Lesson 7 - UTS

Republic of the Philippines
Camarines Norte School of Law

COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
Talisay, Camarines Norte
The Sexual Self

Lesson 7
Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Discuss the developmental aspect of the reproductive system;
2. Describe the erogenous zones;
3. Explain human sexual behavior;
4. Characterize the diversity of sexual behavior;
5. Describe sexually transmitted disease;
6. Differentiate natural and artificial methods of contraception; and
7. Differentiate the chemistry of lust, attachment and love.
Discussion
As we come to understand the beauty of physical self, it is also proper to learn to

understand the sexual self. As psychoanalytical theory states that physical body is the core of
human experience as form of construction of self and personality. Freud maintained that nature of
the conflicts among id, ego and superego changes overtime as a person grows from child to adult.
There are psychosexual stages that focus: oral, anal, phallic and genital. Thus, these stages are
directly related to different physical center of pleasure.
To fully appreciate the sexual self, it is necessary to understand the human reproductive
system, erogenous zone, and human sexual behavior.
“Sex, they argue, is more than the product of instinctual drives; it is the enactment of
complex sets of cultural meanings.” (John Gagnon)
Sex refers to “the different biological and physiological characteristics of males and
females, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes, hormones, etc.” Gender refers to "the
socially constructed characteristics of women and men – such as norms, roles and relationships of
and between groups of women and men.
There are three sex variations according to WAAC or Western Australian AIDS Council
(2020):
 Male is a person with a penis or the male reproductive organ, with XY
chromosomes in his cells and the body is capable of producing high levels of
testosterone.
 Female is a person with the vagina or the female reproductive organ, with a XX
chromosome, and is capable of releasing high levels of estrogen.
 Intersex is a person born with a sexual anatomy or chromosomes that do not fit the
traditional definition of male or female. The person has a combination of
reproductive sex organs, including internal sex organs, chromosomes, and

hormones.
Freud, a notable psychologist, contends that human beings are not only social animal but
were sexual beings from the start. Freud believed that even the most sensible, morally upright and
pious-appearing individual may struggle against the fulfillment of his/her carnal desires and
expressions.
Sexual Self as a concept is defined as the totality of oneself as a being, including the
positive and negative concepts and feelings. Being sexual is being human and our sexuality needs
expression. It is described well along three dimensions according to theorist: sexual self-esteem,
sexual depression and sexual preoccupation (Snell & Papini, 1989).
Sexual esteem, is defined as positive regard for and confidence in the capacity to
experience one's sexuality satisfyingly and enjoyably; sexual‐depression, is defined as the
experience of feelings of depression regarding one's sex life; and sexual preoccupation, defined as
the tendency to think about sex to an excessive degree.
Understanding Basic of Sexual Behavior
Human Sexual behavior is complex and complicated; thus, it is not at all different from
other species (Feldman, 2010). To illustrate; men sexual behavior can occur at any time, by being
arouse to certain stimuli. At puberty, the testes begin to secrete androgens (male sex hormones)
which produce secondary sex characteristics like growth of bodily hair and change in tone of
voice. Female sexual behavior starts at puberty where the two ovaries begin to produce estrogens
and progesterone (female sex hormones). This stage of puberty for female occurs in cyclical
manner where also brought changes.
The human reproductive system is an organ system that reproduces and bear live offspring.
It requires the union between the male and female reproductive system to which carries out to
produce another life form. Provided that all organs are present, human reproductive system works
from the released of egg cell from female reproductive organ, to the fertilization of sperm cells, to
the conception, up to the giving birth of the baby and eventually to the return of the female
physical body to the original state. (Harrison, 2018)
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Male Reproductive System

a) Testis – is the most important part of male reproductive organ. It is the source of
Spermatozoa (male germ cell)
b) Scrotum – it is a sac of skin where the two testes are enveloped; directly below and outside
of the abdomen.
c) Prostate glands – it is a gland that carries out both urine and seminal fluid. It is connected
by sperm ducts from sperm ducts joining into single tube called urethra. Urethra then leads
to the outside of the body through penis.
d) Penis – it is where the ejaculation occurs by sending sperm cells from testis and secrete
out.
e) Sperm – It is a male gametes, one that is necessary for the egg to develop and become a
baby.
Female Reproductive System

a) Ovary – It is a pair of small, oval organs which produces ova (ovum; female germ cells).
Thousands of ova will mature and will be taken up to the fallopian tube through the uterus by
the time of puberty.
b) Fallopian Tube – are pair of thin tubes that leads from ovaries to the uterus.
c) Uterus – (womb) it is a hollow pear-shaped elastic muscular structure where fertilized ovum
(zygote) develops into a baby.
d) Vagina – It is a tube leading to outside of the body through an opening called the vulva.
During the sexual intercourse, the semen from male is discharged in the vagina. The sperms
will begin moving up to the uterus reaching the fallopian tube. During the travel most of the
sperms will die while climbing up the fallopian tube, only one sperm will enter the ovum and can
remain alive for only 12 hours. In this time, if it meets ovum which will lead to fertilization. This
zygote (fertilized egg) will form in an embryo from which will enter gestation period. It is around
9 months in time for the woman to give birth.
Diseases associated with the reproductive systems

