1. Adolescents Sexual Development
NOTA June 2016
Carol Carson
copyright Carol Carson Associates Ltd 2016

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Healthy Sexual Development
0 – 4 years
Family, culture/faith and community main influences
Exploratory behaviours, through touch, taste etc
Sensual stage – intimacy, hugs and kisses, attachments, relationship blueprints
Emotional regulation – learning to comfort themselves, soothing rather than sexual
Toileting – if abused, cross wiring of different emotions and bodily sensations
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Healthy Sexual Development
5 – 7 years old
Family, culture/faith and community still the most influential
Concept of ‘rude’ - bums and willies!
Comparisons and questions
Desire for privacy
Gender socialisation
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Healthy Sexual Development
8 – 12 years old
Peers and Media now the most influential
Informed Questioning Stage – increase in cognitive ability
Puberty happening for some
Mimicking relationship behaviours
Sexual identity and sexual attractiveness
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Healthy Sexual Development
13 – 15 years old
Beginning of the grown up / consolidation phase
They have knowledge, desires, development of adult sexual bodies
They have practiced low key behaviours and maybe moving on
They have a sense of themselves as sexual people/ social status
Anxiety about bodies, performance
Sexuality – they may feel very different
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Healthy Sexual Development
16 – 18 years old
The Adult phase
They have adult sexual knowledge, language and adult sexual behaviours
They will have conversations, comparisons and competitions with their peers
Intimacy/ emotional closeness prevalent
Peers & media still predominant, but family/cultural scripts may be revisited.
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Healthy Sexual Behaviours
Mutual, consensual, choice, exploratory, no intent to cause harm, fun, humorous, no power differentials
Problematic Sexual Behaviours
not age appropriate
one off incidents or low key such as touching over
clothing
peer pressure
spontaneous rather than planned
self directed eg. masturbation
other balancing factors, eg lack of intent to cause
harm or level of understanding, or acceptance of
responsibility
other young people are irritated or uncomfortable but not
scared, they feel free to tell someone
other factors such as parents/carers are concerned
and supportive.
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Harmful Sexual Behaviours
Not age appropriate
Elements of planning, secrecy, force or coercion
Power differentials eg. age, size, status, strength
The response of others eg fear, anxiety, discomfort
The response of the young person eg. fear, anger, aggression
Young person blames others and takes no responsibility
Frequent incidents or increasing in frequency and disproportionate to other aspects of their lives
Not easily distracted, compulsive despite intervention
Other difficult behaviours, conduct disorders, anger, poor peer relationships etc.
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Pathways to sexually harmful behaviour – Young people
Sexual Abuse
Sexualised Environments
Social Media and Internet Influences
Puberty
Normalisation of casual sex in adolescent peer groups
Development of deviant sexual interests and sexual fantasies
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Pattern Mapping
What is the cause of the behaviour?
What patterns do you see?
Frequency
Types of behaviour
Gaps
Risks – to who, where and when?
Meaning of the behaviour – payoff, what do they get out of it?
Motivation – Are they willing or ready to change?
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Key Areas for Assessment (Thornton 2000) AIM2
Sexual Interests and sexual regulation
Do they use sex as a coping or soothing strategy to deal with moods or relationship difficulties
The degree to which sexual arousal is pervasive or problematic
2. Offence supportive attitudes ( cognitive distortions) supportive of harmful sexual behaviours
Underlying beliefs that justify their behaviour, eg. Entitlement to sex or to get needs met, or no means yes
Gender stereotypes are prevalent
Grievance or revenge scenarios are of concern
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3. Socio- affective functioning problems
Intimacy problems – loneliness, inability to form relationships, attachments issues
Inadequacy – low self esteem, no internal control
Identification with children as sources of emotional reward
4. General Self Management Problems
Problems with impulsiveness, hostility, poor emotional control
Difficulties with identifying and regulating emotions, inability to de-escalate or negotiate
Poor empathy skills
Lack of ability to take personal responsibility
copyright Carol Carson Associates Ltd 2016