Early Childhood and the Discovery of the Body

Formation of Primary Attachment Bonds, Sensory Stimulation, and Basic Trust in the Early Years (0–6 Years)

During early childhood, sexuality is intrinsically linked to survival, attachment, and sensorimotor stimulation.

At this stage, affective-sexual development has no coital or reproductive connotations but manifests itself through the biological need for contact, affection, and care.

Attachment Bond and Basic Trust: The quality of physical contact (hugs, caresses, rocking) between the baby and their primary attachment figures lays the foundation for emotional security.

This skin-to-skin contact regulates the infant’s nervous system, promotes the release of oxytocin, and builds what Erik Erikson termed “basic trust,” which is the foundation for future healthy interpersonal relationships.

Sensory stimulation and body map: Through tactile exploration, the child begins to differentiate his or her own body from that of the mother or caregiver.

The discovery of the genitals occurs incidentally and naturally, just like the discovery of the hands or feet.

When touching themselves, children experience pleasurable sensations that integrate their erogenous zones into their body schema.

Absence of Adult Malice: Self-exploration behaviors in this age group stem from curiosity and the maturation of the nervous system.

Adult intervention should focus on normalizing this behavior, avoiding reactions of alarm, punishment, or censure that might lead the child to associate their own body with guilt or early shame.

Manifestations of autoeroticism, modesty, and relational experimentation in school-age childhood (6–10 years)

Upon entering school, a child’s social environment expands beyond the nuclear family.

Sexuality begins to be shaped by socialization, the assimilation of cultural norms, and interaction with peers.

Development of Modesty and Privacy: Around age 6, the concept of privacy begins to take shape.

Modesty does not arise innately, but rather as a sociocultural construct that children internalize.

They learn to differentiate between public and private spaces and to understand which behaviors (such as self-stimulation or nudity) are reserved for private settings.

Self-stimulation as a coping mechanism: Childhood masturbation at this stage is typically a means of self-discovery, comfort, or stress relief.

Unlike adolescent or adult masturbation, it does not involve sexual fantasies centered on other people.

Relational experimentation and role-playing: It is common for exploratory games (such as “playing doctor”) to emerge, driven by anatomical curiosity regarding the differences between the sexes and biological processes (pregnancy, birth).

These games are considered normal as long as they occur among peers of similar age and developmental level, without coercion, and stem from childlike curiosity.

Summary

The childhood stage (0–10 years) lays the foundation for human sexual identity. It begins with the formation of secure attachment bonds and the sensory discovery of one’s own body in a setting free of prejudice (0–6 years).

Subsequently, it evolves into a phase of socialization where the child assimilates cultural norms, develops a sense of privacy (modesty), and channels their anatomical curiosity through normative exploratory play with peers (6–10 years).

The adult’s attitude toward these expressions will determine whether the child integrates their sexuality through guilt or through acceptance and respect for the body.