University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

Attitudes Toward Sex In Marriage And Patterns Of Erotic Behavior In Dating And Courtship Before Marriage

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Attitudes Toward Sex In Marriage And Patterns Of Erotic Behavior In Dating And Courtship Before Marriage

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Content I
This dissertation has been
microfilmed exactly as received 6 7 -1 0 ,7 7 2
RANKER, Jr., Jess Elwood, 1919-
ATTITUDES TOWARD SEX IN MARRIAGE AND PATTERNS
OF EROTIC BEHAVIOR IN DATING AND COURTSHIP BE
FORE MARRIAGE.
University of Southern California, Ph.D., 1967
Sociology, family
University Microfilms, Inc., A nn Arbor, M ichigan
Jess Elvfood Ranker, Jr.
All Rights Reserved
1967
ATTITUDES TOWARD SEX IN MARRIAGE AND PATTERNS
EROTIC BEHAVIOR IN DATING AND
COURTSHIP BEFORE MARRIAGE
by
Jess Elwood Ranker, Jr.
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(Sociology)
January 1966
UNIVERSITY O F SO U T H E R N CALIFORNIA
TH E G RAD U A T E SC H O O L
U N IV ER SITY PA R K
L O S A N G E L E S, C A L IF O R N IA 9 0 0 0 7
This.dissertation, written by
.. J . e . a s . . E . l . w . o . o . d . e..........
under the direction of his.....Dissertation C om
mittee, and approved by all its members, has
been presented to and accepted by the Graduate
School, in partial fulfillment of requirements
for the degree of
D O C T O R O F P H I L O S O P H Y
Date Janu ary^ .. 1.9.6.6
'IKSERTATION COMMITTEE
' Chairman
TABLE OP CONTENTS
Page
LIST OF TABLES .........................................
LIST OF FIGURES .........................................
Chapter
I. THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED . . 1
Statement of the Problem
Importance of the Study
The Method
Scope of the Study
Definitions of Terms
Theoretical Foundations
Conceptual Models
Theoretical Model
Hypothetical Framework
Organization of the Remainder of the
Dissertation
II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE..................... 29
Studies of Historical Importance
Studies of Topical Importance
Summary
III. THE DESIGN OF THE RESEARCH.................. 64
The Sexually Well-Adjusted Group
The Sexually Poorly Adjusted Group
The Matching Procedure
The Design of the Questionnaire
ii
iii
Chapter
The Questionnaire
Composition of the Study Groups
Data Processing and Statistical Evaluation
IV. AN ANALYSIS OF EROTIC BEHAVIOR IN DATING FOR
THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED .........
An Overview of the Patterns of Erotic
Behavior in Dating for the Adjusted
and for the Unadjusted
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to the
Patterns of Erotic Behavior
in Dating
Summary
V. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT
IN MARRIAGE AND LIBERAL BEHAVIOR IN
DATING BEFORE MARRIAGE ...................
Experimental Hypothesis Number One
Experimental Hypothesis Number Two
A Comparison of Subliberal with Supra-
liberal Behavior with Respect to
Affection and Couple Status in Dating
for the Adjusted and the Unadjusted
Summary
VI. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT
IN MARRIAGE AND CONSERVATIVE BEHAVIOR IN
DATING BEFORE MARRIAGE ...................
Experimental Hypothesis Number Three
Experimental Hypothesis Number Four
A Comparison of Subconservative with
Supraconservative Behavior with Respect
to Affection and Couple Status for the
Adjusted and the Unadjusted
Summary
VII. SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT IN MARRIAGE AND MORAL
BEHAVIOR IN DATING ........................
Page
80
101
123
147
Experimental Hypothesis Number Five
iv
Chapter
VIII.
Experimental Hypothesis Number Six
A Comparison of Appropriate and Usual
Behavior with Respect to Affection
and Couple Status for the Adjusted
A Comparison of Appropriate and Usual
Behavior with Respect to Affection
and Couple Status for the Unadjusted
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to Moral
Behavior Relative to Affection in
Dating
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to Moral
Behavior Relative to Couple Status
in Dating
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to Moral
Behavior Relative to Affection and
Couple Status in Dating
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to Appropriate
Erotic Behavior Relative to Each of
the Degrees of Affection in Dating
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to Appropriate
Erotic Behavior Relative to Each of
the. Degrees of Couple Status in Dating
Summary
SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT IN MARRIAGE AND
SEQUENTIAL BEHAVIOR IN DATING ............
Experimental Hypothesis Number Seven
Experimental Hypothesis Number Eight
A Comparison of Sequentiality Relative to
Affection and to Couple Status in
Dating for the Adjusted
A Comparison of Sequentiality Relative to
Affection and to Couple Status in
Dating for the Unadjusted
Summary
Page
171
V
Chapter
IX. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Page
179
Summary
Conclusions
Limitations of the Study
Implications for Future Research
BIBLIOGRAPHY 210
APPENDICES 215
Appendix A: Instructions to Clinicians
Assisting in Gathering Information
for the Study
Appendix B: Instructions to Participants
in the Study
Appendix C: History of Dating and Courtship
Appendix D: Findings on the History of
Dating and Courtship
Appendix E: Questions on Personal Back
ground Used for Matching the Adjusted
and the Unadjusted
Appendix F: Findings on Personal Back
ground Used for Matching the Adjusted
and the Unadjusted
Appendix G: Questions on Personal Back
ground Used in Differentiating the
Adjusted from the Unadjusted
Appendix H: Findings on Personal Back
ground Used in Differentiating the
Adjusted from the Unadjusted
Appendix I: Question- on the Relationships
Between the Factors of Affection, Couple
Status, and Erotic Behavior in Dating
Before Marriage
Appendix J: Questions from the Literature
Used in Differentiating the Adjusted
from the Unadjusted
Appendix K: Findings on the Questions
from the Literature Used in Differen
tiating the Adjusted from the Unadjusted
Appendix L: Rating Schedule Used by
Individual Judges in the Preparation of
the Researcher's Own Sexual Adjustment
Inventory for Use in the Study
vi
Chapter
Appendix M: The Researcher's Own Sexual
Adjustment Inventory Used in the Study
Appendix_N: Findings Based on the
Researcher's Own Sexual Adjustment
Inventory
Appendix O: The Items of the Researcher's
Own Sexual Adjustment Inventory in Order
of Degrees of Favorability on the Con
tinuum of Sexual Adjustment in Marriage
Appendix P: A Comparison of the Adjusted
and the Unadjusted with Respect to
Three Categories of Premarital Coitus
Relative to Being in Love and Being
Engaged
Page
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1. The Relationship of Erotic Behavior and
Affection in Dating for the Adjusted .... 81
2. The Relationship of Erotic Behavior and Couple
Status in Dating for the Adjusted ...... 83
3. The Relationship of Erotic Behavior and
Affection in Dating for the Unadjusted . . . 85
4. The Relationship of Erotic Behavior and Couple
Status in Dating for the Unadjusted......... 86
5. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Erotic Behavior Relative to
Not Liking a Partner at A l l ................... 88
6. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Erotic Behavior Relative to
Liking a Partner a Little..................... 89
7. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Erotic Behavior Relative to
Liking a Partner a L o t ....................... 90
8. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect_to Erotic Behavior Relative to
Being in Love.................................. 91
9. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Erotic .Behavior Relative to
Playing the Field.............................. 94
viii
Table Page
10. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Erotic Behavior Relative to
Going Steadily.................................... 95
11. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Erotic Behavior Relative to
Going Steady.......................................96
12. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Erotic Behavior Relative to
Being Engaged or Having a Private Under
standing to Marry . . 97
13. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Liberal Behavior Relative to
Affection in D a t i n g .............................103
14. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subdivisions of Liberal Be
havior Relative to Affection in Dating .... 105
15. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subliberal and Liberal Be
havior Relative to Affection in Dating . . . . 106
16. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Liberal and Supraliberal Be
havior Relative to Affection in Dating .... 106
17. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Liberal and Mixed Liberal Be
havior Relative to Affection in Dating .... 107
18. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subliberal and Supraliberal
Behavior Relative to Affection in Dating . . . 107
19. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Liberal Behavior Relative to
Couple Status in Dating ....................... Ill
20. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subdivisions of Liberal Be
havior Relative to Couple Status in Dating . . 112
ix
Table Page
21. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subliberal and Liberal Be
havior Relative to Couple Status in Dating . 113
22. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Liberal and Supraliberal Be
havior Relative to Couple Status in Dating . 113
23. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Liberal and Mixed Liberal Be
havior Relative to Couple Status in Dating . 114
24. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subliberal and Supraliberal
Behavior Relative to Couple Status in
D a t i n g ........................................... 114
25. A Comparison of Subliberal and Supraliberal
Behavior Relative to Affection and Couple
Status in Dating for the Adjusted..............118
26. A Comparison of Subliberal and Supraliberal
Behavior Relative to Affection and Couple
Status for the Unadjusted in Dating . .... 119
27. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Conservative Behavior Rela
tive to Affection in Dating.....................125
28. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subdivisions of Conservative
Behavior Relative to Affection in Dating . . 127
29. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subconservative and Conserva
tive Behavior Relative to Affection in
D a t i n g ........................................... 129
30. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Conservative and Supracon-
servative Behavior Relative to Affection
in Dating.........................................129
X
Table Page
31. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Conservative and Mixed Con
servative Behavior Relative to Affection in
D a t i n g ............................................ 130
32. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subconservative and Supra-
conservative Behavior Relative to Affection
in Dating..........................................130
33. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Conservative Behavior Rela
tive to Couple Status in Dating.................133
34. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subdivisions of Conservative
Behavior Relative to Couple Status in
D a t i n g ............................................ 135
35. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subconservative and Conserva
tive Behavior Relative to Couple Status
in Dating..........................................135
36. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Conservative and Supracon-
servative Behavior Relative to Couple
Status in D a t i n g ................................ 136
37. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Conservative and Mixed Con
servative Behavior Relative to Couple
Status in D a t i n g ................................ 137
38. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Subconservative and Supra-
conservative Behavior Relative to Couple
Status in D a t i n g ................................ 137
39. A Comparison .of Subconservative and Supracon-
servative Behavior Relative to Affection and
Couple Status in Dating for the Adjusted . . 141
xi
Table Page
40. A Comparison of Subconservative and Supra-
conservative Behavior Relative to Affection
and Couple Status in Dating for the
Unadjusted...................... '...............142
41. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Appropriate and Usual Erotic
Behavior for each of the Degrees of Affec
tion in D a t i n g .................................. 151
42. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Appropriate and Usual Erotic
Behavior for Each of the Degrees of Couple
Status in D a t i n g ................................ 153
43. A Comparison of Appropriate and Usual Behavior
with Respect to Affection and Couple Status
for the Adjusted................................ 155
44. A Comparison of Appropriate and Usual Behavior
with Respect to Affection and Couple Status
for the Unadjusted..............................157
45. A Comparison of the Adjusted and the Unadjusted
with Respect to Moral Behavior Relative to
Affection in Dating..............................159
46. A Comparison of the Adjusted and the Unadjusted
with Respect to Moral Behavior Relative to
Couple Status in Dating ....................... 160
47. A Comparison of the Adjusted and the Unadjusted
with Respect to Appropriate Erotic Behavior
Relative to each of the Degrees of Affec
tion in D a t i n g .................................. 161
48. A Comparison of the Adjusted and the Unadjusted
with Respect to Appropriate Erotic Behavior
Relative to Each of the Degrees of Affec
tion in D a t i n g ...................................163
xii
Table Page
49. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Appropriate Erotic Behavior
Relative to Each of the Degrees of Couple
Status in D a t i n g .................................165
50. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Sequential Behavior Relative
to Affection in Dating Before Marriage . . . 173
51. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Sequential Behavior Relative
to Couple Status in Dating Before Marriage . 174
52. A Comparison of Sequentiality Relative to
Affection and to Couple Status in Dating
for the Adjusted.................................175
53. A Comparison of Sequentiality Relative to
Affection and to Couple Status in Dating
for the Unadjusted . 17 6
54. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Age at First Real Date . . . 227
55. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Age of First Going Steady . . 228
56. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Number of'People Dated
Altogether.....................................229
57. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Number of People Gone
Steady W it h....................................... 230
58. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Age of First Agreement
to M a r r y ..........................................231
59. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Age of First Formal
Engagement to Marry........................... 23 2
xiii
Table Page
60. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Number of Engagements .... 233
61. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Number of Months the
r, . Spouse was Known Before the First Marriage . 235
62. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Number of Months of Engage
ment Before the First Marriage .............. 236
63. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Age at First Marriage .... 237
64. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Parents' or Guardians'
Attitude Toward the First Marriage ......... 238
65. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Friends' Attitude Toward the
First Marriage...............................239
66. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Present Age . . . . . . . . . 245
67. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Level of Education........246
68. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Number of Minor Children
in the H o m e ....................................247
69. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Marital Satisfaction .... 252
70. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Expectation of Marital
Durability................ 253
71. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Extent to Which the Fear
of Pregnancy Interferes with the Enjoyment
of Coitus......................................273
xiv
Table Page
72. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Coital Satisfaction in
Marriage...................................... 27 5
73. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Frequency of Orgasm in
Marital Coitus ................................ 276
74. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Actual Frequency of
Marital Coitus per Month in the Past Year . . 278
75. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Preferred Frequency of
Marital Coitus per Month in the Past Year . . 280
76. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Frequency of Denial of
Coitus in Marriage..............................281
77. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Frequency of Desire for
Extramarital Intercourse................ . . 283
78. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Frequency of the Experi
ence of Extramarital Intercourse ........... 285
79. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Distribution of the
Means of the Collective Scores of Sexual
Adjustment....................................... 286
80. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Means of the Collective
Scores of Sexual Adjustment for Each of the
Age Groups in the Study..........................288
81. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to the Ratios of Actual and
Preferred Frequencies of Coitus per Month
in the Past Y e a r ................................ 289
XV
Table Page
82. Scale Values of Representative Ratios of
Actual to Preferred Frequencies of Coitus
per Month in the Past Y e a r ..................... 291
83. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Satisfaction with the Fre
quency of Coitus in Marriage................29 2
84. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Satisfaction with the
Frequency of Coitus in Marriage .............. 293
85. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to their Overall Scores on the
Sexual Adjustment Inventory .................. 327
86. A Comparison of the Adjusted and the Unadjusted
with Respect to Three Categories of Pre
marital Coitus Relative to Being in Love . . 334
87. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Three Categories of Pre
marital Coitus Relative to Being Engaged . . 336
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1. Erotic Behavior in Terms of Degrees of
Involvement .................................... 6
2. Affection in Terms of Degrees of Involvement . 7
3. Couple Status in Terms of Degrees of Involve
ment ........................................... 8
4. Relationship of Affection and Erotic Behavior
by Degrees of Involvement with Respect to
the Liberal C o d e ................................ 10
5. Relationship of Couple Status and Erotic
Behavior by Degrees of Involvement with
Respect to the Liberal Code.....................11
6. Relationship of Affection and Erotic Behavior
by Degrees of Involvement with Respect to
the Conservative Code............................12
7. Relationship of Couple Status and Erotic
Behavior by Degrees of Involvement with
Respect to the Conservative C o d e .............. 14
8. Minimal Sequentiality.............. 16
9. Nominal Sequentiality ............................ .17
10. Maximal Sequentiality ............................ 18
11. Representative Distributions of Frequencies for
Each of the Nominal Definitions................ 19
xvi
xvii
Figure Page
12. Developmental Theoretical Model ................ 25
13. Associations of Factors in Premarital Sexual
Liaisons According to Kirkendall ........... 56
14. Kinsey, Ehrmann, Reiss, and Kirkendall's
Research Design ................................ 62
15. Burgess and Wallin's Research Design ..... 62
16. The Research Design of the Present Study . . . 62
17. The Liberal C o d e ..........................102
18. The Conservative Code..................... 124
19. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Liberal and Conservative
Behavior Relative to Affection in Dating . . 149
20. A Comparison of the Adjusted with the Unadjusted
with Respect to Liberal and Conservative
Behavior Relative to Couple Status in
D a t i n g ...................................149
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF
TERMS USED
"One of the most serious problems in American mar
riages is the failure of a high proportion of husbands and
wives to achieve sexual satisfaction in marriage" (4:498).
