性行為的發展

嬰幼兒期會在短時間內經歷一個引人注目的生理與心理的發育與發展過程。他們也許會在很早就具備了基本的“性反應”能力，並且有的甚至會體驗到極度興奮（orgasm[1]）。在2歲時，他們通常已經學會用手探查外部世界和自己的身體。在後續的幾個月裏，也能夠指望他們控制自己的排尿和排便。轉而，這也能夠幫助他們發展自主意識，並且，如果他們沒有受到干預——他們也可能開始有某種方式的性器官刺激活動。

這不是意味著他們的（這種）體驗能夠與成人的性欲行為相比擬，而是意味著那種成人期的性欲行為的生物潛能常常在早期就能夠被發覺。對於嬰幼兒和低幼兒來說，他們使身體愉悅的各種體驗尚未被清晰地辨別和精確地作出劃分。兒童只是會逐漸學習哪一種行為和感覺是“性的”行為和“性的”感覺，哪一種不是“性的”行為和“性的”感覺。他們會從一個總體的文化腳本來獲得這種認知。而這個文化腳本是由其父母、親屬和其他成年人傳授給他們的。

文化決定什麼是“性的”定義

[1]. 按照作者所講“就嬰兒和兒童來說，永遠都應該審慎地使用‘性的（sexual）’這個詞”的審慎觀點，此處的orgasm並不翻譯成“性高潮”或“高潮”，而是翻譯成“極度興奮”。詳見網頁：嬰幼兒期的性行為發展。——譯者注。

Stages of Development: Infancy

“Sexual Response”

Infants undergo a dramatic physical and psychological development within a short time. They may very early become capable of basic „sexual responses“, and some may even experience orgasm. At the age of two, they have usually learned to use their hands for exploring the world and their own bodies. Within another few months, they can also be expected to gain control over their bladder and bowel movements. This, in turn, helps them to develop a sense of independence, and - if they are not interfered with - they may also begin a pattern of deliberately stimulating their sex organs.
This does not mean that their experiences are comparable to the erotic behavior of adults, but it means that the biological potential for it can often be detected early on. For infants and small children, their various pleasurable physical experiences are not yet clearly identified and neatly compartmentalized. Children learn only gradually which actions and feelings are “sexual” and which are not. They learn this from a general cultural script transmitted to them by their parents, relatives and other adults.