CMN 120 Exam 2

how relational sex differs (4ish)

- relational sex has interpersonal meanings and consequences that other varieties of sexual experience do not. -Unlike casual sex or solo sexual activities, sexual activities between relational partners may stem from feelings of love and intimacy; may serve to demonstrate or reafirm the partners' commitment to each other; or may be used by the partners to restore equity or to shif the balance of power in their relationship -Sexual events that occur between partners in a romantic relationship thus have important nonsexual consequences for that relationship.

chastity

- sexual history - (complete sexual inexperience) has become increasingly unimportant to both men and women

sexual frequency across the life-span study

- using data gathered as part of the National Survey of Families and Households (a large-scale research endeavor consisting of personal interviews conducted with a national probability sample of 13,008 people). -Teir analyses were based on the 6785 respondents who were married and had a spouse living with them in the household, and the item of interest concerned how ofen the participants reported engaging in sexual intercourse with their spouse during the past month. -Te results revealed that the frequency of marital sex was negatively correlated with age. For example, married men and women from 19 to 24 years of age reported having intercourse approximately 12 times a month. Tose in their early to mid-30s engaged in sexual activity close to 9 times a month. Respondents from 50 to 54 years of age indicated having intercourse an average of 5.5 times a month, those in their late 60s reported having sex a litle over twice a month, and those who were 75 years of age or older engaged in intercourse less than once a month. -Tus, increasing age was associated with decreasing levels of sexual activity. However, the authors also noted that although the older respondents defnitely had less sex than their younger counterparts, they were far from asexual. About half of married adults between 65 and 74 of age were still having sex (just not perhaps every month).

How is sexual permissiveness viewed around the world?

-A similar trend toward sexual permissiveness is occurring in other societies around the world -Today, sexual intercourse clearly is considered a more acceptable part of the premarital interactions of men and women than it was in earlier generations -human societies vary considerably in the extent to which they permit premarital sex, and this is partly due to whether they are collectivist or individualist in orientation young adults in collectivist cultures (e.g., Asia, the Middle East) strongly disapprove of premarital sex, whereas young adults from individualist cultures (e.g., Britain, Belgium, France, Scandinavian countries) tend to hold more permissive attitudes -For example, one group of researchers -1500 college students from the United States, Russia, and Japan study

What was said regarding the causal relationships between sexual satisfaction and relational satisfaction? What is the "bottom line" regarding the two?

-All of the aspects of sexuality we have considered—sexual frequency, satisfaction, and communication—are associated with the nonsexual dimensions of a relationship. -causally at least one recent study suggests that it is sexual satisfaction that contributes to relationship well-being (rather than the reverse) -sexual satisfaction was relatively stable over time, (Marital quality proved equally stable.) -Second, sexual satisfaction predicted later marital quality for both husbands and wives Specifcally, higher levels of sexual satisfaction at one assessment point predicted an increase in marital quality at the next assessment point -However, marital quality did not predict subsequent levels of sexual satisfaction; in other words, participants' ratings of their marital happiness and satisfaction at one point in time were completely unrelated to how satisfed they were with their sex lives at a later point in time. -In sum, although additional corroborating longitudinal research is needed, these results suggest that sexual satisfaction infuences subsequent relational functioning (and not vice versa)—good sex leads to a good relationship.

What are relationship forms and functions?

-Form refers to the type of relationship - function refers to the tasks that the relationship performs or the provisions provided by the relationship

specific physical features and sex appeal

-In addition to overall physical appearance important elements of an individual's sexual atractiveness -although the superfcial facial features (including skin tone and pigment, eye color, and lip size) that are considered atractive vary widely across cultures, certain facial characteristics seem to be universally preferred. -Men and women from a variety of cultures rate "average" faces with symmetrical features as especially desirable -In addition, there are particular confgurations of facial features that most adults fnd appealing -morphological too

What do most people feel is an important condition for sex to be perceived as acceptable?