Statement of the Problem
The purpose of this study was to evaluate several
assumptions about the relationships between married women's
present attitudes toward sex and their erotic behavior in
dating before marriage.
Importance of the Study
The marriage counselor is prepared to hear that the
couple who have come to him for help with their marriage
are experiencing difficulty with their sex lives. Whether
the counselor assumes that their marital problems have
caused their sexual problems or that their sexual problems
have caused their marital problems is virtually irrelevant,
for they are in fact co-existent and interactive in the
lives of the couple before him.
This study is concerned with the sexual problems of
marriage as they relate to the inability of some wives to
experience sexual satisfaction; it will be justified to the
extent that its findings contribute to the understanding of
the roots of their problem.
The Method
The study compared a group of married women who
were sexually well-adjusted with a group of married women
who were sexually poorly adjusted with respect to their
erotic behavior relative to affection and to couple status
in dating before marriage.
Scope of the Study
The evaluations which were the purpose of the study
were based on questionnaires administered during the spring
and summer of 1964 to (1) women who were then active mem
bers with their husbands of several church-related couples1
clubs, and (2) women who were then actively involved in
marriage counseling or psychotherapy.
All of the women who comprised the sexually well-
adjusted group as used in the study were contacted in the
church setting. All of the women who comprised the sexu
ally poorly adjusted group as used in the study were con
tacted in the clinical setting.
The questionnaire used in obtaining the information
necessary for the evaluations had five sections: (1) his
tory of dating and courtship, (2) personal background,
(3) erotic behavior in dating and courtship, (4) sexual
adjustment in marriage based on questions from the litera
ture, and (5) sexual adjustment in marriage based on an
inventory prepared by this researcher for the purposes of
the s tudy.
Definitions of Terms
Sexual adjustment in marriage.— A relatively favor
able attitude toward sex in marriage indicated by above-
the-median scores on tests provided for the purpose in the
questionnaire. In the body of the report, those with "a
relatively favorable attitude toward sex in marriage" are
called simply "adjusted" (see Appendices H, K, and N).
Sexual unadjustment in marriage.— A relatively un
favorable attitude toward sex in marriage indicated by
below-the-median scores on the tests mentioned above. In
the body of the report, those with "a relatively unfavor
able attitude toward sex in marriage" are called simply
"unadjusted" (see Appendices H, K, and N) .
Dating and courtship.— The socio-personal process
beginning with the first unsupervised heterosexual rela
tionship nominally in the early teens continuing over time
for the occupants of the career position to the event of
first marriage. "Dating and courtship" hereafter called
simply "dating" generally moves in the direction of in
creasing involvement of the partners from dalliance to
engagement.
Erotic behavior.--The questionnaire asked the par
ticipants to indicate how far they usually went with their
dating partners for each of the degrees of affection and
for each of the degrees of couple status. "How far they
usually went" or "usual erotic behavior" is called in the
remainder of the study simply "erotic behavior." Erotic
behavior refers to physical contact with a dating partner
that is intended to cause erotic arousal in any degree
however slight. For the purposes of this study erotic
behavior was delineated in four degrees: (1) no contact or
5
hugging and kissing only, (2) light petting (necking),
(3) heavy petting, and (4) coitus (vaginal intercourse)
(9:335) .
The degrees of erotic behavior are shown in
Figure 1.
Affection.— Emotional involvement with dating
partners in terms of fondness or tenderness of feeling.
For the purposes of this study affection was delineated in
four degrees: (1) did not like the partner at all,
(2) liked the partner a little, (3) liked the partner a
lot, and (4) was in love with the partner (30:175-192).
The degrees of affection are shown in Figure 2.
Couple status.— Security of the relationship with
dating partners in terms of both interpersonal commitment
and social visibility. For the purposes of this study
couple status was delineated in four degrees: (1) was play
ing the field, (2) was going steadily (preferential dat
ing), (3) was going steady (exclusive dating), and (4) was
engaged or had a private understanding to marry (3:229-
233) .
The degrees of couple status are shown in Figure 3.
6
FIGURE 1
EROTIC BEHAVIOR IN TERMS OF DEGREES
OF INVOLVEMENT
Degrees of Involvement Nominal Definitions
1---------------- No contact or hugging and kissing
only
2---------------- Light petting (necking)
3---------------- Heavy petting (erotic behavior
other than vaginal intercourse)
4---------------- Coitus (vaginal intercourse)
7
FIGURE 2
AFFECTION IN TERMS OF DEGREES OF INVOLVEMENT
Degrees of Involvement Nominal Definitions
1---------------Did not like the partner at all
2---------------Liked the partner a little
3---------------Liked the partner a lot
4 ---------------jn love with the partner
8
FIGURE 3
COUPLE STATUS IN TERMS OF DEGREES
OF INVOLVEMENT
Degrees of Involvement Nominal Definitions
1---------------- Was playing the field
2---------------- Was going steadily (preferential
dating)
3---------------- Was going steady (exclusive
dating)
4------------— Was engaged or had a private
understanding to marry
9
Liberal code.— Normative expectations of the peer
group with respect to erotic behavior for each of the de
grees of affection and for each of the degrees of couple
status for females in the career position of dating before
marriage (21:134-135).
The relationship of the degrees of affection and
erotic behavior for the liberal code is shown in Figure 4.
The relationship of the degrees of couple status and
erotic behavior for the liberal code is shown in Figure 5.
Liberal behavior.— Erotic behavior in congruence
with the normative expectations of the peer group relative
to each of the degrees of affection or each of the degrees
of couple status for the occupants of the career position
in dating.
Conservative code.— Normative expectations of the
community with respect to erotic behavior for each of the
degrees of affection and for each of the degrees of couple
status for females in the career position of dating before
marriage (21:199-200).
The relationship of the degrees of affection and
erotic behavior for the conservative code is shown in
Figure 6. The relationship of the degrees of couple
10
FIGURE 4
RELATIONSHIP OF AFFECTION AND EROTIC BEHAVIOR
BY DEGREES OF INVOLVEMENT WITH RESPECT
TO THE LIBERAL CODE
Degrees of
Involvement Affection Erotic Behavior
1---------Did not like the partner No contact or hug-
at all ging and kissing
only
2---------Liked the partner a Light petting
little
3 ---------Liked the partner a lot Heavy petting
4---------In love with the partner Coitus
11
RELATIONSHIP OF COUPLE STATUS AND EROTIC BEHAVIOR.,,
BY DEGREES OF INVOLVEMENT WITH RESPECT
FIGURE 5
RELATIONSHIP OF COUPLE STATUS AND EROTIC BEHAVIOR,.,
BY DEGREES OF INVOLVEMENT WITH RESPECT
TO THE LIBERAL CODE
Degrees of
Involvement Couple Status Erotic Behavior
1 ---------- Was playing the field No contact or hug
ging and kissing
only
2 ---------- Was going steadily Light petting
3 — Was going steady Heavy petting
4 ---------- Was engaged or had a Coitus
private understanding
to marry
12
RELATIONSHIP OF AFFECTION AND EROTIC BEHAVIOR
BY DEGREES OF INVOLVEMENT WITH RESPECT
FIGURE 6
RELATIONSHIP OF AFFECTION AND EROTIC BEHAVIOR
BY DEGREES OF INVOLVEMENT WITH RESPECT
TO THE CONSERVATIVE CODE
Degrees of
Involvement Affection Erotic Behavior
1 ---------Did not like the partner No contact or hug-
at all gimg and kissing
only
2 ---------Liked the partner a No contact or hug-
little ging and kissing
only
3 ---------Liked the partner a lot Light petting
4 ---------Was in love with the Heavy petting
partner
13
status and erotic behavior for the conservative code is
shown in Figure 7.
Conservative behavior.— Erotic behavior in congru
ence with the normative expectation of the community rela
tive to each of the degrees of affection or each of the
degrees of couple status for the occupants of the career
position in dating.
Moral code.— The normative expectations of the in
dividual as reference object with respect to erotic be
havior for each of the degrees of affection and for each
of the degrees of couple status for females in the career
position of dating before marriage (9:210-221).
Moral behavior.— Erotic behavior in congruence with
the normative expectations of the individual relative to
each of the degrees of affection or each of the degrees of
couple status for the occupants of the career position in
dating.
Sequential behavior.— Erotic behavior characterized
in general by increasing physical intimacy through the
degrees of affection and of couple status for the occupants
of the career position in dating. ht its minimum it refers
14
RELATIONSHIP OF COUPLE STATUS AND EROTIC BEHAVIOR
BY DEGREES OF INVOLVEMENT WITH RESPECT
FIGURE 7
RELATIONSHIP OF COUPLE STATUS AND EROTIC BEHAVIOR
BY DEGREES OF INVOLVEMENT WITH RESPECT
TO THE CONSERVATIVE CODE
Degrees of
Involvement Couple Status Erotic Behavior
1 ---------- Was playing the field No contact or hug
ging and kissing
only
2 ---------- Was going steadily No contact or hug-
ging and kissing
only
3 Was going steady Light petting
4 ---------- Was engaged or had a Heavy petting
private understanding
to marry
15
to erotic behavior that remains at the first degree
throughout the degrees of affection or couple status; and
at its maximum it refers to erotic behavior conforming to
the liberal code. Essentially sequentiality obtains when
there have been no regressions and no omissions of the de
grees of erotic behavior relative to the degrees of affec
tion or couple status. Representative examples of sequen
tiality are shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10.
Degrees of association.— The associations of fac
tors found in the various comparisons made in the study
were rated in terms of five degrees of strength. The nomi
nal definitions of these five degrees were (1) complete,
(2) strong, (3) moderate, (4) weal, and (5) none. Repre
sentative distributions of frequencies for each of the
nominal definitions are shown in Figure 11.
Theoretical Foundations
The general theoretical foundation of this study
of sexual adjustment in marriage as a development phenome
non found expression in the statement, "We are what we are
because we have been what we have been" (30:97).
Ellis provided the specific focus of this study in
his comment on frigidity, "Virtually all authorities agree
16
FIGURE 8
MINIMAL SEQUENTIALITY
Minimal Degrees Degrees of Affection
of Involvement or Couple Status
1 4
17
FIGURE 9
NOMINAL SEQUENTIALITY
Nominal Degrees Degrees of Affection
of Involvement or Couple Status
3 4
18
FIGURE 10
MAXIMAL SEQUENTIALITY
Maximal Degrees Degrees of Affection
of Involvement or Couple Status
1-------------------------------------------1
2---------------------------------------------2
4- 4
FIGURE 11
REPRESENTATIVE DISTRIBUTIONS OF FREQUENCIES FOR EACH OF
THE NOMINAL DEFINITIONS
Complete______________Strong__________ Moderate______________Weak________________None
50 00 50 47 03 50 35 15 50 48 02 50 50 00 50
00 50 50 01 49 50 15 35 50 45 05 50 50 00 50
50 50 100 48 52 100 50 50 100 93 07 100 100 00 100
H
i£>
20
that most cases of female sex inadequacy result from
psychological rather than physical factors, ..." (10:
450) .
The developmental theoretical framework used in
the present study suggests that
For young people, marrying and their behavior in mar
riage is the culmination of a long and complicated
process which may be called "development for marriage."
In the course of this development, children, adoles
cents, and youth gradually acquire orientation to sex
and marriage which ultimately lead them into matrimony.
The process of development for marriage may be thought
of as preparation for marriage although it is for the
most part undirected and largely unconscious. (4:61)
In the same context, that is to say, premarital
heterosexual behavior considered developmentally,
Courtship may be viewed as a process of trial and
error. The apparently aimless shifting and changing
about of persons in the courtship period is actually a
social process of the first importance. These adoles
cents are trying out their emotions and looking for
someone who can fulfill their love requirements.
The average American has many courtships. They range
in importance from a single "date," which is never re
peated, to affairs demanding the mutual exclusiveness
and the commitments of formal engagements. In the
life of the individual, these courtships serve two
functions: they educate the emotions, and they give the
individual a chance to discover his own preferences and
needs by trying out his emotions on different objects.
. . . When the girl first begins to go out with boys,
she has a great deal to learn about them and also about
the folkways of her own group. She learns, in a way,
to love, and she typically progresses to affairs with
ever deeper involvement and more serious nature. (30:
143-144)
21
This allusion to developmentslism as epitomized in
the phrase "Ever deeper involvement and more serious pur
poses, " indicates the need for a formal definition of the
concept. Sociologically speaking,
A developmental task is a set of norms (role expecta
tions) arising at a particular point in the career of
a position in a social system, which, if incorporated
by the occupant of the position as a role or part of a
role cluster, brings about integration and temporary
equilibrium in the system with regard to a role com
plex or set of role complexes; failure to incorporate
the norms leads to lack of integration, application of
additional normative pressures in the form of sanc
tions, and difficulty in incorporating later norms in
to the role cluster of the position. (15)
The developmental conceptual framework is one of
the five conceptual frameworks found by Hill to be used in
the study of the family. The dicta of this conceptual
framework are particularly useful in sharpening the focus
of the present study. They are
1. Human conduct is best seen as a function of the
preceding as well as the current social milieu and
individual conditions.
2. Human conduct cannot be adequately understood
apart from human development.
3. The human is an actor as well as a reactor.
4. Individual and group development is best seen as
dependent upon stimulation by a social milieu as
well as on inherent (developed) capacities.
5. The individual in a social setting is the basic
autonomous unit. (34:299-311)
Conceptual Models
This study assumed that the process of dating con
sisted of the interaction of three factors; the factors
were (1) erotic behavior with the partner, (2) affection
for the partner, and (3) couple status with the partner.
The factors by degrees of involvement are shown in
Figures 1, 2, and 3.
It was further assumed that there were three dif
ferent norms for the interaction of the factors in the
process of dating.
The norm deriving from the peer group was called
the liberal code; the norm deriving from the community was
called the conservative code; and the norm deriving from
the individual's conscience was called the moral code.
The liberal code stated that the degrees of erotic
behavior a girl experienced in dating should be directly
related to and in numeric concomitance with the degrees of
affection for the partner in question; and that the same
relationship should obtain between the degrees of erotic
behavior and couple status for the partner in question.
The liberal code relative to affection is shown in
Figure 4. The liberal code relative to couple status is
shown in Figure 5.
23
The conservative code stated that the degrees of
erotic behavior a girl experienced in dating should be
directly related to but not in complete numeric concomi
tance with the degrees of affection for or couple status
with the partner in question. In this code numeric con
comitance obtained only in the first degree; each of the
other three degrees of affection and couple status was
associated with one degree less of erotic behavior.
The conservative code relative to affection is
shown in Figure 6. The conservative code relative to
couple status is shown in Figure 7.
The moral code stated that the degrees of erotic
behavior a girl experienced in dating should be a function
of her own definition of the situation relative to the de
grees of affection for or couple status with the partner
in question. This code was conceptualized as allowing any
degree of erotic behavior for any degree of affection or
couple status that did not do violence to the individual's
own conscience.
The moral code did not lend itself to schematic
representation.
Sequentiality assumed that the degrees of erotic
behavior a girl experienced in dating should have fallen
24
into a pattern characterized by no regressions and/or no
omissions relative to the degrees of affection for or
couple status with the partner in question.
Examples of sequentiality relative to affection
and couple status are shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10.
Theoretical Model
The theoretical model consists of three categories
of variables: (1) independent variable (women's erotic be
havior in dating); (2) explanatory variables (classes of
the independent variable): conformity to the liberal code,
conformity to the conservative code, conformity to the
moral code, and conformity to sequentiality; and (3) de
pendent variable (women's attitudes toward sex in mar
riage) .
The theoretical model is shown in Figure 12.
Hypothetical Framework
The Research Question
The fundamental question which the study sought to
answer was, "What is the relationship between women's atti
tudes toward sex in marriage and their erotic behavior in
dating before marriage?"
25
FIGURE 12
DEVELOPMENTAL THEORETICAL MODEL
Independent
Variable
Women's erotic
behavior in
dating
Explanatory-
Variable
Conformity to the
liberal code in
dating
Conformity to the
conservative code
in dating
Conformity to the
moral code in
dating
Sequentiality in
dating
Dependent
Variable
Women's attitudes
toward sex in mar
riage
The Research Hypothesis
Women's attitudes toward sex in marriage are re
lated to their erotic behavior in dating before marriage.
The Experimental Hypotheses
The research hypothesis was tested by means of
eight experimental hypotheses, two for each of the four
classes of the independent variable.
