性行為的發展

老年期非常可能是性滿足的時期。不過，只有設定男女悅納他們的生理機能衰退的現實和以更深厚的親密關係補償的前提下，性滿足才是可能的。在老年期的性滿足過程中，他們必須以新的態度看待自我和對待其伴侶，並且必須調整他們早先的行為模式。例如：老齡夫妻的一個不必要的疑難問題可能是對性器官和性高潮的固著（fixation）[1]。不幸的是，在現代社會裏，這種固著是社會大的文化腳本的一部分；而這種大的文化腳本由大眾傳媒以強調年輕、漂亮和有活力所提供和沒完沒了地所重複。無論如何，不加批判地採納這個大的文化腳本，這會導致性關係曲解（distortion of sexual relationship）。對較年輕的成人來說，性關係曲解不可能很快顯現。畢竟，只要年輕夫妻仍維持著其它的旺盛精力，這種性關係曲解儘管不易被察覺，它也許能夠被容忍和易於處理。但是，隨著年歲的步伐和精力的談出，男女雙方如果想要延續他們的性交流，可能必須重建失卻的默契關係。對於上了年紀的夫妻，通常更值得去努力的事情，莫過於把全身都開發成性敏感區（erogenous zone），莫過於利用所有形式的性交流方式，莫過於更多地全神貫注於性交流的過程而不是性交流可能的性高潮。的確，老年期也許是伴侶雙方發現“性（sex）”與肉欲（eroticism）之間的差別的時候；也是正巧在他們的性反應減弱之時，他們的性欲行為變得更為滿足的時候。出於這種考慮，他們追求幸福的能力可以持續終生。對於不同性別的夫妻、也對於同性的伴侶，都是如此。只要雙方關係仍就完好，性交流會經歷相同的變化和為個人成熟提供同樣的機會。

Stages of Development: Old Age

Erotic Behavior 1

Old age can very well be a time of erotic fulfillment. However, this is possible only if women and men accept their physical decline and compensate it with deeper intimacy. In the process, they have to develop a new attitude toward themselves and their partners, and they have to modify some of their previous behavior patterns. For example: One unnecessary problem for older couples may be the fixation on the sex organs and on orgasm. Unfortunately, in our modern world, this fixation is part of a larger cultural script which is offered and endlessly repeated by the mass media with their emphasis on youth, beauty, and energy. However, if uncritically adopted, the script leads to a distortion of sexual relationships. This may not be immediately apparent to younger adults. After all, as long as a couple remains otherwise vigorous, the distortion, although dimly perceived, may seem tolerable and manageable. However, with advancing age and waning strength, females and males may have to restore the lost balance if they want to continue their sexual communication. For aging couples it is usually much more rewarding to explore the whole body as an erogenous zone, to take advantage of all forms of sexual communication, and to concentrate more on the process than on its possible climax. Indeed, old age may be a time when both partners discover the difference between “sex” and eroticism, and when their erotic behavior becomes more satisfying even as their sexual responses weaken. In this sense, their capacity for happiness may continue to grow as long as they live. This is true for couples of different sex as well as those of the same sex. As long as the relationship remains intact, it undergoes the same changes and offers the same chances for personal growth.