Perceived Sex Knowledge, Exposure to Eroticism, and Premarital Sexual Behavior: the Impact of Dating

Graham B. Spanier

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

The antecedents of premarital sexual behavior are examined using interview data from a national probability sample of 1,177 American college students. I hypothesize that a positive relationship exists between perceived sex knowledge, exposure to eroticism, dating experiences, and premarital sexual behavior. Dating frequency, intimacy, and related circumstances are proposed as powerful explanatory variables in understanding the developmental process leading to increased socio‐sexual involvement. Data are provided which confirm the hypotheses and lend support to the theory that a complex social‐psychological network of variables, centering around the opportunity and pressures associated with dating and peer group experiences, influences premarital sexual behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)247-261
Number of pages15
JournalSociological Quarterly
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1976

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Sociology and Political Science

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