 Infections are the most common problems associated with the reproductive system in
adults.
 Vaginal infections are more common in young and elderly women and those whose
resistance to diseases is low, like, Escherichia coli which spread through the digestive
tract, the sexually transmitted microorganisms such as syphilis, gonorrhea and herpes
virus and yeast fungus.
 Pelvic inflammatory disease and sterility are also the effect of vaginal infections. For
males, the most common inflammatory conditions are prostatitis, urethritis, and
epididymitis, STD, Orchiditis.
Major threat to reproductive organs are Neoplasms, tumor of the breast and cervix cancers in
adult females and prostates cancer in adult males.
Most women hit the highest point of their reproductive abilities in their late 20”s, i.e. irregular
ovulation and shorter menstrual periods – menopausal period.
Physiological Aspects of Sexual Excitement Erogenous Zone
These are part of the body that particularly sensitive to touch, pressure and vibration which
contributes to sexual arousal. Identifying erogenous zone (“hot spots”) gives different reaction and
effect to a person. For one, these could bring sexual satisfaction, also, improves sexual health and
stimulating different spots may produce different reaction to the body. Female and male erogenous
zone are reproductive organ (vagina, penis, scrotum & clitoris), mouth (lips), neck, breast
(nipples) and ears.
Human Sexual Behavior

It defined as any activity – solitary, between two persons, or in a group – that induces/
brings sexual arousal [Gebhard, P.H. 2017]. This behavior is classified according to gender and
number of participants.
Types of behavior: Solitary behavior [involving one individual]; and Socio-sexual behavior [more
than one individual]
Solitary behavior
Self – gratification [begins at or before puberty] means self –stimulation that leads to
sexual arousal and generally, sexual climax. This takes place in personal and private as an
end in itself, but can also be done in a socio-sexual relationship.
This is common for males but becomes less frequent or is abandoned when socio-sexual
activity is available.
Therefore, self-gratification is most frequent among the unmarried. However, this self-
gratification usually decreases as soon as an individual develops a socio-sexual
relationship.
Nowadays, humans are frequently being exposed to sexual stimuli esp. from advertising
and social media. Some adolescents become so much more aggressive when they respond
to such stimuli.
The rate of teenage pregnancy has recently increased. The challenge is to develop self-
control to balance suppression and free expression. Why? To prevent premarital sex and
acquiring STDs.
Socio-sexual behavior
It is the greatest amount of socio-sexual behavior that occurs b/w only one male and one
female. This usually begins in childhood and may be motivated by curiosity, such as
showing or examining genitalia.
Physical contact involving necking and petting is considered as an ingredient of the
learning process and eventually of courtship and selection of a marriage partner.
Petting differs from hugging, kissing and generalized caresses of the clothed body to
produce stimulation of the genitals. This is done due to affection as source of pleasure,
preliminary to coitus [this is an insertion of male reproductive organ into female organ].
This is regarded as an important aspect in selecting partner but also a way of learning how
to interact with another person sexually.
A behavior may be interpreted by society or individual as erotic depending on the context
in which the behavior occurs. Example, kissing as a gesture of intimacy b/w couples while
other sees this as respect and reverence.
Physiology of human sexual response
Although, erogenous zone brings us to sexual arousal which is unique to each individual,
people shares same basic aspects of sexual responsiveness. According to Johnson & Master
(1966), sexual response follows a regular pattern consisting of four (4) phases: arousal, plateau,
orgasm and resolution.
Sexual response follows a pattern of sequential stages or phases when sexual activity is
continued.
1. Excitement phase = it is caused by increase in pulse and blood pressure; a sudden rise in
blood supply to the surface of the body resulting in increased skin temperature, flushing,
and swelling of all distensible body parts particularly noticeable in the male and female
reproductive system, rapid breathing, secretion of genital fluids, vaginal expansion, and a
general increase in muscle tension.
2. Plateau phase = it is generally of brief duration. If stimulation is continued, orgasm
usually occurs.
3. Sexual climax = a feeling of abrupt, intense pleasure, and rapid increase in pulse rate and
blood pressure, and spasms of the pelvic muscles causing contractions of the female
reproductive organ and ejaculation by the male that last only for few seconds normally not
over ten.
4. Resolution phase = it refers to the return to a normal or subnormal physiological state.
Whereas males return to normal even if stimulation continues, but continued stimulations
can produce additional orgasms in females. Females are physically capable of repeated
orgasms without the intervening “rest period” required by males.
(see https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/guide/sexual-health-your-guide-to-sexual-response-cycle)
Nervous system factors
The nervous system plays a significant role during sexual response. The autonomic system is
involved in controlling the involuntary responses.
The efferent cerebrospinal nerves transmit the sensory messages to the brain to create stimulus and
later initiating a sexual response. The brain will interpret the sensory message and dictate what
will be the immediate and appropriate response of the body. The muscles contract in response to
the signal coming from the motor nerve fibers while glad secretes their respective product. So,
sexual response is dependent the activity of the nervous System.
Hypothalamus and limbic system are part of the brain believed to be responsible for regulating the
sexual response, but there is no specialized “sex center” that has been located in the human brain.
Apart from brain-controlled sexual responses is the reflex. This reflex is mediated by the lower
spinal cord that leads to erection and ejaculation for male, vaginal discharges and lubricant for
female when the genital areas are stimulated. But still, the brain can overrule and suppress such
reflex activity, when sexual response is socially inappropriate.
Diversity of Sexual Behavior

