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Sexual Liberalism–Conservatism: The Effect of Human Values, Gender, and Previous Sexual Experience

Archives of Sexual Behavior volume 41, pages 1027–1039 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Despite theoretical associations, there is a lack of empirical studies on the axiological basis of sexual liberalism–conservatism. Two studies demonstrated important associations between these constructs for young adults. In Study 1, participants were 353 undergraduate students with a mean age of 20.13 (SD = 1.84), who completed the Sexual Liberalism–Conservatism Scale and the Basic Values Survey. In Study 2, participants were 269 undergraduate students, with a mean age of 20.3 (SD = 1.82), who completed a social desirability scale in addition to Study 1 instruments. Results showed how values can predict sexual liberalism–conservatism after controlling for social desirability. Attitudes towards one’s own sexual behavior were more conservative whereas attitudes towards other’s sexual behavior were more liberal. Gender was not a significant predictor of sexual attitudes whereas previous sexual experience showed a significant association to this construct. In general, results corroborated previous findings, showing that participants with a tendency to present socially desirable answers also tended to present themselves as sexually conservative.

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Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Psicologia Social e do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitoria, ES, 29075-910, Brazil

    Valeschka M. Guerra

  2. Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal da Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Brazil

    Valdiney V. Gouveia, Deliane M. Sousa, Tiago J. Lima & Leogildo A. Freires

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  1. Valeschka M. Guerra
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  2. Valdiney V. Gouveia
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  3. Deliane M. Sousa
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  4. Tiago J. Lima
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  5. Leogildo A. Freires
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Correspondence to Valeschka M. Guerra.

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Guerra, V.M., Gouveia, V.V., Sousa, D.M. et al. Sexual Liberalism–Conservatism: The Effect of Human Values, Gender, and Previous Sexual Experience. Arch Sex Behav 41, 1027–1039 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-9936-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-9936-4

Keywords

  • Sexual attitudes
  • Liberalism
  • Conservatism
  • Human values
  • Sexual experience