Sexual behavior is an essential aspect of human life. Everyone desires to engage in sexual activity at some point, but it has different meanings depending on the individual's perspective.
Sex can be pleasurable, gratifying, spiritual, satisfying, stress relieving, or educational.
When people perform sexual acts for their peers' approval, they tend to experience guilt and regret due to moral constraints. Such acts affect one's self-perception and social standing negatively. This essay will explain how performing sexual behaviors for peer approval affects moral reasoning, self-perception, and social standing.
Moral Reasoning
People who perform sexual acts for their peers' approval are likely to engage in immoral acts because they want to fit into society and avoid rejection or ridicule. They may feel that if they do not conform to society's norms, they will be rejected, which might result in social ostracism. As a result, they become dishonest about themselves and their actions. When people behave immorally, they risk losing their dignity and self-respect, leading to low self-esteem. According to research by Jane, many teenagers have engaged in immoral sexual activities due to peer pressure, resulting in increased risky behaviors such as drug abuse, teen pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Self-Perception
When individuals engage in sexual behavior for peer approval, they lose respect for themselves because they compromise their morals and values. They become hypocritical and pretend to be something they are not.
They portray themselves as "cool" and trendy while deep down they know it is wrong.
They may suffer from psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and guilt, affecting their mental health negatively. Self-perception refers to the way one views oneself, and when people engage in immoral acts, they view themselves as lesser than others, leading to reduced self-confidence and self-worth.
Social Standing
People who perform sexual behaviors for peer approval tend to have a lower social standing because they act against societal rules. This is contrary to how other people perceive them and may lead to social isolation.
If someone performs sexual acts with multiple partners without using protection, they might acquire STDs or get pregnant. Such an individual's social life will be limited because most people would avoid them out of fear of contracting the same disease.
They might face criticism from society because they engage in acts that violate norms and moral principles. Therefore, performing sexual acts for peer approval can affect one's social standing negatively.
Performing sexual acts for peer approval is detrimental to one's well-being and health. It leads to low self-esteem, poor mental health, decreased self-respect, and negative social status. Therefore, everyone should practice abstinence until marriage and wait for marriage before engaging in sexual activities. This will help maintain high morals and prevent teenage pregnancies, drug abuse, and STDs. Individuals should also learn to love themselves regardless of what others say about them and remain true to their values and beliefs.
How does performing sexual behaviors for peer approval affect moral reasoning, self-perception, and social standing?
When adolescents engage in sexual behavior for peer approval, they may experience negative impacts on their moral reasoning, self-perception, and social standing. This could be due to feelings of shame and guilt associated with engaging in these behaviors, which can lead to decreased self-esteem and increased anxiety.