Childhood Sexuality: Normal Sexual Behavior and Development / Edition 1

by Theo Sandfort

Overview

What is “normal sexual behavior” in a child?

Childhood sexuality is an often neglected field in sex research. There is very little literature about what one might call “normal child sexual behavior.” The existing literature on child sexuality gives the impression that the only way in which children figure in sexological research is as objects of sexual abuse. The child, as a subject learning about sexuality and capable of experiencing sexual pleasures, doesn't seem to exist in scholarly papers.

Childhood Sexuality: Normal Behavior and Development does not focus on sexual abuse but instead deals with what can be described as “normal” sexual behavior and development in children under age 12. This valuable book offers information about the relationship between age and sexual development, both mental and physical, in both males and females.

Childhood Sexuality: Normal Behavior and Development explores several issues, including:

• what children ages two to six think or know about sexuality
• the ways that children learn about sexuality and procreation
• the process of body discovery among children
• what normal sexual behaviors to expect in children of various ages
• the importance of growing up in a positive environment
• the differences in sexual development between children of the same age and gender
• ways to get honest answers from children and parents about sexuality
  
  Comprehensive and enlightening, Childhood Sexuality examines the difficulties of gathering this information from children and gives insight into questions that need to be answered in the future. This guide delivers a diverse look at the complex and intriguing topic of normal child sexuality and the progress that is being made in this area of research.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780789011985
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/02/2001
Series:	Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality Series
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Contents

• Introduction
• Sexual Knowledge of Preschool Children
• Young Children's Curiosity About Other People's Genitals
• Studying Children's Sexuality from the Child's Perspective
• The Association of Sexual Behavior with Externalizing Behaviors in a Community Sample of Prepubertal Children
• Reactions of Inner-City Boys and Their Mothers to Research Interviews About Sex
• Sexual Behavior in Dutch and Belgian Children as Observed by Their Mothers
• Cultural Differences in Sexual Behavior: 2-6 Year Old Dutch and American Children
• Index
• Reference Notes Included

Editorial Reviews

The concern of the psychologist contributors is not sexual abuse, but the normal sexual behavior in children under age 12. They provide information about the relationship between age and sexual development, mental and physical, in males and females. The eight articles are also published as the vol. 12, nos. 1/2 (2000); earlier versions of most were presented at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Sex Research, held in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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