The Journal of Sex Research 39 (pp.
This article is a broad over view of human sexual development. The article begins with early childhood and discusses that male infants get erections and vaginal lubrication has been found in female infants. The article also reports that the quality of relationship with parents is very important to the child's capacity for sexual and emotional relationships later in life. In addition, during early childhood is the period which gender identity is formed by a child. The next stage of sexual development discussed in this article is Preadolescence. During the early part of this stage is when one sees the social division of males and females into separate groups. Masturbation experience is gained during this period as well. Toward the end of this period group dating and heterosexual parties emerge. With these activities and experiences, they begin the process of developing the capacity to sustain intimate relationships. .
The following stage of sexual development is Adolescence which accrues from age 13 to 19. During this stage biological development is more prevalent than in any other stage. Biological changes associated with puberty where the body goes through changes in genitalia, and secondary sex characteristics. Also related is the rising levels of sex hormones, which may produce sexual attraction and the possibility of adult sexual interactions. Toward the middle and end of adolescence, more young people are engaging in heterosexual intercourse. However, biological and sexual issues are not all that happens during adolescence, also are psychosocial development tasks. One is resolving the conflict between identity and role confusion, developing a stable sense of who one is in the midst of conflicting social influences (Erikson, 1968). .
This article is defiantly a good source of informatory facts and statistics. In reading this article I feel that more attention could have been paid to the stages of childhood and preadolescence.