Sexual behavior transcends in different forms. It may be influenced by not only the basic
physiological aspect of sexuality but also by different expectations, attitudes, beliefs, and states of
medical and biological knowledge. It made sexual behavior take more diverse forms such as
heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality.
 Heterosexuality
Is a sexual attraction and behavior directed to other sex. More than male-female
intercourse, it involves kissing, petting, caressing, massaging and other form of sexual
activities.
 Homosexuality and Bisexuality

Homosexualsisa romantic and/or sexual attraction between members of same sex.
Bisexuals are person who can be romantically or sexually attracted to same sex and the
other sex. Some male homosexuals prefer the term Gay and some female homosexual
prefer the term Lesbian. Gays and Lesbian as preference for a terminology refer not only
to their sexual preference but also as Gender preference. These by which refer to a
broader array of attitudes and lifestyle of the individual than the sexuality itself.
 Transsexuality
These are people who believed they were born with the body of the other gender. Men
transsexuals believe that they are men in a women’s body and women transsexuals
believe that they are women in a men’s body. Transsexuals sometimes seek sex exchange
operations, which undergo several steps such as intensive sexual counseling, hormone
injections, living as member of desired sex for several years, surgery.
 Transgenderism
These are people who view themselves as a third gender, they are transvestites (who
wears clothes of the other gender) or those who believed that traditional male-female
classifications inadequately characterized them.
What is LGBTQ+?
The umbrella term for a wide range of sexual orientations, gender identities and romantic
orientation is the LGBTQ+.
 L stands for lesbian or females who are exclusively attracted to females.
 B stands for bisexual or people that are sexually attracted to the same sex and the
opposite sex.
 T stands for transgender or those people who do not recognize themselves with the
gender assigned to them at birth. Transwoman is an identity label adapted by male
to female trans people to signify that they identify themselves as women. A trans
man is an identity label adapted by female to male trans people to signify that they
identify themselves as men (Feldman, 1997).
 Q stands for queer. This term is used by people who questions their identities and
are unsure or those who simply do not want to identify or label themelselves.
 + symbol signifies that many identities are not explicitly represented by the letters.
This includes intersex or people who are born with a mix of male and female
biological traits and characteristics that make it hard for doctors to assign them as
male or female; and asexual or a person who is not interested in or does not desire
sexual activity (Feldman, 1997).
Sexual problems
These may be classified as physiological, psychological and social in origin.

Physiological problems are the least among the three categories. Small number of people
suffering from diseases due to abnormal development of the genitalia or that part of the
neurophysiology controlling sexual response. Example: vaginal infection, retroverted uteri,
prostatitis, adrenal tumors, diabetes, senile changes of the vagina and cardiovascular problems.
Medication: Through surgery
Psychological problems: usually caused by socially induced inhibitions, maladaptive

attitudes, ignorance and sexual myths held by society. Example: mature sex must involve rapid
erection, prolonged coitus and simultaneous orgasm. Methods: magazines, married books and
general sexual folklore often strengthen these demanding ideals which are not always
achieved; therefore, can give rise to feeling of inadequacy anxiety and guilt. Hence, resulting
negative emotions can definitely affect the behavior of an individual.
Premature emission of semen is a common problem for young males. Why? Because of
the natural result of excessive tension in a male who has been sexually deprived. Erectile
impotence is almost always a psychological problem in males under 40; in other cases, the
impotence may be the result of disinterest in the sexual partner, fatigue, and distraction
because of nonsexual worries, intoxication and other causes such as occasional impotency is
common and requires no therapy.
Ejaculatory impotence [inability to ejaculate in coitus] is uncommon and usually of
psychogenic origin. Why? It is due to the past traumatic experiences. Warning! Occasional
ejaculatory inability can be possibly expected in older men or in any male who has exceeding
his sexual capacity.
Lastly, vaginismus is a strong spasm [contraction] of the pelvic musculature
constricting the female reproductive organ so that penetration is painful or impossible. It can
be due to anti-sexual conditioning or psychological trauma as an unconscious defense against
coitus.
Medication: through psychotherapy and by gradually dilating/widening the female
organ with increasing large cylinders.
Sexual Reproductive diseases are the following:
1. Chlamydia - results from an infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. It is a common infection

that can spread through anal, vaginal, and oral sex. It can also spread to a baby during
childbirth.
2. Gonorrhea - is a common infection that develops due to the bacterium Neisseria

