Hoskins 1
Sex and the Adolescent Mind
Taylor Brook Hoskins
Psych 209-02
Shannon Parham
Wingate University
Due: November 15, 2016
Hoskins 2
Abstract: In this essay, I will explore the effects sex has on the adolescent mind. I will discuss
how sex affects the adolescent, how the sex talk with parents affects the adolescent’s view of
sex, and how peers influence adolescents’ sexuality. I will also discuss how sex is portrayed in
the media and how it can affect adolescents’ perception of sex and their expectations from sex. I
will also talk about the long term effects that can come from adolescent sex, such as teen
pregnancy, STDs, etc.
Hoskins 3
Taylor Brook Hoskins
Psychology 209-02
Shannon Parham
11/15/2016
Sex is an ever-growing topic in many teenagers’ lives. While many young boys and girls
are frightened and shy about the adult action, more and more teenagers are beginning to
experiment with sex and other various sexual activities. Many of these kids are taught at a young
age that sex is a forbidden act, and that they should abstain from partaking into these actions
until married or have found the ‘love of their life’. While it may work for many parents and
guardians to persuade their child from taking part in these activities, it can have much of the
opposite effect. It has been proven that parents having the sex talk with their adolescents and
teaching them proper safety precautions and the possible long term effects of having sex, such as
teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections is more effective at promoting safe sex
among teenagers than teaching abstinence. Many parents also forbid their teens from looking at
pornographic pictures and watching pornographic videos. The forbidden is the unknown, and
humans are curious creatures. While partaking in sexual activities and watching pornography
Hoskins 4
may be fun and exciting to many teenagers, it can have many negative psychological effects on
said teenager.
Many parents are appalled by the mere thought of their child having sex. The parents try
to force their child into believing that sex is a bad thing, and that said child should not ever
partake in sex and sexual activities until they are ready and have found ‘the one’. While this may
work for some parents, it has the opposite effect on some teenagers. It is like the saying
‘curiosity killed the cat’. Forbidding someone from doing something only provokes curiosity.
The parents have unknowingly pushed their child into a sexual life. It has been proven that
