of sexual intercourse partners and trajectories of adolescents' own numbers of partners. High perceptions of the number of popular peers' sexual intercourse partners combined with high peer influence susceptibility predicted steeper longitudinal trajectories of adolescents' number of partners. Results provide novel preliminary evidence regarding the importance of peer influence susceptibility in adolescents' development of sexual behaviors.

Sexuell inlärning och beteendemodifikation

SUMMARYIn this article the author stresses the usefulness of learning theories in understanding the development of sexual behavior in man. The starting point is that sexual behavior is learned and modified in the same way as other types of emotional behavior, and thus follows the laws of reinforcement and extinction.In all sexual situations orgasm is the primary reinforcing stimulus and a person can be conditioned to other forms of sexuality through orgasm forced by certain stimuli in pahntasy as well as in reality. The picture is complicated by all the social factors and the cultural climate in which the individual lives.Three forms of behavior theraphy is discussed: aversion theraphy, systematic desensitization and the method of Masters and Johnson. The latest is considered by author as the most “human”.

On Early Starters and Late Bloomers: The Development of Sexual Behavior in Adolescence Across Personality Types

Little is known about the relationship between personality and sexual development among mid-adolescents. In the current study, we used a person-centered approach to investigate the relation between personality types and the development of sexual behavior. We hypothesized that undercontrolling adolescents would engage in more advanced, casual, and risky sexual behavior compared to their resilient and overcontrolling peers. Data were used from 407 mid-adolescents (M age = 14.5) followed across four measurement waves spanning 18 months. Results from latent class analyses (LCA) identified the three classical personality types: resilients, undercontrollers, and overcontrollers. Controlling for perceived pubertal timing and biological sex, latent growth curve analyses in Mplus showed that, at baseline, undercontrollers were more sexually experienced and engaged in more casual and risky sexual behavior than resilients and overcontrollers. Although initial levels of sexual behavior differed by personality types, over time increases in sexual behavior occurred at a similar rate across the types. Overall, the current study showed that undercontrolling adolescents are early sexual developers who engage in more advanced, casual, and risky sexual behavior than other adolescents. The implications of these findings for longer-term differences in sexual behavior between personality types in later adolescence are discussed.

Development of sexual and socio-sexual behaviours in free-ranging juvenile male Japanese macaques, Macaca fuscata

The emergence of conceptive and non-conceptive sexual behaviours in mature individuals can be traced back to immature socio-sexual behavioural patterns. We tested the ‘needing-to-learn hypothesis’ in the development of sexual behaviours in the immature male Japanese macaques of Arashiyama, Japan. This hypothesis holds that juvenility serves to provide young individuals with a period in which to practice adult male-like sexual and socio-sexual behaviours and partner choice. Our cross-sectional focal data on mounting behaviour and partner choice in juvenile males (1–3 years) supported most of our predictions: (1) as they became older and learnt more effective patterns of sexual solicitations, juvenile males performed more demonstrative solicitations and less non-demonstrative solicitations, (2) the frequency of mounts performed by juvenile males increased with age and converged on a frequency of mounts typical of adult males, (3) the frequency of mounts reflecting underachievement (i.e., improperly oriented mounts and single/no foot-clasp mounts) decreased as juvenile males became older, (4) the double foot-clasp mounting posture became gradually more common in juvenile males over time, while other mounting postures became less common and (5) from two to three years old, the frequency of males’ sexual mounts directed to adult females increased. Such timelines of gradual increase in the frequency of effective adult-like behavioural patterns and gradual decrease in the frequency of less effective immature behavioural patterns are consistent with the ‘needing-to-learn hypothesis’ emphasizing the role of age and practice in the progressive acquisition of adult-like sexual behaviour, mounting skills, and partner age choice during male juvenility.

Development of sexual behaviour in commercially-housed broiler breeders after mixing

1. It has been reported that broiler breeder males behave aggressively towards females during mating. However, the cause of this aggressive sexual behaviour is not yet clear. In this experiment we studied the development of the sexual behaviour in male and female broiler breeders from mixing (20 weeks of age) until complete development of the behaviour (28 weeks of age) to formulate hypotheses on the causes of the aggressive mating behaviour. 2. Behaviour was observed on 8 farms with commercially-housed Ross 308 broiler breeder parent stock (males and females) at 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 weeks of age, either observed by direct observations at 6 different locations in two units per farm, or recorded on video tape in one unit per farm for more detailed observations. 3. Broiler breeder males behaved aggressively towards females both during and outside the mating context. Some elements of courtship behaviour were not observed. Upon male approach hens either did not respond or they ran away. Males frequently used forced behaviour before mating (pushing hens into a crouch position). The majority of the matings did not succeed (no copulation, due to frequent escape of hens) and was forced (no voluntary crouching of the hen). Rough male behaviour did not decrease, neither did hens show habituation or a more “normal” response over the 8 weeks observation period. 4. We conclude that both male and female sexual behaviour of commercially-housed broiler breeders seem to be incomplete and may be indicative of poor welfare and stress, especially in the hens. We hypothesise that factors like separate rearing (common practice under commercial conditions), large group sizes and stocking density may play an important role in the development and performance of sexual behaviour and should be further studied.