gonorrhoeae. It is highly contagious and, without treatment, can lead to life threatening
complications.
Gonorrhea can spread during oral, vaginal, or anal sex. If a person touches an infected area of
the body and then touches their eye, gonorrhea can also lead to pink eye.
This infection can also spread to a baby during childbirth.
3. Syphilis - stems from an infection with the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is a potentially
serious infection, and early treatment is necessary to prevent permanent damage and long-
term complications.
There are usually four stages. In the first stage, a person may notice a round, firm sore at the
site of the infection, usually around the genitals, anus, rectum, or mouth. This tends to last
for 3–6 weeks
4. Chancroid - is a rare bacterial infection that develops due to Haemophilus ducreyi. It can
only spread through sexual contact.
It causes painful sores on the genitals. Chancroid can also increase the chance of HIV, and it
can make HIV harder to treat.
5. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - refers to a group of viruses that affect the skin and mucous
membranes, such as the throat, cervix, anus, and mouth. There are various types, and some
pose a higher risk than others.
HPV is common. It affects around 79 million peopleTrusted Source in the United States.
Nearly everyone who is sexually active will have HPV at some point in their lives, unless
they have received a vaccination to prevent it.
6. Herpes simplex virus - The herpes simplex virus (HSV)Trusted Source is a common virus
that affects the skin, cervix, and genitals, as well as some other parts of the body.
HSV-1 usually affects the mouth. It can spread through saliva or if there is a herpes-related
sore around another person’s mouth. It can pass to the genital area during oral sex.
HSV-2 can affect the genital area, the anal area, and the mouth. It transmits through vaginal,
oral, and anal sex.
7. Trichomonas vaginalis - Trichomoniasis, or trich, can affect anyone, but females are more
likely to experience symptoms. Trichomonas vaginalis is the cause of this infection.
In females, it is most likely to affect the vagina. In males, the infection can develop in the
urethra.
Transmission can occur through penetrative sex and vulva-to-vulva contact.
(see: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sexually-transmitted-diseases)
Natural and Artificial Method of Contraception
As overpopulation and countless cases of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) such as gonorrhea,
syphilis etc., along with the threat of Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the
government educates people the importance of Contraception. There are two kinds of
contraception; the Natural Contraception and the Artificial Contraception.
Natural Contraception are type of birth control that depend with observations on woman’s body
through monitoring and recording different fertility signals during her menstrual cycle. Through
there different methods one may predict when it is safe or when a woman will more likely to get
pregnant. These may be in a form of abstinence, calendar method, basal body temperature method,
cervical mucus method, symtothermal method, ovulation detection, lactation amenorrhea method
and coitus interruptus.
Artificial Method is diverse method of contraception using to prevent conception of a woman.

There are different types of artificial contraception but not all types are appropriate for all
situation. Using artificial contraception depends on the individual’s health status, age, sexual
activity and/or number of partners. These are oral contraception, transdermal patch, vaginal ring,
subdermal implants, hormonal injection, Intrauterine device (IUD), chemical barriers, diaphragm,
cervical cap, male and female condoms, surgical methods (vasectomy and tubal ligation).
Natural Method of Contraception

Method Rate of Description
Failure
Abstinence
Most effective way of birth control. Done thru
abstaining from sexual intercourse. It is also
0%
the most effective way to avoid STIs.
Also called as the Rhythm Method. It involves

avoiding coitus during the days that the
woman is fertile.
25%
Calendar Method
Basal Body
BBT is the woman’s body temperature at rest.

Done by monitoring the changes in the
woman’s temperature every morning before
9 to 25 % any activity. A slight increase and decrease in
Temperature her temperature will be her sign of ovulation
(fertile). This period the woman must abstain
from mating for the next three days.
Here the basis is the changes in the cervical

Cervical Mucus mucus during the ovulation. According to this
Method method a woman is fertile when the cervical
25% mucus is profuse and watery. During this
time she must avoid coitus during this days.
It is a combination of Basal Body Temperature

2%
(BBT) and Cervical Mucus Method.
Symptothermal
Method
It is an over-the-counter kit that requires a

2% urine specimen to detect the Luteinizing
Hormone (LH) to predict ovulation.
Ovulation Detection
This is exclusive for breastfeeding woman.
Thus, it should be noted that the woman is
advise to choose other method after period of
three months or if the mother is not
exclusively breastfeeding or is using
formula drink for the baby.
Lactation Amenorrhea
Method
The oldest method of contraception. This is

where the couple proceeds with coitus but the
75% moment he ejaculates, the men withdraw
Coitus Interruptus
before emit spermatozoa outside of the
vagina.
Artificial Method of Contraception

Method Description
It is known as the “Pill”. Contains synthetic estrogen and
progesterone. It is recommended to take the pill on the first
Sunday after the beginning of the menstrual flow.
Oral
Contraception
It is a patch applied in the following areas; upper outer arm,

upper torso, abdomen or buttocks for three weeks.
Transdermal
patch
Releases a combination of estrogen and progesterone and

surrounds the cervix. It remains in there for 3 weeks. It was
removed on the fourth week as menstrual period flows. The
woman becomes fertile as soon as the ring is removed.
Vaginal Ring
It is a two rod-like implants under the skin of the woman

during her menstruation or on the 7th day of her
menstruation to make sure that she will not get pregnant. It
contains etonogestrel, desogestrel and progestin. Have a
1% failure
Subdermal
Implants
This injection prevents ovulation and cause change in the

cervical mucus. It has an almost 100% effectiveness. And
one of the most popular choice for birth control.
Hormonal
Injections
It is a small T-shaped object inserted in uterus thru vagina

to
prevent fertilization. It is done only by a physician right after
the woman’s menstruation to be sure that she is not
Intrauterine Device pregnant.
(IUD)
These are used to cause death of the sperm before it can

enter the cervix of the woman. These are spermicides,
vaginal gels and creams, and glycerin films.
Chemical Barriers
Inhibits the entrance of into the vagina. It should not be left

in place for more than 24hours to avoid irritation. It has a
failure rate of 16%.
Diaphragm
Male Condomis a synthetic rubber sheath that is placed in

the erect penis before penetration to avoid the sperm to
enter the vagina during the ejaculation.
Female Condom is also a synthetic rubber placed against

