Sexual Conduct: The Social Sources of Human Sexuality
... A basic assumption of this perspective is that it is through interaction with others that we learn how to think and act sexually in different situations. We employed Gagnon and Simon's (2005) sexual script theory, which suggests that through sexual socialization we learn our scripts the same way actors learn their part in a play. We learn why some things make us feel sexy and others do not. ...
... On the contrary, in addition to more or less explicitly articulated cultural scenarios regarding pornography use, attitudes to it include relational aspects on different levels (Lö fgren-Mårtenson & Månsson, 2006;Rogala & Tydén, 2003). Each individual belongs to, or moves within and between, different social worlds that consist of family life, friends, work, school, and leisure (Gagnon & Simon, 2005). ...
... Consistent with several studies (Häggströ m-Nordin et al., 2005;Hald, 2007;Svedin & Priebe, 2004), actively seeking out pornography was significantly more common among the young men than among the women, irrespective of age. One reason for this could be the cultural context (Gagnon & Simon, 2005), where it is more socially accepted in Western society for men to consume pornography than it is for women (Hammarén & Johansson, 2002). Historically, consuming pornography is a male act and seldom done by women; this may reflect Gagnon and Simon's ''homosocial reinforcement of masculinity'' (p. ...
This book presents thought-provoking research and data about pornography that will prompt readers to reconsider their positions on a highly controversial and current issue.
Why do people use pornography? Is porn addiction a fact or myth? What is revenge porn and is it illegal? Can pornography be more diverse? This interdisciplinary collection presents well-researched facts and up-to-date data that encourage informed discussion about controversial and relevant issues in contemporary society. Chapters address topics such as the history and cultural trends of pornography, labor and production practices in creating porn, the effects of technology, current issues in obscenity law, and myths and facts about the effects of pornography.
New Views on Pornography: Sexuality, Politics, and the Law challenges assumptions about this popular yet controversial industry. Contributors include top scholars from media studies, sociology, psychology, gender studies, criminology, politics, and the law. This book provides a comprehensive overview of pornography that will help students, educators, and general readers deepen their understanding of this provocative subject.
... Subjectivity and the Self A Japanese cancer-self is fathomed via an adaptation of the ''sexual scripts'' theorizing of Gagnon and Simon (2005) to investigate the embodied encounter that entangles the male-self with the prostate, at three separated but interconnected dimensions of scripting: the cultural, the interpersonal, and the intrapsychic. The cultural entails a composite background that coalesces public and medical discussions along with commonsensical views to underscore that prostate cancer is conceivable a lifestyle-related disease, which makes the self mostly liable for prevention and early detection. ...
... In addition, ''[s]ubjectivity, meaning, and consciousness do not exist prior to experience, but are emergent in action and interaction'' (Waskul & Vannini, 2006, pp. 2-3), and thus scripts embrace free-flowing intellectual improvisations (Gagnon & Simon, 2005), that serve to further continuous processes of elucidation and signification regarding a medical condition where the prostate has turned into the center of a somatic experience for the male-self. ...
This article explores how a group of 35 Japanese men comprehend and verbalize the somatic experience embedded in dealing with benign prostate enlargement, or disquiet/discomfort of developing prostate cancer. Grounded in an adaptation of the sexual scripts theorizing, a set of in-depth, semistructured individual interviews were conducted through a LINE-app videocall from 2021 to 2023. Outcomes of interview were analyzed through a conversational approach, and presented by using three axes: the body, gender, and sexuality. An understanding of the Japanese-civilized-self has rendered somatic knowing problematic and pretended ignorance a strategy to deal with conversations about a condition involving the genitals and body waste. The body refers to a cancer-self who copes with ignorance of the prostate’s anatomy and physiology, the-mechanics-of-urine, and medication/treatment side-effects. Gender is concerned with a cancer-self who grapples with an ailment that “emasculates the self,” and the feminization of care as well as infantilization at medical facilities. Sexuality implies a cancer-self who bears scripts related to asexuality, medication/treatments that affect libido and penile erections, and a tarnished sexual reputation as a “heterosexual man” because prostate stimulation has been associate with homosexuality.
... The feminist movement has advocated for liberating women from restrictive sexual scripts (Eaton & Rose, 2011). Sexual scripts are conceptualized as socially coded behaviors and practices that set expectations for how individuals should act in a sexual and/or intimate interaction (Gagnon & Simon, 2017). Historically, women's sexual scripts have been as passive receivers or gatekeepers of sexual advances (Eaton & Rose, 2011). ...
... Conversely, men are expected to be the initiators of sex and desire sex more often (Eaton & Rose, 2011). These restrictive sexual scripts are often modeled and learned during adolescence (Gagnon & Simon, 2017), and could be barriers to emerging adults' sexual well-being. ...
Hookup culture has transformed the sexual behavior of emerging adults. Feminism, a movement that has advocated for liberating women from sexual repression, may be associated with hookup endorsement attitudes. This study explores the associations among multiple dimensions of feminism, gender, and hookup culture endorsement. Participants included 318 emerging adults (46% women; Mage = 22.2 years; 51% White, 27% Asian, 5% Hispanic/Latinx, 9% Black, 1% Middle Eastern, 1% American Indian, 6% Multiracial) from five Anglophone countries (62% U.S., 23% United Kingdom, 9% Canada, 5% Australia, 1% New Zealand), who completed the Feminist Beliefs and Behavior Scale and Endorsement of Hookup Culture Index via an anonymous, online survey. Participants were categorized according to their feminist identity label (feminist, non-feminist) and feminist belief system (hold feminist beliefs, hold non-feminist beliefs). A series of ANCOVAs was conducted, revealing that women who identified as feminist and/or held feminist beliefs reported significantly higher endorsement of hookup culture compared to non-feminist women with non-feminist beliefs. Neither dimension of feminism predicted hookup culture endorsement in men. When comparing feminist-identifying women and men, the gender disparity in hookup culture endorsement was eliminated. Together, these findings highlight how social movements, such as feminism, may be associated with young women's attitudes towards hookups, and may ultimately shape their sexual experiences.
