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A. Discussion

Personal Health Attitudes: Its Influence in Sexual Behavior

Attitudes are established way of thinking or feeling that are typically reflected in a person’s behavior.
Attitudes involve the interaction of beliefs, feelings and values, and a disposition to act in particular ways.
Our attitudes help us to define how situations are seen, as well as define what is expected in behavior
towards a situation, person or object. Below is a diagram showing health attitudes that can influence sexual
behavior.

SELF
PEERS
 Appreciates own body
 Express love and intimacy
 Takes responsibility for own behaviors
in appropriate ways
 Knowledgeable about sexuality issues
 Have the skills to evaluate
readiness for mature
relationship
 Interact with both genders in
appropriate and respectful
ways

FAMILY

 Communicated effectively with family

 Able to express love to your
family members
 Perform your duties and
responsibilities at home

Review the following terms.

1. Sex – is the biological basis of being male or female.
2. Gender – It is a term that refers to social or cultural distinctions associated with being male, female, or
intersex. It does not exist naturally because it was generally regarded as a social construct where the
concept is created by cultural and societal norms.
3. Sexuality – It refers to people’s sexual interest in and attraction to others, as well as their capacity to
have erotic experiences and responses. It is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires,
beliefs,

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 attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles and relationships. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction
of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, religious and spiritual
factors.
Gender and sexuality are two issues that affect your life as a teenager. These two concepts have some
of the greatest impact on how you view yourself and deal with other people especially with the opposite sex.
Sexual feelings are normal and healthy. As a teen, you will experience a heightened desire to explore your
sexuality. This is completely normal and healthy. Just keep in mind that sexuality encompasses our whole
being. Managing sexuality-related issues should be founded on values particularly self-respect and respect
for others.
Let’s talk about...
Virgin – is a person who has not had sexual interaction.
Virginity – clean, spotless never been having experience of sexual intercourse

Socially free to develop many relationships

Staying
virgin until marriage
keeps you…Emotionallyfree from exploitation of others
free from guilt, doubt, disappointment and loss of reputation

free from pregnancy & venereal disease

Physicallyfree from having to choose a hurry-up wedding and illegitimate

B. Readings
In psychology, an attitude refers to a set of emotions, beliefs, and behaviors toward a particular
object, person, thing, or event. Attitudes are often the result of experience or upbringing, and they can have a
powerful influence over behavior. While attitudes are enduring, they can also change.

For example, you might have mixed feelings about a particular person or issue. Researchers also
suggest that there are several different components that make up attitudes. The components of attitudes are
sometimes referred to as CAB or the ABC's of attitude:

 Cognitive Component: Your thoughts and beliefs about the subject. For example: “I believe spiders
are dangerous”.
 Affective Component: How the object, person, issue, or event makes you feel. For example: “I am
scared of spiders”.
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  Behavioral Component: How attitude influences your behaviour. For example: “I will avoid spiders
and scream if I see one”.

There are a number of factors that can influence how and why attitudes form. Here is a closer look at
how attitudes form:

Experience
Attitudes form directly as a result of experience. They may
emerge due to direct personal experience, or they may result
from observation.

Social Factors
Social roles and social norms can have a strong influence on
attitudes. Social roles relate to how people are expected to
behave in a particular role or context. Social norms involve
society's rules for what behaviors are considered appropriate.

Learning
Consider how advertisers use classical conditioning to influence your attitude toward a particular
product. In a television commercial, you see young, beautiful people having fun on a tropical
beach while enjoying a sports drink. This attractive and appealing imagery causes you to
develop a positive association with this particular beverage.

Conditioning
Operant conditioning can also be used to influence how attitudes
develop. Imagine a young man who has just started smoking.
Whenever he lights up a cigarette, people complain, chastise him,
and ask him to leave their vicinity. This negative feedback from
those around him eventually causes him to develop an unfavorable
opinion
of smoking and he decides to give up the habit.

Observation
Finally, people also learn attitudes by observing people around
them. When someone you admire greatly espouses a particular
attitude, you are more likely to develop the same beliefs. For
example, children spend a great deal of time observing the attitudes
of their parents
Factors and attitude formation illustrated by JR Bee. https://tinyurl.com/3spdpxek
affecting

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 C. Examples

Life skills are learned behavior from our socio-cultural influences. Healthy behavior means you will
live a healthy and meaningful life. The life skills that are mentioned below will give you the tools to deal
with problems both big and small and may improve your attitudes. Assessing your health means evaluating
your well-being periodically. This includes your sexuality. Figure out what you can do to improve your
health if it is not as good as it can be.

1. Making Good Decisions means making choices that are healthy and responsible. You must have the
courage to make difficult decisions and stick to them.
2. Communicating Effectively. Communication skills help you avoid misunderstanding by expressing
your feelings in a healthy way. This means if you listen to what people say, they will want to listen
to you as well.
3. Practicing Wellness can be accomplished through information about good sexuality.
4. Setting Goals or aiming for something that will give you a sense of accomplishment. Just be sure to
be realistic with your target goal.
5. Refusal Skill is a way to say no to something that you don’t want to do. This skill requires practice.
But first, you must feel strongly about what things you want to avoid.
6. Evaluating Media Messages is being able to judge the worth of media messages. It is a big challenge
knowing that most media messages are very convincing.

II. Activity Proper

Activity I
Directions: On a sheet of paper, copy the diagram below and write at least 5 attitude changes you
expect as you mature from a boy/girl to a man/woman. Use the rubrics on the next page as a guide.

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Activity II
Directions: Assess your personal health attitudes that may influence your sexual behavior. Use the
rubrics below as a guide.
1. Do you take responsibility for your own behavior? Explain your answer.

2. Do you perform your duties and responsibilities at home? Give at least 5 examples.

3. How do you interact with both genders in appropriate and respectful ways? Give at least 5 examples.

Rubrics for Activities I and II

5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 points
The content is The content is clear The content has The content lacks The content
exceptionally and maintain a inconsistent focus clarity and focus. needs
clear, focused consistent focus and and slightly Inadequate improvement.
and very quite substantial. substantial. supporting details
substantial. Has Specific supporting Generalized with 3 missing
a strong and rich details are present supporting details examples.
supporting with 1 missing with 2 missing
details and example. examples.
examples.

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