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Sexual Identity

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Submitted By chasity1234
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Personal Response on Sexuality Identity
PSY/265
August 26, 2012
William Noffsinger

Personal Response on Sexuality Identity
My own value systems and my sexual standards have been influenced by many sources. My parents, religion, peers, subculture, and appraisal from influences have all combined to influence my own value system. Prior to taking this class, I used the legalism approach to form all my values on sexual experiences. Growing up, I was taught that sex before marriage was wrong. As I grew into a young adult, I used the situational ethics approach, and I still do today. The approach that formulates a value system based on moral law is the legalism approach (Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus, 2005). However, the situational ethics approach bases decisions on the value system according to the situation at hand. Prior to losing my virginity at age 17, I was taught that sex before marriage was wrong. However, I did not personally believe this. I was skeptical about what I was taught, and usually examined the actions of others to base my own decisions. I listened to the experiences and opinions of others who had waited to have sex or had sex before marriage. I used critical thinking when making my decisions, but was always cautious about drawing any kind of conclusions on what was right or wrong. I also considered the alternative, not having sex. I have to be honest, everyone else was having sex and I wanted to experience for myself. Having sex was actually a big deal for me, just like most teenagers. I have to be honest though, I wish I would have waited. I believe this is normal for most people. Scientific and historical perspectives have helped me form my opinions of numerous opinions. For example, in Ancient Greece was common and acceptable for men to have sexual relationships with adolescent boys. Homosexuality was more acceptable, and the historic

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