Brain Pathology in Pedophilic Offenders

Pedophilic crime causes considerable public concern, but no causative factor of pedophilia has yet been pinpointed. In the past, etiological theories postulated a major impact of the environment, but recent studies increasingly emphasize the role of neurobiological factors, as well. However, the role of alterations in brain structures that are crucial in the development of sexual behavior has not yet been systematically studied in pedophilic subjects. To examine whether pedophilic perpetrators show structural neuronal deficits in brain regions that are critical for sexual behavior and how these deficits relate to criminological characteristics. Amygdalar volume and gray matter of related structures that are critical for sexual development were compared in 15 nonviolent male pedophilic perpetrators (forensic inpatients) and 15 controls using complementary morphometric analyses (voxel-based morphometry and volumetry). Psychosocial adjustment and sexual offenses were also assessed. Pedophilic perpetrators showed a significant decrease of right amygdalar volume, compared with healthy controls (P = .001). We observed reduced gray matter in the right amygdala, hypothalamus (bilaterally), septal regions, substantia innominata, and bed nucleus of the striae terminalis. In 8 of the 15 perpetrators, enlargement of the anterior temporal horn of the right lateral ventricle that adjoins the amygdala could be recognized by routine qualitative clinical assessment. Smaller right amygdalar volumes were correlated with the propensity to commit uniform pedophilic sexual offenses exclusively (P = .006) but not with age (P = .89). Pedophilic perpetrators show structural impairments of brain regions critical for sexual development. These impairments are not related to age, and their extent predicts how focused the scope of sexual offenses is on uniform pedophilic activity. Subtle defects of the right amygdala and closely related structures might be implicated in the pathogenesis of pedophilia and might possibly reflect developmental disturbances or environmental insults at critical periods.

Scent marking behavior in male C57BL/6J mice: Sexual and developmental determination

The present study investigated urinary scent marking behavior in male C57BL/6J (C57) mice as olfactory social signaling. In Experiment 1, when compared scent marking toward adult males, C57 males showed substantial scent marking toward CD-1 males and even toward the odor alone of CD-1 males, but not toward C57 males. Experiment 2 explored scent marking in C57 males of different ages to males and females, and juveniles and adults of the same strain. C57 males deposited more marks than control conditions only toward an adult C57 female when tested at 100 days of age, but not at 60 days of age. Development of urine marking behavior was investigated in C57 males at the ages of 30, 60, 90, and 120 days in Experiment 3. When tested alone (control) or confronted with a C57 male, C57 males showed diminished scent marks throughout development. Compared to controls, marking toward a CD-1 male increased after the age of 60 days, while marks toward an adult female showed significant increases after the age of 90 days. This difference in scent marking depending on the sex of the stimulus animal is likely to be associated with development of sexual behavior, in which males need to set up territories against other males prior to advertising to females. Although highly inbred strains have similar odor components, C57 males are able to detect and deposit urine marks after puberty as social communication depending on age, sex, and genetic differences in the opponents.

Development of sexual behavior over several serving capacity tests in male goats

Results from previous research suggest that male goats, cattle and swine do not require prior sexual experience as juveniles to exhibit their full potential in serving capacity tests as adults. Preliminary data in our laboratory indicate that juvenile goats exhibit profound separation stress from pen mates when acclimating to a novel space, such as during a sexual performance test. Performance in serving capacity tests can be influenced by factors other than sexual motivation and physical coordination, such as separation anxiety. There may be differences in how a goat habituates to a novel space versus how a goat learns to identify sexual partners. In this report we revisit the hypothesis that male goats do not require sexual experience to develop consistent adult sexual performance. Over eight consecutive weeks, we individually exposed six sexually-naïve male goats to 15 min serving capacity tests with sexually-receptive females and recorded the frequency of ejaculations and latency to ejaculate. Mean ejaculation frequency was significantly lower during the first week of testing compared to the frequency at weeks 2–8. Ejaculation frequency was also greater at weeks 7 and 8 than at weeks 1, 2 and 3. Mean latency to ejaculate was significantly higher during the first week compared with subsequent weeks. The results of this experiment suggest that male goats require at least one serving capacity test before they attain full sexual performance.

