Développement psychosexuel

Sexual differentiation and parental aspirations

• The fetus develops general body awareness through its internal sensory experiences, experiencing pleasant or unpleasant sensations related, among other things, to movements, thumb sucking or contact with the amniotic fluid.
• From pregnancy onwards, parents’ expectations, beliefs and projections, as well as their hopes and dreams for their child, indirectly influence their psychosexual development by shaping the prenatal bond, preparation for parenting and the first interactions after birth.

Period of attachment and sensory and body discovery

• The baby discovers the world, their body and their sensations, especially with their mouth: breastfeeding, sucking their thumb or bringing objects to their mouth allows them to explore, feel reassured and experience pleasure.
• They enjoy learning and touching parts of their body, including the genitals.
• Physical contact through hugs, rocking and physical closeness helps foster a secure attachment by providing the child with a sense of safety and well-being. This attachment forms the basis of their emotional and relational development, later influencing their way of experiencing sexuality and romantic relationships.
• The child becomes aware of the different genders, but does not yet identify with one of them.

Curiosity and exploration through play

• The child may engage in self-stimulatory behaviours involving their genitals, which can provide comfort, self-soothing or pleasure. It is not sexuality in the adult sense, but a normal form of bodily exploration.
• The child exhibits curiosity by exploring their body, observing anatomical differences and engaging in physical play with other children. This is a time when sexual behaviours begin to emerge, as the child seeks to understand the body, relationships, pregnancy, birth and diversity through imitation, observation and questioning.
• The child is able to identify with a gender (girl, boy, both, neither, etc.). The child’s gender identity may be stable, but it can also be fluid over time.

Internalization of social norms, consent and emotional ties

• If it is not already the case, the child gradually begins to exhibit a need for intimacy, modesty and greater autonomy.
• They become increasingly aware of gender stereotypes in society, better understand social expectations related to sexuality and intimacy, good and bad, and develop a clearer sense of expectations for themselves.
• They express their emotions through words, experience more complex emotions and understand that they can feel mixed emotions, such as affection and frustration at the same time.
• The child develops strong emotional bonds with their friends, and first childhood crushes may emerge. They also show a growing interest in adult relationships by asking questions about love, couples and sexuality.

Puberty, body image, the need to belong and romantic and sexual awakening

• At this point, the child feels small and big at the same time. There is often a mix of behaviours influenced by adolescence and others that are more childlike. For example, adopting a confident attitude while maintaining reassuring rituals such as sleeping with a night light or familiar objects.
• This is the age when secondary sexual characteristics (hair, chest shape, voice changes, first menstruation and ejaculations) begin to appear.
• The child experiences bodily, emotional and relational changes related to puberty.
• They become more attentive to their appearance, giving importance to their clothes, hairstyle or personal style. This concern about their image reflects their need to belong and their desire to fit in with the norms and expectations of their peers.
• They may experience the beginnings of romantic or sexual awakening, which can be expressed through a stronger attraction to certain people, romantic or sexual thoughts and fantasies, and exploration of affectionate or flirtatious behaviours.

Expression of sexual and gender identity; romantic and sexual relationships; interpersonal skills and values

• The young adult explores and affirms their sexuality while investing more in relationships outside the family. Early romantic and sexual experiences become opportunities for self-exploration, understanding relationships, developing interpersonal skills and exploring personal pleasure, either alone or with a partner.
• They continue to experience bodily, emotional and relational changes related to puberty.
• They acquire the skills needed to negotiate relational dynamics in an intimate context through communication, and the affirmation or repression of their needs, desires, feelings, limits, thoughts, consent or sexual preferences.
• In their search for belonging and differentiation, they seek both to belong to a group and to assert their own identity. This plays a key role in the development of their sexuality, values and relationships.
• Social media can influence the way a person perceives their body, sexuality and romantic relationships, as it often presents idealized models that can create pressure, comparisons or unrealistic expectations.