Humanistic (or person-centered) psychologists believe that we all strive to develop ourselves to the best of our abilities and to achieve self-actualization (Raskin & Rogers, 1989). This is easier to do if we are raised with unconditional positive regard, which involves accepting and caring about another person without any stipulations or conditions. In other words, there are no rules a person must follow in order to be loved. An example of unconditional positive regard would be a child being caught playing sexual games with her friends and her parents explaining that they loved her but disapproved of her behavior.
If, on the other hand, the parents responded by yelling at the child and sending her to her room, she learns that when she does something wrong, her parents will withdraw their love. This is referred to as conditional love. The parents make it clear that they will love their child only when she acts properly.
Children who grow up with unconditional positive regard learn to accept their faults and weaknesses, whereas children who have experienced conditional love may try to ignore those traits because they know others would not approve. Accepting our faults and weaknesses leads us toward self-actualization.
Self-actualization occurs as we learn our own potential in life. We want to do things that make us feel good about ourselves. For the majority of us, casual sex with someone we don’t know would not make us feel good; therefore, it does not contribute to our own growth. Sexual intimacy in a loving and committed relationship does feel good and helps contribute to our own self-actualization.
Biological Theory
The biological theory of human sexuality emphasizes that sexual behavior is primarily a biological process. The acts of sexual intercourse, hormonal release, ovulation, ejaculation, conception, pregnancy, and birth are controlled physiologically. Sexual function evolved over thousands of years and is deeply embedded in our physiology. Those who advocate this theory also point out that human sexual behavior, including gender roles and sexual orientation, are primarily due to inborn, genetic patterns and are not functions of social or psychological forces. Sexual problems are believed to be due to physiological causes, and intervention often includes medications or surgery.
Question: How can the biological theory explain sexual behavior?
A person who adopts a biological theory of sexuality would explain differences in sexuality as a result of brain anatomy, hormones, neurochemicals, or other physical explanations. For example, if a male college student had a problem with premature ejaculation, the biological theorist would look to physical reasons for the problem, such as hormonal or neurological causes. If, on the other hand, a biological theorist were trying to explain sexual orientation, he or she might look at hormones, genetics, or brain anatomy for an explanation.