-In the minds of many individuals, love and sex share an intimate connection. In fact, most men and women view intercourse and other sexual activities as most appropriate when they occur within the context of a commited, loving relationship -national probability sample of the U.S. population, as well as students from five high schools and colleges, were increasingly accepting of premarital sexual intercourse between two people as their relationship became characterized by correspondingly greater amounts of afection and commitment. -as the couple's relationship progressed from relatively litle afection to strong afection, and then to love and engagement, participants believed that intercourse was more acceptable. -Similar results were reported 20 years later increasing numbers of men and women viewed sexual intercourse between two people as acceptable as their relationship stage moved from the first date (28%), to casual dating (41%), to serious dating (72%), to pre-engagement (77%), and finally to engagement (82%)

dating form

-In this case, cohabitations appear to be more dating-like, in the sense that they occur earlier in the relationship and prior to the solidification of marriage or future plans. part of the dating process. -cohabitating relationships tend to be rather short-lived with most ending in either termination or marriage within a few years -cohabitation may serve a mate-selection function through which individuals enjoy the companionship and convenience of living together while still evaluating the suitability of their match

What are the challenges associated with sexual communication?

-It is not easy to be an effective sexual communicator. Successful communication about sexuality requires the ability both to express information about one's needs, desires, likes, and dislikes and to solicit and receive this information in a non-judgmental and non-defensive manner from the partner - This level of disclosure and intimacy requires a great deal of trust and acceptance and may be difcult for couples to achieve. -Many couples do, however, manage to express some aspects of their sexual feelings. about 3/4 of people indicated having full disclosure on "my feelings about our sexual relationship." with their partners

What are the predictors of sexual satisfaction?

-Most partnered individuals—whether cohabiting or married, heterosexual or homosexual— report that they are satisfed with their sex lives -Homosexual men and women appear equally satisfed sexually -One of the most important factors associated with sexual satisfaction is how ofen the partners engage in sexual activity -Sexual satisfaction is also associated with other sexual factors in a couple's relationship, including whether the partners experience orgasm -ratio of rewards (e.g., emotional intimacy, physical pleasure, feeling sexually desirable) to costs (e.g., time constraints, concerns about performance, discrepancies between sexual preferences and desired frequency) that partners receive from their sexual relationship

duration or age of a couple's relationship sex study

-Most studies demonstrate that the longer partners have been married or have cohabited, the less often they have sex -Tis decline seems to be greatest during the frst year of marriage, such that rates of sexual activity are typically very high during the newlywed phase and then undergo a dramatic decrease as the couple setles into married life. - honeymoon effect

what are the forms and functions of cohabitating?

-One prominent form of cohabitation while dating is cohabitation as a prelude to marriage -Another prominent form is that of cohabitation as dating -Although these two forms do not encompass all cohabiting relationships, the majority of cohabiting relationships occur either as part of the mate selection process or as a prelude to marriage, rather than a substitute or alternative to marriage

sexual scripts consent and rejection

-Over time, of course, women may become more comfortable initiating sexual activity with their partners - regardless of who most sexual initiation atempts that occur in long-term, commited relationships are successful -consent usually nonverbal and indirect -Sexual refusals, however, do tend to be communicated verbally and directly such directness "seems to fulfll simultaneously the goals of averting unwanted persistence of initiation by the partner and of maintaining the face of the rejected individual by ofering an account

What is the impact of ambiguity and uncertainty on the cohabitating relationship? (11-12)

-Scholars have argued that the ambiguity surrounding the transition to cohabitation and the subsequent relational uncertainty may undermine mutual clarity about the nature of the relationship, which may, in turn, inhibit the development of a stable and commited union relational uncertainty enhances negative reactivity and hinders message processing. -Relational uncertainty is associated with more intense experiences of negative emotions, including anger, sadness, fear, and hurt - Furthermore, individuals' who experienced relational uncertainty reported more jealousy, which is associated with reduced intimacy in the relationship -lack well-defned expectations for behavior, which makes message processing more difficult -reduces the ability to capitalize on the potential stress reducing beneft of supportive messages.

What is the "cohabitation effect?"

