Abstract
To better understand the social norms surrounding fantasizing behavior, the current research aimed to assess how acceptable various types of fantasizing (romantic or sexual) are perceived. Understanding and abiding by social norms helps people avoid criticism, social sanctions, and ostracism. Thus, better understanding the social norms surrounding various types of fantasies can help people better navigate their social worlds, especially with respect to sexuality, dating, and relationships. Participants (n = 828) reported how acceptable, violating, and bothersome they perceived sexual and romantic fantasizing to be towards themselves and others. Results suggest that despite the current sentiment on socially and morally unacceptable physical acts, mental acts of fantasizing are not perceived as unacceptable or violating. No gender differences arose between men and women’s perceptions of fantasy acceptability. Demographic differences in perceived fantasy acceptability by race, sexual orientation, relationship status, and age are discussed. These findings deepen the understanding of how society views fantasizing behavior and help begin to define boundaries for acceptable versus violating thoughts.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burgess, D., & Borgida, E. (1999). Who women are, who women should be: Descriptive and prescriptive gender stereotyping in sex discrimination. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law,5(3), 665.
Busch, T. M., & Marks, M. J. (in progress). Developing and implementing a measurement tool for sexual, romantic, and sexual-romantic fantasies.
Buss, D. M. (1998). Sexual strategies theory: Historical origins and current status. Journal of Sex Research,35(1), 19–31.
Buss, D. M., & Schmitt, D. P. (1993). Sexual strategies theory: An evolutionary perspective on human mating. Psychological Review,100(2), 204.
Buss, D. M., & Schmitt, D. P. (2011). Evolutionary psychology and feminism. Sex Roles,64(9–10), 768.
Cialdini, R. B., & Trost, M. R. (1998). Social influence: Social norms, conformity and compliance.
Cohen, J. (1988). 1988: Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Davidson, J. K., Sr., & Hoffman, L. E. (1986). Sexual fantasies and sexual satisfaction: An empirical analysis of erotic thought. Journal of Sex Research,22(2), 184–205.
Eagly, A. H. (2013). Sex differences in social behavior: A social-role interpretation. London: Psychology Press.
Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (2011). Social role theory. Handbook of theories in social psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 458–476). London: Sage.
Fenigstein, A., & Preston, M. (2007). The desired number of sexual partners as a function of gender, sexual risks, and the meaning of “ideal”. Journal of Sex Research,44(1), 89–95.
Fisher, T. D., Moore, Z. T., & Pittenger, M. J. (2012). Sex on the brain?: An examination of frequency of sexual cognitions as a function of gender, erotophilia, and social desirability. Journal of Sex Research,49(1), 69–77.
Jones, J. C., & Barlow, D. H. (1990). Self-reported frequency of sexual urges, fantasies, and masturbatory fantasies in heterosexual males and females. Archives of Sexual Behavior,19(3), 269–279. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541552.
Lehmiller, J. J. (2018). Tell me what you want: The science of sexual desire and how it can help you improve your sex life. Boston: Da Capo Lifelong Books.
Leitenberg, H., & Henning, K. (1995). Sexual fantasy. Psychological Bulletin,117(3), 469.
Murnen, S. K., Wright, C., & Kaluzny, G. (2002). If “boys will be boys”, Then girls will be victims? A meta-analytic review of the research that relates masculine ideology to sexual aggression. Sex Roles,46(11/12), 359–375.
Oliver, M. B., & Hyde, J. S. (1993). Gender differences in sexuality: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin,114(1), 29.
Schmitt, D. P. (2003). Universal sex differences in the desire for sexual variety: Tests from 52 nations, 6 continents, and 13 islands. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,85(1), 85.
Trivers, R. L. (1972). Parental investment and sexual selection. In B. Campbell (Ed.), Sexual selection & the descent of man (pp. 136–179). New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Funding
This research was not funded.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
The author has no disclosures or conflicts of interest to state.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Busch, T.M. Perceived Acceptability of Sexual and Romantic Fantasizing. Sexuality & Culture 24, 848–862 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-019-09668-6
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-019-09668-6