Experimental hypothesis number one.— Women's atti
tudes toward sex in marriage are positively associated with
conformity to the liberal code relative to affection in
dating.
Experimental hypothesis number two.— Women's atti
tudes toward sex in marriage are positively associated with
conformity to the liberal code relative to couple status in
dating.
Experimental hypothesis number three.— Women's
attitudes toward sex in marriage are positively associated
with conformity to the conservative code relative to
affection in dating.
Experimental hypothesis number four.— Women's
27
attitudes toward sex in marriage are positively associated
with conformity to the conservative code relative to
couple status in dating.
Experimental hypothesis number five.— Women's atti
tudes toward sex in marriage are positively associated with
conformity to the moral code relative to affection in
dating.
Experimental hypothesis number six.— Women's atti
tudes toward sex in marriage are positively associated with
conformity to the moral code relative : > couple status in
dating.
Experimental hypothesis number seven.— Women's
attitudes toward sex in marriage are positively associated
with conformity to sequentiality relative to affection in
dating.
Experimental hypothesis number eight.— Women's
attitudes toward sex in marriage are positively associated
with conformity to sequentiality relative to couple status
in dating.
Organization of the Remainder of
the Dissertation
Chapter II presents a review of the literature ger
mane to the study. Chapter III presents the research de
sign, an outline of the questionnaire used in obtaining the
information for the study, and the method of statistical
evaluation. Chapters IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII present the
findings of the study. Chapter IX presents the summary
and conclusions including limitations of the study with
implications for further research. The dissertation con
cludes with the bibliography and the appendices.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
This review of the literature is presented in two
sections. The first section is concerned with three stud
ies whose value is primarily in terms of their historical
importance, for they were the great pioneer studies in the
prediction of marital adjustment. As predictive studies
they included to a limited extent the relationship of pre
marital sexual behavior and marital adjustment. The three
are Burgess and Cottrell's, Terman's, and Locke's.
The second section is concerned with five studies
whose value is primarily in terms of their topical applica
bility, for their findings have a direct bearing on the
plan and the work of the present study. The five are
Kinsey's, Burgess and Wallin's, Ehrmann's, Reiss', and
Kirkendall's.
29
30
Studies of Historical Importance
Predicting Success or Failure
in Marriage
Burgess and Cottrell based their findings on their
study in 1931 of 526 individuals representing as many
marriages including 126 who were divorced or separated.
The participants were predominately urban, non—neurotic,
native, white, upper income, highly educated, Protestant,
volunteer (information from only one of the partners). All
were residents of Illinois who had been married not less
than one year or more than six years at the time of the
study.
The researchers were interested in the feasibility
of constructing an instrument for prediction of success or
failure in marriage; the historical antecedent was Bur
gess' attempt to predict before release from prison whether
the prisoners would succeed as parolees.
The "Index of Marital Adjustment" contained about
40 premarital items predictive of success or failure in
marriage drawn from the literature on marriage, from case
histories, and from insight on human nature. The assump
tion that marital happiness could be predicted from back
ground and personality factors as they existed before
31
marriage was confirmed.
The sexual material used in the study was obtained
in 100 interviews or autobiographical documents resulting
in 49 useful sources.
They found that sexual adjustment in marriage is a
function and resultant of psychogenetic development and of
the cultural conditioning of attitudes toward sex. In sum,
sexual conflicts are generally either emotional or cultural
in origin.
Burgess and Cottrell's was the first major predic
tive study of adjustment in marriage (2).
Psychological Factors in Marital Happiness
Terman based his findings on his study in 1938 of
792 married couples who were guaranteed anonymity of re
sponse. They were urban and semi-urban, lived in southern
and central California, middle and upper class, generally
had had some college education, neither divorced nor sepa
rated. The average age of the husbands was 39 and that of
the wives, 36.
His "Index of Marital Happiness" was made up of
questions taken in large part from Burgess and Cottrell's
"Index of Marital Adjustment." The question he was attempt
32
ing to answer was, "Would information on personality char
acteristics and particularly on background factors secured
from couples before marriage predict their marital suc
cess? "
Terman found three principal measures of sexual
adjustment: (1) "frequency satisfaction" based on the ratio
of coitus as experienced and coitus as desired; (2) women's
orgasmic capacity; and (3) a series of nine questions that
bear directly or indirectly on the sexual relationship.
The questions were
1. Reported compared with preferred frequencies of
coitus
2. The rated passionateness of husband and wife
3. The wife's orgasmic capacity
4. Relaxation and satisfaction from coitus
5. Frequency of refusing coitus
6. Frequency of desiring extramarital coitus
7. Duration of displeasure in being refused
8. Number of sexual complaints
9. No premarital coitus or with future spouse only
The two most important sex factors in marital hap
piness are (1) the orgasmic adequacy of the wife and (2)
the relative strength of the sex drive in the two mates.
The simplest measure of sexual adjustment in mar
riage is the ratio of actual coitus to preferred coitus.
He concludes that there is no meaningful associa
tion between sexual adjustment in marriage and premarital
33
sexual adjustment with one another. And, "The sex factors
combined are far from being the one major determinate of
success in marriage."
Terman's was the second major predictive study of
adjustment in marriage (26).
Predicting Adjustment in Marriage
Locke based his findings on his study in 1951 of a
representative sample of divorced and happily married
couples from the general population of a single county in
Indiana. The divorced were contacted through the court
house files; the happily married were contacted on the
recommendation of others known to them. The participants
were interviewed in person using a schedule consisting of
108 questions. In the sample there were 201 divorced with
their ex-mates and 123 divorced without their ex-mates and
200 happily married with their mates.
The average age of the happily married men was 40
and the happily married women was 38; the average age of
the divorced men was 39 and the divorced women was 36 1/2.
The sample averaged about ninth grade education, mostly
native-born, mostly Protestant, were of similar economic
circumstances, and mostly non-professionaly employed.
34
The sample was representative of the general popu
lation.
Locke found that happily married men and women re
ported about the same sex interest more frequently than the
divorced. More of the divorced than the happily married
reported that a fear of having children made sex less en
joyable. The happily married couples reported a greater
sexual satisfaction than the divorced. The happily married
men and women rated their own and their mates' sexual sat
isfaction as greater than did the divorced. A greater
percentage of the divorced than the happily married never
refused sex when it was desired by the mate. More of the
happily married than the divorced never desired extra
marital intercourse. More of the happily married than the
divorced had had no extramarital intercourse. More of the
divorced than the happily married believed in the infidel
ity of their mates. More of the divorced than the happily
married believed that their mates thought that they had
been unfaithful. The happily married were less jealous of
their mates than the divorced.
Locke summarized these findings by saying that
most of the sex questions were related to marital adjust
ment and maladjustment. And, finally, "Sexual intercourse,
35
when coupled with affection, satisfaction, and enjoyment
of the sex act, is one of the most subtle and potent forms
of communication between the persons involved and tends to
weld them together" (18).
Studies of Topical Importance
Sexual Behavior in the Human Female
Kinsey, Pomeroy, Martin, and Gebhard1s report was
published in 1953. It was based on information collected
between July, 1938, and January, 1950, on 5940 white non
prison inmate, members of women's organizations.
Premarital petting.— For the purposes of Kinsey's
work, petting was defined as physical behavior whose pur
pose is to effect erotic arousal in the other. Petting
was described in nine degrees as indicated:
1. Simple kissing
2. Deep kissing
3. Breast stimulation
4. Mouth-breast contacts
5. Manual stimulation of the female genitalia
6. Manual stimulation of the male genitalia
7. Oral contacts with the female genitalia
8. Oral contacts with the male genitalia
9. Genital apposition
Petting was found to be the most widespread of
sexual activity among single females; beginning in high
36
school, it continued for a median of 6.6 years before mar
riage. By age 15, 40 per cent of the sample had petted;
by age 18, 69 per cent to 95 per cent had petted; by the
time of marriage, nearly 100 per cent had petted. Early
adolescence was found to be associated with early petting;
late adolescence, with late petting. More than one-third
of the sample had petted with 10 or more different males
before marriage; some of the sample had petted with more
than 100 different males before marriage. Ninety per cent
of the women who petted to climax prior to marriage
achieved orgasm in the first year of marriage. In con
trast, only 65 per cent of those who did not pet to climax
prior to marriage achieved orgasm in the first year of mar
riage .
It was the fact of premarital orgasm that was
positively associated with postmarital orgasm, not the non-
coital means of achieving orgasm.
The study concluded that premarital petting was
important to women in that it gave them opportunities to
adjust emotionally to various males, and it gave them some
degree of the wisdom necessary in the choice of the men
with whom they sought to make a life-long adjustment.
37
Premarital coitus.— Kinsey defined coitus as
heterosexual, vaginal intercourse eliminating from consid
eration all other forms of intercourse.
In the group of women reporting premarital coitus,
53 per cent had had it with one partner; 34 per cent, with
two to five partners; and 13 per cent, with six or more
partners. Forty-four per cent of all premarital inter
course occurred in the final premarital year. In as much
as there was an association of coitus and the eminence of
marriage, those who married young were relatively young in
their first experience of coitus; and by the same logic,
those who married late were relatively old in their first
experience of coitus.
Forty-six per cent of the women who had had pre
marital coitus had limited it to their fiances only; 41
per cent, with fiances and others; and 13 per cent, with
others but not their fiances.
Sixty-nine per cent of the still unmarried women
did not regret having had premarital coitus; 13 per cent
felt minor regret. Seventy-seven per cent of the married
women did not regret having had premarital coitus; 12 per
cent felt minor regret. There was some evidence that
coitus with the spouse-to-be was associated with less
38
regret than coitus with other than the spouse-to-be.
Kinsey found that "there is no sort of experience
which shows a higher positive correlation with orgasmic
success in marriage than coitus before marriage." He
further found that orgasmic success before marriage is
positively correlated with orgasmic success in marriage.
The avoidance of physical contact or emotional re
sponse before marriage was for some women prejudicial to •
sexual response in marriage; e.g., early attitudes and
patterns of behavior are difficult to change in later
years. Correiatively, the capacity for emotional response
may be achieved more effectively earlier than later in
life— premaritally than postmaritally (16).
Engagement and Marriage
Burgess and Wallin were concerned with the predic
tion of marital success based on information obtained from
couples before their marriages. Their study had two
phases; the first phase focusing on engagement in the years
1937 to 1939; the second phase focusing on marriage in the
years 1940 to 1943.
The engagement sample consisted of 1000 self
selected, engaged couples living in metropolitan Chicago
39
who were generally native-born, white, Protestnat, and
middle class. Interviews were held with 226 of these pre
marital couples.
The marriage sample consisted of 666 of the origi
nal 1000 couples contacted three to five years after mar
riage. Interviews were held with 124 of these married
couples all of whom were in the group interviewed before
marriage.
Of particular relevance to the work of the present
study were the findings of the researchers on the "long
and complicated process which may be called 'development
for marriage.1" This process was found to consist of a
hierarchy of degrees of erotic behavior in order of in
creasing involvement. Each degree of the hierarchy of
erotic arousal was normatively linked with the correspond
ing degree of the relationship of the couple. In addition
to the normative association of erotic behavior and couple
relationship, there was the girl's tendency to look on pre
marital sexual behavior as a positive function of mutual
affection; girls tend to draw the line of erotic involve
ment at the level of petting unless they are in love. In
this context they noted that girls were aware of and re
sponsive to the threat of the social stigma attaching to
40
those whose premarital erotic behavior violated the norms
of both membership and reference groups.
Forty-seven per cent of the women in the study had
vaginal intercourse before marriage; 35.6 per cent, with
the future spouse only; 9.8 per cent, with the future
spouse and others; and 1.7 per cent, with others only.
Nominally, coital experience for the women in the study
was limited to the spouse-to-be only.
Approximately 90 per cent of a group of 74 women
who had had premarital coitus said it strengthened their
relationship with their sexual partners; 5.4 per cent said
it weakened the relationship. Similarly, approximately 24
per cent of a group of 71 women who had had premarital
coitus said it brought them closer together and increased
their love for each other. In response to a question on
why they had had intercourse before marriage, about 45 per
cent said they felt that they were doing right because it
provided relief from physical tension.
Burgess and Wallin found an association between
the duration of engagement and the frequency of premarital
intercourse; e.g., the longer the engagement, the more
likely it was that a couple would have had intercourse.
Specifically, in engagements of eight or less months, 39
41
per cent had had intercourse; in engagements of nine to
15 months, 43.9 per cent; 16 to 27 months, 51.8 per cent;
and 28 or more months, 48.4 per cent.
In Burgess and Wallin's research a question of
primal concern relative to premarital intercourse was,
"What are its consequences for the couple?" Findings in
this regard were reported under the rubrics of (1) engage
ment success, (2) sexual adjustment in marriage, (3) mari
tal success, and (4) love in marriage.
Premarital sexual intercourse and engagement suc
cess— Research data did not prove that premarital coitus
had a deleterious effect or that continence had a positive
/
effect on the success of the engagement. Couples who had
premarital coitus tended to have lower scores on engagement
success than those who premaritally abstained. The differ
ence in engagement success may be attributed to the fact
of sexual experience or to the personalities of those who
were sexually involved— who flouted the sex mores.
Premarital sexual intercourse and sexual adjust
ment in marriage— Sexual adjustment in marriage was meas
ured in terms of a specific and a general criterion; e.g.,
frequency of orgasm and a sexual adjustment score based on
answers to a number of questions. The results of the
42
analysis were clearer for orgasm than for the adjustment
scores.
The statistical findings did not support the theory
that coitus before marriage has an adverse effect on the
sexual relationship after marriage. Wives with histories
of premarital intercourse with their husbands-to-be and
other men had a greater probability of having high sex
scores than those with more limited coital experience be
fore marriage or those with none at all. Wives who had
premarital sexual relations frequently or occasionally
were more likely than those in the categories of rarely or
once or never to report that they always experienced or
gasm in marital coitus.
Premarital sexual intercourse and marital success—
Husbands and wives with no premarital coital experience
had the higher probability of success in marriage. The
women tended to be in the high score categories on the
different measures of marital success if they had had pre
marital sexual intercourse with their spouses-to-be either
rarely or never. The marital success of the wives was
slightly higher if they were virgins at marriage.
Premarital sexual intercourse and love in mar
riage— For all the categories of premarital sexual inter-
43
course (frequently, occasionally, rarely, and never) the
modal category on the love scale was "high," but those who
never had intercourse with their spouses-to-be were more
likely to fall in the high love category? on the other
hand those who frequently had intercourse with their
spouses-to-be were more likely to fall in the low love
category.
In general answer to the question on the effects
and concomitants of premarital sexual intercourse, Terman
was quoted: "It [marital happiness] may, instead, merely
tend to select the persons who by ideals and personality
have greater natural aptitude for successful marital ad
justment, while laxness before marriage may tend to select
those with less of this aptitude."
This assessment of premarital sexual intercourse
concludes with three statements: (1) the double standard
of morals is being displaced by two single moral standards
--one of premarital chastity for both sexes, the other of
equal sexual freedom for both men and women? (2) the value
placed on virginity of women has declined? and (3) young
people rate sex as secondary to personality and to other
factors in mate selection, engagement, and marriage.
Of special importance to the theoretical framework
44
and conceptual models of the present study is Burgess and
Wallin's concept of development for marriage as a process:
Development for marriage begins within the family re
lationships of early childhood. Outside the family
the process of development for marriage goes on as the
child interacts with children in the play groups of
the neighborhood and school. Later this process con
tinues in the more formalized association of boys and
girls at parties and dances which start in the last
years of grammar school and run through the high
school period. Out of these group gatherings emerge
the pairing relationships of dating, going together
preferentially, and keeping steady company. The asso
ciation of particular couples finally becomes continu
ous, intensive, and completely exclusive in engagement,
the final phase of development for marriage. (4:61)
According to the findings of the study, women are
guided in their premarital heterosexual behavior by (1)
the conventional standards of society, (2) their peer
code, and (3) their own code. The essential dictum of
each of these codes is that physical intimacy with pre
marital dating partners should be related to affection for
the partner (4).
