When failure does occur, it is generally the by-product of a medical intervention such as surgery or medications (Huffstetler, 2006)."
The facts of this article have been well supported by other reading that I have done in the past. I have spent time looking at various aspects human sexuality among older people and have found the research and texts that have been recently published all support the belief that older people do enjoy and continue to have sexual relations.
For years this was a topic that was not discussed nor was much research done to determine its importance or existence among society residents, but in more recent years there has been an increased focus on the sexuality of older adults.
Many studies have looked at the older adult's interest in sex as well as the ability to participate in sexual relations with other older adults and concluded there is an active sexuality going on among the older generation members.
This article also supports what I have read concerning the psychological aspects of older adults and sexual interest.
Although physiological changes may contribute to reduced sexual performance among older adults, some psychological theories have been offered to explain why older persons may not pursue sexual intimacies (Huffstetler, 2006). For instance, Freudian theory suggests that rejection of sexuality in older adults originates from the Oedipus complex (Huffstetler, 2006). The Oedipus complex is a concept that describes how a child falls in love with and wants to have intercourse with the opposite-sex parent (Huffstetler, 2006). The accompanying hostility toward the same-sex parent and the desire to engage in incest are not socially sanctioned, so feelings of anxiety and guilt accompany the Oedipus complex...
The child then develops repulsion toward the thought of his or her parents having sexual intercourse, which could be perceived as an aversion toward sexuality in older adults in general (Huffstetler, 2006)." learned several new pieces of information while reading this article. I learned that older people do have sex well into their golden years. While other studies and articles I have read supported this theory, this particular article used statistical facts and numbers to illustrate its points.
Perhaps the most important thing I learned is where the idea that older people do not have sex may have originated from. The discussion about Freud's ideas and the Oedipus Complex made sense to me in a way that other theories have not done. It makes sense that people want to believe older humans do not have an interest in sex, because to believe that they do would be to face the fact that their own parents may behaving sex. Thinking about one's opposite sex parent having sex is bordering on Freud's theory about the Oedipus Complex and could be significantly uncomfortable for one to imagine or think about. Therefore it is more comfortable for people in general to decide and believe the older generation has no interest in sexual relations nor do they participate in any sexual activity.
CONCLUSION
This article was helpful to me in my studies because it supported and elaborated on what my readings have already found. People are sexual throughout their lives and the acceptance of that will help those working with the elderly to provide the best and most objective treatment and care possible.
REFERENCE
Huffstetler, Beverly (2006) Sexuality in older adults: a deconstructionist perspective.(Clinical report) Adultspan Journal.
