The earliest encounters of infant and mother can hardly help but contribute to the sensory and affectional awakening of the infant arousing sensitivity in his body and stimulating the growth of sexual consciousness. Evidence of a child's capacity for sensory pleasure in the first year of life is apparent. From birth to one year of age the mouth is the chief pleasure zone of the infant, but he responds to total body contact as well. (Renshaw, 1971).
The chief pleasurable activity
in the first year is sucking at the mother's breast or thumb
sucking. However, the progressive development and orderly shift of sexuality
from the mouth to other parts of the body (feet, thighs, abdomen)
is evidenced in the activities of the infant when he is naked or
when being bathed. His fingers wander searchingly over other parts of
his body exploring the ears, the navel, the nipple region, and the genital
area. Whether the infant is free to explore and stimulate his own
body depends largely upon the parental acceptance of the infant's nakedness
and freedom of bodily activities.
Even prenatally, as we have already indicated, the human begins to
develop a system of tensional outlets. These include changing positions
in the womb, pre-sleep rocking in the crib, bedshaking, head
banging, as well as handling of the genitals and possibly some masturbating.
Removal of clothes and attempts to run around naked occur between
one and two years. (Ilg and Ames, 1955). By two years the infant
has already incorporated some of these impulses into forms of expression
permitted by society, and although rocking, head banging, and some
masturbating occur (Gesell and Ilg, 1946, p. 271), much of the two year
old's release of tension is manifested by displays of strong affection
toward parents-kissing, for example. (Gesell and Ilg, 1946, p. 322).
Dolls and teddy bears receive much attention as well. Feeding, toileting,
dressing, and being taken for rides is characteristic of things
that occupy the two year old's attention. (Gesell and Ilg, 1946, p.
366). The evidence of underlying sexual development is exhibited in
other achievements of the infant. Naming of the genitals with the use
of a word for urination, distinguishing boys from girls on the basis of
clothing and haircut (rather than on the basis of bodily differences),
and differentiating adults by such words as "lady" or "man" are among
these achievements. (Gesell and Ilg, 1946, p. 322). At two and one-half years
of age the infant has added still more to
his understanding of the socio-sexual scene. His differentiation of
male and female roles has increased markedly. He is aware of his gender
and the fact that he is like his parent of the same gender and different
from his opposite-gender parent, as well as his opposite-gender
peers. He can now differentiate the gender of children by the terms boy
and girl.
The two and one-half year old may well have incorporated a
non-verbal generalization that boys and fathers have distinct genitalia
and stand when they urinate while girls and mothers do not. This
age marks the beginning of interest in the physiological differences
between sexes. The infant is very conscious of his own sex organs and
may handle them when undressed. Inquiries concerning mothers' breasts
are common. All in all, the infant has reached a point where, because
gender distinctions are possible, socialization into a male or female
role can and does occur. (Gesell and Ilg, 1946, p. 322; Ilg and Ames,
1955, p. 203).
Toward the end of infancy, or early in childhood, erotic feelings
become centered in the genitalia and definite periods of sex play can
be observed. (Ribble, 1955, p. 26). Sex interest increases with age and
is variable in that some infants and children are much more interested
than other infants in the whole subject of sex. There are the highly
motivated who show an early and intense interest in trying things out
for themselves but ask few questions as well as those who are less interested
in activity and more interested in asking questions about sex.
There are others who are disinterested in the topic of sex.
The infant shows a distinct sexual nature and develops a great deal
in the first two years. Whatever the means, whatever the extent of curiosity,
and whatever the restrictive or permissive forces, the infant
of 0-2 years acquires sexual experience, knowledge, attitudes, and
feelings that may influence his whole life.