-The association between premarital cohabitation and poorer marital outcomes -consistently associated with negative marital outcomes, such as lower marital quality, higher levels of instability, and higher rates of marital separation and divorce -though to be because there are processes that occur during cohabitation that facilitate more negative relationship characteristics.

why less sex in older couples (3)

-The lower level of sexual activity seen in older couples (and in older relationships) is undoubtedly due to a number of factors. -For example, the various physical and psychological changes associated with the aging process (a personal factor), the loss of sexual novelty that develops from having intercourse with the same partner year after year (a relational factor), and stress, fatigue, and loss of privacy caused by the presence of children, child care activities, and heavy work schedules (environmental factors) all may limit a couple's desire and opportunity for sexual activity

What were the primary findings regarding sexual frequency?

-The majority of this research has utilized samples of married couples. -Data collected over the past 60 years suggests that the average amount of sex that married couples have has not changed much over time -irrespective of the sexual orientation of the partners, sexual frequency difers considerably among couples in established relationships

cultures and chastity study

-The results of one large crosscultural mate preference study (Buss, 1989) indicate that people in several Asian countries (e.g., Taiwan, Japan, China, Indonesia, India) view chastity or "no previous sexual experience" as a relatively important attribute in a potential mate, whereas men and women in a variety of Western European countries (e.g., Belgium, France, Sweden, Italy, Greece, Norway) consider chastity to be irrelevant or even undesirable. -Of course, what people say they want and what they themselves do are sometimes quite diferent. -premarital sex is quite common among both men and women in contemporary Eastern cultures, therefore, although chastity may be considered a desirable trait, it is not necessarily seen as an indispensable one

How have attitudes about relational sex changed over time?

-U.S. society is becoming more sexually permissive -although men and women continue to view sex as most appropriate when it occurs in the context of a commited and love-based relationship, there is a trend toward greater acceptance of sexual activity in casual dating relationships -3 groups of students surveyed in 1963, 1971, and 1978— -another study looked at 45 individual research studies

relational sex attitudes and gender study 5 stages

-a large sample of college students to indicate how appropriate they thought sexual intercourse would be between partners at fve diferent stages of dating -dating with no particular afection (Stage 1), dating with afection but not love (Stage 2), dating and being in love (Stage 3), dating one person only and being in love (Stage 4), and engaged (Stage 5). -Equally high numbers of men (76%) and women (67%) believed that sexual intercourse was appropriate between engaged partners (Stage 5), and equally low numbers (3% of the men, 0% of the women) felt that it was acceptable in the complete absence of commitment and afection (Stage 1). -However, men and women clearly diverged in their atitudes about the role of sex in dating relationships in the other relationship stages. -17% of the men, compared to only 1% of the women, believed that intercourse was appropriate when dating partners felt afection but not love (Stage 2). -Similarly, many more men (44%) than women (15%) felt that sexual intercourse was acceptable when partners were dating and in love (Stage 3) -Thus both sexes viewed intercourse as increasingly acceptable as a dating relationship became characterized by greater amounts of commitment and afection. However, men felt that sex was appropriate at earlier relationship stages than did women (in fact, more men than women simply believed that sex was appropriate—regardless of relationship stage)

What are the differences in "sliding" and "deciding" to cohabitate? From a communication perspective, how do they differ?

-a slide into cohabitation that occurred slowly over time, without specifc discussions about the implications. Participants stated, "It just happened," or "It just snuck up on me." - cohabitation is a state into which individuals slide rather than thoughtfully decide. -Based on this research, Stanley et al. (2006) coined the term "sliding versus deciding" to describe the gradual progression into cohabitation. -Te assumption that arose from this line of research is that couples who "slid" into cohabitation moved in together without discussing or thinking about what the transition meant, whereas those who "decided" made the transition afer discussing the new arrangement

What are relational constraints and how do they relate to the "inertia effect?"

-activities, such as sharing a lease, buying household items together, or owning a pet, that noncohabiting daters are less likely to experience. -In turn, these activities increase constraints to ending the relationship regardless of cohabitors' level of personal dedication

What is the honeymoon effect?