Premarital Dating Behavior
Ehrmann was concerned with the determination of
patterns of premarital, heterosexual behavior. His study
was based on two samples. The schedule sample consisted of
990, white, generally middle class, single students not
previously married who were enrolled in his University of
45
Florida classes on Marriage and the Family from 1946 to
1953. Five hundred and seventy-six male and 265 female
usable schedules were obtained from the 990. No questions
on sex codes of conduct were included; the schedules con
centrated on observed behavior. The interview sample con
sisted of 100 students, 50 male and 50 female, drawn at
random from among the schedule sample. Though the selec
tion was random, participation was voluntary.
The restudy in the years 1952 and 1953 consisted
of 137 students, 71 male and 66 female. The findings of
the restudy were similar to and generally supporti^ve of
those of the earlier study.
Ehrmann considered the findings on premarital
heterosexual behavior to be representative of the univer
sity in which the study was done and of all other similar
institutions, for "there are certain relatively consistent
and uniform forces operating through the attitudes, folk
ways, and mores of the American youth culture concerning
the dating complex."
The study described stages of hetersexual behavior
in dating based on his work with the 50 male and 50 female
students. The schema of heterosexual behavior was
46
A. No dates within specified period
B. No physical contact or only holding of hands
Cl. Kissing and hugging
C2. Boy fondling the girl's breasts with his hands
outside her clothes, as well as any activity in Cl
D. Boy fondling girl's naked breasts, as well as any
activity in Cl or C2
E. Boy fondling girl's genitals or naked area around
genitals, as well as any activity in Cl, C2, or D
F. Sexual intercourse, as well as any activity in Cl,
C2, D, or E
G. Female fondling male's genitals through his
clothes
H. Female fondling male's naked genitals
The greater the frequency of dating, the more
sexually experienced the girl. And the greater the fre
quency of dating, the more the girl initiated sexual be
havior. Ergo, popular girls tend to be sexually experi
enced girls. And not only popularity but being in love is
associated with girl's sexual activities. The girl in
love has a greater desire for heterosexual activity, and
she is more willing to flout those folkways and mores that
tend to set the limit of petting activities at hugging and
kissing.
Being in love meant a decrease among males and an
increase among females in the incidence of premarital
sexual intercourse and in the personal acceptance of this
behavior.
Of the 50 girls in the interview sample, 42 had
been in love. There were three standards represented in.
47
the personal codes of this group.: (1) the conservative
single standard that denies coitus under any premarital
conditions; (2) the liberal single standard, general, that
permits coitus with lovers and non-lovers alike; and (3)
the liberal single standard lover, that permits coitus with
lovers only. Eighty-six per cent of the 42 girls observed
the conservative single standard; 7 per cent, the liberal
single standard, general; and 7 per cent, the liberal
single standard, lover. None of the girls in the inter
view sample subscribed to the double standard.
In terms of "Lifetime Behavior" 2 per cent of the
girls had had intercourse with an acquaintance; 6 per cent,
with friends; and 17 per cent, with lovers.
For the purposes of comparison, the lifetime be
havior of the males in the interview sample was 56 per cent
coitus with acquaintances; 60 per cent, with friends; and
24 per cent, with lovers.
The peer code and the personal code related the
degree of physical intimacy for the girls to the degree of
intimacy of the boy-girl relationship. In addition the
degree of physical intimacy was related to the degree of
security of the relationship with the partner.
There are distinct male and female subcultures:
to wit, the sexual experience of the male much more than
the female is related to age, age at puberty, and to age
at commencing of dating; whereas that of the female much
more than the male is related to going steady and being in
love, to the future spouse, and to the nearness of mar
riage.
The degree of physical intimacy actually experi
enced or considered permissible is among males inversely
related and among females directly related to the intensity
of familiarity and affection in the male-female relation
ship.
The premarital heterosexual behavior of males, as
that of females, falls into highly compartmentalized stages
of increasing degrees of intensity controlled as an inter
personal relationship in terms of initiation and stopping.
The principal findings of Ehrmann's study of pre
marital dating behavior relative to females are
1. Premarital heterosexual behavior falls into highly
compartmentalized stages of increasing degrees of
intensity . . .
2. . . . the female more than the male goes as far in
her current heterosexual behavior as she has ever
gone in the past.
3. The typical and usual heterosexual experience for
both males and females is kissing and hugging, and
all but a rare few have had this experience. Both
sexes begin to date and to engage in premarital
heterosexual activities, usually light petting,
49
during adolescence and continuously, or continual
ly, engage in these experiences for several years
until marriage.
4. Female initiation of behavior increases appreciably
in the going-steady and the love relationship.
5. The limitation of premarital sexual behavior is
primarily female determined.
6. [Applicable to males only.]
7. The sexual behavior of the female is associated to
a slight extent with attitude toward sex, adjust
ment to sex, church attendance, and age at first
date. A most significant negative finding is the
absence of a correlation between the reported prin
cipal source of sex information and the premarital
heterosexual behavior of either sex.
8. High frequency of dating many companions among fe
males appears associated with popularity, but a
high frequency of dating one partner among both
sexes is related to going steady and being in love.
9. Most members of both sexes limit dating to compan
ions of the same social class, and in consequence
all of their heterosexual experience is with these
companions.
10. Female sexual expression is primarily and pro
foundly related to being in love and to going
steady. (This is probably the single most impor
tant empirical finding of this research.)
11. Love tends to equate the sexual expression of
males and females.
12. The peer code of both males and females is more
liberal than the personal code; . . .
13. The males are more conservative and the females
are more liberal in expressed personal codes of
sex conduct and in actual behavior with lovers
than with nonlovers. In other words, the degree
of physical intimacy actually experienced or con
sidered permissible is . . . among females directly
related to the intensity of familiarity and affec
tion in the male-female relation.
14. There is a virtual coincidence between the personal
code of sex conduct and sexual behavior among fe
males, . . . Females rarely go beyond the limits
set by their codes, . . .
15. Most of the females have a conservative single
standard, but a minority of the girls have a
50
liberal standard with reference to premarital
sexual intercourse.
16. . . . most females desire and permit greater sexual
intimacies with a lover than with a non-lover.
17. Females find pleasure in dating without petting
lovers and nonlovers alike and in sexual activi
ties with lovers; . . .
18. The patterns of heterosexual behavior and its con
trol and attitudes about sex are more sharply de
fined by the sex codes of conduct, the conserva
tive and liberal single standards and the double
standards, and by the intimacy relationship of
being or not being in love than by any other mat
ters considered in this research. (9:335)
Premarital Sexual Behavior
In 1960 Reiss reported his analysis of all the
premarital sexual standards in America in terms of their
integration with the major trends and values of our
society. He stated that his major aim "is to fill a gap
in the literature on sexual behavior by putting forth an
analysis of the characteristics, consequences, and trends
of these standards."
His work in analysis of the premarital sexual
standards took place in two ways and generally in two
periods of time. The literary phase consisted of a survey
of the literature with particular emphasis on the findings
of Terman, Burgess and Wallin, Kinsey, and Ehrmann. He
rated these as the best studies.
51
The empirical phase, at the time of the publica
tion of his text still in process, consisted of participant
observation over a period of several years with college
and high school students, 16 to 22 years of age, mostly
from Virginia and New York. The approximately 1000 sub
jects of his study did not know that he was concerned with
the analysis of premarital sexual standards. He noted in
the reports of the four "best" researches that about 50
per cent of the females were not virgins at marriage and
that between one-half to two-thirds of these non-virgins
had indulged only with the males they later married.
There was evidence that most of the men and women felt
that their relationships were strengthened as a result of
the increasing of the love they felt for each other.
Reiss observed two basic types of sexual behavior:
(1) body-centered and (2) person-centered. According to
him these are the only categories of sexual behavior, but
there are several categories of sexual standards. He was
most concerned with the standards, for standards and
values implicit to them determine behavior.
The four standards according to Reiss' analysis
are
52
1. Abstinence— Premarital intercourse is wrong for
both men and women, regardless of circumstance.
2. Permissiveness with Affection— Premarital inter
course is right for both men and women under cer
tain conditions when a stable relationship with
engagement, love, or strong affection is present.
3. Permissiveness without Affection— Premarital inter
course is right for both men and women regardless
of the amount of affection or stability present,
providing there is physical attraction.
4. Double Standard— Premarital intercourse is accept
able for men, but it is wrong and unacceptable for
women. (21)
Reiss felt that permissiveness with affection was the best
overall standard— that it was most integrated with the
values of the middle . . . a n d upper classes in the United
States. He predicted a movement toward full acceptance of
this standard in the next 50 years.
It should be noted that permissiveness with affec
tion is at most a minority standard among girls before mar
riage, for according to Terman, 37 per cent of females had
had premarital sexual intercourse; according to Landis,
27 per cent; Gilbert Youth Research, 25 per cent; Kinsey,
39 per cent; Burgess and Wallin, 47 per cent; and Reiss,
about 50 per cent.
Permissiveness with affection is a single standard
in that it accepts coitus as right for both if it occurs
in a stable and affectionate relationship. This standard
reflects in its subdivisions a difference in male and
53
female point of view. Women feel that love and engagement
are the prerequisites to coitus; men feel that strong
affection not necessarily oriented to engagement and mar
riage is sufficient prerequisite to coitus. And in this
regard Reiss says, "The intimacy of sexual activity varies
according to the amount of affection involved and is not
determined solely by one's desire for a particular sexual
act" (21).
Not only are the partners obligated to be in love
or to be affectionate toward each other, but they must,
according to this standard, consider the total situation—
the "total balance of consequences" in terms of favor-
ability or unfavorability. If the balance is not favor
able, even though the couple are in love, coitus would be
unacceptable.
Reiss provided an answer to the question, "What is
love?" Under the rubric of "The Wheel Theory of Love" he
said that the hub of the wheel is communication. The
first spoke of the wheel is rapport. Rapport is role-
taking, Verstehen, empathy, and mutual understanding:
The second spoke of the wheel is self-revelation. Self
revelation occurs when rapport puts people at ease and
they share their wishes, hopes, fears, plans and problems.
54
The third spoke of the wheel is mutual dependency. Mutual
dependency results from or is part of the development of
an inter-dependent habit system of shared confidences and
shared activities. The fourth spoke of the wheel is per
sonality and fulfillment. The fulfillment of personality
needs such as affection, reassurance, and companionship
accompanies the growth of mutual dependencies.
The affection implicit to permissiveness with af
fection satisfies the criteria of the wheel theory of love.
Rational love, love conforming to the dicta of the
wheel theory, is developmental in nature and process and is
based on a considerable degree of interaction.
The positive aspects of permissiveness with affec
tion were summarized with the statement, "It is further
hypothesized that permissiveness with affection, because
of its accent on mutual satisfaction and affection, is
well integrated with marital sexual relations. This
standard buils up attitudes favorable to stable, affection
ate relations, and prepares one for the kind of coitus
involved in marriage"(21).
Premarital Sexual Intercourse
Kirkendall was concerned with premarital sexual
55
intercourse and interpersonal relationships- His study-
published in 1961 in New York was based on the reported
sexual liaisons of 200, white, middle class, Protestant,
college-level, males between 17 and 28 years of age.
In his study he identified six classes of sexual
liaisons with three factors in each of the classes. The
factors were (1) level of the relationship, (2) definition
of the partner, and (3) degree of attachment. The factors
by classes are shown in Figure 13.
The analysis revealed that the fourth level was
the first level in which the respondents indicated a con
cern for the total relationship with the partner; e.g., at
the level of "dating partner who became a sexual partner
before a strong relationship developed," the males ex
pressed tender feelings for the females. However, at this
level communication was inefficient and tended to lack
mutuality.
At Level V there was an acknowledged emotional
attachment prior to the beginning of coitus between the
partners. The subjects were concerned with the overall
relationship and the individuality of their partners. At
this level the sex act was more nearly incorporated into
the overall relationship than at the former level. Commu-
56
FIGURE 13
ASSOCIATIONS OF FACTORS IN PREMARITAL SEXUAL LIAISONS
ACCORDING TO KIRKENDALL
Level Character of Partner Deqree of Attachment
I Prostitute No emotional attach
ment
II Pick-up No emotional attach
ment
III Casual acquaintance who
was perceived as a poten
tial sexual associate
No emotional attach
ment
IV Dating partner who became
a sexual associate before
a strong relationship de
veloped
The possibility of
intercourse arose
after dating began
and before the male
became affection
ately involved
V Partner with whom a
relationship of some
strength existed
Considerable emo
tional attachment
VI Fiancee Strong emotional
attachment
57
nication was freer, more thorough, and possessed of more
mutuality than at Level IV.
The male subjects reported that their partners at
this level used their feelings of love to rationalize and
sanctify their sexual activity.
For the girls, as reported by the boys, a strong
emotional attachment with their sexual partners provided
security, and the girls sought to intensify the emotional
involvement to the end of enhancing the security of the
relationship.
Males at the level of engagement expressed satis
faction in having found females whom they loved and
respected. At this level motives appear to be mutually
shared, and the partners have a primary concern for the
preservation of the relationship. Communication was char
acterized by a relative objectivity, it was purposeful,
and it was instrumental in the decision making process.
The males were concerned for the welfare and the reputa
tions of their partners.
In regard to the successful integration of sexual
intercourse into interpersonal relationships at the sixth
level, the findings suggest: (1) the relationships, per se,
must antedate the initiation of intercourse; (2) the
58
engagement must be based on a strong and sound attachment
between the two people; (3) early teachings about sex
determine how the people will feel about their sexual ac
tivity; (4) the degree of integration of intercourse into
the relationship is a function of the maturity level of the
couple; and (5) luck.
The study asked the question, "Did intercourse
strengthen the relationship?" The subjects reported that
only 30 of the 228 sexual liaisons strengthened the rela
tionships; of these 30, 25 were in relationships that were
already strongly affectionate or in which the couples were
engaged. Forty per cent of the 30 strengthened relation
ships existed a year or more before the institution of
intercourse. And on the average the subjects reporting
strengthened relationships were two years older than the
subjects at large.
Some couples with such a relationship and background
can and do experience intercourse without damage to
their total relationship. The phrase, "without
damage" is used in preference to "strengthening," for
it appears that in practically all situations "non
damaging" intercourse occurred in relationships which
were already so strong in their own right that inter
course did not have much to offer toward strengthening
them. . . . The attitudes of the couple toward each
other and their observance or rejection of good human
relationship principles are the crucial factors. (17)
The meaning of sex and its significance in a rela-
59
tionship is not best understood in focusing on sex or a
single act; rather, in keeping with the study’s concern
for the quality of interpersonal relationships Kirkendall
said, "We need instead to be concerned much more broadly
with relationships and the various factors and circum
stances which make them meaningful or destroy their mean
ing for those involved in them."
Good interpersonal relationships increasingly in
volve others on a mutually acceptive basis, and they are
concerned with the long-range consequences of the relation
ships. Good interpersonal relationships are the value
framework of responsible ethical-moral decisions (17).
Summary
The studies reviewed under the title "Studies of
Historical Importance" were important in terms of their
having provided the scientific bases and methodological
foundations for the present study. Not of least importance
is the sense of historical continuity deriving from this
knowledge of where we came from in the prediction of human
behavior.
The studies reviewed under the title "Studies of
Topical Importance" were important in terms of their
60
direct and invaluable contributions to (1) theoretical
foundations, (2) conceptual models, (3) choice and delinea
tion of independent, explanatory, and dependent variables,
(4) choice and framing of research and experimental hypo
theses, (5) the construction, evaluation, and use of the
questionnaire upon which the work of the study was based,
and (6) the processing and statistical evaluation of the
information obtained in the use of the questionnaire.
Critical evaluation in terms of methodology is
limited to the five studies in the second section of the
review.
The contributions made by these studies to the
knowledge of human behavior is not in question. What is
in question is the relatively unsophisticated methodology
of four of the studies; three of the four (Kinsey's,
Reiss', and Kirkendall's) used a cross-sectional, experi
mental design with observations of an atypical, volunteer
group. Ehrmann's was cross-sectional but without the
hazards of "volunteer bias."
To the extent that accuracy of prediction is the
sine qua non of science, and accuracy of prediction re
quires the use of controls, these four studies were scien
tifically somewhat remiss.
61
The research design common to the first four of
the five studies is shown in Figure 14.
The fifth study, Burgess and Wallin's, used a pro
jective, experimental design including observations both
before and after of an "experimental" and a "control"
group within an atypical, volunteer group. It was con
cerned with the prediction of success in marriage based on
a knowledge of different categories including several on
sexual behavior in engagement.
