Development of sexuality: psychological perspectives

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511527036.009

8 - Development of sexuality: psychological perspectives

from Part I - Normal development

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 May 2010

Edited by

Jane MacDougall and

Lih Mei Liao: Affiliation:
University College Hospital, London
Adam H. Balen: Affiliation:
Leeds Teaching Hospitals, University Trust
Sarah M. Creighton: Affiliation:
University College London Hospitals
Melanie C. Davies: Affiliation:
University College London
Jane MacDougall: Affiliation:
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge
Richard Stanhope: Affiliation:
Great Ormond Street Hospital

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Summary

In biomedicine, there are morphological and biochemical characteristics that can be measured with varying degrees of accuracy, rendering it more possible to describe variations in physical development and to define typical ranges. Sexuality dimensions, by comparison, afford no such luxury. “Normal” sexuality is contentious — in psychology and in society — and is destined to remain so.

What do psychologists have to say about human sexuality and its development? Why do some psychologists test children for “gender-appropriate” toy preferences, while others “un-define sex differences”? The simple answer is that they subscribe to different theoretical viewpoints, ask different questions and use different research methods to address their questions. The aim of this chapter is to describe and discuss key psychological perspectives in sexuality development. It is not possible to be a neutral presenter of rival positions, so I should make explicit my own biases. While I have come from a positivist framework and still apply that knowledge in selective projects, I have found that this framework alone is not adequate for examining and addressing sexuality events that are presented to me in clinical settings. My current view is that individual sexuality events cannot be understood without reference to cultural representations of such events. I hope it becomes clear why many psychologists now find it important to integrate discursive analysis in sexuality studies.

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology
A Multidisciplinary Approach
, pp. 77 - 94

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511527036.009 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2004

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