Sexual behavior is a form of
physical intimacy that can be directed to
reproduction (
sexual
intercourse) and/or to enjoying the body of someone
else.
There is no clear borderline between sexual and
nonsexual enjoyment of
touching someone else's body. For example,
holding hands may or may not have a sexual
connotation, depending on culture, situation and other
factors. The distinction between sexual and nonsexual
behavior can be relevant due to social rules.
Some criteria that may be applied are:
While enjoying touching the body of someone else
implies enjoying one's own body also, the latter may
also happen without another person; enjoying one's own
body also may or may not be of a sexual nature. If it
is, it is called
autoerotism.
Some forms of sex involve someone else, but not
touching the other:
The whole of one's sexual activities is called one's
sex life.
Like other
primates,
Homo sapiens uses sexuality for reproduction
and for maintenance of social bonds. It is generally
acknowledged that children are capable of feeling sexual
pleasure, even if they are not yet able to engage in
sexual intercourse with each other, and/or are not
yet biologically able to reproduce. Yet,
child sexuality has historically been severely
limited in western societies; in the late 19th century,
the
hysteria surrounding so-called "self-abuse" (masturbation)
among children reached its peak and fueled the adoption
of
circumcision in some cultures.
As with other behaviors, our high intelligence and
complex societies have produced in us the most
complicated sexual behaviors of any animal.
Most people enjoy some sexual activities. However,
most societies have defined some sexual activities as
inappropriate (wrong person, wrong activity, wrong time,
etc.) Many sexual activities can be engaged in by same
sex or opposite sex partners. However some, (most
notably
sexual intercourse), can only be engaged in by
partners of opposite sexes.
Most people experiment with a range of sexual
activities during their lives, though they tend to
engage in only a few of these regularly. Some people
enjoy many different sexual activities, while others
avoid sexual activities altogether for religious or
other reasons (see
chastity,
sexual abstinence). There is also a widespread
belief that sex acts are devalued when engaged in
outside of a long-term,
monogamous
romantic relationship.
Sexual behavior, like other kinds of social activity,
is generally governed by rules of etiquette which are
culturally specific and vary widely (see
sexual morality,
sexual norms).
Some activities are actually illegal in some
jurisdictions even between (or among) consenting people
(see
sodomy law,
incest).
Some people engage in various sexual activities as a
business transaction; this is called
prostitution.
Nearly all cultures consider it a serious crime to
force someone to engage in sexual behavior or to engage
in sexual behavior with someone who does not consent.
This is called sexual assault, and in the case of sexual
intercourse it is called
rape, the most serious kind of sexual assault.
Details on this distinction may vary. Also, precisely
what constitutes effective consent to have sex varies
from culture to culture and is frequently debated. Laws
regulating what constitutes consent, including the
minimum age at which a person can consent to have sex,
are frequently the subject of debate; see
age of consent.
The wide range of human sexual activities includes:
Generally less common, but still widespread, are the
various
paraphilias. Some of the more common ones are:
Other special forms of human sexual behaviour:
All sexual behaviors that involve the contact of
semen with the
vagina or
vulva may result in
pregnancy. To prevent pregnancy, people employ a
variety of
birth control measures.
All sexual behaviors that involve contact with
another person or the body fluids of another person
entail some risk of transmission of
sexually transmitted diseases, which is why
safer sex techniques are recommended.
Sexual desire or
libido is the desire for sexual behavior.
See also
sexual orientation.
Many people enjoy fantasizing about, or reading or
viewing depictions of, sexual activities that they do
not wish to engage in in their own lives, or that they
would be unable to engage in in their own lives (see
pornography and
erotica).
See also:
sex,
human sexuality,
child sexuality,
sexual orientation,
gender and sexuality studies,
obstetrics and gynecology,
sexual arousal,
pornography,
X-rated,
Sexual ritual,
Love-shyness,
Sex positivity.
