Expanding the Scope of a Dynamic Perspective on Positive Adolescent Sexual Development
January 2014
in “
Human Development
”
TLDR Adolescent sexual development should focus on positive aspects, including biological, psychological, and contextual factors, and recognize individual differences and the role of pleasure.
The document explored the need for a positive and dynamic perspective on adolescent sexual development, critiquing the traditional focus on negative aspects. It introduced Miriam Arbeit's skill-based model, which emphasized adolescents as active participants in their sexual development, focusing on sexual selfhood, negotiation, and empowerment. The model was praised for its novel inclusion of pleasure and challenged traditional binary views of sexual orientation. The document also discussed the integration of biological, neurobiological, and social factors, highlighting hormonal differences in sexual desires and the neurobiological overlap between love and arousal. It advocated for inclusive models that address the unique challenges of sexual-minority youth and emphasized the importance of autonomy, agency, and meaning-making in sexual development. Overall, it called for a comprehensive understanding of sexual development that spans the life span and includes positive interventions.
