MODULE 1: UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Lesson 5 THE PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL SELF

“If you have control over yourself, you have no

desire to control others.”
― Miya Yamanouchi

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this module, you are 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 behaviors
5. Describe sexually transmitted disease
6. Differentiate natural and artificial methods of contraception

INTRODUCTION
This lesson tackles two important representations of self: the physical and sexual. The
first section identifies biological and environmental factors that affect the physical self as
well as issues and challenges that individuals face with regard to their physical
characteristics. The second section discusses sexual attributes, characteristics, gender, and
responsible sexual behavior.

ACTIVITY
Activity No. 5.1

DIRECTION: List down the common secondary sexual male and female characteristics using
a table.

MALE CHARACTERISTICS FEMALE CHARACTERISTICS

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ANALYSIS
Questions:

1. What are the similarities in both male and female characteristics?

2. How does it differ with each other?

3. What are your thoughts about the activity above?

4. How did you experience these changes?

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ABSTRACTION

THE PHYSICAL SELF

I. THE BIOLOGICAL BLUEPRINT

- The physical self is shaped by biological and environmental factors

- Heredity is defined as the transmission of traits from parents to offspring. The traits are
made up of specific information embedded within one’s gene.
- Genotype refers to the specific information embedded within one’s genes; not all
genotypes translate to an observed physical characteristic.
- Phenotype is the physical expression of a particular trait.
- Each individual carry 23 pairs of chromosomes, which are threadlike bodies in the nucleus
of the cell and the storage unit of genes. The 23rd pair, also known as sex
chromosomes, determines the sex of an individual.
- Within each chromosome is the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is a nucleic acid that
contains the genetic instructions specifying the biological development of every
individual.
- Maturation is known as the completion of growth of a genetic character within an
organism or the unfolding of an individual’s inherent traits or potential.

II. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONING

- As you grow up, you are exposed to environmental influences that shape yoir physical
self, including those from your social networks, societal expectations, and cultural
practices.

- Family, being your first social group, forms a crucial foundation of your development,
including that of your physical self.

- As you grow older, you get exposed to a larger social group with new practices and
standards. As a result, you may begin engaging in acts that would make you attractive
and acceptable to others.

- One aspect of physical beauty is a person’s body type. Contemporary media has
portrayed slim bodies as the ideal body type for women and muscular bodies for men.
Thus, adolescents indulge in activities that would enable them to achieve these ideal
body types.

- However, some adolescents may resort to unhealthy habits just to achieve the ideal body
type. It is important to remember that physical beauty is only skin-deep; that what
matters is feeling good about oneself and embracing a healthy perception of one’s
physical worth.

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III. ACHIEVING PHYSICAL WELL-BEING
1. Healthy eating. Following a healthy diet results in healthy skin, ideal weight, and better
stamina.

2. Embracing a healthy lifestyle. Physical activities such as walking, running, going to the
gym, and engaging in sports also contribute to a healthier body.

3. Maintaining proper hygiene. Taking care of your body by consistently following a

hygiene regimen can also help you feel good about yourself.

4. Being confident. Be secure in yourself, embrace a positive outlook toward various

situations and problems, and love and accept who you are.

IV. THE BEGINNING OF LIFE

- Fertilization - the meeting of the female sex cell and the male sex cell.

- Gonads - where the sex cells are developed (aka reproductive organs).
➢ Testes: male gonads; spermatozoa (sing. spermatozoon): male sex cell
➢ Ovaries: female gonads; ova: female sex cells
- Zygote- fertilized egg - It contains all the hereditary potential from the parents.
- Genes- are small particles in a string-like formation.
➢ Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) the code of heredity. It contains information and
instructions about the newly created organism, and programs the traits that
should be inherited.
➢ Maturation - unfolding of the inherited traits

V. STAGES IN THE LIFE SPAN

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VI. CULTURE ON BODY IMAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM AND BEAUTY

• What is considered beautiful? (according to math)

1. Our attraction to another person’s body increases if that body is symmetrical and in
proportion.
2. If a face is in proportion, if we are more likely to notice it and find it beauty
3. We perceive proportional bodies to be more healthy

• Self-image problem - happens when your looks doesn’t match your beauty standards.

• Body image is both internal (personal) and external (society). This includes:
a. How we perceive our bodies visually
b. How we feel about our physical appearance
c. How we think and talk to ourselves about our bodies
d. Our sense of how other people view our bodies

• How we look has possibly never held as much societal importance or reflected
significantly on our perceived self-worth.

• Who are our references for our body perceptions, be it good or bad?
➢ Media
➢ Family and Friends

VII. TAKING CARE OF MY PHYSICAL SELF (AND BUILDING A POSITIVE BODY

IMAGE)

• Positive body image involves understanding that healthy attractive bodies come
in many shape and sizes and that physical appearance says very little about our
character or value as a person.

• How to develop a positive body image:

1. Talk back to the media
2. De-emphasize numbers
3. Realize that we cannot change our body type
4. Stop comparing ourselves to others
5. Move our bodies not because we have to but it makes us feel good.
6. Spend time with people who have healthy relationship with food, activity and
their bodies.
7. Question the degree to which self-esteem depends on our appearance.

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THE SEXUAL SELF
I. UNDERSTANDING OUR SEXUAL SELF: WHEN DOES OUR BODY BECOME
SEXUALLY ACTIVE?

- Puberty is the period of life at 10 – 1 5 years old when the reproductive organs develop
to their adult size and become functional because of the rising levels of hormones
(male =testosterone, estrogen = females).