... Il mettait en avant l'importance de la transdisciplinarité, concept indispensable pour que la sexologie puisse affronter les défis sociologiques et politiques susceptibles de menacer les droits sexuels de chacun. Ces contextes sociologiques et politiques ne sont pas seulement des réalités extérieures, se superposant à la vie sexuelle, mais aussi des forces intériorisées qui structurent et donnent sens à nos expériences sexuelles, comme nous le rappelaient Foucault (Foucault, 1976(Foucault, , 1984 ainsi que Simon et Gagnon (Simon et Gagnon, 1973), et comme le montrent aujourd'hui les travaux plus récents sur l'agentivité sexuelle : se construire dans une perspective d'autonomie sexuelle nécessite de constantes négociations entre nos désirs, les plaisirs que nous recherchons et les environnements normatifs dans lesquels nous évoluons. La subjectivation des contextes donne forme et sens à nos propres expériences sexuelles, qui ne sont jamais détachées des normes sociales dans lesquelles elles s'inscrivent (Cense, 2019 ;Vanwesenbeeck et al., 2021). ...
Juillet-Août-Septembre 2024 / n° 3 / Volume 33 / Sexologies Éditorial 1 Pour citer cet article. Gouvernet B, Adam F. Approches transdisciplinaires et énigmes sexologiques : une exploration paradigmatique.
... A script fogalmát a legtöbb kutatás elsősorban a nemi szerepek és szexuális viselkedés területén használja (lásd például Gagnon -Simon, 1973). Ezek a vizsgálatok rámutatnak arra, hogy az emberi viselkedés tipikus helyzetekben előre meghatározott sorrendet követ, és ennek következtében a társadalmi szereplők számára az előre jelezhetőség rendkívül fontos. ...
The collection presents professional materials that draw attention to the applicability of the concept and theory of script to the analysis of the attitudes of individuals and social groups towards different issues. The materials presented illustrate that scripts are procedures, scenarios that people use in predetermined situations, and that these procedures are situation-dependent. The application of this approach from a rural development perspective is not yet widespread - it is more commonly used in the field of gender roles and sexual behaviour - but there are already rural sociological analyses that show how scripts can influence development experiments and existing practices. The examples and methodological considerations that can be found in the related literature can be interpreted and applied to the case of the Szeklerland, in relation to a range of social problems and groups.
... Lagos (2022) argues that current understandings of gender should recognize gender identification as a process individuals actively engage in and one that is shaped by social factors, suggesting that social structural locations within particular historical contexts provide "opportunity and constraint" (4) for (trans)gender identification. Early symbolic interactionism, including Gagnon and Simon's (1973) sexual script theory, and more recent gender and transgender scholarship (Fausto-Sterling, 2019;Hetzel & Mann, 2021;O'Brien, 2016), suggests that gender (and sexuality) is dependent on both "internal" states, defined as biological or psychological inclinations, and "external" socially organized scripts and structures that shape how internal states are expressed and acted upon. ...
This study contributes to research exploring social factors shaping gender identification. Informed by structural symbolic interactionism, social identity theory, and Levitt’s psychosocial theory of gender, we explore how a key aspect of external social structure—adolescent family socioeconomic status—is associated with gender identification in emerging adulthood. We examine whether correlates of family socioeconomic status, including adolescent family and educational experiences and friend and high school characteristics, are associated with a cisgender, binary transgender, nonbinary, or gender unsure identification. Using data from High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), we find a positive association between adolescent family socioeconomic status and a nonbinary gender identification. Analyses indicate that educational and family experiences account for the largest percentage of the association between adolescent family socioeconomic status and nonbinary gender identification, potentially representing higher SES youths’ heightened access to middle- and upper-class cultural schemas and resources.
... Cultural conceptions shape individual's sexual behaviors, also identified as sexual scripts too. These sexual scripts are instilled through early learning, socialization, and adaptation process (Drew, 2003;Hurlbert, 1991;Simon & Gagnon, 2011). ...
Sexual assertiveness and explicit conversations about sex between couples are influenced by variety of individual, cultural, and social factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of sexual assertiveness in a sample of Iranian married women of reproductive age. In this cross-sectional study, 276 married women of reproductive age participated from October 2018 to March 2019. Sampling was done in two stages. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, Hulbert sexual assertiveness scale, and Spanier dyadic adjustment scale. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models via ENTER method through SPSS (version 25) software were performed. The mean age of participants was 31.44 years old with the mean marriage duration of 119.59 months. The mean score of participants’ sexual assertiveness was 57.31. The results of the multivariate regression model showed that marital adjustment (B = 0.46, SE = 0.06, β = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.35, 0.57) was the only significant predictors of sexual assertiveness explaining 30% of the variance, in married women of reproductive age. Due to important predictive role of marital adjustment, more attention should be given to couples adjustment to improve sexual assertiveness. In addition, this model explained only 30% of the variance in the concept of sexual assertiveness, so it is necessary to identify other factors affecting women’s sexual assertiveness
... The theoretical framework employed for this study is the Sexual Script Theory postulated by Simon & Gagnon (2011). Sexual script theory is based on three major levels of intrapsychic belief (i.e., an individual can manage his desire); interpersonal script (i.e., each person can apply cultural norms in a particular context); and cultural scenarios (i.e., the collective judgment or meaning from a society). ...
Sexual behaviours and contraceptive usage among undergraduates are sources of concern to all stakeholders in Nigeria and across the globe. This study addresses the gap by investigating the roles of school type (i.e., private and public and the faculty/course of study on undergraduates’ sexual behaviours and contraceptive usage among undergraduates in Southwestern part of Nigeria. This quantitative study used a descriptive design of the survey type. One thousand and two hundred (1,200) undergraduates were selected for this study using multi-stage sampling technique. Results showed that many undergraduates in different kinds of sexual behaviours such as penetrative sex, embracing the opposite sex, dating, petting and kissing; with only undergraduates from private tertiary institutions and studying health-related course were acquainted with the adequate use of contraceptives. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that increased awareness should available for undergraduates across all agents of socialization to prevent health-risk challenging the well-being of undergraduates.
... Individuals recognize what sex is, how to identify the emotional environment around it, and what to do during sexual contact through the information available in social culture (Gagnon & Simon, 2017). Sexual shame develops throughout a person's life in response to interpersonal interactions, cultural and social influences, and subsequent critical self-evaluation (Clark, 2017). ...
Introduction
Although sexual shame is a very common emotional experience, it is hidden in Chinese culture and generally discussed in a non-academic manner. To our knowledge, this is the first study to empirically investigate associations between sexual shame and social evaluation among a Chinese sample, including the factors of mianzi (perceived evaluation by others) and negative body consciousness (body shame and body dissatisfaction).
Methods
Our study utilized a correlational, cross-sectional online survey design. Data were collected from October 6 to December 8, 2021. A sample of 1259 Chinese adults (aged 18–59 years, women = 690, men = 569) completed measures of sexual shame, mianzi, body shame, and body dissatisfaction. Descriptive analysis and hierarchical regression were performed.
Results
After controlling for some variables (age, sex, sexual orientation, and adverse sexual experiences), higher severity of sexual shame in Chinese adults was predicted by a higher level of fear of losing mianzi, greater body shame, and greater body dissatisfaction. Sexual shame was not significantly predicted by the desire to gain mianzi.
Conclusions
Chinese adults’ self-perceived social evaluations may play important roles in predicting their sexual shame, bringing a relatively new perspective to the research.
Policy Implications
The findings provide evidence and future research directions for researchers, sex educators, and the general public interested in sexual attitudes in the context of Chinese culture. The study suggests ways to create interventions to address the potentially adverse effects of sexual shame and may be used to assist in the development of sex education programs.
... Sexual attitudes, interests, and activity are the product of individuals' cumulative lifetime experiences within gendered sexual scripts (Carpenter, 2010;Gagnon & Simon, 1973). Generally, sexual scripts refer to how individuals create and understand their own and others' sexual behavior (Wiederman, 2015). ...
A great deal of research has linked aspects of couples’ sex lives to the quality of their relationships. Yet most of this work is with younger couples. Although sexual frequency is associated with positive marital quality, less is known regarding how sexual expression—sexual attitudes, desires, and behaviors—influences later positive and negative marital quality, particularly in older couples. Using latent class analysis and dyadic data on 620 heterosexual couples in long-term marriages from Rounds 2 and 3 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, we examined how couple-level configurations of sexual expression influence later marital quality. Generally, the latent classes with more agreement on sexual expression and higher overall sexual frequency were associated with later higher positive marital quality for both wives and husbands. Sexual expression configurations were associated with wives’ negative marital quality, not husbands’ negative marital quality. Across classes, wives’ better mental health and husbands’ functional limitations were associated with later marital quality. It is essential for practitioners to recognize the relevance of sexual expression to marital quality in older couples.
... The analysis is rooted in the tradition of critical sexuality studies (Carrillo, 2017;Epstein, 2022). Analytically, I adopt the script theory conceptual framework (Gagnon and Simon, 1973;Gagnon, 1986, 2003). The basic premise is that sexual behavior, like all social behavior, is scripted. ...
In the contemporary digital age, the experience of intimacy, sex, and love has been profoundly transformed, in part due to technological transformations. How do individuals navigate the evolving landscape of dating in the digital age to seek meaningful connections? To answer that, I conducted 30 individual, in-depth interviews with queer men in Argentina. Drawing on the conceptual apparatus of the sociology of sexuality and research on social media repertoires, I argue that different platforms elicit specific imaginaries, relationships, and pleasures. While Grindr emphasizes sexual explicitness and anonymity, Tinder offers a more conversational and personal experience. However, scripted and repetitive conversations tend to foster feelings of anxiety, boredom, and fatigue. Thus, many interviewees opt to escape the dating environment to Instagram, a platform that provides them a space for more authentic and pleasant interactions. These findings expand the notion of networked intimacy beyond the realm of dating platforms to social media and messaging apps.
... Sexual script theory (Gagnon & Simon, 2005;Simon & Gagnon, 1986) has guided this current research as a way to capture how individuals establish beliefs about what is expected of them in terms of sexual performance. Scripts are cultural norms that guide our understanding of how events will unfold, are acquired through social learning, and involve modeling and reinforcement to learn how to appropriately react during sexual cues and situations (Simon & Gagnon, 1986). ...
Most research on sexual performance anxiety has focused on men's experiences and links to erectile functioning and premature ejaculation, with little research attention given to women's experiences or to relationship dynamics. At times, sexual performance anxiety has been examined in the context of dysfunction, but rarely as a focus in its own right. Study 1 asked 51 participants reporting sexual performance anxiety to describe the cognitive and affective components of their experiences, coping strategies, and perceived impact on their relationship using open-ended responses from online surveys. Through directed content analysis, Study 1 revealed that men and women experience a range of cognitive and affective processes with predominant feelings of inadequacy, and overall promoting more approach coping strategies. Study 2 used quantitative surveys to examine whether sexual performance anxiety was associated with higher sexual distress and lower sexual and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 228 community-based couples. Guided by the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, multilevel modeling analyses indicated that higher sexual performance anxiety was linked to higher sexual distress and lower sexual and relationship satisfaction in both individuals and their partners. This work advances knowledge of sexual performance anxiety to women's experiences, not just men's, and to couples' experiences. Effective treatment for those suffering from this anxiety may incorporate education around sexual beliefs and expectations.
... In part, this narrow focus may be explained by the fact that the predominant theoretical model guiding the existing research on UCS is sexual script theory, with a particular focus on traditional heterosexual scripts. Sexual script theory (Simon & Gagnon, 1973, 1986 is an extension of the broader social scripting theory, which argues that behaviors and interactions within social life are guided by socially constructed "scripts" that prescribe how those behaviors and interactions are expected to play out within particular contexts. Social scripts can provide a sense of predictability that decreases anxiety and uncertainty, but they also can restrict options and freedom, resulting in stereotyped roles and behaviors. ...
The field of men and masculinities has examined rigid adherence to traditional masculine gender roles as a risk factor for sexual perpetration and as a vulnerability factor for sexual victimization. Very little research, however, has examined the role of masculinities in unwanted consensual sex (UCS). UCS is sex that is not wanted or desired by an individual but to which the individual consents or agrees—even though there is no immediate pressure from their partner to do so. UCS is sometimes called “sexual compliance” or “sexual acquiescence.” This conceptual article reviews the literature on UCS, including describing the theoretical distinction between unwanted and nonconsensual sex, discussing sexual script theory as the predominate theoretical approach to research on UCS, summarizing the potential consequences of UCS, and addressing the—fairly limited—research on the intersections between masculinities and UCS. This article argues that traditional masculine ideologies may put men at risk for consenting to sex that they do want and may make them less sensitive to their partners’ lack of desire during consensual sex. The article offers several future directions for research on men, masculinities, and UCS, and it discusses how research on UCS might guide prevention and therapeutic interventions to reduce rates of problematic UCS for men and their sexual partners.
... Under the broad umbrella of gendered social norms, many comments reflected heteronormative scripts about sex, consent, and sexual assault whereby women were labeled as people who could consent or victims of assault, and it was implied that men were responsible for obtaining consent and committing assault. These scripts rely on social constructionism, as they represent sexual expectations and learned sequences of behavior assembled through gender role socialization (Gagnon & Simon, 1974;Wiederman, 2015). Although statistics support the notion that women are more likely than men to be victims of sexual assault (e.g., Leemis et al., 2022), the gender role assumptions and references to rape scripts (Ryan, 2011) that cut across several comments in the current study suggest that some participants could have difficulty identifying sexual assault victimization as violence among men. ...
This mixed-methods study examined awareness and perceived legitimacy of the #MeToo movement and how #MeToo changed perceptions of sexual assault and consent, as well as sexual interactions, in the United States. Adults residing in the U.S. were recruited through CloudResearch to complete an online survey in 2021. Quantitative data from 680 participants (M age = 45.8, 60% women, 77.4% White) indicated moderate awareness and perceived legitimacy of the #MeToo movement; Black, LGBQ+, and more politically liberal respondents had greater #MeToo awareness while younger, more liberal respondents, and those with greater rejection of rape myths rated #MeToo more legitimate. Among 354 participants (M age = 45.0, 65.3% women, 76.4% White) who answered at least one open-ended question with regard to changes resulting from the #MeToo movement, thematic analysis revealed nine primary themes: (1) Describing change; (2) Change in understanding; (3) More cautious; (4) Wrong or requires reporting/punishment; (5) Gendered social norms; (6) Easier to talk about; (7) #MeToo rhetoric; (8) Consequences for survivors, and (9) Empowerment. Several sub-themes were identified among the primary themes and implications for sexual assault prevention and response were discussed. The study findings are contextualized by social constructionism, with a particular focus on gender-based power dynamics, contributing to a growing literature documenting the cultural impact of the #MeToo movement.
... Calabrò et al. discovered that particular parts of the brain are essential for a man's sex drive and performance [46]. A man might have an orgasm simply by imagining or fantasizing about a sexual encounter [47]. ...
... Messages about sex and sexuality in various forms of media often reflect culturally predominant sexual scripts (Gagnon, 1977;Gagnon & Simon, 1973). Sexual scripts serve as guidelines to "appropriate" sexual behaviours and interactions for individuals and couples: the who, what, how, when, and why of sexual encounters, and are usually highly gendered (Wiederman, 2005). ...
Sex and the City and The L Word were two groundbreaking television shows aimed at female audiences featuring explicit sexual content and queer characters; however, both have received little research attention over the last two decades. This is a serious omission in light of their popularity and their enduring capacity to influence viewers through streaming platforms as well as the successful launch of two revival series, And Just Like That… and The L Word: Generation Q. The purpose of this study was to examine depictions of sexual behaviours in the original runs of Sex and the City and The L Word and compare both with their respective revivals. Sexual behaviours across all episodes of the original runs of both shows and the first season of each revival were coded using a sheet and codebook developed for this study. Results showed that The L Word contained more explicit instances of oral sex and intimate touching, whereas Sex and the City showed more explicit instances of kissing and total explicit behaviours. The original run of Sex and the City contained more total explicit behaviours and more explicit kissing compared to its revival, but The L Word featured fewer instances of explicit penetrative/genital sexual behaviours compared to its revival. The implications of these findings for viewers, clinicians, and sex educators are considered.
... Social scripts are intimately related to the spaces that they exist in and the people who exist in that space, and as such, social script theory has been used to explore race, gender, and sexuality in various sociological contexts (see e.g. Gagnon & Simon, 1973;Spector-Mersel, 2006;Molina, 2013). In sociology, gender studies, and sexuality studies, social scripts have been leveraged to describe ways in which interactions and social processes at the individual level exemplify and reproduce cultural ideas and values about marginalized groups at the societal level and vice versa. ...
Cet article se penche sur la réflexivité des enquêté·e·s et sur les outils permettant de la saisir. Il s’intéresse en particulier à l’étude du processus de création d’une image comme moyen d’analyser le regard des créateur·rice·s, car permettant d’objectiver leur conscience réflexive. À travers le cas d’un projet artistique, l’article met en exergue la corrélation entre pratique de dessin, réflexivité et regard. Il s’agit de montrer en quoi l’étude du processus de création aide à saisir l’être au monde des enquêté·e·s, en mettant en lumière les dynamiques culturelles et sociales qui traversent et influencent leurs choix artistiques. L’article apporte un exemple d’observation indirecte du regard et de co-production des données.
Adolescence is a stage of significant intrapersonal and interpersonal changes, influenced by cultural and historical shifts. This study aims to analyze the changes in heterosexual behaviors among adolescents in Western countries over the past 50 years approximately. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA model, utilizing the online databases EBSCO, WoS, and Scopus, covering the period from 1980 to 2024, across ten European countries. The review focused on studies published in scientific journals with regional or national samples. In addition to the 30 selected studies, three more were included due to their relevance as cited in the selected articles. Despite the considerable methodological heterogeneity, the results showed a relative stabilization of the differences in sexual behaviors of boys and girls throughout time. Those differences were more evident in Southern European countries. Some changes were also noted, such as the delay in the initiation of the first sexual intercourse, a trend observed over the last decade. The findings are discussed in terms of the sexual script theory, highlighting the importance of these mental frameworks in the heteronormative sexual socialization of boys and girls. Future research should emphasize the diversity of heterosexual behaviors, their significance, and the emotional experiences that accompany them.
Using semi-structured, qualitative interviews of 25 heterosexual Muslim women residing in the US, the author examines the extent to which respondents simultaneously constructed and deconstructed the gender dichotomy when explaining sexuality, countering reductionist accounts of Muslim women’s sexuality. Integrating concepts of religiosity and gender norms, respondents reconfigured the dominant discourse of power and sexuality in innovative ways. One of the main themes that emerged from this research is that male sex drive discourse, typically associated with power and “machismo” within the traditional sexual script, was reimagined by Muslim women as an indicator of women’s greater strength in the eyes of God.
Research shows that young adults with intellectual disabilities struggle to understand the social codes embedded in sexual situations. This may lead to an incomprehension of sexual consent, or when consenting to sex may lead to abuse. This qualitative study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of sexual experiences and perceptions about sexual consent among Swedish young adults with intellectual disabilities. The data comprise 22 semi-structured interviews with young adults aged 18-35 with intellectual disabilities, thematically analyzed using sexual script theory as a theoretical framework. Four themes emerged from the analysis: Setting the sexual scene, Sexual self-awareness, Sexual communication and the necessity of clarification and Striving for a balance. The results show that the participants had a variety of sexual experiences and challenges associated with sexual consent, but also an agency that favors sexual situations. Further research is necessary to understand the complexities of sexual consent in this population.
Media representations of sexuality can play a relevant role in the development of gender stereotypes and sexual learning processes. In the current pre-registered study, we examined the representation of sexuality in content on Netflix, a dominant force in global mass media consumption. We coded 271 mixed-gender sexual scenes across seven highly popular Netflix series for orgasm portrayal, depiction of sexual behaviors, including clitoral stimulation, and gendered sexual scripts (i.e., initiation, control, and expression of desires). Our results revealed a nuanced picture of women’s sexual pleasure representation. Women’s orgasms were depicted less frequently than men’s, although orgasm portrayal was generally rare. Sexual behaviors were mostly limited to penile-vaginal intercourse, though cunnilingus was depicted more frequently than fellatio. Regarding gendered sexual scripts, women were portrayed as equally sexually agentic as men, initiating sexual encounters, taking control, and expressing their needs and desires. Our findings indicate that this content simultaneously reinforces and challenges gender stereotypes related to sexual experiences, highlighting the need for sexual educators to critically address the realism of mainstream media portrayals to foster a nuanced understanding of sexuality and pleasure.
100 Jahre nach dem Erscheinen von Bernfelds Kritik an der Pädagogik scheint diese weiterhin tief verstrickt in das Spannungsfeld zwischen normativ Gefordertem und Möglichem. Der Band analysiert sowohl empirisch als auch theoretisch gegenwärtige Themen schulischer und außerschulischer Praxis. Welche Grenzen hat Erziehung? Wie geht die Pädagogik mit diesen Grenzen um? Die Beiträge untersuchen die Aktualität von Bernfelds Kritik anhand empirischer Erscheinungsformen sowie Voraussetzungen, Bedingungen und Logiken des Auseinanderfallens von Anspruch und Wirklichkeit pädagogischer Praxis.
Immer wieder ruft die Pädagogik auf programmatischer Ebene Ziele aus, die sie praktisch nicht einzulösen vermag. Wie kann sich die Pädagogik in Relation zur Gesellschaft und ihren verschiedenen Sphären, pädagogischen Organisationen, der pädagogischen Praxis und den zu Erziehenden konstituieren? Welche Folgen hat dies für sie selbst, die Praxis und die Adressat*innen pädagogischen Handelns? Gegenstand der theoretischen und empirischen Auseinandersetzung sind unterschiedliche Handlungs- und Themenfelder sowie Praktiken, die durch einen normativen Überschuss, Tabus oder Ausblendungen gekennzeichnet sind. Der Band analysiert sowohl empirisch als auch theoretisch gegenwärtige Themen schulischer und außerschulischer Praxis.
Culture shapes the development and expression of human behavior. Teenage behaviors are partly a product of prevalent cultural trends. This study examined the relationship between cultural factors and teen pregnancy prevalence in Kakamega County, Kenya. The study was anchored on the sexual script theory developed by Gagnon and Simon in 1973 and the symbolic interaction theory advanced by Blumer in 1969. The research was descriptive and cross-sectional in design. It targeted teenagers (aged 15–19 years) and key informants in Kakamega County. Purposive sampling was used to select Butere and Ikolomani sub-counties, random sampling to select two wards in each sub-county, and systematic sampling to obtain participants. The sample size was 438, calculated using the Yamane formula. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using STATA version 18. Descriptive statistics were used to generate frequencies and percentages, and the chi-square test as well as binary logistic regression were used to determine the association between variables. Values were considered significant at a p-value <0.05. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The study findings revealed that cultural factors, such as sex discussion at family and community levels, parental strictness, contraceptive use, teen marriage, contraceptive non-use, decision-making power in marriage, religious views and affiliation, and family reaction to pregnancy, contributed at varying degrees to teen pregnancy prevalence. The study results found a significant relationship between cultural factors and teen pregnancy prevalence in Kakamega County, Kenya (p<0.001). It is recommended that parents and other stakeholders create a conducive environment where free conversations and training on healthy sexual behaviors among teenagers are possible.
Vulvodynia, a long-term genital pain disorder with a high lifetime prevalence, profoundly impacts both the affected women and their partners. However, the experiences of these partners have been under-researched. Using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis, this qualitative study explored the experiences of male partners of women with vulvodynia. In individual interviews with seven men (20-32 years), four themes were identified: "Trying to be a good and caring partner," "Fear of sexual and emotional rejection," "Feelings of insecurity and being misled," and "Keeping up the façade." Despite efforts to support their partners, the men often faced rejection, leading to insecurities about their attractiveness, the relationship's future, and their ability to conform to social expectations. They coped by concealing insecurities from their partners and overemphasizing traditional masculinity among peers. We discuss these results using sexual script theory, suggesting that gendered sexual scripts play a significant role in relationships with vulvodynia, with prevailing cultural assumptions regarding masculinity challenging men's ability to be simultaneously caring and sexual. As a result, the men found themselves negotiating two contrasting ideals associated with masculine behavior: those of good caregiver and assertive, virile sexual partner. Our research suggests that male partners of women with vulvodynia tend to be left alone to deal with the resulting ambivalence and distress. Supporting these men could benefit both parties in managing vulvodynia.
Objectives:
To review the literature on Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer (GBTQ) men and sexual consent.
Methods:
Eight electronic databases were searched in June 2022, yielding 1924 articles; 30 were included for review after screening.
Results:
We found a growing body of literature focused on GBTQ men, with an increasingly intersectional lens. Most studies adopted a nuanced definition of sexual consent. Many discussed the unique sexual scripts developed by GBTQ men to communicate consent, especially in sex venues, and how unfamiliarity with these scripts creates vulnerability for newly "out" men. A common theme was the impact of heteromasculine norms on sexual encounters between GBTQ men.
Conclusions:
The reviewed literature problematizes binary definitions of consent and miscommunication theories of assault. It both celebrates and problematizes GBTQ sexual cultures. We encourage future research to adopt more explicitly anti-carceral approaches to studying sexual consent and violence.
Intrinsic (i.e., personality traits) and extrinsic mate value (i.e., resources, physical attractiveness) preferences play a crucial role in (online) relationship formation. The role of mate values in dating applications was unclear and was addressed in a multi-method study. A first content analytical study examined the prevalence of mate values (MVs) on Tinder profiles (Study 1) and two subsequent cross-sectional studies explored the relationships between dating app use, various swiping behaviors, sexual satisfaction (Studies 2–3), need satisfaction with matches (Study 3), having a committed relationship versus casual sex motivation for using dating apps and users’ gender. The content analysis of 307 Tinder profiles indicated that resources and physical attractiveness were most salient in biographies and pictures, respectively. The first cross-sectional study (nfullsample = 325, ndating app users = 133) revealed no significant relationships between dating app frequency/swiping frequency, intrinsic and extrinsic MV preferences, and sexual satisfaction. The second cross-sectional study (n = 323) showed no significant relationships between picture-based or biography-based swiping, intrinsic and extrinsic MV preferences, and need satisfaction with matches. Gender differences emerged in the presentation of MVs on Tinder (Study 1) and general MV preferences (Study 2–3), but not in the relationships between different types of dating app use/swiping and MV preferences (Study 2–3). A committed relationship and a casual sex motivation played a role in the relationships between different types of swiping behaviors and MV preferences, and between MV preferences, and sexual satisfaction/need satisfaction with matches.
Objective:
This study aims to examine how the frequency of pornography use mediates between sexual satisfaction and psychological distress related to the use of pornography, moderated by moral incongruence.
Method:
943 individuals from Romania, aged 18-65 (M = 27.95; SD = 9.29), 70.1% of whom were women, all in romantic relationships.
Results:
The frequency of pornography use mediated the link between sexual satisfaction and psychological distress, with moral incongruence moderating this relationship.
Conclusion:
Moral incongruence plays a crucial role in understanding the dynamics between sexual satisfaction, pornography use, and psychological distress related to the use of pornography.
In this paper, we explore the multifaceted nature of sexual consent, examining its theoretical foundations, emotional underpinnings, and practical dimensions from a perspective of negotiation. We underscore the critical importance of this subject, advocating for a comprehensive analysis that seamlessly incorporates emotional, cultural, and legal frameworks. This integrative approach is employed to scrutinize how discrepancies or misinterpretations in the negotiation of consent can precipitate incidents of sexual violence. We contend that understanding consent as a fundamental tenet is essential for the prevention of sexual violence. Our analysis delves into the emergence of such violence, attributing it not only to prevailing power dynamics but also to deficiencies in negotiating and articulating consent. The influence of emotional responses on decision-making processes related to consent is discussed, highlighting how these emotional reactions can obfuscate the communication and interpretation of intentions, thereby impacting consensual engagements. We propose that a more profound and contextualized understanding is imperative to forestall misinterpretations and sexual violence, advocating for the development of more integrated policies and research on consent.
This chapter explores meaning and key topics in psychology of sexuality, history and related perspectives in indigenous sexuality writings, historical perspectives, further chapter looks at male & female sexuality and psychophysical and indigenous aspects. Finally the chapter points out some important other miscellaneous topics, such as sexual intelligence, Zen/Tantrik sex, old Sheela-na-gig figurines, etc. This chapter starts with discussing the fundamental and key concepts of sexuality psychology, such as sexual orientation, sexual deviance etc., in both modern and indigenous bases, and further includes the Indian meaning of sexuality. The chapter explores the historical and theoretical aspects related to indigenous and modern perceptions of human sexuality. It highlights the topics such as the short history of Western/Indian sexuality with its key considerations, like; homosexuality, Plato, Aristotle and Darwinism etc. Further it explores psychophysiological/indigenous aspects of male and female sexuality. Finally it discusses other miscellaneous topics of the psychology of sexuality. Thus this chapter provides a fine and exploratory text in the subject. All concepts mentioned in the chapter explain their own, sole justification as per their concerned citation, which should not be taken and considered across Indian indigenous knowledge systems.
Japanese and Canadian laws regarding sexual assault vary in the degree to which they incorporate the concept of sexual consent, with Japanese law being less consent-oriented than Canadian law. Although the Japanese law has incorporated the concept of sexual consent in the 2023 amendment, the public understanding of the concept is still limited. Reflecting such difference, it could be expected that the general public in both countries also differ in their perceptions and attitudes regarding punishment of sexual crime and sexual consent. The present study aimed to test these expectations and further examine the mediational mechanism that explains the national difference between Japan and Canada. The data from 1125 Japanese and 1125 Canadian respondents showed that Japanese respondents were less likely to perceive the imposition of punishment on an alleged perpetrator described in scenarios as appropriate. In contrast, the difference in the perceived victim’s consent was significant only in three out of seven scenarios. The relation between nations (Japan vs. Canada) and perceived appropriateness of punishment was mediated by the perceived victim’s consent.
In self-report questionnaires, men report higher scores than women on variables such as desire for sex, frequency of sexual thoughts, number of sex partners, etc. Based on this, men are considered to have a higher level of sexual motivation than women. However, retrospective self-reports may be unsuitable for estimations of the inherent level of sexual motivation. We review data on automatic (unconsciously controlled) responses and measures of implicit motivation during exposure to sexual stimuli. These responses and measures are inaccessible to willful manipulations and make it possible to determine whether the sex difference in answers to questionnaires is replicated when volitional response manipulations are unlikely. We complement the human data with observations from some rodent and non-human primate species. The attentional resources allotted to stimuli with sexual relevance as well as genital responses to such stimuli are similar in men and women. Measures of implicit motivation also fail to detect any sex difference. Finally, the frequency of masturbation is superior in female infants before the age at which social expectations begin to determine behavior. Neither in rodents nor in non-human primates is there any clear-cut evidence for sex differences in motivation. It seems that males and females are similar with regard to the intensity of sexual motivation. The responses to questionnaires may be affected by social learning of sexual scripts and/or the inferior quality of sexual experiences in women, among other things.
Gender-based inequities within patriarchy create barriers to women’s sexual well-being. This study integrated empowerment theory with research on heterosexual women’s sexuality to examine multiple factors related to sexual pleasure. An empowerment process is one mechanism through which less powerful individuals gain influence and power that results in increased opportunities to control decisions that affect their
lives. Although psychologists have been studying empowerment for decades, sexual empowerment has been under-explored. In this study, 253 heterosexual undergraduate women completed a questionnaire assessing sexual empowerment dimensions, including critical consciousness about gender and sexuality, sexual subjectivity, sexual assertiveness, and sexual pleasure. Data were analysed with structural equation modelling. A mediated sexual empowerment process in which critical consciousness was indirectly related to sexual pleasure through two mediators, sexual
subjectivity and sexual assertiveness, was supported. To the extent that women can reject heteronormative beliefs and conform less to patriarchal norms of sexual fidelity, they may be able to realise more sexual subjectivity, assertiveness, and pleasure. This study has implications for rights based sexual education and pleasure-inclusive clinical practice.
This article relies on quantitative data collected in Switzerland as part of a research study on sexual transactions among youth. Building on an analytical framework that defines sexual transactions in terms of negotiated exchanges rooted in social representations, we explored how they were perceived by the Swiss young people included in our sample at a cognitive, ethical, and political level. We found that research participants who reported having experienced sexual transactions viewed them much more positively than those who reported never having engaged in such exchanges. While this was especially true among young women, we also found that the tendency of respondents to perceive sexual transactions negatively increased with age. When analyzed in light of the qualitative results of our study, these quantitative findings suggest that negative representations of sexual transactions are less likely to be based on lived experience than on an ideal-type of sexual behavior. In other words, our research highlights how young people interpret sexuality according to norms developed within a heteronormative matrix.
This chapter introduces work on the embodiment of sex and gender identity, highlighting some analytical tensions inherent in this field. It presents different social-constructionist accounts of the body by focusing on feminist approaches from De Beauvoir to Butler and identifies the ‘problem of biology’ within feminist scholarship. It continues by revealing shortcomings of social-constructionist approaches to the body by appraising the contribution of the schools of the British sociology of the body and of symbolic interactionism with regard to the embodied nature of gendered social interactions. This attention to constructionist accounts of embodied sex/gender identity foregrounds key sociological dichotomies inherent in the debate: idealism versus materialism; nature versus society; structure versus agency and its political implications.