-analyzed diaries and calendars kept by 21 newlywed couples, fnding that couples had intercourse an average of 17 times during their very frst month of marriage but only about 8 times a month by the end of the frst year -Te researchers found that there was a signifcant decrease in sexual frequency over time in all three groups (married couples, cohabiting couples, and cohabiting couples who transitioned to marriage)

attitudes about relational sex changed over time 45 individual studies

-another study looked at 45 individual research studies conducted in the U S between the years 1955 and 1989 that had examined attitudes toward premarital sex. For each study they then gathered information on the year of data collection and the proportion of participants who indicated approval of premarital intercourse. -The results revealed that attitudes toward premarital sex became considerably more permissive over time, specifically, there was a positive correlation between year of publication and the percentage of participants endorsing premarital sex. -only 12% of young women surveyed during the mid-to-late 1950s (1955-1959) approved of premarital sex. By the mid-1980s, however, 73% of women approved of premarital sexual intercourse. Young men displayed a similar shift in attitude over time, 40% of men surveyed in the 1950s approved of premarital sex compared to 79% of men surveyed in the 1980s

how much "sexual passion" study

-asked a large sample of men and women to indicate how much "sexual passion" they preferred in a potential dating or marriage partner. -Participants were also asked to report how important it was that they obtain a partner with that particular level of sexual passion. -No diferences were found between men and women or between types of potential partner in the desired amount or importance of this particular sexual atribute. -Participants preferred equally high levels (close to 8 on a 9-point scale) of sexual passion from both types of romantic partner, and they placed equal importance on obtaining these desired high levels.

What were the different scripts?

-asked a sample of heterosexual men to describe the pattern of sexual initiation in their current romantic relationships. -The most common pattern was male-dominated, with more than half (56%) of the men reporting that their sexual interactions followed the traditional script. -Much smaller proportions of men reported an egalitarian pattern in which both partners initiated sex (25%) or a -female-dominated pattern in which their partners initiated sex (19%)

relational sex attitudes and gender study three stages study

-asked men and women to indicate how much sexual activity they desired at three stages of a romantic relationship: on the frst date, afer several dates had occurred, and when going steady. -men expressed a desire for a higher level of sexual activity at the earlier relationship stages (i.e., on the frst date and afer several dates) than did women. -However, there was no diference in how much sexual activity men and women wanted at the later relationship stage of going steady. -both sexes were willing for sexual activity to occur in a dating relationship, but men wanted this activity to begin earlier in the developmental trajectory of the relationship than did women, who felt that sex should wait until there was some evidence of commitment and emotional involvement

What is the critical variable that produces the most sexual activity?

-being part of a couple, whether it is a marriage or a cohabitation. Even though married life is not seen as very erotic, it is actually the social arrangement that produces the highest rate of partnered sexual activity among heterosexuals. What seems to produce the highest rates of partnered sex is an easily accessible partner -very few married men (1%) and women (3%) reported having no sex at all during the previous 12 months. Similarly, very few of the cohabiting men and women who participated in their study indicated having a sexless past year, but 23% of the single men and 32% of the single women reported engaging in no intercourse during the same time.

Morphological (body) characteristics and sex appeal

-body fat distribution, which can be measured by computing a ratio of the circumference of the waist to the circumference of the hips. -Before puberty, both sexes exhibit a similar waist-to-hip ratio; however, after puberty, women deposit more fat in the gluteofemoral region (butocks and thighs) and men deposit more fat in the central and upper body regions (shoulders, abdomen, and nape of the neck). -Typically, the waist-to-hip ratio ranges from .67 to .80 in healthy, pre-menopausal women (an hourglass shape), - .80 to .90 in healthy men (a straighter shape). - men and women of different ages, races, and cultural backgrounds assign higher attractiveness ratings to individuals who possess a waist-to-hip ratio that is typical or average for their sex—that is, an "hourglass" shape in women and a tapering "V" physique in men

pre marriage form

-cohabitation as a precursor to marriage was characteristic of cohabitors who have defnite plans to marry and a low probability of relationship dissolution. -For these individuals, cohabitation functions as an advanced stage of involvement with well-established commitment

How does cohabitation influence the decision to marry?

