PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PEDAGOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEXUAL CULTURE AMONG HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS

Abstract

The article examines the psychological factors that influence the development of sexual culture among higher education students and outlines prospects for improving sexual education in higher education institutions. The purpose of this article is to identify the psychological and pedagogical aspects influencing the development of sexual culture among higher education students. Theoretical analysis methods, including analysis, synthesis, generalization, classification, and modeling, were employed. The research highlights the significance of the educator’s personality in teaching the educational component aimed at developing sexual culture. The educator should not only possess a high level of professional competence in the fields of sexology, gender psychology, gender studies, physiology, and sociology but also be prepared to work with sensitive topics without bias or evaluative judgments. The proposed recommendations for improving the level of sexual culture among higher education students are considered significant. These include conducting lectures and training sessions, developing emotional intelligence, fostering critical thinking about sexuality-related information, and establishing university psychological assistance centers. The scientific novelty. The article first analyzes psychological and pedagogical factors that influence the process of developing sexual culture among higher education students (a model for integrating sexual education into the curricula of higher education institutions is proposed; the main areas of teacher training for effective teaching of the relevant educational components are outlined). Ideas about the importance of using modern educational technologies, in particular digital platforms and interactive teaching methods, which contribute to the formation of a positive attitude of students towards sexual culture, have been further developed. Conclusions. Increasing the level of sexual culture in the academic environment of a higher education institution is an important factor in the personal development and socialization of higher education students. The proposed approaches can serve as the basis for developing educational programs aimed at increasing the level of sexual culture among students.