Condoms
the vaginal opening to prevent the sperm to enter the
vaginal during the ejaculation.
Vasectomy is a procedure done to male through small

incision made on each side of the scrotum to block the
passage of sperms.
Tubal Ligation is a procedure done to female through

Surgical cutting, cauterizing, or blocking the fallopian tube to inhibit
Methods the passage of both sperm and the ova.
Understanding the Chemistry of Lust, Love and Attachment
Love
Everyone wants to be loved by somebody. In his book “The Prophet” Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese poet
point out that love is a two-sided: Just as it can give you great ecstasy, so can it cause you great pain.
Yet most of us are willing to take the risk (Kall and Cavanaugh, 2013). Love is one of those things
everybody feel about but nobody can define completely. Sternberg (2006) found that love has three
basic components: (1) passion, an intense physiological desire for someone; (2) intimacy, the feeling
that one can share all one’s thought and actions with someone else; (3) commitment, the willingness to
stay with a person through thick and thin, in good times and bad times.
Lust
Lust is a stage marked by intense physical attraction and the desire for sexual gratification. This
is driven by human beings’ need to reproduce – a need shared by all men. The hypothalamus stimulates
the release of testosterone and estrogen which increases libido – a person’s sexual urges. Lust, however,
cannot guarantee for a sustained and lasting relationship between the couples.
Romantic Attachment
Our human nature calls for our need to be with someone we love and to form a deep emotional
bond with them – a universal feature of human life. The emotional attachment that we make to someone
makes us feel secure and safe. People form romantic attachments because throughout human evolution,
we want stability, we want to raise our own families, we wanted to stay together, we wanted to feel our
partner’s presence and be near them and not just coming together for the purpose of sex.
There are chemical substance that trigger these feeling:
1. Norepinephrine – This is a chemical substance release from the sympathetic nervous system in
response to stress. It functions to mobilize the brain and body for action.
2. Dopamine – Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for one’s dreams and biggest
secrets. It is responsible for love, infidelity, lust, motivation, femininity, attention, addiction and
learning.
3. Serotonin – A neurotransmitter that is popularly thought to be a contributor to feelings of well
being and happiness. It helps regulate mood and social behaviour, appetite and digestions, sleep,
memory and sexual desire and functions.
Stages of Love (Helen Fisher)

“For centuries people have romanticized the idea of love and have said that it comes from the heart,
however, we now understand that contrary to popular belief, it comes from our brains.”
Perhaps people originally thought that love stemmed from our hearts as most of us have
experienced the feeling in our chest as our heart thumps and thuds when we find ourselves attracted to
somebody. Other physiological reactions that may accompany this feeling are sweaty palms and flushed
cheeks, not to mention the butterflies that one feels, and the occasionally foolish behavior and choice of
words that seem to emerge out of nowhere when we see the object of our affection.
Research has shown that all of these crazy, haywire feelings and physical reactions are led by the
brain and the chemicals released as a result of attraction and desire. Experts believe that three
neurotransmitters (chemical messengers that transmit impulses (i.e. messages) between nerve cells)
play a significant role during the initial stages of love.
According to a team of experts who conducted a study on the science of love, led by Helen
Fisher from Rutgers University in America, the biology behind romantic love can be divided into three
different categories. These categories are lust, attraction, and attachment.
Although there are various overlaps as well as subtleties to each of these ‘types of love’, they are
still uniquely characterized by their own set of neurotransmitters and the release of specific hormones
during each stage, these are as follows:
 Lust – Testosterone and oestrogen

 Attraction – Dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin
 Attachment – Oxytocin and vasopressin
So, let’s dive into the chemicals behind the chemistry of love and explore these different categories in
detail…
Lust – Testosterone and Oestrogen

The first stage of romantic love, lust is defined as having an intense sexual desire towards
someone, therefore, lust is driven by having a desire to achieve sexual gratification. This is based
on an evolutionary need to reproduce, something that is common among all living species. It is
through reproduction that we are able to pass on our genes and this aids in contributing to the
continuation of our species.
The hypothalamus of your brain plays a major role in lust as it stimulates the production of the
sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone. It is a common misconception that these hormones
should be labelled as female and male respectively, as these play a role in both women and
men’s physiology and sexuality.
Testosterone is known to increase libido in both genders. In women, the effects of testosterone
may be less significant than in men due to the presence of higher levels of oestrogen. However,
oestrogen promotes the function of two hormones, testosterone, which increases sex drive,
and oxytocin, commonly referred to as ‘the love hormone’ which is released during physical
contact and sexual climax. It is little wonder then that women report being more sexually aroused
during the ovulation stage of their menstrual cycle when oestrogen levels are at their peak.
Lust then leads to the next stage of love, which is attraction.
Attraction – Dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin

Attraction, although regarded as a distinct category in the stages of love, is closely related to lust
and while one can be linked to the other and vice versa, they can also be mutually exclusive (i.e.
one can occur without the other). Attraction is associated with the ‘reward’ pathways in the
brain that influence our behaviour.
Dopamine, which is produced by your hypothalamus, is released during the stage of attraction,
specifically when we spend time with someone we are attracted to or when we engage in sexual
intercourse with them. Dopamine is a natural stimulant that fills you with emotions of ecstasy,
this is often why the way falling in love feels is regarded as the natural equivalent to the high
experienced from taking an illicit drug.
Dopamine is also involved in focus and attention, which explains why you cannot get that one
special person out of your head and when you are with them as, during this stage, you are ‘hyper-
focused’ on their presence and the way they make you feel.
Another hormone that is released during the stage of attraction is norepinephrine.

