SEXUALITY IN THE INFANT AND NEONATE: GENITAL PLAY AND SEX REHEARSALS
At birth and perhaps even before, the sensor) motor, and neurologic systems are sufficiently mature to permit genitopelvic functioning. The male infant may be born with a penile erection and erections are observed in the majority of them in the early weeks of life. The parallel phenomenon, vaginal lubrication in the female infant, is more difficult to establish, but it also may occur. Both male and female infants respond to genital stimulation with behavior indicating an increased sense of well-being—quieting and relaxation and smiling; boys may have an erection.
When it is not prohibited, genital self-touching begins between six and twelve months, somewhat earlier in boys than in girls, as part of the exploration of one’s own body. Spitz reported genital play in 21 of the 170 infants studied throughout their first year. The majority of infants, whether male or female, began genital play after eight months of age. He also reported that genital play was common in children reared in private homes in which mother-child contact was rated as “normal” but was virtually absent in children reared in a foundling home by nurses. Genital self-touching appears to be more frequent in infants reared in circumstances promoting healthy psychosocial development and continuing mother-infant pair-bonding.
In the second half of the second year, infants typically are interested in their own genitals, appear to experience sexual feelings, and to recognize anatomical differences when the opportunity to do so exists. This “early genital phase” occurs a year or two before the psychoanalytic genital phase, which is accompanied by the sexual competition and rivalry of the Oedipal period. The genital discovery phase may occur earlier when there are less severe constraints on body exploration. Kleeman describes a boy’s discovery of his penis, and the gradual evolution from exploratory touching to pleasurable masturbation from eight months into the second year:
(8 mos.) He was just eight months to the day. There he sat in the bathtub playing with the rubber mat beneath himself as the water ran out of the tub. Looking down, he spied a small object between his chunky, little thighs. He reached down and gently felt it in his fingers (his initial approach to anything new was usually a gentle one). He moved it and squeezed it with interest several times. He released his hand and reached again for the bathmat and then for the drain plug and, as if he were suddenly reminded, once again he lowered his eyes and put his hand down to discover anew his penis.
(10 mos.) William played with his genitals again, for the first time in two months. It also occurred this time in the bath. He had an erection. I am not certain whether this preceded, or was the result of, his manipulation. He played with one hand and then with both, talking in a quiet jabber as he did. He then got on all fours and “peeked” as if to check if his penis was still there, but his pendulous belly made viewing difficult. He sat down and checked. He felt himself a little more. That was that!
(11 mos.) During most of the bath he played with a washcloth. As the water was draining out, William grabbed at his penis and held it with one hand. He released the penis shortly thereafter, and pressed his genitalia with a plastic bottle he was holding in the other hand. He rubbed the bottle against his penis. He again put his free hand back on his penis and pulled back and forth on the foreskin, in fine movements with his fingers. He squeezed the penis and testicles together and moved them around. The penis became erect. The mother (who frankly acknowledged her interest in his budding masculinity) said, “Do you like it, Billy?” Shortly he let go; the mother did not focus any more attention on his genitalia. The erection gradually subsided.
(16 mos.) In the bath William carried on active and rather absorbed manipulations and stimulation of his genitals for approximately five minutes. This resulted in a 3+ erection, which had been occurring frequently but not invariably with less concentrated stimulation. He lifted the penis upward, rolled the testicles and scrotum up toward the penis, squeezed the scrotum and penis together, and tugged on the foreskin and the glans. He was “talking” and chortling as he stimulated himself. Clearly this directed behavior brought him localized sensation and pleasure. There was no evidence of orgasm.
(19 mos.) Several times the following was observed: After he was undressed for his bath, William would sit on the floor stimulating his penis with his fingers. It quickly became fully erect and he tugged on his penis with excitement of considerable intensity. He would bob his erect penis up and down with his fingers. The degree of absorption in self-stimulation was still such that he could be readily distracted. Whenever his mother said it was time for his bath or nap, he turned to his mother at once.
An account of the parallel phenomenon of a girl’s discovery of her clitoris and vagina has not been recorded. Existing accounts of a girl’s interest in her own and other’s genitals and in the initiation of masturbation tend to emphasize he pathological aspects of the genital play.
In some children, the recognition of anatomical differences produces fear of genital loss. Such fears are more likely to occur in children who have experienced a disturbance in body image through illness or pain, or who have experienced parental loss or detachment. Normal, healthy children also express concern. Providing a small child with names for his genital organs as they are discovered and clarifying confusions about genital loss, promotes healthy psychosexual development and pride in one’s own body image. Kleeman describes a small boy and his mother’s perceptive responses to his inquiries:
(18 mos.) In his bath at the end of the day he was standing and bent way over, looking at his genitals. He pushed the penis aside and pointed to his scrotum and testicles, uttering “Oooh, oooh” with concern. When his mother named them, “Those are your bailies,” he repeated, “Bailies,” and seemed relieved.
(21 mos.) At twenty-one months William’s awareness of his scrotum and testicles became more definite. Before his bath he was sitting nude on the floor. Looking down at his genitalia, he pointed to his scrotal sac and asked: “Dat is?” His mother replied, “Those are your bailies.” He then named them: “Bailies.”
(21 mos.) Today William watched his mother empty his bowel movement from the diaper into the toilet. The feces were brownish and ball-shaped. When she flushed the toilet, William commented: “Billy’s other penis down the toidet.” His mother explained very carefully: “Billy’s penis and bailies are right here (she had already put on fresh diapers and pointed to the genital area through them) and they don’t come off!” On the previous day, while sitting on the toilet, he had leaned over, pointed to his scrotal sac and testicles, and asked: “Dis is?” His mother had explained: “Those are your bailies”.
*12/187/5*
