Discussion Human sexuality is an interesting and important topic to study. It is an integral part of many people's lives. Most of us are curious about sex because open discussions of sex are somewhat taboo. For example, open discussion of preferences for different kinds of food or movies are much more common than open discussions about different kinds of sex. Education based upon facts, rather than glorified ideas about sexual pleasure, can help people feel more open about communicating about sex with their sexual partners, their children, and others.
Most people think that they are more knowledgeable about sex than they actually are.
Most of us experience sex-related concerns or problems at some time in our lives, and learning about sex can help us identify and solve such problems. Cross-cultural studies of sex show that there is enormous variability in human sexual behavior. Although all cultures regulate sex in some ways, attitudes regarding masturbation, same-gender sexual behavior, gender roles, and extramarital sex vary greatly from one culture to another. The considerable cross-cultural variations illustrate the importance of the social context in shaping our views about sex and our sexual behaviors. Although biological factors certainly play a role in influencing sexual behavior, psychological and social influences become much more important for creatures higher on the evolutionary scale.