Skip to main content
Log in

Sustaining passion: Eroticism and safe-sex talk

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is axiomatic that communicating effectively is important for good sexual relations. In light of the AIDS epidemic and the necessity for safe-sex practices, the topic of caution and prevention is an emerging and critical discourse for the sexual encounter. Yet if this discourse is not to defy passion but rather complement it, then the study of sexual linguistics must be grounded within the realm of erotic reality. Three themes of eroticism and their implications for sexual interaction are explored in this paper: identity, context, and danger. Linguistic and relational constraints for enacting such a discourse are identified, accompanied by a critique of the treatment of erotic discourse in educational programs and the media.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adelman, M. B. (1991). Play and incongruity: Framing safe-sex talk.Health Commun. 3(3): 139–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, L. A., and Wilmot, W. W. (1985). Taboo topics in close relationships.J. Soc. Pers. Rel. 2: 253–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, R. A., Buerkel-Rothfuss, N. L., and Gore, K. E. (1987). “Did you bring the yarmulke for the cabbage patch kid?” The idiomatic communication of young lovers.Hum. Commun. Res. 14(1): 47–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkey, B. R. (1979). Should a man ask his sex partner if she had an orgasm?Med. Aspects of Hum. Sex. 13(May): 125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, D., Jazwinski, C., DeNinno, J. A., & Fisher, W. A. (1977). Negative sexual attitudes and contraception. In Byrne, D., and Byrne, L. A. (eds.),Exploring Human Sexuality, Crowell, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cline, R. J. W. (1990). Dangerous liaisons: Challenging the assumptions of interpersonal AIDS prevention advice. Paper presented at the conference on Negotiating Safer Sex, Sponsored by the State of California, University-wide Task Force on AIDS, San Diego.

  • Comfort, A. (1972).The Joy of Sex, Simon & Schuster, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M. (1983).Smut, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deleuze, G., and Guattari, F. (1977).Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia, Viking Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edgar, T., and Fitzpatrick, M. A. (1988). Compliance-gaining in relational interaction: When your life depends on it.Southern Speech Commun. 532: 385–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekman, P. (1965). Communication through nonverbal behavior: A source of information about an interpersonal relationship. In Tomkins, S. S., and Izard, C. E. (eds.),Affect, Cognition and Personality, Springer, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fine, M. (1988). Sexuality, schooling, and adolescent females: The missing discourse of desire.Harvard Educ. Rev. 58: 29–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gagnon, J. H., and Simon, W. (1973).Sexual Conduct: The Social Sources of Human Sexuality, Aldine, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Givens, D. B. (1978). The nonverbal basis of attraction: Flirtation, courtship, and seduction.Psychiatry 41: 346–359.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. (1959).Encounters: Two Studies in the Sociology of Interaction, Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis, IN.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzales-Crussi, R. (1988).On the Nature of Things Erotic, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopper, R., Knapp, J. L., and Scott, L. (1981). Couples' personal idioms: Exploring intimate talk.J. Commun. 31(3): 23–33.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, L. (1975).Tearoom Trade, Aldine, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • “J” (1969).The Sensuous Woman, Dell, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, H. S. (1974).The New Sex Therapy, Bruner/Mazel, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kegeles, S. M., Adler, N. E., and Irwin, C. E. (1988). Sexually active adolescents and condoms: Changes over one year in knowledge, attitudes, and use.Am. J. Public Health 778: 460–461.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knapp, M. L. (1980).Essentials of Nonverbal Communication. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koestler, A. (1978).Janus, Random House, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kon, I. S. (1988). A sociocultural approach to human sexuality. In Geer, J. H., and O'Donohue, W. T. (eds.),Theories of Human Sexuality, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 257–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lingis, A. (1988). A phenomenological approach. In Geer, J. H., and O'Donohue, W. T. (eds.),Theories of Human Sexuality, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 127–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry, D. T., and Towles, D. E. (1989). Soap opera portrayals of sex, contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases.J. Commun. 39(2): 76–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • “M” (1971).The Sensuous Man, Dell, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters, W. H., and Johnson, V. E. (1970).The Pleasure Bond, Little, Brown, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, M. (1951).On the Contrary, Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Money, J. (1986).Lovemaps, Irvington Publishers, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parks, M. R., and Logan, C. E. (1988). Verbal metacommunication, taboo topics, and dyadic involvement in opposite-sex relationships. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, New Orleans.

  • Sanders, J. S., and Robinson, W. L. (1979). Talking and not talking about sex: Male and female vocabularies.J. Commun. 29(2): 22–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, W., and Gagnon, J. H. (1988). A sexual scripts approach. In Geer, J. H., & O'Donohue, W. T. (eds.),Theories of Human Sexuality, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 363–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sontag, S. (1989).AIDS and Its Metaphors, Doubleday, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spear, R. W. (1981).Slang and Euphemism, Jonathan David, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoller, R. J. (1979).Sexual Excitement, Simon and Schuster, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trojan Study. (1988). The Trojan for women survey on sexual etiquette. Commissioned by Carter-Wallace, Inc.

  • Walen, S. R., and Roth, D. (1988). A cognitive approach. In Geer, J. H., and O'Donohue, W. T. (eds.),Theories of Human Sexuality, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 335–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, M. (1988). Course syllabus from the undergraduate course entitled “Human Sexuality.” Dept. of Nursing, University of Iowa.

  • Williams, T. (1947).A Streetcar Named Desire, New American Library, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Adelman, M.B. Sustaining passion: Eroticism and safe-sex talk. Arch Sex Behav 21, 481–494 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542272

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542272

Key words

Navigation