Human sexual activity

manner in which humans engage sexually

Human sexual behavior refers to all the ways in which humans experience and live their sexuality. It includes acts done alone, for example masturbation, and acts done with a partner. Not all acts done with a partner are about sexual intercourse. All these acts usually result in sexual arousal. Human sexual activity can also include things done to find new partners, or to attract their attention (for example courtship).

An illustration from the Kama Sutra shows a woman on top of a man. It also shows an erect penis, which is one of the signs of arousal in men.
Mural painting in Pompeii, showing oral sex.

Types of human sexual activity change

Sexual activity has many different forms. Commonly, sexual activity involves foreplay,[1] which is the act of making the partner feel good. Sexual activity can involve one or more people. Sexual activity may be different depending on the gender and sexual orientation of the people involved.[2][3]

Some forms of sexual activity only involve one person, which is called autoeroticism.[1] A person who does autoeroticism typically engages in sexual fantasy or masturbation.[1]

If two or more people are involved, they will do sexual activity with each other. Two partners can do vaginal sex, anal sex, or oral sex. Alternatively, they may do mutual masturbation,[1] which is the act of masturbating each other. Penetrative sex between two people may be described as sexual intercourse.

If there are more than two people in a sex act, it may be referred to as group sex.

People can use sex toys to make their sexual activity more enjoyable. Examples include dildos, vibrators, and butt plugs. Sex toys are usually used alone, but they can be used with partners too.

Some people have fetishes. This is a type of human sexual activity that involves body parts or objects that are not normally regarded as sexual. Fetishes of body parts (partialism) include the breasts, navel, and feet.[4] Some people have fetishes for objects, such as shoes, clothing, lingerie, leather, and rubber. Some people with fetishes have a sexual interest in certain actions, such as choking. However, some fetishes can be dangerous, some of which may cause injury.[5]

In order to have good human sexual activity, both partners must agree to do sexual activity, and they must be at least a certain age.[6] This is called consent. If sexual activity is forced or threatened, it is considered rape or another form of sexual assault. In different cultures and countries, various sexual activities may be lawful or illegal depending on the person's age, gender, status of marriage, or other reasons related to the participants of sexual activity.[6] Some countries don't have laws against certain types of sexual activity, even if the sexual activity does not agree with social norms or generally accepted sexual morals.[6]

Related pages change

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Greenberg, Jerrold S.; Bruess, Clint E. Bruess (2016). Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 545. ISBN 978-1284081541.
  2. Milton, Martin (2010). Therapy and Beyond: Counselling Psychology Contributions to Therapeutic and Social Issues. John Wiley & Sons. p. 211. ISBN 978-0470797587.
  3. Dodd, SJ (2020). Sex-Positive Social Work. Columbia University Press. p. 108. ISBN 978-0231547666.
  4. Chand, Suresh (2019). Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 1st Edition. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 272. ISBN 978-8131254585.
  5. The Certified Criminal Investigator Body of Knowledge. CRC Press. 2017. p. 447. ISBN 978-1498752060.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Cowling, Mark; Reynolds, Paul (2017). Making Sense of Sexual Consent. Routledge. pp. 1–304. ISBN 978-1351920711.