Adolescent sexual strategies

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study has been to survey adolescents' strategies to promote sexual encounters and to compare those used by males and females. We examined the predictions that sexual strategies of young adolescents are fewer and less adult-like and that those of male adolescents are more coercive. We also examined the predictions from evolutionary psychology that suggest in sexual strategies, males communicate emotional involvement, long-term interest, and resource investment, whereas females communicate sexual availability and fertility.

Methods: The sample consisted of 153 African-American, white, Chinese-American, and Mexican-American adolescents. A strategy inventory was developed and mention of strategies by males and females were compared.

Results: Significant gender differences in mention of strategies were found. Males mentioned a higher percentage of coercive strategies such as pressuring and raping as well as a higher percentage of strategies such as lying and getting a partner drunk or high. Males and females both mentioned a higher percentage of strategies communicating commitment and investment. Females mentioned more strategies which signaled sexual availability. Adolescent strategies were fewer than those reported by adults and less focused on appearance enhancement and the intricacies of dating.

Conclusions: Findings suggest the need for special targeting of coercive situations, use of sexual strategies as a prompt for counterstrategies aimed at abstinence, use of sexual strategies as a context for condom use promotion, and reinforcement of female preparatory strategies.

PIP: 153 sexually active 11th and 12th graders attending two inner-city high schools in San Francisco participated in a study of strategies adolescents use to secure sexual intercourse with a partner. The study sample comprised 20 male and 16 female African-Americans, 21 male and 22 female Caucasians, 17 male and 18 female Chinese-Americans, and 19 male and 20 female Mexican-Americans aged 14-19 years (mean age, 16.96 years). Non-English-speaking and special education students were excluded from study. Relative to females, males reported using a higher degree of pressure, rape, lying, and getting a partner drunk or high to encourage sexual involvement. Both sexes reported suggesting interest in developing commitment and a relationship with the intended sex partner to achieve the goal of intercourse. Females mentioned more strategies than males which signaled sexual availability. Relative to adults, the study participants reported fewer strategies and were less focused upon appearance enhancement and the intricacies of dating.