Background knowledge on consent, communication and sexual self-determination
From romantic couple videos and relationship advice to "relationship goals": social media shows teenagers and young people every day what relationships are supposed to look like. Since Instagram, TikTok and similar platforms are used by a large share of teenagers, they have a considerable influence on their attitudes, decisions and behaviour. But how does online content actually shape teenagers' expectations and ideas of romantic relationships?
Read more →Recognising a boundary is one thing – saying it out loud is another. Even when we have figured out what we want or don't want, it is often hard to communicate it. Fear of rejection, shame, other people's disappointment or the pressure of "people-pleasing" can often leave our own needs unspoken. How can we communicate boundaries? And how do we deal with it when others set one?
Read more →Boundaries are everywhere in our lives. But while national and city borders, for example, are usually something clearly definable, the concept of a "boundary" quickly becomes very vague when it comes to personal and interpersonal matters. It is often not that easy to recognise your own boundaries, and it can be even harder to communicate them or to correctly interpret the boundaries of others.
Read more →What does the fairy-tale prince who wins the heart of a Disney princess have to do with how we ask for sex in a relationship, for example? More than you might think at first glance. Stories, films, and advertising teach us from an early age how women and men are supposed to be. These stereotypes influence not only our everyday lives but also our sex lives and our understanding of consent.
Read more →Do you know the feeling that someone says "yes," but everything about them seems to be saying "no"? This is exactly where the difference between congruent and incongruent communication comes in.
Read more →"One cannot not communicate," writes Paul Watzlawick in his five axioms of communication. While this statement may seem confusing at first, it actually makes a lot of sense. Whether it's our partner's irritated silence after an argument, or the flirty glance of a stranger on the train – even without words, we are constantly communicating with the world around us.
Read more →Most people can gauge fairly accurately whether they are ready for a sexual act. It becomes difficult as soon as it comes to communicating that feeling to another person — and that is exactly where uncertainty, misunderstandings, and sometimes serious problems arise.
Read more →Overviews of counselling and support services in different cities – read online or download as a PDF.