Chapter 9: Love and Sexuality Flashcards
Social script
An unwritten set of cultural rules and expectations that are transmitted through family, media and education. Serve as instructions in dating behaviour and as a basis for self-evaluation.
Dating scripts
The cognitive models that guide dating interactions.
Sternberg’s Theory of Love
Three basic qualities:
- passion (physical attraction and sexual desire)
- intimacy (feelings of closeness)
- commitment (sustaining a relationship over time)
7 forms:
- liking, infatuation, empty love, romantic love, companionate love, fautous love, consummate love
Liking
Intimacy alone, no passion or commitment.
- ex. friendships
Infatuation
Passion alone, no intimacy or commitment.
Empty love
Commitment alone, no passion or intimacy.
Romantic love
Passion and intimacy, no commitment.
Companionate love
Intimacy and commitment, no passion.
Fatuous love
Passion and commitment, no intimacy.
- ex. whirlwind courtship (marries within weeks of meeting)
Consummate love
Integrates all three aspects of love (passion, intimacy, commitment).
Consensual validation
The principle that people like to find in others an agreement or consensus with their own characteristics and view of life.
Secure attachment (with romantic partner)
Characterized by emotional support and concern for the partner’s well-being.
Insecure attachment (with romantic partner)
Characterized by either an excessive dependency or excessive distancing.
Romantic harassment
Continued pursuit of the ex-partner, through persistent, unwanted use of psychological or physical abuse.
Brown’s Developmental Model of Adolescent Love
Initiation, status, affection, bonding.
Initiation phase
First phase of Brown’s developmental model of adolescent love.
Early adolescence, when first tentative explorations of romantic interests begin, usually superficial and brief, often fraught with anxiety, fear and excitement.
Status phase
Second phase of Brown’s developmental model of adolescent love.
Adolescence begin to gain confidence in skills at interacting with potential romantic partners; form first romantic relationships. Assess not just how much they like and are attracted to the person, but also how their status with friends and peers would be affected.
Affection phase
Third phase of Brown’s developmental model of adolescent love.
Adolescents come to know each other better, express deeper feelings for each other, and engaging in more extensive sexual activity.
Bonding phase
Final phase of Brown’s developmental model of adolescent love.
Romantic relationship becomes more enduring and serious; partners begin to discuss the possibility of a lifelong commitment to each other.
Cohabitation
Living with a romantic partner outside of marriage.
Sexual self-esteem
Perception of one’s worth as a sexual being.
Sexual self-efficacy
Confidence in one’s mastery and control of sexual activities.
Sexual self-image
Perception of one’s sexuality; beliefs about their needs.
Sexually naive
Lack confidence in attractiveness, feelings of little control.
Sexually competent
Confident in sexual appeal and ablility to control situation. Experience less anxiety, more interest (older, more experienced).
Sexually adventurous
Highly confident in sexual appeal and ability to take charge of sexual encounters. Interested in exploring sexuality, experience little anxiety or relationship commitment.
Sexually driven
Highly confident in sexual appeal but unable to control sexual encounters by saying no (usu. experience males).
Sexual scripts
Provide a set of guidelines concerning expectations of behaviour in sexual situations. Reflect stereotypical masculine and feminine characteristics.
Female scripts: emotional closeness, intimacy, love
Male scripts: dominance, risk-taking, motivated by physical satisfaction
Restrictive cultures
Place strong prohibitions on adolescent sexual activity before marriage.
Double standard
Two different sets of rules for sexual behaviour, one applying to males and the other to females, with rules for females usually being more restrictive.
Semirestrictive cultures
Cultures that have prohibitions on premarital adolescent sex, but these prohibitions are not strongly enforced and easily evaded. However, pregnant girls are expected to marry.
Permissive cultures
Encourage and expect adolescent sexual activity.
Proactive script
A dating script, more common for males, that includes initiating the date, deciding where they will go, controlling the public domain (ex. driving the car, opening doors), and initiating sexual contact.
Reactive script
A dating script, more common for females, that focuses on the private domain (ex. spending time getting ready), responding to the date’s gestures in the public domain and to his sexual initiatives.
