Development of Sexual Behavior

Stages of Development: Adolescence

Erotic Behavior 5

The advice given to unmarried adolescents that they should postpone sexual intercourse may be reasonable in view of the current AIDS pandemic and possible unwanted pregnancies, but, on a global scale, it is less and less likely to be followed. World-wide, the age of puberty is decreasing while the age of marriage is rising. This is especially true of developing countries where now 85 % of the world's young people live. Most of these resent the lengthening period of premarital sexual frustration. Unfortunately, many do not know enough about sexually transmitted diseases, reproduction and contraception to make responsible choices. Moreover, adolescents often lack the power and self-confidence to refuse unwanted sexual advances. Young females in particular are all too often sexually abused. Not only that: In many developing countries the traditional mechanisms of social control are breaking down: Long established religious and political doctrines are losing their influence while Western lifestyles are eagerly, and often uncritically, adopted. This, in turn, sometimes provokes an ultra-conservative backlash, dividing the population, and increasing the moral disorientation of the young.

North America   Latin America and Caribbean   Sub-Saharan Africa   Europe   Arab States region   Asia and Pacific

Adolescent population by region 2003-2050
The graph shows the size, in millions, of the adolescent population in various regions in 2003 and 2050. As one can see, the largest numbers, now and in the future, are in sub-Saharan Africa and in the Asia/Pacific region. (“Adolescents” are here defined as being between 10 and 19 years old. This follows the usage of most demographic studies, where, in addition, the general expression “young people” refers to individuals between the ages of 10 and 24, while the term “youth” means persons between 15 and 24.)
Source: UNFPA www.unfpa.org/swp/2003/english/ch1/