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Such a Tease: Intentional Sexual Provocation within Heterosexual Interactions

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Abstract

Sexual teasing is a form of provocation characterized by the promise of sexual contact followed by withdrawal. The intention is to frustrate or cause tension in the target and incorporates some use of power of one person over another. To date, this form of interaction between individuals has received little research attention. A total of 742 undergraduate university students (143 men, 599 women) provided reports regarding whether they had ever engaged in sexual teasing and, for those who had, the motives behind this behavior, the type of relationship and sexual history with the target, and the reactions and outcomes associated with these interactions. Sexual teasing was relatively common among both women and men, although women were significantly more likely to report having engaged in sexual teasing at least once in the past. The outcomes associated with their interactions were perceived to be more positive for participants (elicitors) than for their targets, although relatively few participants reported more adverse outcomes from the use of sexual teasing. Discussion focused on the need to better characterize forms of communication regarding sexual intentions and consent. The findings may have implications for efforts to improve models of communication and negotiation in sexual interactions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, One University Station A8000, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA

    Cindy M. Meston

  2. Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

    Lucia F. O’Sullivan

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  1. Cindy M. Meston
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  2. Lucia F. O’Sullivan
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Correspondence to Cindy M. Meston.

Appendix A: Sexual Teasing Questionnaire

Appendix A: Sexual Teasing Questionnaire

Instructions: Sometimes people act or pretend like they are going to have sex with a member of the opposite sex when, in fact, they have no intention of doing so. An example of this situation would be if you were with someone who wanted to have sex with you, and you talked about how much fun sex would be with them leading them to think it would happen, or you told them you would meet him or her upstairs in a bedroom but did not go.

Please indicate below how many times (in your lifetime) you have engaged in this behavior. Keep in mind that we are only interested in situations in which 1) it was very clear to you that the person wanted to have sex (i.e., sexual intercourse) with you, 2) you intentionally communicated in some way (e.g., flirting, body gestures, words) that you were willing to “go along” and have sex with them, and 3) you knew all along that you would not have sex with them.

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Meston, C.M., O’Sullivan, L.F. Such a Tease: Intentional Sexual Provocation within Heterosexual Interactions. Arch Sex Behav 36, 531–542 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-006-9167-7

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