Understanding Human Sexual Behavior

A fundamental step for understanding the links between human nature and intimate relationships is by understanding human sexuality. Alfred Kinsey, in his pioneering study on human sexual behaviour, illustrated the degree to which individuals differ in their sexual attitudes, beliefs and preferences (Kinsey, Pomeroy & Martin, 1948). In particular, a marked difference was highlighted in individuals’ sociosexual attitudes and behaviours. Following this, many of the sociosexual features individuals differ in, including preferred frequency of sexual intercourse, the number of different sexual partners they predict to have in the future, and their willingness to engage in uncommitted relationships, have shown to covary (Eysenk, 1976, as cited in Barnes, Malamuth & Check, 1984). Considered together, these features compose an individual difference dimension named sociosexuality (Snyder, Simpson & Gangestad, 1986). Sociosexuality reflects the tendency to engage in uncommitted, casual sexual encounters (Simpson & Gangestad, 1991). Those with a restricted sociosexual orientation typically prefer closeness and commitment from their romantic partner before engaging in sex (Simpson & Gangestad, 1991). Such individuals claim they rarely have one-night stands, and require emotional intimacy within a romantic relationship before feeling comfortable with sex (Simpson & Gangestad, 1991). Conversely, unrestricted individuals require little or no emotional bond with a partner in order to have sex. These individuals are more likely to be involved in extra-marital relationships (Seal, Agostinelli & Hannett, 1994), and exhibit more frequent displays of sexual assertiveness such as flirting (Simpson, Gangestad & Nations, 1996).

Consistent evidence suppo...

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...vels of sensation seeking than males (Leone et al, 2001), it was also expected that females would be more hypersensitive to punishment than males showing higher BIS scores, as measured by Carver and White’s (1994) BIS/BAS scale.

Considering the behavioural inhibition system is related to variables that correlate with low sensation seeking, such as anxiety (Segal, 1973), it was expected higher BIS scores and lower Sensation Seeking scores would explain female’s restricted sociosexuality. As high sensation seekers share traits with sociosexually-unrestricted individuals, such as disinhibition, it was expected that male’s unrestricted sociosexuality could be explained by higher sensation seeking scores and lower BIS scores. Therefore, the second hypothesis was that gender differences in sensation seeking and BIS would mediate the gender differences in sociosexuality.