Burgess and Wallin's study included the comparison
of two groups, those with premarital sex and those without
premarital sex, with respect to success in marriage.
Burgess and Wallin's research design is indicated in
Figure 15.
The present study is ex post facto effect to
cause. It compared two groups, those who were sexually
adjusted in marriage and those who were sexually unadjusted
in marriage.
The research design of the present study is indi
cated in Figure 16.
The underrepresentation of research on the sexual
adjustment of married women considered developmentally was
the empirical justification for the work of the present
62
Group A
Group B
Group A
Group B
Group A
FIGURE 14
KINSEY, EHRMANN, REISS, AND KIRKENDALL'S
RESEARCH DESIGN
Before After
X
FIGURE 15
BURGESS AND WALLIN1S RESEARCH DESIGN
Before After
X > X
x > X
FIGURE 16
THE RESEARCH DESIGN OF THE PRESENT STUDY
Before After
X <---------------------------- X
Group B X
63
study, for as Ehrmann said:
There has been little systematic effort to determine
the interrelationship between premarital and marital
love and sexual ideals and practices. The most as
tounding void of all, however, is the almost complete
absence of any scientific concern with sexual behavior
and sex codes of conduct. . . . (33:22)
CHAPTER III
THE DESIGN OF THE RESEARCH
This study was based on a comparison of a group of
women with favorable attitudes toward sex in marriage with
a group of women with unfavorable attitudes toward sex in
marriage with respect to their erotic behavior in dating
before marriage.
The Sexually Well-Adjusted Group
The women with favorable attitudes toward sex in
marriage were designated "the sexually well-adjusted group"
hereafter called simply the adjusted. This group was com
posed of women all of whom belonged to church-related
couples' clubs (38).
The church-related couples' clubs were used as the
source of the adjusted for several reasons. One of the
reasons was that of ease of access, for the educational and
professional experience of the ministers involved conduced,
generally speaking, to their support of the study. The
64
65
ministers' personal and professional endorsement of the
study was considered, according to research design, to be
an absolute prerequisite to the success of the study. If
in the preliminary interview a minister gave a qualified
approval of the study, the matter was dropped and he was
not contacted again. An example of a qualified approval
is, "You can go ahead if you really want to, but I really
don't approve of my people getting involved in something
like this."
The preliminary meetings with the ministers led in
turn to meetings with the representatives of the social
clubs. One of the representatives of the clubs chose not
to have his organization participate; eight of the repre
sentatives chose to have their organizations participate.
Two of the clubs that did participate were Congre
gational; one, Episcopal; four, Methodist; and one, Uni
tarian— a total of eight. The church bulletins carried
information about the planned meetings for as many as six
weeks before the meetings.
Another reason for using these clubs was their
habitude of being their brother's keeper. It seemed in
anticipation that people in a church setting would be more
willing to participate in such a project as this than
66
people in any other setting.
And another reason was the relative homogamy of
each of the clubs, which are organized on the bases of
age, marital status, and interests; the researcher in con
cert with the ministers chose to contact those clubs ful
filling the requirements of the research design.
A final reason was that of the sensitivity of the
subject; as a study of women's sexual behavior present and
past, the sanctuary of the church seemed eminently desir
able .
The Administration of the Questionnaire
The researcher arrived early at each of the meet
ings in order to have time to talk informally with as many
members as possible; he ate with several of the clubs—
took pot luck with them; and sat with all the clubs through
their business meetings. Although the church bulletins had
carried notice of the purpose of the meetings, and he had
learned to know a number of members of each club in the
pre-meeting and a suppertime socializing, the researcher
was given a formal introduction by the presiding officer
of each club. In response to the introduction, he gave
instructions on the completion of the questionnaire and
67
indicated his interest in talking with the members at
length after the questionnaires were finished. Every
reasonable effort was made to minimize the test-taking
aspect of the situation.
That the members of the clubs took their assignment
seriously was evident in their attitude toward the re
searcher and his questionnaire. There were no outbreaks
of general laughter. In a total of 100 women contacted in
the eight clubs, three declined to participate. Of the 97
beginning the questionnaire, 96 finished.
"Church-related couples' clubs" implies the pres
ence of the husbands. A majority of the husbands were in
fact at the meetings; they were asked to participate in the
study in order to simplify the logistics of the process of
obtaining the necessary information from their wives. It
is interesting to note that none of the husbands asked why
he was invited to participate in a study defined and adver
tised as concerned with his wife's sexual adjustment.
The research design did not assume that all women
who are active in church affairs are possessed of favorable
attitudes toward sex in marriage. The research design
called for the use of these clubs as the root source of
the group finally identified as adjusted according to the
68
criteria of the study. The process of eliminating and re
fining through the application of the criteria reduced the
96 original respondents to the 50 adjusted in the study.
The Sexually Poorly Adjusted Group
The women with unfavorable attitudes toward sex in
marriage were designated "the sexually poorly adjusted
group" hereafter called simply the unadjusted. This group
was composed of women in an active relationship with their
counselors or therapists (38).
Women in counseling or therapy were used as the
source of the unadjusted for several reasons. The basic
reason was that only among the counselors' or therapists'
clientele could a fairly large number of women be found
all of whom were professionally identified as sexually un
adjusted and willing to complete a questionnaire on their
sex lives. The research design required the independent
criterion of sexual unadjustment based on the clinicians'
professional judgment (38).
In this portion of the field work, the researcher
met with the staffs of several clinics in the metropolitan
area of Los Angeles. In each of the several clinics he
presented his study in terms of theoretical foundation and
69
expected research findings, the design of the research in
cluding the hypotheses to be tested in the course of the
study, and his expectations as to theoretical and practical
consequences of the completed study. In each case enough
time was provided so that the staff was able to talk with
the researcher about his study.
The researcher presented his study to the staffs
of five organizations. The study was presented for him to
the staffs of four organizations. Each of the five to
which the researcher presented his study agreed to partici
pate and did in fact participate. Each of the four to
which the chief of staff or director presented the study
did not participate.
In addition to the staff presentations, the re
searcher talked with a number of clinicians in private
practice. Though less formal than in the former setting,
the process was essentially the same. Nine clinicians were
asked to participate; nine did in fact participate.
Professional specialization represented by the nine
individual clinicians included gynecology, psychoanalysis,
psychiatry, psychology, family therapy, marriage counsel
ing, pastoral counseling, and social work.
Completed questionnaires were returned to the
70
researcher in self-addressed, prestamped envelopes.
The Matching Procedure
The two groups were matched on seven variables:
1. Twenty to 50 years of age
2. Caucasian (Northern European)
3. Protestant (not Fundamentalist)
4. High school graduation at least
5. Married and living together
6. Husband in white collar occupation
7. Mother of at least one minor child by birth or
adoption (see Appendix A)
The first criterion "Twenty to 50 years of age" is
broad in terms of years, but it is the period in women's
lives in which they are active in the family of procrea
tion. The women in the study were chosen for their common
experience of bearing and/or rearing children and for
attitudes in common deriving from the role expectations for
the position in the family career (35).
The Design of the Questionnaire
Several factors were considered in determining the
content and format of the questionnaire. The fact of
voluntary participation made it desirable that the
71
respondents not become anxious in the process, for they
could quit at will. The individual questions had to be
clear to those of limited intellectual ability who had
difficulty in graduating from high school as well as non
offensive to the Phi Beta Kappa with graduate degrees.
The fact of parking meters with their hour maximum
dictated that the questionnaire not take more than 30 to
45 minutes to complete. This design requirement applied
only to the use of the questionnaire in the clinic setting.
The empirical evidence that people tend not to
finish answering the questions in a form that is close
spaced and compact in appearance called for an open and
uncluttered format for each of the pages of the question
naire (37) .
The Questionnaire
The questionnaire as finally constituted and used
had five parts with a total of 108 questions. Part I
concerned with facts of dating and courtship had a twofold
purpose: (1) the necessary thinking about dating and court
ship was intended to conduce to a mood that was favorable
to the success of the study and (2) the answers to these
questions were to be used in evaluating a number of assump-
72
tions ancillary to the main purposes of the study (see
Appendices C, E, G, I, J, and M).
Part II generally consisted of questions used for
matching the adjusted and the unadjusted. These questions
— control variables— were used to establish the identity
of the two groups within the limits of research practica
bility but for the necessary differences of independent and
dependent variables. The two questions which were not used
in matching the two groups were used in the process of
differentiating the adjusted from the unadjusted (see
Appendices E and G).
Part III was concerned with relationships between
the factors of affection, couple status, and erotic beha
vior in dating. The relationships were of (1) affection
and couple status, (2) couple status and affection, (3)
erotic behavior and affection, and (4) erotic behavior and
couple status. Questions on the first two of these rela
tionships were included for their value in preparing the
participants for the questions on the second two. (It is
not likely that the participant would feel upset by such a
question as "How did you usually feel about the people you
went steady with?") These relatively non-threatening ques
tions provided the introduction to those that followed on
73
the more sensitive subject of the degree of sexual involve
ment for each of the degrees of affection and couple
status.
For each of the degrees of affection and couple
status, respectively, the participants were asked to indi
cate (1) what they had considered to be the appropriate
degree of erotic behavior, (2) what degree of erotic be
havior they usually experienced, and (3) what degree of
erotic behavior was the most they had ever experienced. In
order to reduce the possibilities of the participants'
anticipating and making the "correct" response, the hier
archical order of the degrees of both affection and couple
status as referents was disguised by means of randomiza
tion.
As reported in the review of the literature, a
number of researches concerned with the heterosexual proc
ess of dating and courtship have noted the positive associ
ation by degrees of physical intimacy and affection and of
physical intimacy and couple status. The evidence for
these scalar associations has been well-established with
scientific respectibility in the work of Burgess and Wallin
and of Ehrmann.
Part IV was concerned with providing information
74
to be used in the process of differentiating the adjusted
from the unadjusted. Each of the eight questions was to
be answered on a five-point scale. The sexual adjustment
score for each participant was determined by adding the
numerical value of his separate answers without weighting
(2:67) .
The reliability and validity of the eight indi
vidual questions used in the measurement of sexual adjust
ment in marriage for the purposes of the present study were
established by Terman in his study of marital happiness
and affirmed by Burgess and Wallin in their study of
engagement and marriage. The use of these questions in
these two major studies justified their use in the present
study.
Part V was concerned with providing a separate
measure of sexual adjustment supportive of the differenti
ation based on the two criteria from Part II and the com
posite scores of Part IV. The sexual adjustment inventory
comprising this portion of the questionnaire was based on
and developed in accordance with Thurstone's Method of
Successive Intervals. The method of successive intervals
selects items for an inventory and assigns them scale
positions simultaneously (8:120-147).
75
Specifically, 228 statements about sex in marriage
were evaluated individually on seven point scales repre
senting degrees of favorability toward sex in marriage: 1
(one) was most unfavorable; 4 (four) was nominally favor
able; and 7 (seven) was most favorable (see Appendix L).
Each of the 228 statements was evaluated by 114 women.
Each of the sets of evaluations was appraised for normal
distribution of the scale values of the evaluations. Those
satisfying the criterion of normal distribution were
arrayed on a psychological continuum of favorability. The
psychological continuum was subdivided into 30 sections,
and one statement was taken to represent each of the 30
sections.■ . ■
The inventory as used in the questionnaire con
sisted of the 30 statements to be checked by the respondent
in terms of her agreement or disagreement. Affirmative
answers were processed so as to provide a mean score for
each participant representative of her position on the
psychological continuum (see Appendix M)•
Composition of the Study Groups
Ninety-six acceptable questionnaires were obtained
in the church setting. Seventy acceptable questionnaires
76
were obtained in the clinical setting. Research design
called for 50 adjusted and 50 unadjusted. Reduction of
the two groups to study size was accomplished by applying
several criteria of sexual adjustment effectively increas
ing the distance of the two groups from each other on the
continuum of sexual adjustment.
The first step in this process of increasing the
sexual adjustment distance involved the use of data based
on answers to two questions in Part II. In the first of
these questions the women were asked to evaluate their mar
riages in terms of degrees of satisfaction; in the second,
in terms of degrees of expected duration. The nominal
definitions for the five-point scales used in answering the
questions ran from completely negative to completely posi
tive .
In order for a woman from the church setting to be
assigned to the adjusted group, she had to evaluate her
marriage as not less than moderately satisfying and durable.
In order for a woman from the clinical setting to be as
signed to the unadjusted group, she had to evaluate her
marriage as not more than moderately satisfying and durable.
The rationale for the use of these two questions assumes
the globality of sexual adjustment in marriage (38).
77
The second step in the process of forming the two
groups involved the use of data based on answers to the
eight questions in Part IV- In order for a woman from the
church setting to be assigned to the adjusted group, her
total score on the questions of Part IV nominally had to
fall in the upper half of the 166 (96 and 70) scores. In
order for a woman from the clinical setting to be assigned
to the unadjusted group, her total score on these questions
nominally had to fall in the lower half of the combined
scores.
There were few exceptions to this rule for assign
ment to the adjusted and unadjusted groups.
The third and final step in the process involved
the use of data based on answers to the 30 questions of
Part V. In order for a woman from the church setting to
be assigned to the adjusted group, her mean score nominally
had to fall in the upper half of the continuum of attitude
toward sex in marriage. In order for a woman from the
clinical setting to be assigned to the unadjusted group,
her mean score nominally had to fall in the lower half of
the continuum.
There were few exceptions to this rule of assign
ment.
78
In Summary of the process of differentiation of
the two groups, (1) there was a difference in the sources
of the respondents— it was assumed that women with their
husbands in a church setting would on the average have
better attitudes toward sex in marriage than women in
counseling or psychotherapy— this was an informal criter
ion; (2) all women in the clinical setting had been desig
nated as sexually disturbed by their clinicians— this was
the all-important independent criterion of sexual unadjust
ment; (3) generally, the adjusted women were satisfied with
their marriages and felt that they would last, and gener
ally the unadjusted women were not satisfied with their
marriages and did not feel that they would last; (4) gen
erally the adjusted women rated in the upper half of the
continuum of sexual adjustment according to the data based
on question taken from the literature on sexual adjustment
in marriage, and generally the unadjusted women rated in
the lower half of this continuum; and (5) generally the
adjusted women rated in the upper half of the continuum of
sexual adjustment prepared for this study, and generally
the unadjusted rated in the lower half of this continuum.
In all, five criteria were used in the composition
79
of the adjusted and the unadjusted groups.
Data Processing and Statistical Evaluation
Answers to the questions were key-punched on IBM
cards. Although some of the statistical evaluations had
to be done by hand, most were done on the Honeywell 1800 at
the Computer Sciences Laboratory of the University of
Southern California. The facilities of the Honeywell
installation were made available on an unsupported research
grant (36).
The purpose of the study as well as the kind of
data used in the study required the use of non-parametric
statistics. Chi-square was the work horse of the study
(23:104-116).
For both hand and machine statistical processing
the .10 level of significance was used. A higher level of
significance could have given false indications that the
fields were barren (37).
CHAPTER IV
AN ANALYSIS OF EROTIC BEHAVIOR IN DATING
FOR THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED
This chapter presents findings of a general nature
on erotic behavior in dating for the adjusted and the un
adjusted. The findings are based on answers to the ques
tions in part III of the questionnaire which was concerned
with the relationships between (1) erotic behavior and
affection and (2) erotic behavior and couple status.
An Overview of the Patterns of Erotic
Behavior in Dating for the Adjusted
and for the Unadjusted
The Relationship of Erotic Behavior and
Affection in Dating for the Adjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no relation
ship between erotic 'behavior and affection in dating for
the adjusted.
The relationship used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 1.
81
TABLE 1
THE RELATIONSHIP OF EROTIC BEHAVIOR AND
AFFECTION IN DATING FOR THE ADJUSTED
Degrees of Erotic Behavior
Degrees of
Affection
No contact
or hugging
and kissing
only
Light
petting
Heavy
petting
Coitus Totals
Did not like
the partner 45 0 0 0 45
at all
Liked the
partner a 45 4 0 0 49
little
Liked the
partner a 18 22 10 0 50
lot
Was in love
with the 3 17 24 5 49
partner
Totals 111 43 39 5 193
X2 = 134.9045; df = 6; P < .01
Note; Columns three and four combined for statistical
evaluation.
82
The chi-square of 134.9045 with six degrees of
freedom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits
us to reject the hypothesis and state that there is a sig
nificant relationship between the degrees of erotic be
havior and the degrees of affection in dating for the ad
justed.
