Abstract
In a test of the hypothesis that a difference exists between males and females in motives for participating in sexual intercourse, a random sample of 249 college students was given a questionnaire containing questions about sexual behavior and attitudes, focusing on motives for having intercourse. There were significant differences between males and females in approval of casual sexual intercourse, number of premarital sexual partners, most important part of sexual behavior, and whether an emotional involvement was a prerequisite for participating in sexual intercourse. Effect-size analyses indicated that these differences are large, with a median ω2 = 0.24. Both males and females approved of premarital sexual intercourse in a serious relationship and stressed the importance of feeling loved and needed. However, males found it easier to participate in sexual intercourse without an emotional commitment, whereas females were unlikely to want intercourse for physical pleasure in the absence of psychological involvement.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bardwick, J. (1971).The Psychology of Women. Harper & Row, New York.
Ehrmann, W. W. (1959).Premarital Dating Behavior. Holt, New York.
Heiman, J. (1975). The physiology of erotica: Women's sexual arousal.Psychol. Today 8(11): 90–94.
Hite, S. (1976).The Hite Report. Macmillan, New York.
Hite, S. (1981).The Hite Report on Male Sexuality. Knopf, New York.
Hopkins, J. R. (1977). Sexual behavior in adolescence.J. Soc. Issues 33(2): 67–85.
Hunt, J. (1974).Sexual Behavior in the 1970s. Playboy Press, Chicago.
Hyde, J. S. (1981). How large are cognitive gender differences? A meta-analysis usingω 2 andd.Amer. Psychol. 36: 892–901.
Kaplan, H. S., and Sager, C. I. (1971). Sexual patterns at different ages.Med. Aspects Human Sex. 10–23.
Keller, J. F., Elliott, S. S., and and Gunberg, E. (1982). Premarital sexual intercourse among single college students: A discriminant analysis.Sex Roles 8: 21–32.
Miller, P. Y., and Simon, W. (1980). The development of sexuality in adolescence. In Adelson, J. (ed.),Handbook of Adolescent Psychology Wiley, New York.
Reiss, I. L. (1960).Premarital Sexual Standards in America. Free Press, Glencoe, Illinois.
Shope, D. F. (1975).Interpersonal Sexuality. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia.
Simon, W., Berger, A. S., and Gagnon, J. S. (1972). Beyond anxiety and fantasy: The coital experiences of college youth.J. Youth Adolescence 1: 203–222.
Sorenson, R. C. (1973).Adolescent Sexuality in Contemporary America. World, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carroll, J.L., Volk, K.D. & Hyde, J.S. Differences between males and females in motives for engaging in sexual intercourse. Arch Sex Behav 14, 131–139 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541658
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541658