When we think of sexuality, we might immediately think of sexual behaviour, but this is only a part of the whole picture. Unfortunately, this limited perspective arises due to misinformation and the reality that taboos still surround this topic. However, as it is a fundamental part of being human, it is critical to discuss it more openly.
Navigating your sexuality can be challenging, depending on various social and cultural factors. Many people may not feel safe exploring this aspect of themselves. However, with a comprehensive overview of what it entails, we can develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and how we relate to other people sexually.
In this post, we’ll provide an overview of the topic according to Dennis Dailey’s “Circles of Sexuality” model. We also share some SACAP Global courses that you can engage with to learn more.
The Circles of Sexuality Model
Dennis Dailey was a prolific author and lecturer at the University of Kansas. In the 1980s, he developed the abovementioned model. It is traditional in nature and is still used broadly in social work to give an overview of this concept. This model consists of five concentric circles and a sixth central circle. The circles are interlinked, meaning they are related to each other, even if they are not directly touching in the image.
The five circles include sensuality, intimacy, sexual identity, sexual health, reproduction and sexualisation. The sixth inner circle, “values”, influences how we view and relate to all the other circles.
Although developed many years ago, educators still use this model to teach people about the topic, as is evident in Dr. Brent Satterly’s talk, “The Circles of Sexuality: A Strengths-based Sex Positive Approach.” Although this talk is aimed at social workers, it is relevant to a general audience.
To get a better understanding of the model, we’ll now give a brief overview of each of the circles below:
1. Sensuality
Sensuality is how we experience life through all our senses and is broader than sexuality alone. It is a vital aspect of how we relate to ourselves and others. It includes how we prefer to be touched and how much we enjoy touching others. This need to be touched is known as “skin hunger,” and the degree to which you feel this will influence your physical needs in a relationship.
Other essential aspects of sensuality include body image, which is how we see and experience our bodies. Unfortunately, due to societal programming or negative experiences, we can feel uncomfortable in our bodies, which will influence the way we think about touching other people’s bodies, too.
The sexual response cycle involves how our bodies respond to someone whom we find sexually attractive. How this happens in the brain isn’t well understood, but it is clear that aural and visual stimuli play a prominent role. Sensuality also includes fantasy, which represents our idealised thoughts and feelings about who we would like to engage with physically and how.
2. Intimacy
We learn intimacy from our caregivers from a very young age. It is about emotional closeness, which consists of caring, sharing, loving, liking, self-disclosure, and building trust. Sex is one way of expressing intimacy as an adult.
Emotional closeness can be difficult for many people because it involves risk-taking and vulnerability, which many of us can struggle with if we have been hurt before or have experienced trauma.
3. Sexual identity
Sexual identity is complex and involves many factors. According to the traditional nature of this model and Satterley’s talk, it consists of the interplay of biological sex, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation, which influence how you express yourself as a sexual being.
Satterly talks about how biological sex is usually the sex assigned at birth, but this is not always the case. Your gender identity is how you feel internally about your gender, and gender expression relates to outward expressions of gender identity. However, it is vital to note that gender is a social construct, and your sexual identity can have nothing to do with your gender.
Finally, sexual orientation is who you are attracted to and who you develop feelings for, no matter what your gender identity is.
4. Sexual health and reproduction
Sexual health and reproduction may be where many of us received a lot of information about sexuality, perhaps during sex education at school. It’s critical to know how our bodies function, as well as be aware of reproductive processes and potential sexually transmitted diseases. However, it’s also vital to incorporate a broader view of healthy sexual functioning.
5. Sexualisation
According to Satterly, sexualisation refers to how a person uses their sexuality to control or influence others, and can be both positive and negative. He shares how sexualisation can be a part of wanting to connect with other people, for example, through flirting and seduction. However, sexualisation can be harmful when it involves objectification and treating people only as sexual objects.
Unfortunately, due to its darker aspects, sexualisation receives a lot of attention in the media, for example, when it involves sexual violence and harassment. Sexualisation also involves media messages and images, for example, pornography.
6. Values
As discussed above, values are the sixth circle and the lens through which we view all the other circles. Values are what are important to us, and they involve establishing what we believe to be good or bad and right or wrong. Therefore, developmentally appropriate conversations are critical to empower children to make healthy decisions.
Overall, it’s vital to consider how various biological, emotional, social and cultural aspects influence our lives. As well as how we interact physically and sexually with others. By using this model as a guideline, we can start to explore various aspects of ourselves and get a holistic view of what makes up all of the multiple elements of our sexual and social functioning.
Learn more about sexuality, relationships and sexology
We’ve shared a summary of the concept. To learn more about these topics, check out the following SACAP Global courses:
