2. Acceptable Types of Relational Sex
“Relational sex” refers to the sex occurring
by people of who exist in some kind of
formal or informal relationship with one
another.
People are most accepting of sex between
people in married or engaged relations and
least accepting of sex between those who
are uncommitted or in early stages of a
relationship.
3. Acceptable Types of Relational Sex
Just because
someone claims
to not approve of
a certain type of
sex doesn't mean
they don't engage
in it
4.
5. Victorian Standards
“Usually marriage is consummated within a day or
two after the ceremony, but this sign is a gross
injustice to the bride. In most cases she is nervous,
timid, and exhausted by the duties of preparation for
the wedding, and in no way in a condition […] for
the vital changes which the married relation brings
upon her... Young husband! Prove your manhood,
not by yielding to unbridled lust and cruelty, but by
the exhibition of true power in self-control and
patience with the helpless being confined to your
care!”
6. Early Studies
Reiss 1964 was one of the first empirical
studies in sexual attitudes
It documented changing standards
amongst high school and college aged
people in regards to pre-marital sex
7. Changing Standards
Peplau, Rubin, Hill 1977 found that 80% of
those surveyed approved of sexual
relations between a loving couple (not
necessarily married) whereas only 20%
approved of sex with a casual acquaintance
Sprecher, McKinney, Walsh Anderson 1988
saw some increase in acceptance in
regards to early stage relationships with
28% approving of sex on the first date and
41% approving of sex in a casual
relationship
8. Changing Standards
Wells, Twenge 2005 presented 45
individual research studies from the years
1955 to 1989
In the mid 1950's only 12% of women and
40% of men approved of premarital sex,
however by the mid 1980s 73% of women
and 79% of men approved of premarital
sex. In addition to an increase in
acceptance of sexual activities, the gap
between women and men lessened greatly
9. Sexual Expectations
An increase in expectation of sexual
intercourse accompanied increases in
tolerance of earlier sexual relations
Sherwin and Corbett 1895 presented three
surveyed groups from 1963, 1971 and 1978
In 1963 none of those surveyed expected
sexual intercourse to occur in a casual
dating relationship. However in 1978 17%
of men an 9% of women saw sex as a
normal part of casual dating
10. The Role of Biological Sex
Men are more likely to approve of sex
without much emotional background.
Robinson, Balkwell & Ward 1980 surveyed
college students to write down their first five
responses to the word “sex”. 42% of men
compared to 71% of women responded
with words relating to 'love' and 16% of
men compared to 43% of women indicated
words reflecting of marriage or some other
form of commitment.
11. The Role of Biological Sex
Roche and Ramsbey 1993 found that 76%
of male and 67% of female college students
approved of marriage between engaged
couples. 3% of male college students and
0% of female college students surveyed
approved of sex in the complete absence of
commitment and affection.
12. The Role of Biological Sex
The gender difference increases during
intermediate stages of relationships. In the
same study 17% of the men compared to
1% of the women approved of sex in a
relationship where there was mutual
affection but not love
13. The Role of Biological Sex
It might be temping to conclude that men
are just more sexual than women because
of these studies.
However Muram 1991 surveyed high
school aged girls and found that 80%
reported being sexually excited by their
dating partners, regardless of whether they
were having sex or not.
14. The Role of Biological Sex
It is not that women are less sexual than
men but rather that women are more likely
to prefer sex to be accompanied with
emotional commitment whereas men are
more likely to be content with the sexual act
alone.
15. The Role of Culture
Since both marriage and sexual intercourse
are interpreted differently in different
cultures, it would follow that premarital sex
would be interpreted differently.
16. The Role of Culture
Goodman 1998, Widmer et al, 1998 and
Yan 2006 found that collectivist cultures
which value group cohesion and solidarity
such as East Asia or the Middle East more
strongly disapproved of premarital sex than
more individualist cultures such as Europe
or North America.
17. The Role of Culture
It is not necessarily the
case that all non-
Western nations are
always less accepting of
pre-marital sex. Gell
1986 found that the
Muria peple of India
strongly encouraged
adolescents to explore
sexuality with each other
and in some cases even
discouraged strong
emotional attachment
with their partners.
18. Summary
While there is a trend towards greater
sexual permissiveness in many societies,
most men and women view sexual activity
as most acceptable when it occurs to
partners in a committed, especially married,
relationship. Additionally, once in a
committed relationship, sexuality should be
restricted to one's committed partner.