-cohabitation is not always a response to marriage plans. Nor does cohabitation always lead to marriage -number of couples who marry without cohabiting frst has continued to decline -general trend is that people who marry tend to cohabit prior to marriage, research has also shown that not all cohabitors marry -individuals in recent cohorts of cohabitors are less likely than those in past cohorts to marry their partners, even if a pregnancy occurs

1500 college students from the United States, Russia, and Japan study sexual attitudes

-how acceptable they thought sexual intercourse was on a frst date, when casually dating, when seriously dating, when pre-engaged, and when engaged to be married. -Although participants from all three cultures disapproved of sex between uncommited partners (those who were on a frst date or those who were casually dating), American students generally were more tolerant of sexual activity between seriously dating, pre- engaged, and engaged partners than were Russian and Japanese students. -In America, sex was deemed acceptable as soon as some evidence of the couple's commitment was present. In Russia and Japan, however, the fact that the couple was seriously involved or even engaged was insufcient justifcation for sexual activity—a marriage vow was required.

chastity study

-in one of the earliest mate preference studies (Hill, 1945), men and women received a list of 18 atributes that they ranked in terms of importance in a romantic partner. -Chastity, defned as "no previous sexual experience," was ranked 10th in importance—about halfway down the list. -replication study conducted some 20 years later revealed that chastity had fallen to 15th in importance. -A decade later, another replication study indicated that chastity had continued its decline into irrelevance, women now ranked this attribute second to last (17th), and men ranked it dead last (18th) in importance

What is the "inertia effect?"

-in which couples who would not have married end up married partly because the constraints of co-residence made leaving the relationship more difficult. Because in these cases the transition to marriage is based on constraint commitment, rather than personal dedication to the relationship, couples are more prone to later marital instability -an explanation for why cohabitation prior to the solidifcation of commitment may negatively infuence later relationship quality -partners who live together before making a mutual decision to marry are at greater risk for marital distress because the additional constraints accrued during cohabitation promote relationship continuance regardless of dedication to the relationship -but Te results suggest that relationship progression from cohabitation to marriage is a function of individuals' satisfaction with the relationship, one component of dedication commitment, rather than simply due to constraints.

attributes or characteristics that people find particularly desirable in potential mates (3)

-including intelligence, honesty, a good sense of humor, emotional stability, and interpersonal warmth. -Attributes that are related to sexuality, including a potential partner's "sex appeal," sexual history, and amount of prior sexual experience also appear to be important determinants of initial atraction.

"relational turbulence model," how does it relate to the partners' perceptions of their relationship?

-interference and relational turbulence may have both positive and negative efects on relationship outcomes. -omething unique about the ways in which a partner's hindering the accomplishment of daily tasks infuences perception -On the one hand, a partner's interference causes people to feel that their relationship is stressful, which polarizes their reactions to relationship events making positive situations more positive and negative situations more negative. In the context of supportive messages, then, interference positively impacts perception. -On the other hand, the direct effect of interference on perceptions of supportiveness indicates that things going on in the relationship also negatively influence how subsequent supportive interactions are perceived. -couples who are able to renegotiate interdependence and work through the turbulence associated with the transition to co-residence may reap the beneft of a stronger relationship in the future

In what ways is cohabitating ambiguous, and in what ways does it create relational uncertainty?

-lacks progressive relational scripts that provide clarity about the path a couple is on cohabitation remains an incomplete institution -Due to the lack of institutionalization, cohabitation represents an ambiguous state that is devoid of socially accepted expectations and clear norms for what the transition means about commitment, especially for those who cohabit prior to engagement.

90s sex frequency study

-national study of the sexual experiences of men and women living in the United States. -One question asked participants to indicate how ofen they had engaged in sex during the previous 12 months. -results were similar to those reported by previous researchers. Specifcally, the response option endorsed by the highest percentages of married men (43%) and women (47%) was two or three times a month. Te next most commonly endorsed option was two or three times a week, with 36% of married men and 32% of married women reporting having sex that frequently. Very small percentages of married men (1%) and women (3%) said they had absolutely no intercourse at all with their partners over the past year; similarly, few married men (7%) or women (7%) reported extremely high amounts of sexual activity (i.e., four or more times a week). - Taken together, the results of these research endeavors suggest that most married couples (at least most younger married couples) tend to engage in sexual intercourse approximately one to three times a week

sexual scripts preferences

-only one fourth of the men who reported following the traditional male-dominated initiation script wished to sustain this pattern, -most (72%) desired to adopt a more egalitarian patern with both partners equally responsible for initiating sexual activities.