The Relationship of Erotic Behavior and
Couple Status in Dating for the Adjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no relation
ship between erotic behavior and couple status in dating
for the adjusted.
The relationship used in testing this assumption is
shown in Tabic 2.
The chi-square of 95.1091 with six degrees of free
dom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis and state that there is a signifi
cant relationship between the degrees of erotic behavior
and the degrees of couple status in dating for the adjusted.
The Relationship of Erotic Behavior and
Affection in Dating for the Unadjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no relation
ship between erotic behavior and affection in dating for
the unadjusted.
TABLE 2
THE RELATIONSHIP OF EROTIC BEHAVIOR AND COUPLE STATUS
IN DATING FOR THE ADJUSTED
Degrees of Erotic Behavior
Degrees of
Couple
Status
No contact
or hugging
and kissing
only
Light
petting
Heavy
petting
Coitus Totals
Playing the
field
38 9 1 0 48
Going
steadily
23 19 5 0 47
Going steady
Engagement or
12 21 10 2 45
understanding
to marry
0 16 26 8 50
Totals 73 65 52 10 190
X2 = 95.1091; df = 6; P < .01
Note: Columns three and four combined for statistical
evaluation.
84
The relationship used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 3.
The chi-square of 127.2504 with nine degrees of
freedom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits us
to reject the hypothesis and state that there is a signifi
cant relationship between the degrees of erotic behavior
and the degrees of affection in dating for the unadjusted.
The Relationship of Erotic Behavior and
Couple Status in Dating for the Unadjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no relation
ship between erotic behavior and couple status in dating
for the unadjusted.
The relationship used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 4.
The chi-square of 102.0175 with nine degrees of
freedom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits
us to reject the hypothesis and state that there is a sig
nificant relationship between the degrees of erotic be
havior and the degrees of couple status in dating for the
unadjusted.
The Findings of the Overview
The findings in this portion of the study were un
equivocal for both the adjusted and the unadjusted indicat-
85
TABLE 3
THE RELATIONSHIP OF EROTIC BEHAVIOR AND
AFFECTION IN DATING FOR THE UNADJUSTED
Deqrees of Erotic Behavior
Degrees of
Affection
No contact
or hugging
and kissing
only
Light
petting
Heavy
petting
Coitus Totals
Did not like
partner at 46 2 1 0 49
all
Liked the
partner a 36 11 2 1 50
little
Liked the
partner a ' s ..... 18 18 ' " 5 50
lot
Was in love
with the 2 10 25 12 49
partner
Totals 93 41 46 18 198
X2 = 127.2504; df = 9; P < .01
86
TABLE 4
THE RELATIONSHIP OF EROTIC BEHAVIOR AND COUPLE STATUS
IN DATING FOR THE UNADJUSTED
Deqrees of Erotic Behavior
Degrees of
Couple
Status
No contact
or hugging
and kissing
only
Light
petting
Heavy
petting
Coitus Totals
Playing the
field
37 8 3 2 50
Going
steadily
14 21 11 2 48
Going steady
Engagement or
9 18 16 6 49
understanding
to marry
0 9 20 21 50
Totals 60 56 50 31- 197
X2 = 102.0175; df = 9; P < .01
87
ing that the degree of erotic behavior experienced by the
women in the study was a positive function of the degree of
affection for their partners and couple status with their
partners in dating. Each of the four relationships was at
a level of statistical significance with the relationships
for the adjusted stronger than for the unadjusted.
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to the
Patterns of Erotic Behavior
in Dating
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to the Degrees
of Erotic Behavior for Each of the
Deqrees of Affection
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
erotic behavior for each of the degrees of affection in
dating.
The comparisons used in testing this assumption
are shown in Tables 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Relative to the first degree of affection, the chi-
square of 2.85 with one degree of freedom is significant
beyond the .10 level. It permits us to reject the hypo
thesis and state that there is a significant difference be
tween the erotic behavior of the adjusted and the unadjusted
88
TABLE 5
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO EROTIC BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO NOT LIKING A PARTNER AT ALL
Degrees of Erotic Behavior
1 2 3 4 Totals
Adjusted 45 00 00 00 45
Unadjusted 46 02 01 00 49
Totals 91 02 01 00 94
X2 = 2.85; df
= 1;
P < .10 > .05
X _ . = 1.00; X n . = 1.08
ad] unadj
SD . . = 0.00; SD _ . = 0.34
adj unad]
Note: Columns two, three, and four combined for statisti
cal evaluation.
89
TABLE 6
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO EROTIC BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO LIKING A PARTNER A LITTLE
Deqrees of Erotic Behavior
1 2 3 4 Totals
Adjusted 45 04 00 00 49
Unadjusted 36 11 02 01 50
Totals 81 15 02 01 99
X2 = 6.546; df = 1; P < .02 > .01
X , . = 1.042; X , . = 1.200
ad] unadj
SD ^ = 0.200; SD = 0.477
ad] unad]
Note: Columns two, three, and four combined for statisti
cal evaluation.
N
90
TABLE 7
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO EROTIC BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO LIKING A PARTNER A LOT
Deqrees of Erotic Behavior
1 2 3 4 Totals
Adjusted 18 22 10 00 50
Unadjusted 09 18 18 05 50
Totals 27 40 28 05 100
X2 = 8.5212; df = 2; P < .02
i —1
o
•
A
X = 1.840; X ,. = 2.380
adj unadj
SD . = 0.731; SD n. = 0.892
adj unadj
Note: Columns three and four combined for statistical
evaluation.
91
TABLE 8
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO EROTIC BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO BEING IN LOVE
Deqrees of Erotic Behavior
1 2 3 4 Totals
Adjusted 03 17 24 05 49
Unadjusted 02 10 25 12 49
Totals 05 27 49 17 98
X = 4.9028; df = 2; P < .10 > .05
X 2.633; X ^ . = 2.959
adj unadj
SD = 0.748; SD _. = 0.781
adj unadj
Note: Columns one and two combined for statistical eval
uation .
92
for the first degree of affection. The distribution of
frequencies indicates a weak association of adjustment and
less erotic involvement.
Relative to the second degree of affection, the
chi-square of 6.546 with one degree of freedom is signifi
cant beyond the .02 level. It permits us to reject the
hypothesis and state that there is a significant difference
between the erotic behavior of the adjusted and the unad
justed for this degree of affection. The distribution of
frequencies indicates a weak association of adjustment and
less erotic involvement.
Relative to the third degree of affection, the chi-
square of 8.5212 with two degrees of freedom is significant
beyond the .02 level. It permits us to reject the hypo
thesis and state that there is a significant difference
between the erotic behavior of the adjusted and the unad
justed for this degree of affection. The distribution of
frequencies indicates a moderate association of adjustment
and less erotic involvement.
Relative to the fourth degree of affection, the
chi-square of 4.9028 with two degrees of freedom is signif
icant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to state that
there is a significant difference between the erotic be-
93
havior of the adjusted and the unadjusted for this degree
of affection. The distribution of frequencies indicates a
moderate association of adjustment and less erotic involve
ment .
The Findings on the Comparisons of the
Adjusted with the Unadjusted with
Respect to the Patterns of Erotic
Behavior Relative to the Deqrees
of Affection in Dating
The findings in this portion of the study indicate
unequivocally that the erotic behavior of the adjusted was
significantly different from that of the unadjusted for
each of the degrees of affection, and they indicate also
unequivocally the association of adjustment and less erotic
involvement for each of the degrees of affection.
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to the Deqrees
of Erotic Behavior for Each of the
Deqrees of Couple Status
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
erotic behavior for each of the degrees of couple status in
dating.
The comparisons used in testing this assumption are
shown in Tables 9, 10, 11, and 12.
94
TABLE 9
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO EROTIC BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO PLAYING THE FIELD
Deqrees of Erotic Behavior
1 2 3 4 Totals
Adjusted 38 09 01 00 48
Unadjusted 37 08 03 02 50
Totals 75 17 04 02 98
X2 = 0.3640; df = 1; P < .70 > .50
X ^ = 1.229; X ,. = 1.400
adj unadj
SD ^ = 0.467; SD .. = 0.775
adj unadj
Note: Columns two, three, and four combined for statisti
cal evaluation.
95
TABLE 10
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO EROTIC BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO GOING STEADILY
Deqrees of Erotic Behavior
1 2 3 4 Totals
Adjusted 23 19 05 00 47
Unadjusted 14 21 11 02 48
Totals 37 40 16 02 95
X = 5.8349; df = 2; P < .10 > .05
X , . = 1.617; X = 2.021
adj unadj
SD = 0.670; SD , . = 0.829
adj unadj
Note: Columns three and four combined for statistical
evaluation.
96
TABLE 11
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO EROTIC BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO GOING STEADY
Deqrees of Erotic Behavior
1 2 3 4 Totals
Adjusted 12 21 10 02 45
Unadjusted 09 18 16 06 49
Totals 21 39 26 08 94
X2 = 3.4365; df = 2; P C .20 > .10
XV. = 2:044; X ", = 2.388
adj unadj
SD . = 0.815; SD n. = 0.922
adj unadj
Note: Columns three and four combined for statistical
evaluation.
97
TABLE 12
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO EROTIC BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO BEING ENGAGED OR HAVING A
PRIVATE UNDERSTANDING
TO MARRY
Deqrees of Erotic Behavior
1 2 3 4 Totals
Adjusted 00 16 26 08 50
Unadjusted 00 09 20 21 50
Totals 00 25 46 29 100
X2 = 8.5702; df = 2; P < .02 > .01
X = 2.840; X ,. = 3.240
adj unadj
SD . = 0.674; SD _. = 0.736
adj unadj
Note: Columns one and two combined for statistical
evaluation.
98
Relative to the first degree of couple status, the
chi-square of 0.3640 with one degree of freedom is not sig
nificant with P < .70 and > .50 levels. It does not per
mit us to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of fre
quencies does, however, indicate a weak association of ad
justment and less erotic involvement.
Relative to the second degree of couple status, the
chi-square of 5.8349 with two degrees of freedom is signif
icant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to reject the
hypothesis and state that there is a significant difference
between the erotic behavior of the adjusted and the unad
justed for this degree of couple status. The distribution
of frequencies indicates a moderate association of adjust
ment and less erotic involvement.
Relative to the third degree of couple status, the
chi-square of 3.4365 with two degrees of freedom is not
significant with P<.20> .10 levels. Although there is a
strong indication of independence, it does not permit us to
reject the hypothesis. The distribution of frequencies
does, however, indicate a moderate association of adjust
ment and less erotic involvement.
Relative to the fourth degree of couple status, the
chi-square of 8.5702 with two degrees of freedom is signif
99
icant beyond the .02 level. It permits us to reject the
hypothesis and state that there is a significant difference
between the erotic behavior of the adjusted and the unad
justed for this degree of couple status. The distribution
of frequencies indicates a moderate association of adjust
ment and less erotic involvement.
The Findings on the Comparisons of the
Adjusted with the Unadjusted with
Respect to the Patterns of Erotic
Behavior Relative to the Deqrees
of Couple Status in Dating
The findings in this portion of the study were
equivocal regarding the significance of differences between
the erotic behavior of the adjusted and the unadjusted for
the degrees of couple status— the differences were not sig
nificant in the first and third degrees. They were un
equivocal with respect to the association of adjustment and
less erotic involvement for each of the degrees of couple
status.
Summary
How far the adjusted and the unadjusted, respec
tively, went in terms of erotic involvement depended at a
very high level of statistical significance on how they
felt about their partners and the security of their rela-
100
tionship with their partners; in this regard the associa
tions were stronger for the adjusted than for the unad
justed .
In the comparison of the adjusted with the unad
justed with respect to erotic involvement for each of the
degrees of affection, the two groups were found to be sig
nificantly different with the adjusted less involved
erotically than the unadjusted at each of the degrees of
affection.
In the comparison of the adjusted with the unad
justed with respect to erotic involvement for each of the
degrees of couple status, a pattern of equivocal signif
icance was found with the adjusted less erotically involved
than the unadjusted at each of the degrees of couple
status.
The adjusted and the unadjusted were less erotical
ly involved relative to each of the degrees of affection
than the corresponding degrees of couple status.
CHAPTER V
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT
IN MARRIAGE AND LIBERAL BEHAVIOR
IN DATING BEFORE MARRIAGE
This chapter presents findings on the relationship
of sexual adjustment in marriage and liberal behavior in
dating before marriage.
Liberal behavior is based on the normative expec
tation of the peer group. According to these expectations
for the occupant of the career position, the degrees of
erotic behavior should be in sequential concomitance with
the degrees of affection and/or couple status according to
the context in question.
The schema of liberality is shown in Figure 17.
According to the dicta of the liberal code, a girl
may have sexual intercourse when she is in love and/or is
planning to marry.
The guiding question for this portion of the study
101
102
FIGURE 17
THE LIBERAL CODE
Deqrees of Involvement
Affection or
Couple Status
1 2 3 4
Erotic
Behavior
1 2 3 4
was, "What is the relationship between women's attitudes
toward sex in marriage and their conformity to the liberal
code in dating before marriage?"
Experimental Hypothesis Number One
Liberal Behavior Relative to
Affection in Dating
Women's attitudes toward sex in marriage are posi
tively associated with their conformity to the liberal code
relative to affection in dating. And in the form of the
null hypothesis, there is no difference between the adjust
ed and the unadjusted with respect to their conformity to
the liberal code relative to affection in dating.
The comparison used in testing this hypothesis is
shown in Table 13.
The chi-square of 3.093 with one degree of freedom
103
TABLE 13
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO LIBERAL BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Liberal
Behavior
Not Liberal
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 00 50 50
Unadjusted 03 47 50
Totals 03 97 100
X2 = 3.093; df = 1; P t .10 >
i
in
o
•
is significant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to re-
ject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to liberal behavior relative to affection in dat
ing. The distribution of frequencies in the cells of the
matrix indicates a weak association of adjustment and not
liberal behavior.
Not Liberal Behavior Relative
to Affection in Dating
There are three subdivisions of not liberal be
havior in dating. The first of these is called "sublib
eral." It is characterized by a pattern in which at least
one of the four degrees of affection or couple status, as
104
the case may be, is associated with a lower degree of
erotic behavior than that permitted by the liberal code.
The second subdivision is called "supraliberal."
It is characterized by a pattern in which at least one of
the four degrees of affection or couple status, as the case
may be, is associated with a higher degree of erotic be
havior than that permitted by the liberal code.
The third is called "mixed liberal." It is char
acterized by a pattern in which at least one of the four
degrees of affection or couple status, as the case may be,
is associated with a lower degree and at least one with a
higher degree of erotic behavior than those permitted by
the liberal code.
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
subdivisions of liberal behavior relative to affection in
dating.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 14.
The chi-square of 7.82 with one degree of freedom
is significant at the .01 level. It permits us to reject
the hypothesis and state that there is a significant dif
ference between the adjusted and the unadjusted in terms of
105
TABLE 14
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBDIVISIONS OF LIBERAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Sub
liberal
Behavior
Liberal
Behavior
Supra
liberal
Behavior
Mixed
Liberal
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 50 00 00 00 50
Unadjusted 41 03 04 02 50
Totals 91 03 04 02 100
X2 = 7.82; df = 1; P < .01
Note: Columns two, three, and four combined for statistical
evaluation.
the subdivisions of liberal behavior relative to affection
in dating. The distribution of frequencies in the cells of
the matrix indicated moderate association of adjustment and
subliberal behavior.
Intraliberal Behavior Relative
to Affection in Dating
The study hypothesized that there were no differ
ences between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect
to selected pairs of intraliberal behavior relative to
affection in dating.
The comparisons used in testing this assumption are
shown in Tables 15, 16, 17, and 18.
106
TABLE 15
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBLIBERAL AND LIBERAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Subliberal
Behavior
Liberal
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 50 00 50
Unadjusted 41 03 44
Totals 91 03 94
X2 = 3.3; df = 1; P C .10 > .05
TABLE 16
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO LIBERAL AND SUPRALIBERAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Liberal
Behavior
Supraliberal
Behavior Totals
Adjusted 00 00 00
Unadjusted 03 04 07
Totals 03 04 07
Note: Statistical evaluation was not possible because of
empty cells.