Norepinephrine, also referred to as noradrenaline, may sound familiar to you, this is because it
plays an important role in our ‘fight or flight’ response to stressful situations and keeps us alert.
When it comes to love, the combination of dopamine and norepinephrine allows us to feel
energetic, euphoric and even giddy. These hormones may also lead to insomnia and a decreased
appetite. Basically, these are why you can be so attracted to someone that you can’t sleep or eat.
In 2005, a research team led by Fisher, analysed over 2500 MRI scans of the brains of college
students2 who were shown pictures of the people they were romantically involved with. These
scans were then compared with others taken of the same people when they were shown photos of
mutual acquaintances.
The results showed that when participants were shown photos of those they were in love with,
their brains became active in areas that were rich in dopamine levels. The two brain regions that
exhibited this activity as seen in the scans included:
 Caudate nucleus – This region is directly linked to reward detection and sensory behaviour
that is linked to social behaviour.
 VTA (Ventral tegmental area) – This region is linked to focused attention and motivation
to acquire rewards.
Serotonin is the final hormone associated with attraction. This hormone is a vital neurotransmitter
that aids in the regulation of social behaviour, mood, memory, appetite, digestion and sexual
desire. Interestingly, it is believed that serotonin levels begin to decline during the attraction
phase. Cortisol (also known as the stress hormone) levels increase during the initial stage of
falling in love, which allows for our bodies to deal with the ‘crisis’ or ‘stressful situation’ that
romantic love is perceived by the body to be on a physiological level. As chemicals flood the
reward centre of the brain, our hearts race, palms sweat, cheeks flush and we are overwhelmed
with emotions of anxiety and passion.
The anxiety and stress element that is associated with falling in love is linked to our body’s natural
‘flight or fight’ response, and as previously mentioned, involves the same hormones. As a result,
cortisol levels begin to rise, and as they do, serotonin levels start to drop.
Both lust and attraction have been known to blur the functioning of the prefrontal cortex of our
brains due to the increase of hormones that drive sexual desire and reward, this leads to irrational
behaviour, which in this case, is not necessarily a total eclipse of the heart, but rather, a total
eclipse of the brain.
Attachment – Oxytocin and Vasopressin

The final stage of falling in love is attachment, this is the predominant factor in defining the
success of long-term relationships. Although the previous stages of lust and attraction are seen
as exclusive to a more romantically euphoric stage of falling in love, the attachment stage
refers to a more meaningful bond developing between two people, moving a romantic
relationship to an advanced level of falling in love wholeheartedly. The two main hormones
involved in the stage of attachment include oxytocin, as well as vasopressin.
Oxytocin is referred to as ‘the love hormone’ or ‘the cuddle hormone’ is also produced by
the hypothalamus and is released in substantial amounts during sexual intercourse and is
stimulated through skin-to-skin contact. Interestingly, oxytocin is also released during
childbirth and breastfeeding. It may seem like the same hormone is responsible for a strange
combination of activities, however, what all of these have in common is a form of bonding and
attachment. Therefore, oxytocin, or OT, plays an important role in forging bonds representative
of the depth of love and attachment to a partner as it heightens the feelings of calmness, security
and contentment that are so often linked to bonding with a mate2.
The second hormone involved in the phase of attachment is one that is released in large
quantities directly after having sex. The pituitary gland in both men and women
release vasopressin. Experts believe that vasopressin plays a role in social interactions between
humans and encourages pair-bonding (monogamous, long-term relationships). Researchers
have also noted that this hormone may in actual fact, have a taming effect on more promiscuous
people, thus, when this hormone is increased after sex with someone that you are in love with,
this may affect your brain by triggering your neural reward system which stimulates feelings of
happiness, encouraging you to want to stay with that person as a result.
These two hormones provide us with an explanation as to why euphoric love will begin to fade
as attachment and long-term love grow.
(see https://www.mymed.com/health-wellness/interesting-health-info/chemistry-or-cupid-the-science-
behind-falling-in-love-explored/the-stages-of-love)
Triangular theory of love (Robert Sternberg)

The triangular theory of love explains the topic of love in an interpersonal relationship. Psychologist
Robert Sternberg’s theory describes types of love based on three different scales: intimacy, passion,
and commitment. It is important to recognize that a relationship based on a single element is less
likely to survive than one based on two or more.
Different stages and types of love can be explained as different combinations of these three
elements. For example, the relative emphasis of each component changes over time as an adult
romantic relationship develops.
Types of Love
Passion
Intimacy Commitment
Physical
Forms of Love Closeness and emotional Pledge to love over the
attraction and
attachment long run
sexual desire
Liking No Yes No
Infatuation Yes No No
Empty Love No No Yes

Romantic Love Yes Yes No

Companionate Love No Yes Yes
Fatuous/Foolish Yes No Yes
Consummate Love Yes Yes Yes