woman's sex appeal

-primarily a function of appearance (with 90% specifying this atribute), -coupled with such dispositional dimensions as a good overall personality (cited by 23%), -self-confdence (cited by 17%) -intelligence (mentioned by 15%)

What is the "relational turbulence model," and how does it relate to the partners' perceptions of their relationship? (12-13)

-provides a potentially advantageous framework for understanding how partners might navigate the demands of increased interdependence. -According to RTM, transitions create a need to adapt to the changing interdependence, or mutually benefcial systems of behavior, in order to sustain the relationship -As couples negotiate interdependence, atempts to coordinate action sequences inevitably lead to interference. The increased interference leads to relational turbulence, which is associated with intensified subjectivity wherein individuals tend to be more cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally reactive to relationship events

What do current behavioral trends and perceptions in the U.S.A. suggest regarding cohabitation?

-rapid and pervasive rise in cohabitation is the most substantial and influential change in contemporary dating relationships -a societal shif in the acceptance of cohabitation while dating -a majority of high-school seniors supported cohabitation prior to marriage and plan to cohabit prior to marriage - current behavioral trends and perceptions in the U.S.A. suggest that cohabitation has unmistakably altered dating, marriage, and family formation and become a normative part of dating - gaps in research to how it effects the development of R -but known that the success and progression of cohabiting relationships are highly dependent on communication processes

What does cohabitation as an "evolving" process mean? (3-4)

-rather being an endpoint of relationship development (as it was thought to be when cohabitation was considered a substitute for marriage), for many cohabitation is a midpoint of relationship development - Consequently, cohabitation might be best thought of as an evolving process in which daters' movement into and out of full-time, shared residential cohabitation is likely to be fluid and change as the relationship becomes more or less involved. -Thus, the way cohabitation fts into the progression of dating relationships is complex, varying across couples, occurring at different stages in the relationship, and evolving in nature throughout a relationship. -cohabitation while dating may be a developmental progression that parallels depth of involvement and increases in commitment to wed -cohabitation, in this sample, evolved with growing commitment to the relationship -cohabitation has the ability to infuence the development of commitment to marry -the experience of living together has the potential to either increase or decrease commitment to wed. -Overall, the findings suggest that cohabitation may form a developmental progression that ofen maps well onto the development of the relationship itself

What is a "passion turning point" in a relationship? (4)

-researchers asked a sample of 40 dating couples to identify and discuss in detail all of the turning points in their relationship since the time of their first meeting. 13 general categories of relationship turning points subsequently were identifed. -One of these categories, labeled the "passion turning point" by the researchers, included four events—the couple's first kiss, their first episode of sexual intercourse, the first time they said "I love you," and what the researchers describe as the "whirlwind phenomenon" (essentially the experience of falling in love at frst sight)—that couples indicated were important markers in infuencing or signaling relationship commitment.

What is "sexual history" and how does it impact partner preferences? How do cultures vary?

-sexual history also infuences how we evaluate him or her -infuence our attraction to another person -In general, research reveals that men and women prefer their potential dates and mates to possess lower, rather than higher, levels of previous sexual experience -people clearly believe that "less is more." However, this does not necessarily mean that they desire partners who possess no sexual experience whatsoever -Men and women apparently want someone with "just enough" sexual knowledge

From a communication perspective, how slide ve decide differ?

-sliding into cohabitation without fully considering the implications of the decision increases individuals' risk for later distress due to inertia -previous research on topic avoidance, or the strategic decision not to disclose information, may shed light on the -detrimental efects of sliding. Research has shown that individuals avoid certain topics, such as the state of the relationship, relational rules, and negative self-disclosures, because they are considered taboo (Baxter & Wilmot, 1985) or because they are trying to protect the self or the relationship -Topic avoidance may reinforce relational uncertainty, leading to decreased feelings of liking, intimacy and closeness, and increased susceptibility to the negative outcomes associated with relational uncertainty. -Relationship talk, including conversations about the transition to co-residence, can serve to maintain or change the relationship between individuals by infuencing people's defnition of the relationship and clarifying how commited or atached partners are however, it can also cause greater uncertainty and stress. - conversations about moving in together may afrm the meaning of the relationship and assist in the construction of a unique relationship identity that facilitates relationship growth. Alternatively, partners may discover that their defnitions of the relationship difer signifcantly, leading to distress and possibly dissolution