107
TABLE 17
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO LIBERAL AND MIXED BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Liberal
Behavior
Mixed Liberal
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 00 00 00
Unadjusted 03 02 05
Totals 03 . 02 05
Note: Statistical evaluation was not possible because of
empty cells.
C " - "
TABLE 18
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBLIBERAL AND SUPRALIBERAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Subliberal
Behavior
Supraliberal
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 50 00 50
Unadjusted 41 04 45
Totals 91 04 95
X2 = 4.640; df = 1; P < .05 > .02
108
With respect to subliberal and liberal behavior,
the chi-square of 3.3 with one degree of freedom is sig
nificant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to reject the
hypothesis and state that there is a significant difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
these two subdivisions of liberal behavior relative to
affection in dating. The distribution of frequencies in
the cells of the matrix indicates a weak association of
adjustment and subliberal behavior.
With respect to liberal and supraliberal behavior,
the empty cells of the matrix negated statistical evalua
tion and statement of association.
With respect to liberal and mixed liberal behavior,
the empty cells of the matrix negated statistical evalua
tion and statement of association.
With respect to subliberal and supraliberal be
havior, the chi-square of 4.640 with one degree of freedom
is significant beyond the .05 level. It permits us to re
ject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted in terms
of these two subdivisions of liberal behavior relative to
affection in dating. The distribution of frequencies in
the cells of the matrix indicates a moderate association of
109
adjustment and subliberal behavior.
The Findings
The adjusted and the unadjusted were significantly
different with respect to liberal and not liberal behavior
relative to affection, and there was a weak association of
adjustment and not liberal behavior relative to affection;
s
the adjusted and the unadjusted were significantly differ
ent with respect to the subdivisions of liberal behavior
relative to affection, and there was a moderate association
of adjustment and subliberal behavior; and the adjusted and
the unadjusted were significantly different with respect to
two pairs of the subdivisions of liberal behavior: sub
liberal and liberal behavior and subliberal and supra
liberal behavior each relative to affection with the moder
ate association in each of the two cases of adjustment and
subliberal behavior.
Though the findings of the study indicated a number
of differences between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to liberal behavior relative to affection, they
were not supportive of the hypothesis that sexual adjustment
in marriage is positively associated with liberal behavior
relative to affection in dating before marriage.
110
Experimental Hypothesis Number Two
Liberal Behavior Relative to
Couple Status in Dating
Women's attitudes toward sex in marriage are posi
tively associated with their conformity to the liberal code
relative to couple status in dating. And in the form of the
null hypothesis, there is no difference between the adjusted
and the unadjusted with respect to their conformity to the
liberal code relative to couple status in dating.
The comparison used in testing this hypothesis is
shown in Table 19.
The chi-square of 3.093 with one degree of freedom
is significant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to re
ject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted in terms
of liberal behavior relative to couple status in dating.
The distribution of frequencies in the cells of the matrix
indicates a weak association of adjustment and not liberal
behavior.
Not Liberal Behavior Relative
to Couple Status in Dating
There are three subdivisions of not liberal be
havior relative to couple status in dating: subliberal,
Ill
TABLE 19
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO LIBERAL BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Liberal
Behavior
Not Liberal
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 00 50 50
Unadjusted 03 47 50
Totals 03 97 100
X2 = 3.093; df = 1; P < .10 >.05
supraliberal, and mixed liberal. The explanations of these
three subdivisions were given in "Not Liberal Behavior Re
lative to Affection in Dating."
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
subdivisions of liberal behavior relative to couple status
in dating.
The comparison used in the testing of this assump
tion is shown in Table 20.
The chi-square of 2.570 with two degrees of freedom
is not significant with P <.30 >.20 levels. It does not
permit us to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix does, however,
112
TABLE 20
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBDIVISIONS OF LIBERAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Sub
liberal
Behavior
Liberal
Behavior
Supra
liberal
Behavior
Mixed
liberal
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 37 00 06 07 50
Unadjusted 30 03 12 05 50
Totals 67 03 18 12 100
X2 = 2.570; df = 2; P < .30 ^ .20
Note: Columns one and two combined for statistical
evaluation.
indicate a weak association of adjustment and such sub-
liberal behavior.
Intraliberal Behavior Relative
to Couple Status in Dating
The study hypothesi zed that there were no differ
ences between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect
to selected pairs of intraliberal behavior relative to
couple status in dating.
The comparisons used in the testing of this assump
tion are shown in Tables 21, 22, 23, and 24.
With respect to subliberal and liberal behavior,
113
TABLE 21
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBLIBERAL AND LIBERAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Subliberal
Behavior
Liberal
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 37 00 37
Unadjusted 30 03 33
Totals 67 03 70
X2 = 3.13; df = 1; P < .10 > .05
TABLE 22
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO LIBERAL AND SUPRALIBERAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Liberal
Behavior
Supraliberal
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 00 06 06
Unadjusted 03 12 15
Totals 03 18 21
X2 = 0.24; df = 1; P < .70 > .50
Note: Yates' correction for continuity applied.
114
TABLE 23
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO LIBERAL AND MIXED LIBERAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Liberal Mixed Liberal
Behavior Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 00 07 07
Unadjusted 03 05 08
Totals 03 12 15
X2 = 1.354; df = 1; P <.30 > .20
Note: Yates'1 correction for continuity applied.
TABLE 24 ,
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED
RESPECT TO SUBLIBERAL AND
RELATIVE TO COUPLE i
WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
SUPRALIBERAL BEHAVIOR
STATUS IN DATING
Subliberal
Behavior
Supraliberal
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 37 06 43
Unadjusted 30 12 42
Totals 67 18 85
X2 = 2.720; df = 1; P < .10 > .05
115
the chi-square of 3.13 with one degree of freedom is sig
nificant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to reject the
hypothesis and state that there is a significant difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted in terms of these
two subdivisions of liberal behavior relative to couple
status in dating. The distribution of frequencies in the
cells of the matrix indicates a moderate association of
adjustment and subliberal behavior.
With respect to liberal and supraliberal behavior,
the chi-square of 0.24 with one degree of freedom is not
significant with P<.70> .50. It does not permit us to
reject the hypothesis. The distribution of the frequencies
in the cells of the matrix does, however, indicate a weak
association of unadjustment and supraliberal behavior.
With respect to liberal and mixed liberal behavior,
the chi-square of 1.354 with one degree of freedom is not
significant with P^.SO >.20. It does not permit us to
reject the hypothesis. The distribution of the frequencies
in the cells of the matrix does, however, indicate a weak
association of adjustment and mixed liberal behavior.
With respect to subliberal and supraliberal be
havior, the chi-square of 2.72 0 with one degree of freedom
is significant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to
116
reject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to these two subdivisions of liberal behavior rela
tive to couple status in dating. The distribution of fre
quencies in the cells of the matrix indicates a weak asso
ciation of adjustment and subliberal behavior.
The Finding's
The adjusted and the unadjusted were significantly
different with respect to liberal and not liberal behavior
relative to couple status, and there was a weak association
of adjustment and not liberal behavior; the adjusted and
the unadjusted were not significantly different with re
spect to the subdivisions of liberal behavior relative to
couple status, and there was a weak association of adjust
ment and subliberal behavior; and the adjusted and the un
adjusted were significantly different with respect to two
pairs of the subdivisions of liberal behavior: subliberal
and liberal behavior and subliberal and supraliberal be
havior each relative to couple status with weak and moder
ate associations respectively of adjustment and subliberal
behavior.
Though the findings of the study indicated a number
117
of difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to liberal behavior relative to couple status, they
were not supportive of the hypothesis that sexual adjust
ment in marriage is positively associated with liberal be
havior relative to couple status in dating before marriage.
Comparisons of Subliberal with Supraliberal
Behavior with Respect to Affection and
Couple Status in Dating for the
Adjusted and the Unadjusted
A Comparison of Subliberal with Supraliberal
Behavior with Respect to Affection and
Couple Status in Dating for the Adjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between subliberality relative to affection and couple
status and supraliberality relative to affection and
couple status in dating for the adjusted.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 25.
The chi-square of 7.458 with one degree of freedom
is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between subliberality relative to affection and
couple status and supraliberality relative to affection and
couple status for the adjusted. The distribution of fre-
118
TABLE 25
A COMPARISON OF SUBLIBERAL AND SUPRALIBERAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO AFFECTION AND COUPLE STATUS
IN DATING FOR THE ADJUSTED
Affection Couple Status Totals
Subliberal
Behavior
50 37 87
Supraliberal
Behavior
00 06 06
Totals 50 43 93
X2 = 7.458; df = 1; P < .01
quencies in the cells of the matrix indicates a strong
association of subliberality and affection for the adjusted.
A Comparison of Subliberal with Supraliberal
Behavior with Respect to Affection and
Couple Status in Dating for the
Unadjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between subliberality relative to affection and couple
status and supraliberality relative to affection and couple
status for the unadjusted.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 26.
The chi-square of 5.607 with one degree of freedom
119
TABLE 26
A COMPARISON OF SUBLIBERAL AND SUPRALIBERAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO AFFECTION AND COUPLE STATUS
FOR THE UNADJUSTED IN DATING
Affection Couple Status Totals
Subliberal
Behavior
41 30 71
Supraliberal
Behavior
04 12 16
Totals 45 42 97
2
X = 5.607; df = 1; P < .05 >.02
is significant beyond the .05 level. It permits us to re
ject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between subliberality relative to affection and
couple status and supraliberality relative to affection and
couple status. The distribution of the frequencies in the
cells of the matrix indicates a moderate association of
subliberality and affection for the unadjusted.
The Findings
On the comparison of subliberality with supra
liberality with respect to affection and couple status in
dating for the adjusted, the difference was significant
with a strong association of subliberality and affection.
120
On the comparison of subliberality with supra
liberality with respect to affection and couple status in
dating for the unadjusted, the difference was significant
with a moderate association of subliberality and affection.
The association of subliberality and affection was
stronger for the adjusted than for the unadjusted.
Summary
This chapter compared women with favorable atti
tudes toward sex in marriage and women with unfavorable
attitudes toward sex in marriage with respect to their con
formity to the liberal code of erotic behavior.
The adjusted were significantly different from the
unadjusted with respect to liberal behavior relative to
affection and couple status. None of either the adjusted
or the unadjusted had conformed to the liberal code rela
tive to affection or couple status.
The adjusted were significantly different from the
unadjusted with respect to the subdivisions of not liberal
behavior relative to affection but not relative to couple
status. Both adjustment and unadjustment were associated
with subliberal behavior relative to affection and couple
status. The associations between adjustment and subliberal
121
behavior relative to affection and couple status were
stronger, however, than those between unadjustment and sub
liberal behavior relative to affection and couple status.
For the adjusted the association between subliber
ality and affection was stronger than the association
between subliberality and couple status, and the associa
tion between supraliberality and couple status was stronger
than that between supraliberality and affection; for the
unadjusted the association between subliberality and affec
tion was stronger than that between subliberality and
couple status, and the association between supraliberality
and couple status was stronger than that between supra
liberality and affection.
In conclusion, sexual adjustment for married women
is most strongly associated with their experience of sub
liberal erotic behavior relative to both affection and
couple status in dating, but also sexual unadjustment in
marriage, to a somewhat lesser extent, is most strongly
associated with their experience of subliberal erotic be
havior relative to both affection and couple status in
dating.
The pivotal finding of this chapter other than the
lack of support for experimental hypotheses one and two was
122
the association of sexual adjustment in marriage and sub
liberal behavior relative to affection in dating, for 100
per cent of the adjusted were subliberal in such context.
One of the primary hypotheses of this study of the
relationship of sexual adjustment in marriage and erotic
behavior before marriage was that the adjusted would fall
into the category of liberal behavior before marriage? that
is to say, the premarital erotic behavior of the adjusted
as occupants of the position of female dating partners had
conformed to the normative expectations of peers as refer
ence group. The norm posited to the peer group was that
each of the degrees of affection and couple status was
associated with the numerically concomitant degree of erot
ic behavior, so that both being in love and being engaged
permitted premarital coitus.
This assumption of liberal behavior, per se, as
stated in experimental hypotheses one and two was not sup
ported by the findings of the study. In this lack of sup
port a question is raised as to the extent to which the
premarital erotic behavior of the adjusted may have con
formed to the conservative code. Chapter VI is concerned
with the relationship of sexual adjustment in marriage and
conservative erotic behavior before marriage.
CHAPTER VI
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT
IN MARRIAGE AND CONSERVATIVE BEHAVIOR
IN DATING BEFORE MARRIAGE
This chapter presents findings on the relationship
of sexual adjustment in marriage and conservative behavior
in dating before marriage.
Conservative behavior is based on the normative
expectations of the community as represented and made mani
fest in the family. According to these expectations for
the occupant of the career position, the degrees of erotic
behavior should be a positive function of, but, other than
in the first degree, not in sequential concomitance with
the degrees of affection and/or couple status according to
the context in question.
The schema of conservativeness is shown in Figure
18.
According to the dicta of the conservative code, a
124
FIGURE 18
THE CONSERVATIVE CODE
Degrees of Involvement
Affection or
Couple Status
1 2 3 4
Erotic Behavior 1 1 2 3
girl may go as far as heavy petting when she is in love
and/or is planning to marry. This code does not permit
coitus under any conditions prior to marriage.
The guiding question for this portion of the study
was, "What is the relationship between women's attitudes
toward sex in marriage and their conformity to the conser
vative code in dating before marriage?"
Experimental Hypothesis Number Three
Conservative Behavior Relative
to Affection in Dating
Women's attitudes toward sex in marriage are posi
tively associated with their conformity to the conservative
code relative to affection in dating. And in the form of
the null hypothesis, there is no difference between the
adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to their conform
ity to the conservative code relative to affection in
dating.
The comparison used in testing this hypothesis is
shown in Table 27.
TABLE 2 7
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO CONSERVATIVE BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Conservative
Behavior
Not Conservative
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 12 38 50
Unadj usted 10 40 50
Totals 22 78 100
X2 = 0.233; df =1; P < .70 > .50
The chi-square of 0.233 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P < .70 > .50. It does not permit
us to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of fre
quencies in the cells of the matrix does, however, indicate
a weak association of unadjustment and not conservative
behavior.
Not Conservative Behavior Relative
to Affection in Dating
There are three subdivisions of not conservative
126
behavior in dating. The first of these subdivisions is
called "subconservative." It is characterized by a pat
tern in which at least one of the four degrees of affection
or couple status, as the case may be, is associated with a
lower degree of erotic behavior than that permitted by the
conservative code.
The second subdivision is called "supraconserva-
tive." It is characterized by a pattern in which at least
one of the four degrees of affection or couple status, as
the case may be, is associated with a higher degree of
erotic behavior than that permitted by the conservative
code.
The third is called "mixed conservative." It is
characterized by a pattern in which at least one of the
four degrees of affection or couple status, as the case may
be, is associated with a lower degree and at least one,
with a higher degree of erotic behavior than those permit
ted by the conservative code.
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
subdivisions of conservative behavior relative to affection
in dating.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
127
shown in Table 28.
TABLE 28
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBDIVISIONS OF CONSERVATIVE BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Sub-
conserva
tive
Behavior
Conserva'
tive
Behavior
Supra-
conserva-
tive
Behavior
Mixed
- Conserva
tive
Behavior
Totals
Adj usted 24 12 13 01 50
Unadj usted 15 10 23 02 50
Totals 39 22 36 03 100
= 5.36; df = 2; P < .10 > .05
Note: Columns three and four combined for statistical
evaluation.
The chi-square: of 5.36 with two degrees of freedom
is significant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to re-
ject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted in terms
of the subdivisions of conservative behavior relative to
affection in dating. The distribution of frequencies in
the cells of the matrix indicates a weak association of
adjustment and subconservative behavior.
128
Intraconservative Behavior Relative
to Affection in Dating
The study hypothesized that there were no differ
ences between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect
to selected pairs of intraconservative behavior relative
to affection in dating.
The comparisons used in testing this assumption are
shown in Tables 29, 30, 31, and 32.
With respect to subconservative and conservative
behavior, the chi-square of 0.503 with one degree of free
dom is not significant with P < .50 >.30 levels. It does
not permit us to reject the hypothesis. Distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix does, however,
indicate a weak association of adjustment and subconserva
tive behavior.
