Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Initiation and response: The dynamics of sexual interaction

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which men and women feel comfortable exercising two traditional forms of sexual power, proactive and reactive power. “Proactive power” is defined here as the ability to initiate sexual intercourse and maintain sexual autonomy and has traditionally been possessed and exercised by men. “Reactive power,” or the ability to resist or refuse sexual advances, has traditionally been possessed and exercised by women. Several studies suggest that as men and women's sexual behavior and attitudes become more permissive, a single sexual standard is more likely to exist. This study finds that men feel more comfortable than women initiating sexual intercourse and remaining sexually autonomous, while women feel more comfortable than men refusing such sexual advances. Apparently, a single sexual standard does not yet exist. This study also considers factors that affect men and women's comfortableness in using either reactive or proactive power. The implications of these findings for understanding aspects of men and women's psychological well-being and intimate relationships are discussed.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bell, R. R., & Chaskes, J. B. Premarital sexual experience among coeds. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1970, 32, 81–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, J. The fourth revolution. Journal of Social Issues, 1966, 22, 76–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blau, P. M. Exchange and power in social life. New York: Wiley, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, H. T., & Gregg, C. F. Changing sex norms in America and Scandinavia. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1977, 32, 616–627.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clayton, R. R., & Bokemier, J. L. Premarital sex in the seventies. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1980, 42, 759–775.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrmann, W. Premarital dating behavior. New York: Holt, 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emerson, R. M. Power-dependence relations. American Sociological Review, 1962, 27, 31–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emerson, R. M. Social exchange theory. In M. Rosenberg & R. H. Turner (Eds.), Social psychology: Sociological perspectives. New York: Basic Books, 1980, pp. 30–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrell, M., Tolone, W., & Walsh, R. Maturational and societal changes in the sexual double-standard: A panel analysis (1967–1971; 1970–1974). Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1977, 39, 255–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frieze, I. H., Parsons, J. E., Johnson, P. B., Ruble, D. N., & Zellman, G. Women and sex roles: A social-psychological perspective. New York: Norton, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross, A. The male role and heterosexual behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 1978, 34, 87–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, W., & Scanzoni, J. An approach for assessing marital decision-making processes. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1982, 44, 927–941.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, S., & Jessor, R. Problem behavior and psychosocial development: A longitudinal study of youth. New York: Academic Press, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, P. Women and power: Toward a theory of effectiveness. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32, 99–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joreskog, K. G., & Sorbom, D. LISREL IV: Linear estimations of structural relationships by the method of maximum likelihood. Chicago: National Educational Resources, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, K., Balswick, J. C., & Robinson, I. E. The continuing premarital sexual revolution among college females. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1977, 39, 455–459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laws, J., & Schwartz, P. Sexual scripts: The social construction of female sexuality. Hinsdale, Ill.: Dryden Press, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R. A. Emotional intimacy among men. Journal of Social Issues, 1978, 34, 108–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lips, H. M. Women, men, and the psychology of power. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters, W., & Johnson, V. Human sexual response. Boston: Little, Brown, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCormick, N. Come-ons and put-offs: Unmarried students' strategies for having and avoiding sexual intercourse. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 1979, 4, 194–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parelius, A. P. Emerging sex role attitudes, expectations, and strains among college women. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1975, 37, 147–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peplau, L., Rubin, Z., & Hill, C. Sexual intimacy in dating relationships. Journal of Social Issues, 1977, 33, 86–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pleck, J. The male sex role: definitions, problems, and sources of change. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32, 155–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, I. L. Some observations on ideology and sexuality in America. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1981, 43, 271–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, I. E., & Jedlicka, D. Change in sexual attitudes and behavior of college students from 1965 to 1980: A research note. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1982, 44, 237–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, Z. The love research. Human Behavior, 1977, 6, 56–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, Z., Hill, C. T., Peplau, L. A., & Dunkel-Schetter, C. Self-disclosure in dating couples: Sex roles and the ethnic of openness. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1980, 42, 305–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Safilios-Rothschild, C. Love, sex, and sex roles. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shulman, A. K. Sex and power: Sexual bases of radical feminism. Signs, 1980, 5, 590–604.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, B. K. Trends in attitudes toward premarital sexual relations. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1980, 42, 387–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stryker, S. Symbolic interactionism: A social structural version. Menlo Park, Calif: Benjamin/Cummings, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tawney, R. H. Equality. London: Allen and Unwin, 1931.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornton, A., Alwin, D. F., & Camburn, D. Sex role attitudes and attitude change. American Sociological Review, 1983, 48, 211–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R. Role taking: Process vs. conformity. A. Rose (Ed.), Human behavior and social process. Boston: Houghton-Mufflin, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R. The role of the person. American Journal of Sociology, 1978, 84, 1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Udry, J. R., Bauman, K. E., & Morris, N. M. Changes in premarital coital experience of recent decade-of-birth cohorts of urban American women. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1975, 37, 783–787.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, M. The theory of social and economic organization. New York: Oxford University Press, 1947.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Purdue University — West Lafayette, USA

    Elizabeth Grauerholz & Richard T. Serpe

Authors
  1. Elizabeth Grauerholz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard T. Serpe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This research was supported by NIMH Fellowship in Identity, Self and Mental Health: #PHS T32 MH 4588-04. The authors would like to acknowledge the helpful comments of Peter J. Burke, Donna Eder, Diane Felmlee, David Heise, Matthew Lyons, Carolyn Perrucci, Marilyn Potts, Sheldon Stryker, and anonymous reviewers on earlier drafts of this article.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Grauerholz, E., Serpe, R.T. Initiation and response: The dynamics of sexual interaction. Sex Roles 12, 1041–1059 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288104

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288104

Keywords

Search

Navigation