Some Preliminary Evidence of the Social Facilitation of Mounting Behavior in a Juvenile Bull Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

This study recorded sexual behavior within a captive herd of 8 Asian elephants for approximately 230 hr on 50 days over a period of 10 months. The study observed a single adult and a single juvenile bull mounting cows more than 160 times. When the juvenile bull was between 4 years, 2 months and 4 years, 8 months old, he exhibited mounting behavior only on days when adult mounting occurred. Adult mounting always occurred first. Beyond the age of 4 years, 8 months, the juvenile bull exhibited spontaneous mounting behavior in the absence of adult mounting. This suggests that mounting behavior may develop because of social facilitation. Determining the significance of the presence of sexually active adults in the normal development of sexual behavior in juveniles will require further studies. Encouraging the establishment of larger captive herds containing adults and calves of both sexes-if their presence is important-would improve the welfare of elephants in zoos and increase their potential conservation value.

Reactions of Inner-City Boys and Their Mothers to Research Interviews About Sex

Abstract Our understanding of child sexuality is very unsatisfactory, in part because research in this area has progressed slowly due to concerns of parents, institutional review boards, school authorities, granting and community agents. Some members of these groups worry that this line of inquiry will have adverse consequences, such as causing distress in child participants or stimulating them to engage in sexual activities. The current study constitutes an exploratory investigation of the reactions of 98 boys (7-13 years) and their 84 mothers after completing individual interviews as part of a larger HIV-related study on the development of sexual behaviors. Most boys reported feeling positively about their participation, were not upset by any aspects of their participation, and indicated willingness to participate again. Most mothers had similar positive reactions. However, considerable reticence was noted on behalf of some boys in their responses to sexual knowledge questions as compared to other portions of the interview. This reticence appeared attributable primarily to limited sexual vocabulary knowledge, and learned inhibitions regarding sex talk with adults. Further refinement of methodologies appropriate for interviewing children about sex is needed.

Childhood Sexual Abuse and Revictimization In Adolescence and Adulthood

Childhood sexual abuse must be seen as a pervasive risk factor in children's lives: No demographic or family characteristics have as yet been identified to rule out the possibility that a child will be or has been sexually abused (Finkelhor, 1993). The adverse consequences of sexual abuse, both immediate and long term, have been documented by a large body of research. After a summary of the main findings from this research, the main objective of the present chapter is to examine the impact of childhood sexual abuse on a particular aspect of psychological functioning: the development of sexual behavior and sexual relationships. In this analysis, special consideration is given to the question of whether individuals who were sexually abused as children are at greater risk of experiencing sexual victimization in later life than individuals without experience of abuse. This question has generated a substantial body of evidence (see Messman & Long, 1996, for a review), and researchers are beginning to understand pathways from the experience of abuse in childhood to revictimization in adolescence and adulthood.

The Development of Sexual Risk Taking in Adolescence

This chapter reviews literature from 1985 to the present that is focused on the development of sexual behaviors in adolescents, decision making about sexual behavior, and sexual risk-taking behaviors. Results show that sexual behavior is part of most people's lives from childhood through adulthood, and that the majority of adolescents begin to engage in sexual behaviors in their teenage years. Synthesis of this large body of research reveals a lack of theoretical frameworks to guide research in sexual risk taking, resulting in an incomplete understanding of the predictors of sexual risk-taking behavior in adolescents. New and broader approaches in the study of sexual risk taking are needed that include consideration of the social and developmental context from which adolescents make decisions about sexual behavior.

Early sexual experience improves ram breeding

Research on the development of sexual behavior in male sheep has demonstrated that ram lambs are sufficiently mature in their first year of life to assume an important role in sheep-breeding programs. Lack of sexual experience in the first year can result in sexual inactivity, reduced mating rates, and abnormal sexual orientation in the yearling year. Variability in rams' sexual performance can be evaluated by simple mating tests administered prior to the breeding season. The greater reproductive success of high-performing rams is achieved not only by a higher rate of mating but also by a tendency to distribute matings over more females. High libido rams are not inherently more aggressive.

Animals models for the development of human sexuality: a critical evaluation.

Biological explanations of human homosexuality build upon a theoretical framework developed from the study of animals, especially that of rodents. Researchers have constructed a physiological model to explain the origin and development of "masculine" and "feminine" behavior. According to this model hormones acting at critical stages in early development organize cells in key areas of the brain. After puberty these hormonally organized brain regions are purportedly capable of activation by post-pubertally produced circulating hormones. This model of sexual development, called the organizational-activational (O/A) model, has framed research on sexual behavior in animals and animal-based account of human behavior for more than 30 years. However, evidence from a variety of sources has slowly accumulated, requiring modification after modification of the original premise. Continuing to use the organizational-activational model now interferes with the acquisition of new knowledge. I sketch the outlines of an alternative bio-social program for research on the development of sexual behavior in animals.