- Reproductive capability continues until old age in males and menopause in females.
- Erogenous zones - refer to parts of the body that are primarily perceptive and
increase arousal when touched in a sexual manner. (E.g. mouth, breasts, genitals, and
anus.

II. THE HUMAN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

• Human sexual behavior- is any activity that induces sexual arousal.

• Two major factors that determine human sexual behavior are:
➢ Inherited sexual response pattern that evolved as means of ensuring reproduction
that becomes part of each individual
➢ The degree of restraint/ influence exerted by society in expression of his sexuality.

• Types of (sexual) behavior

a. Solitary behavior - self-gratification or self-stimulation that leads to arousal and
climax. Usually done in in private but also in a sociosexual relationship. Begins at
beginning of puberty and usually involves fantasies.
b. Sociosexual behavior - begins in childhood, motivated by curiosity such as showing or
examining genitalia. Necking or petting is considered as part of the learning process
of courtship and finding a marriage partner.
c. Coitus - refers to the insertion of the male organ to the female organ.

• Sex vs Gender. What is the difference?

- Sex - is the biological difference between males and females.
- Gender- refers to the economic, social and cultural attributes and opportunities
associated with being male or female in a particular social setting at a particular
point in time.
- Sexuality- refers to the expression of who we are. It involves a person’s thoughts,
feelings, and sexual expression and relationships, as well as the biology of the sexual
response system.
➢ Sexual orientation is the erotic or romantic attraction (or “preference”) for
sharing sexual expression with the opposite sex (heterosexuality), one’s own
sex (homosexuality), or both sexes (bisexuality)

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III. THE PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE
• The Human Sexual Response Phases
1. Excitement phase - Caused by increase in pulse and blood pressure, results in
increased skin temperature, flushing, swelling, rapid breathing, secretion of genital
fluids, vaginal expansion, and muscle tension.
2. Plateau phase - Generally of short duration. If stimulation is continued, orgasm
usually occurs.
3. Sexual climax - A feeling of abrupt, intense pleasure, increase of blood pressure,
spasms of pelvic muscles causing contraction of female organ and ejaculation by the
male. Also causes involuntary vocalizations.
4. Resolution phase - Return to a normal physiologic state. Males return to normal even
if stimulation continues, but continued stimulation can produce additional orgasms
in females.

• Love or Lust? The Triangular Theory of Love (Sternberg, 1985)

➢ Love - is a special attachment one has for himself/herself or for somebody else.
• Components of Love:
1. Passion - physical and sexual attraction to another.
2. Intimacy - emotional feelings of warmth, closeness and sharing of
relationships.
3. Commitment - cognitive appraisal of the relationship and the intent
to maintain it even in the face of problems
➢ Types of Love:
1. Romantic Love (passionate love). It includes an intermingling of different
emotions: fear, anger, sexual desire, joy and jealousy among others.
2. Affectionate Love (companionate love). Type of love that occurs when
someone has deep and caring affection for a person and desires to have
him/her near constantly
3. Consummate Love. It is the strongest and fullest type of love. This is the
ideal form of love involves passion, intimacy, and commitment.
4. Fatuous Love. It is the combination of passion and commitment without
intimacy (i.e. purely physical relationships).

IV. TAKING CARE OF OUR SEXUAL SELF

• Sexual Health - In 1975 WHO defined sexual health as, “integration of somatic, emotional,
intellectual and social aspect of sexual being, in ways that are positively enriching and
that enhances personality, communication and love.”

• Contraception - the deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent

pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse.
a. Natural Contraception - These are methods of contraception that does not
involve the use of any of the man-made devices. These methods are useful for
timing and spacing of pregnancies (i.e. Withdrawal, Safe period, abstinence)
b. Artificial Contraception (Barrier methods) - methods which prevent meeting of
sperms with the ovum (e.g. Condom, Diaphragm, Vaginal sponge, Chemical
contraceptives, Intrauterine devices, Oral pills, Injectable contraceptives,
Implants, Vaginal rings

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c. Termination Methods (Sterilization)- the only method which gives permanent
protection from conception. (i.e. vasectomy, tubectomy).

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) - STDs are diseases and infections which are capable
of being spread from person to person through:
a. sexual intercourse
b. oral-genital contact in non-sexual ways
c. IV drug –Congenitally transmitted

• Common STI’s
1. Chlamydia
2. Gonorrhea
3. Genital Herpes (HSV-2)
4. Genital Warts (HPV)
5. Hepatitis B
6. HIV and AIDS
7. Pubic Lice
8. Syphilis
9. Trichomoniasis

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APPLICATION
Activity No. 5.2

DIRECTION: Answer the following questions.

1. Make a Venn Diagram showing the male and female secondary sexual characteristics.

2. Name one method of contraception that you know and briefly discuss how it is used.

3. Identify one sexually transmitted disease and give its signs and symptoms.

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ASSESSMENT

DIRECTION: Answer the question below. Use the Rubric as a guide.

ESSAY. Are you in favor of family planning? Why or why not? Discuss yu answer.

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RUBRICS DESCRIPTION POINT SYSTEM SCORE

CONTENT - technical terms are well- 15 PTS.

defined

- contains accurate
information

- material is relevant to the

overall topic/ message

ORGANIZATION - clear objectives 10 PTS.

- logical sequence is visible

and clear

- Presentation is appropriate
for the topic

- uses references as
supporting information

OVERALL IMPRESSION - very interesting 5 PTS.

- very good information relay

- pleasant to read the

material

TOTAL 30 PTS.

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