Childhood Phases of Maturity

Ernest Borneman

ISBN 10: 0879758953 / ISBN 13: 9780879758950

Published by Prometheus Books, US, 1994

About this Item

In this ground-breaking work, leading Austrian sexologist, Ernest Borneman describes each phase of the psychosexual development of children from conception to age eight. Based on extensive research, "Childhood Phases of Maturity" overturns the prevalent assumption that children are asexual innocents, for whom sexuality is an inconceivable aspect of life until the onset of puberty. In fact, Borneman argues, the opposite is true: sexuality is indisputably a fact of human development from conception; it manifests itself in children in various ways, including their games, rich fantasy life, need for skin contact, and masturbation. Research shows that the natural expression of sexuality in childhood is vital to the later healthy development of adult sexuality.Borneman divides his discussion of each successive age group into two sections: the first describes healthy sexual development at a particular age; the second examines the pathologies resulting from aberrations in sexual growth at that age. Borneman demonstrates that the roots of adult neuroses and paraphilias can often be traced back to disturbances in sexual development during childhood.Perhaps the most important influence on a child's psychosexual well-being is the parents' attitudes toward their own sexuality. This is an authoritative, clearly written reference book, which will serve parents, educators, and health-care professionals as a valuable source of information on the sexual developmental psychology of children.

Seller Inventory # LU-9780879758950

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Childhood Phases of Maturity
• Publisher: Prometheus Books, US
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0879758953
• ISBN 13: 9780879758950
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

In this ground-breaking work, leading Austrian sexologist, Ernest Borneman describes each phase of the psychosexual development of children from conception to age eight. Based on extensive research, "Childhood Phases of Maturity" overturns the prevalent assumption that children are asexual innocents, for whom sexuality is an inconceivable aspect of life until the onset of puberty. In fact, Borneman argues, the opposite is true: sexuality is indisputably a fact of human development from conception; it manifests itself in children in various ways, including their games, rich fantasy life, need for skin contact, and masturbation. Research shows that the natural expression of sexuality in childhood is vital to the later healthy development of adult sexuality.Borneman divides his discussion of each successive age group into two sections: the first describes healthy sexual development at a particular age; the second examines the pathologies resulting from aberrations in sexual growth at that age. Borneman demonstrates that the roots of adult neuroses and paraphilias can often be traced back to disturbances in sexual development during childhood. Perhaps the most important influence on a child's psychosexual well-being is the parents' attitudes toward their own sexuality. This is an authoritative, clearly written reference book, which will serve parents, educators, and health-care professionals as a valuable source of information on the sexual developmental psychology of children.

About the Author

Ernest Borneman is Austria's foremost sexologist and a pioneering researcher in the area of pediatric sexology. He has taught at many universities in Austria and Germany, and has published numerous articles and books on the subject of human sexuality.