Liking in this case is not used in a trivial sense. Sternberg says that this intimate
liking characterizes true friendships, in which a person feels a bondedness, a warmth,
and a closeness with another but not intense passion or long-term commitment.
Infatuated love is often what is felt as "love at first sight." But without the intimacy
and the commitment components of love, infatuated love may disappear suddenly.
Empty love: Sometimes, a stronger love deteriorates into empty love, in which the
commitment remains, but the intimacy and passion have died. In cultures in which
arranged marriages are common, relationships often begin as empty love.
Romantic love: Romantic lovers are bonded emotionally (as in liking) and physically
through passionate arousal.
Companionate love is often found in marriages in which the passion has gone out of
the relationship, but a deep affection and commitment remain. Companionate love is
generally a personal relation you build with somebody you share your life with, but
with no sexual or physical desire.
It is stronger than friendship because of the extra element of commitment. The love
ideally shared between family members is a form of companionate love, as is the love
between deep friends or those who spend a lot of time together in any asexual but
friendly relationship.
Fatuous love can be exemplified by a whirlwind courtship and marriage in which a
commitment is motivated largely by passion, without the stabilizing influence of
intimacy.
Consummate love is the complete form of love, representing the ideal relationship
toward which many people strive but which apparently few achieve. Sternberg cautions
that maintaining a consummate love may be even harder than achieving it. He stresses
the importance of translating the components of love into action. "Without expression,"
he warns, "even the greatest of loves can die" (1987, p.341). Consummate love may not
be permanent. For example, if passion is lost over time, it may change into
companionate love.
The balance among Sternberg’s three aspects of love is likely to shift through the course of a
relationship. A strong dose of all three components-found in consummate love-typifies, for
many of us, an ideal relationship. However time alone does not cause intimacy, passion, and
commitment to occur and grow. Knowing about these components of love may help couples
avoid pitfalls in their relationship, work on the areas that need improvement or help them
recognize when it might be time for a relationship to come to an end.
See https://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/community/slzctr/stdcsl/stdcsl_triangular.pdf
John Lee’s Styles of Love

These Love Styles are 6 models/classifications of how people love, which are analogous to the color
wheel and are similar to the Greek types of love (in fact, he titled the first book in 1973 outlining these
ideas as "The Colors of Love"). There are 3 "primary," main Love Styles, and 3 "secondary" Love Styles
that arise out of a combination of two of the primary types. So what are these? Take a look:
Primary:
1. Eros
2. Ludus
3. Storge
Secondary:
4. Mania
5. Pragma
6. Agape
1. Eros: The Romantic. This style (named after the Greek god of love, and the son
of Aphrodite), is characterized by relentless romance and passion, and often falls in "love at first
sight." For someone who exhibits Eros (hence, Erotic), there is a primary emphasis on physical
attraction and sexual desire, at times, even at the expense of other aspects of compatibility.
Additionally, these individuals seek out their "ideal type." This is someone who, to them, is the
perfect example/image of what beauty and attraction are. Moreover, these individuals tend to be
very committed, as they value intense emotion and desire exclusivity, especially if they are with
someone who reflects their ideal type/someone they are very attracted to. Erotic lovers also tend
to have higher than average self-esteem since Eros, "gives fully, intensely, and takes risks in
love, it requires substantial ego strength" (Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986: 399).
Some popular examples of Eros would be Romeo (Romeo and Juliet), 'Antar ('Antar wa 'Abla),
Majnun (Layla and Majnun), Jack Dawson (Titanic), and Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars). This is
also the most common depiction of love in the media.
2. Ludus: The Player. Originally termed by the Roman poet Ovid, love for a Ludus resembles a
game, a sport, or a conquest. They are playful, flirtatious, fun, independent, non-conformist, and
permissive (to the point of promiscuity). They go from person to person, often juggling multiple
partners and romantic or sexual interests at once, and recover quickly from break-ups or
rejections as they value quantity over quality. They do not follow the traditional rules of
romance, love, and dating, and often break them. According to Lee (1977: 174), "The degree of
involvement is carefully controlled, jealousy is eschewed, and relationships are often multiple
and relatively short-lived." Moreover, they are incredibly non-committal (so much that they
actively resist it), and they often do not place a high value on intimacy, nor do they expect it.
This is very different than the quote, unquote "game" that people talk about with relationships.
This is very different than someone exhibiting Ludic love, and in fact, someone who either
rigidly adheres to "game playing," or often breaks the rules of "the game" to maximize their
outcomes. These individuals also have higher than average self-esteem, and in fact,
"[individuals] with very positive self-esteem were more Ludic than were either of the other two
self-esteem groups it takes good ego strength to play seriously at love as a game" (Hendrick and
Hendrick, 1986: 399). Lastly, they are the most likely of the 6 Love Styles to commit infidelity.
3. Storge: The Best Friend-Lover. These individuals exhibit high amounts of commitment,
devotion, and intimacy, and highly value compatibility, respect, understanding, and harmony.
Taken from Lee (1977: 175), Storge is "a style based on slowly developing affection and
companionship, a gradual disclosure of self, an avoidance of self-conscious passion, and an
expectation of long-term commitment." For these individuals, friendship comes first, figuratively
and literally. They value stability and long-term commitment. Moreover, Storgic individuals
place a lot of emphasis on the companionship aspect of a relationship and often will want the
friendship to continue even if the romantic relationship does not. They are also the least likely of
the 6 Love Styles to commit infidelity.
4. Mania: The Infatuation. This is a combination of Eros and Ludus. According to Lee (1977:
175), "Mania is an obsessive, jealous, emotionally intense Love Style characterized by
preoccupation with the beloved and a need for repeated reassurance of being loved." Mania
carries the most negative connotations as these individuals are possessive, dependent, intense,
and often appear insecure. In fact, Hendrick and Hendrick (1986) found that Manic lovers had
some of the lowest self-esteem among their sample, and "in fact, one reason Manic lovers are
Manic is because of uncertainty of self in the relationship" (Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986: 399).
This Love Style is particularly common with teenagers and adolescents (Hendrick and Hendrick,
1986: 401).
5. Pragma: The Practical Lover. The combination of Ludus and Storge. These individuals are
pragmatic, practical, rational, realistic, and most importantly, have a very defined list of qualities
they are looking for in a partner that emphasizes long-term commitment and high levels of
compatibility, as well as "settling down." They make it a goal to find someone who exhibits
most, if not all, of the desired qualities on their list. Furthermore, according to Lee (1977: 175),
Pragmatic lovers take into account "conscious consideration of "vital statistics" about a suitable
beloved. Education, vocation, religion, age, and numerous other demographic characteristics of
the potential beloved are taken into account in the search for a compatible match."
6. Agape: The Selfless Lover. The combination of Eros and Storge. "Agape is altruistic love,
given because the lover sees it as his [or her] duty to love without expectation of reciprocity. It is
gentle, caring, and guided by reason more than emotion" (Lee, 1977: 175). Agapic individuals
sacrifice often for the other person's happiness, sometimes at the influence of a spiritual power
and at the expense of their own needs and desires. They also give their love unconditionally.
Agape is one of the most rare Love Styles, but also one of the most successful (Prasinos and
Tittler, 1984).
BE WARY about jumping to conclusions about individuals or groups of people because,