late 1940s and early 1950s kinsey sex frequency study

-surveyed more than 11,000 men and women living in the United States about a variety of sexual issues, including how often they engaged in sexual intercourse. -They found that young married couples (between 16 and 25 years of age) tended to have sex between two and three times a week; slightly older couples (between 26 and 35 years of age) indicated engaging in intercourse about twice a week. -Another survey conducted two decades later yielded similar sexual frequencies, with young couples (18-24 years of age) reporting sexual intercourse approximately three times a week

French study on generational sex attitudes

-surveyed the sexual atitudes of a large sample of French men and women who represented four diferent age groups young adults between the ages of 18 and 29, adults between the ages of 30 and 49, middle-aged adults between the ages of 50 and 64, and older adults between the ages of 65 and 89. -All of the participants answered a series of questions designed to measure sexual permissiveness (e.g., "Casual sex is acceptable"). -The researchers discovered that the two younger cohorts (young adults and adults) were signifcantly more permissive in their sexual atitudes than the two older cohorts (middle-aged and older adults)—and this diference was found for both men and women.

What groups have the highest frequency of sex and which ones have the lower frequency of sex?

-surveys reveal that cohabiting heterosexual couples and homosexual male couples tend to have sex (defned as genital contact) more frequently than do married couples, who in turn have sex more frequently than do homosexual female couples -all of these couple types seem to engage in greater amounts of sexual activity than do single men and women - younger tend to have more

What is a "pathway to sexual involvement?

-the diferent paths that couples follow as they move toward their frst act of sexual intercourse -asked a sample of dating couples to think back over their relationship and report about various events and experiences -Clearly, commitment and emotional intimacy are intricately connected with sexuality in many dating relationships.

What are the four general reasons underlying the decision to have sex for the first time in a relationship?

-the most important reason appears to be interpersonal in nature—specifcally, emotional intimacy and closeness 1) positive affection and communication. 2) Arousal and receptivity 3) obligation and pressure. 4) circumstance, . -These results suggest that although a number of factors clearly influence the decision to have sex, feelings of love and intimacy play an extremely important role

What is "sexual passion" and how does it impact partner preferences?

-we might expect men and women to prefer a partner who is capable of both experiencing and expressing feelings of sexual passion. Some evidence supports this -how much "sexual passion" study -percentiles to indicate where they would like their potential partners to rank on the characteristic study -Ecuadoran men and women "is not interested in sexual relations" study

Ecuadoran men and women "is not interested in sexual relations" study

-whether they would be willing to marry someone who "is not interested in sexual relations"—the majority (84 3%) indicated that they would not. -Tese preferences make sense in light of the increasing sexual permissiveness that is developing around the world, that is, as sexual activity comes to be viewed as a more acceptable component of premarital relationships, it is no wonder that men and women prefer partners who possess sufcient sex drive to engage in that activity

purpose of sexual communication

Effective sexual communication is vital for maintaining the quality of the sexual relationship

obligation and pressure reason

For example, feelings of obligation to have sex with the partner, as well as the partner's pressure or insistence on having sex, contributed to individuals' decisions about sexual involvement.

positive affection and communication reason

For instance, people considered how much love they felt for the partner, the possibility that the relationship would result in marriage, and their level of commitment or involvement when deciding whether to have sex with the partner.

What is a sexual script?

In the traditional (heterosexual) sexual script, men are expected to initiate sexual activity, whereas women are expected to then accept or refuse these sexual requests -Research indicates that men and women generally follow this script in their actual sexual interactions, with men functioning as the sexual initiators and women serving as the sexual regulators

do men want it easy study (sexual history)

Male participants in a study conducted by psychologists David Buss and David Schmit (1993) also viewed such sexual atributes as "promiscuous" and "sexually experienced" as undesirable in a potential mate

How do males and females differ?

Research generally reveals that men hold more permissive or positive atitudes toward uncommited or casual sexual activity than do women (e.g., Oliver & Hyde, 1993). Tis sex diference is robust and has been documented in a number of diferent cultures

What is the most important and most commonly cited reason to have sex for the first time in a relationship?