Background and Aim:
Couples’ sexual communication is one of the contributing factors to the quality of couples’ sexual relationships. The aim of the present study was to psychometrically evaluate the Persian version of the Dyadic Sexual Communication Scale (DSCS) among married women of reproductive age.
Methods:
In this psychometric study, translation was carried out using the back-translation method. The validity of the final version of the DSCS was performed using confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis. Concurrent validity was examined using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS) and Marital Intimacy Scale (MIS). Reliability was assessed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and Mplus software.
Results:
The participants comprised 400 married women with a mean age of 35.66 years living in Qazvin, Iran. Construct validity was confirmed based on confirmatory factor analysis (χ2[df]: 113.49 (65), Tucker-Lewis index: 0.980, Composite Reliability: 0.87, SRMSR: 0.065, RMSEA: 0.043, CFI: 0.983. Concurrent validity was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients, and the DSCS was positively correlated with scores on the MIS (r=.64) and FSFI (r=.65) and negatively correlated with scores on the FSDS (r=-.61). The internal reliability of the Persian DSCS was very good (Cronbach’s alpha=.88).
Conclusion:
Based on psychometric testing, the Persian DSCS has good validity and reliability. Therefore, the tool can be used to assess women’s sexual communication in the context of sexual relationships. Future research should include males and compare and contrast results with females.
There is scarce empirical evidence examining whether sexual initiation and power are associated with each other. Utilizing latent profile analyses, we examined in a nationally representative sample of US newlywed heterosexual couples (N = 1,948 couples) whether wives’ and husbands’ sexual initiation patterns and satisfaction with these patterns were associated with membership in different profiles of wives’ and husbands’ perceptions of shared relational power while accounting for both partner’s satisfaction with sexual frequency. We found four profiles of wives’ and husbands’ perceptions of power. The most common profile was when both wives and husbands perceived high levels of power compared to other profiles, but wives had significantly higher reports of perceived power than husbands (High Power, Wife Higher; 40.8%). Husbands’ sexual initiation patterns were not associated with profile membership. Wives who reported equal sexual initiation patterns had a higher probability of being in the High Power, Wife Higher profile compared to the Wife Low Power, Husband Moderate Power profile. Both wives’ and husbands’ satisfaction with sexual initiation patterns were associated with profile membership. Wives and husbands that were satisfied with sexual initiation patterns had a higher probability of being in the High Power, Wife Higher profile compared to the profile where both wives and husbands had high perceptions of shared relational power compared to other profiles, but their scores were not significantly different from each other (High Power, Equal).
Sugar dating arrangements involve an older partner ("sugar daddy/mommy") who provides financial support to a younger partner ("sugar baby") in exchange for intimacy. The current study recruited a U.S. and Canadian sample of sugar babies (n = 45) and sugar benefactors (n = 32) through social media sources to survey them about perceived power in their sugar arrangement, gender roles, and stigma. Sugar benefactors did not differ in perceived power from sugar babies, nor in endorsement of traditional gender roles or stigma. Directed content analysis analyzing open-ended responses about associated outcomes indicated that both partners placed strong emphasis on companionship despite the importance of sex within arrangements. Sugar babies reported that money drives participation, although arrangements fulfill other needs, such as pleasure. Other benefits include having an arrangement with clear boundaries and expectations. Disadvantages include concerns for safety, that being physical safety for babies, and reputation and being used for money for daddies. Notably, both groups perceived sugar babies as having equal or more power than sugar benefactors, although this was often attributed to sugar babies' attractiveness and youth. Findings include insights from both babies and benefactors, and support perspectives that sugar dating is distinct from traditional sex work.
L’article s’intéresse aux représentations des transactions sexuelles impliquant des jeunes du point de vue des professionnel∙le∙s, issu∙e∙s de différents domaines du travail social, responsables de leur suivi socio-éducatif. À travers l’analyse de cinq focus groups et un entretien individuel, réunissant 34 personnes, il examine la prégnance des normes de genre dans leurs discours. Il met en évidence comment ceux-ci perpétuent la représentation selon laquelle la sécurité et la respectabilité de la sexualité reposent principalement sur la responsabilité des filles reproduisant ainsi une représentation de rapports de genre reposant sur la norme hétérosexuelle et l’ordre de genre.
The aim of this study is to examine why individuals who watch pornographic content watch pornography and to explore the motivations underlying their watching behavior. The research was conducted based on phenomenological design which is one of the qualitative research methods. The research was determined by having semi-structured interviews with 8 participants (6 males and 2 females) who engage in problematic consumption of pornographic content and by purposive sampling method. In the study, researchers used a Personal Information Form and a semi-structured interview form as data collection tools. Semi-structured interview questions were posed to participants through online video conferencing using the “Zoom” program, and the responses given by the participants were recorded. These recordings were analyzed using the content analysis method. The data analyses of individuals who watch pornographic content were grouped under six themes named (1) watching motivations, (2) watching outcomes, (3) perspectives on content, (4) effects of content, (5) knowledge and (6) different pursuits. The study results indicate that curiosity and information-seeking, traumatic family life, role models and lack of social skills, emotional avoidance, stress, and boredom constitute the motivations for watching pornographic content. The participants were observed to report experiencing intense feelings of guilt, shame, and regret after watching pornographic content, and to have difficulties with adaptation to the work, school, or social environment in daily life. The research is thought to contribute to both experts and individuals interested in the research on providing psychological support for problematic consumption of pornographic content in the matter of deciding on which information can be used.
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