Developmental Psychology

7.5 Adolescent Sexual Activity During this stage, some adolescents become sexually active. Statistics show that the age of becoming sexually active is dropping, meaning that there are younger ages beginning to experiment with sexual activities. Since younger adolescents are starting to engage in sexual activities, and do not truly have the education regarding the potential issues such as sexually transmitted diseases or infections, as well as pregnancy arise. Some of the STD’s and STI’s that are possible are listed below. • Syphilis • Gonorrhea • Herpes • Chlamydia • Human papilloma virus • HIV/AIDS Recent studies show that 80% of teenage mothers will remain unmarried, and they all eventually enter the workforce. In the 1960s, teenage mothers typically got married first, then they worried about having children, and usually became stay at home mothers. Poor choices in life is said to be caused by lack of good judgment. The notion of Invincibility Fallacy is a cause of sexual activity. There are many schools that are trying to steer away from teaching adolescent’s abstinence only, and beginning to teach them that they have choices, but that they should protect themselves if they do choose to become sexually active. Some educational institutions say that it is hard to assess how effective sex education programs are since there are a variety of cultures, different languages, and sexuality such as either being straight, homosexual, etc. Despite all the different cultures, languages, etc., there is one general consensus and that is most teenagers are willing to discuss sex, than in previous generations. However, the trend of engaging in sexual activities is kept a private and personal matter, and when they feel that it is time to share their opinions, they will.

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