according to Lee (1977: 174): "A lover may engage at different times, or in some cases
concurrently, in relationships characteristic of quite different Love Styles. Moreover, a given
relationship may evolve, over a period of time, from attitudes and behavior typical of one species
of loving, to those of another species, from Mania to Storge, for example."
(see https://www.loveanon.org/2011/09/theory-of-love-pt-1-lees-6-love-styles.html)
Evaluation
Answer the following questions: (see assessment 7 attached)
References:
Alata, Eden Joy, et. al. 2021. A Course Module for Understanding the Self. Manila: Rex Bookstore
Inc.
Alata, Eden Joy, et. al. 2018. Understanding the Self. Manila: Rex Bookstore Inc.
https://www.mymed.com/health-wellness/interesting-health-info/chemistry-or-cupid-the-science-
behind-falling-in-love-explored/the-stages-of-love
https://www.coe.int/en/web/gender-matters/sex-and-gender
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00224498909551510
Prepared by:
CARLO A. RAZONABLE
Instructor

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Republic of the Philippines

Camarines Norte School of Law

The Sexual Self

As we come to understand the beauty of physical self, it is also proper to learn to

reproductive sex organs, including internal sex organs, chromosomes, and

Understanding Basic of Sexual Behavior

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Male Reproductive System

Female Reproductive System

Diseases associated with the reproductive systems

Human Sexual Behavior

Physiology of human sexual response

Nervous system factors

Diversity of Sexual Behavior

 Homosexuality and Bisexuality

These may be classified as physiological, psychological and social in origin.

Medication: Through surgery

Psychological problems: usually caused by socially induced inhibitions, maladaptive

1. Chlamydia - results from an infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. It is a common infection

2. Gonorrhea - is a common infection that develops due to the bacterium Neisseria

Natural and Artificial Method of Contraception

Artificial Method is diverse method of contraception using to prevent conception of a woman.

Natural Method of Contraception

Also called as the Rhythm Method. It involves

BBT is the woman’s body temperature at rest.

Here the basis is the changes in the cervical

It is a combination of Basal Body Temperature

It is an over-the-counter kit that requires a

The oldest method of contraception. This is

Artificial Method of Contraception

It is a patch applied in the following areas; upper outer arm,

Releases a combination of estrogen and progesterone and

It is a two rod-like implants under the skin of the woman

This injection prevents ovulation and cause change in the

It is a small T-shaped object inserted in uterus thru vagina

These are used to cause death of the sperm before it can

Inhibits the entrance of into the vagina. It should not be left

Male Condomis a synthetic rubber sheath that is placed in

Female Condom is also a synthetic rubber placed against

Vasectomy is a procedure done to male through small

Tubal Ligation is a procedure done to female through

Methods the passage of both sperm and the ova.

Understanding the Chemistry of Lust, Love and Attachment

There are chemical substance that trigger these feeling:

Stages of Love (Helen Fisher)

 Lust – Testosterone and oestrogen

Lust – Testosterone and Oestrogen

Lust then leads to the next stage of love, which is attraction.

Attraction – Dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin

Another hormone that is released during the stage of attraction is norepinephrine.

Attachment – Oxytocin and Vasopressin

Triangular theory of love (Robert Sternberg)

Empty Love No No Yes

Romantic Love Yes Yes No

Fatuous/Foolish Yes No Yes

Consummate Love Yes Yes Yes

John Lee’s Styles of Love

BE WARY about jumping to conclusions about individuals or groups of people because,