Question

You will receive written feedback on the questions you choose to answer within 1-2 days after the due date of the assignment. Please use information from the Power Points slides, as well as the textbook, to answer these questions. Responses should be anywhere from 1-2 paragraphs for each question.

Please provide a response to 2 of the critical thinking questions for this chapter. Label your answers clearly (i.e., which question you are responding to).

1. Assume for a moment you are in a sexually active relationship with someone you love deeply and with whom you are hoping to spend the rest of your life. One evening, your partner expresses a desire to engage in a sexual activity that you are not interested in and that you find somewhat offensive (you pick the activity). How would you react? Explain what you think would be the best way to handle this situation in your relationship.

2. Suppose that a heterosexual couple is feeling a strong mutual desire to be sexually intimate, but they’ve agreed that intercourse (coitus) should be saved for marriage. Explain how they might balance their desire for sexual intimacy with their moral convictions regarding sex and marriage.

3. Now imagine for a moment that you have a 14-year-old son and you are discussing sexual issues with him. What would you want him to know and understand about the behaviors discussed in this chapter? Explain your answer. Would your answers different for a daughter and a son? Why or why not?

4. Consider a situation in which sexual partners are discussing experimenting with various sexual positions. Explain why some couples might find the various positions appealing while others might reject some of them.

5. Discuss the influences or experiences from childhood or teen years that you feel often shape people’s adult feelings and attitudes toward sexual activities.

Answer 1

Scenario 1- Assume for a moment you are in a sexually active relationship with someone you love deeply and with whom you are hoping to spend the rest of your life. One evening, your partner expresses a desire to engage in sexual activity that you are not interested in and that you find somewhat offensive (you pick the activity). How would you react? Explain what you think would be the best way to handle this situation in your relationship.

Answer-

It is common for partners to not be on the same page when it comes to certain sexual activities. However, a situation like this can easily escalate into an argument or even separation if not handled appropriately. This is how I would respond to my partner's proposal-

Firstly, I would clearly explain to him why I am not comfortable indulging in that particular sexual activity. Being open to conversations like these not only prevents misunderstandings but also helps one avoid any unpleasant situation. If the sexual activity in question is making me uncomfortable, I will make sure that my partner knows exactly that. Instead of storming out of the room, I will try to connect with my partner in some other possible way. Trying out other relationship-affirming activities can help in easing the situation to a great extent.

Scenario 5- Discuss the influences or experiences from childhood or teen years that you feel often shape people’s adult feelings and attitudes toward sexual activities.

Answer-

To develop and maintain healthy intimate relationships, one needs to go back to his/her origins of sexual socialization. While individuals who grew up in a healthy environment would not find it difficult to do so, individuals who grew up around sexual abuse would find it extremely difficult to get intimate with others.

The kind of sexual socialization one is exposed to in his/her early years greatly contributes to their feelings and attitudes towards sexual activities. For example- Studies show that individuals who were victims of sexual abuse earlier on in their lives have a likelihood of experiencing further episodes of sexual victimization. Such individuals also fear intimacy and affection. This shows that our childhood experiences of sexual socialization, highly influence our views on sexual activities.