The most important reason appears to be interpersonal in nature—specifcally, emotional intimacy and closeness -.The frst and most important reason involved positive afection and communication

Uncertainty reduction theory and cohabitating

Uncertainty reduction theory posits that uncertainty is a subjective, aversive state that stems from individuals' awareness of ambiguity and an inability to predict and explain behavior (see Knobloch, 2008). Te ambiguity surrounding the institution of cohabitation may lead to dyadic and individual relational uncertainty.

how relational sex is similar to other forms

all three types of sexuality may stem from similar motives (including a need for physical release or the urge to satiate sexual desires), involve similar processes (such as physiological and genital arousal), and produce similar outcomes (including physical pleasure),

appearance and sex appeal

appearance seems to be the most important factor. And the signifcance people give to appearance is not surprising. The primary piece of information potential mates have about one another in frst encounters is what they can see—each other's appearance.

sex appeal study

asked a group of men and women to list all the characteristics that would make a man or woman sexually appealing to others

sexually easy study (sexual history)

asked a group of men and women to rank order a list of characteristics in terms of their desirability in a potential romantic partner, "sexually available or 'easy' " was ranked as the least desirable atribute

various considerations in their decision to have sex for the frst time study

asked a group of men and women to rate how important various considerations were in their decision to have sex for the frst time in a premarital relationship. Teir analysis revealed four general reasons underlying this decision

interference

cases where a partner's involvement makes achieving goals more difficult

sexual desire associated with:

feelings of passionate love

attitudes about relational sex changed over time three groups of students study

groups of students surveyed in 1963, 1971, and 1978— were asked to indicate the extent to which various sexual activities generally were expected to play a part in the relationship between casually dating, steadily dating, and engaged couples. -results provided evidence for increasingly liberal campus sexual norms among both men and women over the 15-year period. -For example, none of the men and women in the 1963 sample expected sexual intercourse to occur in a casual dating relationship, by 1978, however, 17% of the men and 9% of the women viewed intercourse as a normal part of casual dating

Arousal and receptivity factor

including their own or the partner's level of sexual arousal immediately prior to intercourse and their receptivity to the partner's sexual advances—also played a role in the decision to have sex.

Cohabitation

living with a nonmarital romantic partner

percentiles of passion study

percentiles to indicate where they would like their potential partners to rank on the characteristic "sexually passionate/high sex drive" relative to other same-sex individuals (e.g., a score of 50% indicated a preference for a partner who was "average" with respect to the characteristic). -results revealed that both men and women desired a romantic partner who ranked well above average. -Specifcally, men preferred that their potential mate possess more sexual passion and a higher sex drive than 80% of other women, and women preferred that their potential mate score higher on this attribute than 73% of other men

Male sex appeal

presumed to be a function of a very similar constellation of features. -Again, appearance was the most frequently mentioned characteristic (cited by 76%), -followed by "sensitivity" or a compassionate, kind disposition (35%)), -a good overall personality (24%), -and a sense of humor (18%).

circumstance reason

ranging from the amount of drugs or alcohol they or their partner had consumed to the "specialness" of that particular date

sex types (3)

relational individual -sexual responses casual - between strangers or uncommited partners

frst sexual activities shared by a couple

serve as an important marker signifying a change in the commitment level or developmental stage of their relationship.

relational sex

sexual responses that occur within the context of ongoing romantic relationships

What is "sex appeal"

the factors that render someone particularly sexually appealing and that thus prompt initial attraction

How does frequency change over time?

the frequency with which couples engage in sex is associated both with their chronological ages and the age of their relationship -Cross-sectional studies, in which individuals from diferent age groups are surveyed about their sexual experiences, generally reveal that older couples engage in sexual intercourse less frequently than do younger couples

facial features and sex appeal

the most atractive male and female faces possess a combination of three types of atribute: -neonate or babyish features (such as relatively large, wide-set eyes and a smallish nose) -sexually mature features (including prominent cheekbones and thinner cheeks, and, in men, a strong chin) -expressive features (including a wide smile and high eyebrows).