Chapter 9: Love and Sexuality

Question 1

Social script

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Dating scripts

Answer 2

The cognitive models that guide dating interactions.

Question 3

Sternberg’s Theory of Love

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Liking

Answer 4

Intimacy alone, no passion or commitment.

- ex. friendships

Question 5

Infatuation

Answer 5

Passion alone, no intimacy or commitment.

Question 6

Empty love

Answer 6

Commitment alone, no passion or intimacy.

Question 7

Romantic love

Answer 7

Passion and intimacy, no commitment.

Question 8

Companionate love

Answer 8

Intimacy and commitment, no passion.

Question 9

Fatuous love

Answer 9

Passion and commitment, no intimacy.

- ex. whirlwind courtship (marries within weeks of meeting)

Question 10

Consummate love

Answer 10

Integrates all three aspects of love (passion, intimacy, commitment).

Question 11

Consensual validation

Answer 11

The principle that people like to find in others an agreement or consensus with their own characteristics and view of life.

Question 12

Secure attachment (with romantic partner)

Answer 12

Characterized by emotional support and concern for the partner’s well-being.

Question 13

Insecure attachment (with romantic partner)

Answer 13

Characterized by either an excessive dependency or excessive distancing.

Question 14

Romantic harassment

Answer 14

Continued pursuit of the ex-partner, through persistent, unwanted use of psychological or physical abuse.

Question 15

Brown’s Developmental Model of Adolescent Love

Answer 15

Initiation, status, affection, bonding.

Question 16

Initiation phase

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

Status phase

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Affection phase

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Bonding phase

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Cohabitation

Answer 20

Living with a romantic partner outside of marriage.

Question 21

Sexual self-esteem

Answer 21

Perception of one’s worth as a sexual being.

Question 22

Sexual self-efficacy

Answer 22

Confidence in one’s mastery and control of sexual activities.

Question 23

Sexual self-image

Answer 23

Perception of one’s sexuality; beliefs about their needs.

Question 24

Sexually naive

Answer 24

Lack confidence in attractiveness, feelings of little control.

Question 25

Sexually competent

Answer 25

Confident in sexual appeal and ablility to control situation. Experience less anxiety, more interest (older, more experienced).

Question 26

Sexually adventurous

Answer 26

Highly confident in sexual appeal and ability to take charge of sexual encounters. Interested in exploring sexuality, experience little anxiety or relationship commitment.

Question 27

Sexually driven

Answer 27

Highly confident in sexual appeal but unable to control sexual encounters by saying no (usu. experience males).

Question 28

Sexual scripts

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Restrictive cultures

Answer 29

Place strong prohibitions on adolescent sexual activity before marriage.

Question 30

Double standard

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Semirestrictive cultures

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

Permissive cultures

Answer 32

Encourage and expect adolescent sexual activity.

Question 33

Proactive script

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

Reactive script

Answer 34

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.