In the previous essay I described, in more details, the phases do sexual identity development[1]. In this essay, I will briefly introduce possible causes of sexual identity structural and functional blocks, according to P.A[2].
At the beginning of puberty, most of the children have already had some sort of contact with pleasure discharges coming from erogenous zones. Any child, in principle, is able to fantasize and to give it a structure, which we know as daydream. Fantasies and daydreams are precursors of the ability to plan and, later, eventually, turn them into projects that should satisfy their needs and desires and aspirations. Sexual energy enables them to direct erotic fantasies to other bodies. Initially, such energy comes up in a pervasive and disoriented way and, also, many times, in a scaring intensity, since it comes together with eroticized sensations. The first and main sexual energy discharging channel is masturbation. It starts to work with this function at this stage and keeps being one possible discharging channel throughout life. In puberty it is crucial because it enables kids to discharge sexual energy without a partner, i.e, to start experimenting eroticization in their bodies until they are ready or, in other words, have physical and psychological conditions to start an active sexual life. Erotic energy directs fantasy towards an object of desire and will be, therefore, precursor of plans associated with people’s sexual interests. In adult life, masturbation is supposed to have a complementary role, both in sex and individual pleasure. It may also happen as a way of discharging anxieties (non-identified anguishes, once it brings momentary pleasure and relief). This way, they are used as an outlet (safety valve) for anxieties. If, however, it is kept as the only discharging channel for sexual energy, it might be a sign of a sexual identity block.
To be continued in the next Post
[1] From now on I will use the initials S.I to refer to sexual identity. [2] P.A stands for Psychodramatic Analysis, my main referential methodology. It entails: cenesthetical program theory (CPT), sexual identity theory (S.I) and maturity process as a theoretical body, and with decoding dreams plus techniques adapted from Psychodrama as additional resources to make clinical sessions more dynamic. .
Comments