With respect to conservative and supraconservative
behavior, the chi-square of 1.88 with one degree of free
dom is not significant with P <.20 > .10 levels. Although
the evidence indicates a strong difference, it does not
permit us to reject the hypothesis. Distribution of fre
quencies in the cells of the matrix does, however, indicate
a moderate association of unadjustment and supraconserva-
tive behavior.
129
TABLE 29
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBCONSERVATIVE AND CONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Subconservative
Belia vior
Conservative
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 24 12 36
Unadjusted 15 10 25
Totals 39 22 61
2
X = 0.503; df = 1? P < .50 > .30
TABLE 30
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO CONSERVATIVE AND SUPRACONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Conservative Supraconservative
_ ■ _ < • < X 0 1 3 J. S
Behavior Behavior _____
Adjusted 12 13 25
Unadjusted 10 23 33
Totals 22 36 58
2
X = 1.88; df = 1; P < .20> .10
130
TABLE 31
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO CONSERVATIVE AND MIXED CONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Conservative
Behavior
Mixed Conservative
Behavior
Totals
Adj usted 12 01 13
Unadjusted 10 02 12
Totals 22 03 25
X2 = 0.015; df = 1; P < .95 > .90
Note: Yates ' correction for continuity applied.
TABLE 32
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBCONSERVATIVE AND SUPRACONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Subconservative
Behavior
Supraconservative
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 24 13 37
Unadjusted 15 23 38
Totals 39 36 ' 75
2
X = 4.842; df = 1; P < .05 > .02
131
With respect to conservative and mixed conservative
behavior, the chi-square of 0.015 with one degree of free
dom is not significant with P . 95 >.90 levels. It does
not permit us to reject the hypothesis. Distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix does, however, indi
cate a weak association of adjustment and conservative be
havior .
With respect to subconservative and supraconserva-
tive behavior, the chi-square of 4.842 with one degree of
freedom is significant beyond the .05 level. It permits us
to reject the hypothesis and state that there is a signifi
cant difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted in
terms of these two subdivisions of conservative behavior
relative to affection in dating. The distribution of fre
quencies in the cells of the matrix indicates a strong
association of adjustment and subconservative behavior.
The Findings
The adjusted and the unadjusted were not signifi
cantly different with respect to conservative and not con
servative behavior relative to affection, and there was a
weak association of unadjustment and not conservative be
havior relative to affection; the adjusted and the unad-
132
justed were significantly different with respect to the
subdivisions of conservative behavior relative to affection,
and there was a weak association of adjustment and sub
conservative behavior; and the adjusted and the unadjusted
were significantly different with respect to one pair of
the subdivisions of conservative behavior: subconservative
and supraconservative behavior relative to affection with
a strong association of adjustment and subconservative be
havior.
Though the findings of the study indicated a number
of differences between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to conservative behavior relative to affection,
they were not supportive of the hypothesis that sexual ad
justment in marriage is positively associated with conser
vative behavior relative to affection in dating before
marriage.
Experimental Hypothesis Number Four
Conservative Behavior Relative
to Couple Status in Dating
Women's attitudes toward sex in marriage are posi
tively associated with their conformity to the conservative
code relative to couple status in dating. And in the form
133
of the null hypothesis, there is no difference between the
adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to their conform
ity to the conservative code relative to couple status in
dating.
The comparison used in testing this hypothesis is
shown in Table 33.
TABLE 33
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO CONSERVATIVE BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Conservative
Behavior
Not Conservative
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 05 45 50
Unadjusted 03 47 50
Totals 08 92 100
X2 = 0.543; df = 1; P < .50 >.30
The chi-square of 0.543 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P < . 50> .30 levels. It does not
permit us to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix does, however, indi
cate the weak association of unadjustment and not conser
vative behavior.
134
Not Conservative Behavior Relative
to Couple Status in Dating
There are three subdivisions of not conservative
behavior relative to couple status in dating: subconserva
tive, supraconservative, and mixed conservative. The ex
planations of these three subdivisions were given in "Not
Conservative Behavior Relative to Affection in Dating."
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
subdivisions of conservative behavior relative to couple
status in dating.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 34.
The chi-square of 6.24 with one degree of freedom
is significant beyond the .02 level. It permits us to re
ject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted in terms
of the subdivisions of conservative behavior relative to
couple status in dating. The distribution of frequencies
in the cells of the matrix indicates a moderate association
of unadjustment and such supraconservative behavior.
135
TABLE 34
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBDIVISIONS OF CONSERVATIVE BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Sub-
conserva
tive
Behavior
Conserva
tive
Behavior
Supra
conserva
tive
Behavior
Mixed
Conserva
tive
Behavior
Totals
Adj usted 19 05 24 02 50
Unadj usted 09 03 34 04 50
Totals 28 08 58 06 100
X = 6.24; df = 1; P < .02 > .01
Note: Columns one and two and columns three and four
combined for statistical evaluation.
Intraconservative Behavior Relative
to Couple Status in Dating
The study hypothesized that there were no differ
ences between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect
to selected pairs of intraconservative behavior relative to
couple status in dating.
The comparisons used in testing this assumption are
shown in Tables 35, 36, 37, and 38.
With respect to subconservative and conservative
behavior, the chi-square of 0.15 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P< .80 > .70 levels. It does not
136
TABLE 35
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBCONSERVATIVE AND CONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO COUPLE
STATUS IN DATING
Subconservative
Behavior
Conservative
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 19 05 24
Unadjusted 09 03 12
Totals 28 08 36
2
X = 0.15; df = 1; P < .80 > .70
Note: Yates' correction for continuity applied.
TABLE 36
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO CONSERVATIVE AND SUPRACONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO COUPLE
STATUS IN DATING
Conservative Supraconservative
Behavior Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 05 24 29
Unadjusted 03 34 37
Totals 08 58 66
X2 = 1.30; df = 1; P < .30 > .20
137
TABLE 37
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO CONSERVATIVE AND MIXED CONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Conservative
Behavior
Mixed Conservative
Behavior
Totals
Adjusted 05 02 07
Unadjusted 03 04 07
Totals 08 06 14
X2 = 0.29 2; df = 1; P< .70>.50
Note; Yates' correction for continuity applied.
TABLE 38
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SUBCONSERVATIVE AND SUPRACONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Subconservative
Behavior
Supraconservative
Behavior
Totals
Adj usted 19 24 43
Unadjusted 09 34 43
Totals 28 58 86
X2 = 5.296; df = 1; P < .05 > .02
138
permit us to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix does, however, indi
cate a weak association of adjustment and subconservative
behavior.
With respect to conservative and supraconservative
behavior, the chi-square of 1.30 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P < .30 >.20 levels. Although the
evidence indicates a strong difference, it does not permit
us to reject the hypothesis. Distribution of frequencies
in the cells of the matrix does, however, indicate a moder
ate association of unadjustment and supraconservative be
havior .
With respect to conservative and mixed conservative
behavior, the chi-square of 0.292 with one degree of free
dom is not significant with P< .70 >.50 levels. It does
not permit us to reject the hypothesis. Distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix does, however, indi
cate a weak association of adjustment and conservative
behavior.
With respect to subconservative and supraconserva
tive behavior, the chi-square of 5.296 with one degree of
freedom is significant beyond the .05 level. It permits us
to reject the hypothesis and state that there is a signifi-;
139
cant difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted in
terms of these two subdivisions of conservative behavior
relative to couple status in dating. The distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix indicates a moderate
association of unadjustment and supraconservative behavior.
The Findings
The adjusted and the unadjusted were not signifi
cantly different with respect to conservative and not con
servative behavior relative to couple status, and there was
a weak association of unadjustment and not conservative be
havior; the adjusted and the unadjusted were significantly
different with respect to the subdivisions of conservative
behavior relative to couple status, and there was a moder
ate association of unadjustment and supraconservative be
havior; and the adjusted and the unadjusted were signifi
cantly different with respect to one pair of the subdivi
sions of conservative behavior: subconservative and supra
conservative behavior relative to couple status with a
moderate association of unadjustment and supraconservative
behavior.
Though the findings of the study indicated a number
of differences between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
140
respect to conservative behavior relative to couple status,
they were not supportive of the hypothesis that sexual ad
justment in marriage is positively associated with con
servative behavior relative to couple status in dating be
fore marriage.
Comparisons of Subconservative with
Supraconservative Behavior with
Respect to Affection and
Couple Status for the
Adjusted and the
Unadjusted
A Comparison of Subconservative with
Supraconservative Behavior with
Respect to Affection and Couple
Status for the Adjusted
The study hypothesized that there was nodifference
between subconservativeness relative to affection and
couple status and supraconservativeness relative to affec
tion and couple status in dating for the adjusted.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 39.
The chi-square of 3.421 with one degree of freedom
is significant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between subconservativeness and supraconserva
tiveness relative to affection and couple status for the
141
TABLE 39
A COMPARISON OF SUBCONSERVATIVE AND SUPRACONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO AFFECTION AND COUPLE
STATUS IN DATING FOR THE ADJUSTED
Subconservative
Behavior
Supraconservative
Behavior
Totals
Affection 24 13 37
Couple Status 19 24 43
Totals 43 37 80
X2 = 3.421? df = 1? P <.10 >.05
adjusted. The distribution of frequencies in the cells of
the matrix indicates a strong association of subconserva
tiveness and affection.
A Comparison of Subconservative with
Supraconservative Behavior with
Respect to Affection and Couple
Status for the Unadjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between subconservativeness relative to affection and
couple status and supraconservativeness relative to affec
tion and couple status in dating for the unadjusted.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 40.
The chi-square of 3.327 with one degree of freedom
142
TABLE 40
A COMPARISON OF SUBCONSERVATIVE AND SUPRACONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO AFFECTION AND COUPLE
STATUS IN DATING FOR THE UNADJUSTED
Subconservative
Behavior
Supraconservative
Behavior
Totals
Affection 15 23 38
Couple Status 09 34 43
Totals 24 57 81
X2 = 3.327; df = 1; P < . 10 > .05
is significant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to re
ject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between subconservativeness and supraconserva
tiveness relative to affection and couple status for the
unadjusted. The distribution of frequencies in the cells
of the matrix indicates a moderate association of supra
conservativeness and couple status.
The Findings
On the comparison of subconservativeness and supra
conservativeness with respect to affection and couple
status in dating for the adjusted, the difference was sig
nificant with a strong association of subconservativeness
and affection.
143
On the comparison of subconservativeness with
supraconservativeness with respect to affection and couple
status in dating for the unadjusted, the difference was
significant with a moderate association of supraconserva
tiveness and couple status.
For the adjusted there was an association of sub
conservativeness relative to affection, and for the unad
justed there was association of supraconservativeness rela
tive to couple status.
Summary
This chapter compared women with favorable atti
tudes toward sex in marriage and women with unfavorable
attitudes toward sex in marriage with respect to their con
formity to the conservative code. The adjusted were not
significantly different from the unadjusted with respect to
conservative behavior relative to affection and couple
status, and both adjustment and unadjustment were associ
ated with not conservative behavior— relatively few of the
adjusted and fewer yet of the unadjusted experienced con
servative behavior relative to affection or couple status.
The differences between the adjusted and the unad
justed with respect to the subdivisions of not conservative
144
behavior relative to affection and couple status were
/ — V
statistically significant; adjustment was associated with
subconservative behavior relative to affection and supra
conservative behavior relative to couple status; and unad
justment was associated with supraconservative behavior
relative to both affection and couple status.
For the adjusted the association between subcon
servativeness and affection was stronger than that between
subconservativeness and couple status, and the association
between supraconservativeness and couple status was strong
er than that between supraconservativeness and affection;
for the unadjusted the association between subconservative-
ness and affection was stronger, than that between subcon
servativeness and couple status, and the association be
tween supraconservativeness and couple status was stronger
than that between supraconservativeness and affection.
In conclusion, then, sexual adjustment for married
women is most strongly associated with their experience of
subconservative erotic behavior relative to affection and
supraconservative behavior relative to couple status in
dating; and sexual unadjustment for married women is most
strongly associated with their experience of supraconserva
tive erotic behavior relative to both affection and couple
145
status in dating.
The pivotal finding of the chapter other than the
lack of support of experimental hypotheses three and four
was the association of sexual unadjustment in marriage and
supraconservative behavior relative to couple status in
dating, for 58 per cent of the unadjusted were supracon
servative in such context.
One of the primary hypotheses of this study was
that the adjusted would fall into the category of conser
vative behavior before marriage; that is to say, the pre
marital erotic behavior of the adjusted as occupants of the
position of female dating partners had conformed to the
normative expectations of family and community as reference
groups. The norm posited to this group was that each of
the degrees of affection and couple status was associated
with the degree of erotic behavior stated in the conserva
tive code, so that a girl would not go beyond heavy petting
in any situation prior to marriage.
This assumption of conservative behavior, per se,
as stated in experimental hypotheses three and four was not
supported by the findings of the study.
The premarital erotic behavior of the women of the
study, both adjusted and unadjusted, was neither liberal as
146
reported in Chapter V nor conservative as reported in this
chapter. The question remains, "Is sexual adjustment in
marriage associated with some other code or pattern of pre
marital erotic behavior?"
Chapter VII is concerned with the relationship of
sexual adjustment in marriage and moral erotic behavior
before marriage.
CHAPTER VII
SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT IN MARRIAGE AND
MORAL BEHAVIOR IN DATING
The findings of Chapter V were not supportive of
the experimental hypotheses that sexual adjustment in mar
riage is positively associated with conformity to the
liberal code relative to affection in dating and that
sexual adjustment in marriage is positively associated with
conformity to the liberal code relative to couple status in
dating.
The findings of Chapter VI were not supportive of
the experimental hypotheses that sexual adjustment in mar
riage is positively associated with conformity to the con
servative code relative to affection in dating and that
sexual adjustment in marriage is positively associated with
conformity to the conservative code relative to couple
status in dating.
Percentages of liberal and conservative congruence
147
148
relative to affection for the adjusted and the unadjusted
are shown in Figure 19. Percentages of liberal and conser
vative congruence relative to couple status for the adjust
ed and the unadjusted are shown in Figure 20.
This chapter presents findings on the relationship
of sexual adjustment in marriage and moral behavior in
dating before marriage.
Moral behavior is based on the normative expecta
tions of the individual with respect to his own erotic be
havior relative to each of the degrees of affection and
couple status in dating. According to the dicta of the
moral code, a girl may go as far as she feels appropriate
for any degree of affection and couple status; in effect,
morality so defined consists in the congruence of actual
and expected erotic behavior for the situation in question.
The girl who approves of coitus while playing the field and
is coitally involved while playing the field is for the
purposes of this study moral. And by the same token, the
girl who approves of no more than hugging and kissing when
engaged and experiences no more than hugging and kissing
when engaged is also moral.
The research question for this portion of the study
was, "What is the relationship between women's attitudes
149
FIGURE 19
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO AFFECTION
IN DATING
_______________ Liberal Behavior_________Conservative Behavior
Adjusted 00% 24%
Unadjusted 06% 20%
FIGURE 20
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE
BEHAVIOR RELATIVE TO COUPLE
IN DATING
STATUS
Liberal Behavior Conservative Behavior
Adjusted 00% 10%
Unadjusted 06% 06%
150
toward sex in marriage and their conformity to the moral
code in dating?"
Experimental Hypothesis Number Five
Women's attitudes toward sex in marriage are posi
tively associated with their conformity to the moral code
relative to affection in dating. Expressed in the form of
the null hypothesis, there is no difference between the ad
justed and the unadjusted with respect to their conformity
to the moral code relative to affection in dating.
The comparisons used in testing this hypothesis are
shown in Table 41.
The chi-squares for the adjusted and the unadjusted
relative to each of the degrees of affection indicate less
discrepancy between appropriate and usual erotic behavior
for the adjusted than the unadjusted. This finding is un
equivocal. With the one exception of the unadjusted at the
level of liking the partner a little, the higher the degree
of affection, the greater the difference between the degrees
of appropriate and usual erotic behavior for both the ad
justed and the unadjusted; however, the differences between
appropriate and usual erotic behavior reached the level of
significant difference in the single instance of being in
151
TABLE 41
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO APPROPRIATE AND USUAL EROTIC
BEHAVIOR FOR EACH OF THE DEGREES OF
AFFECTION IN DATING
Degrees of
Affection
Appropriate v. Appropriate v.
Usual Behavior Usual Behavior
for the Adjusted for the Unadjusted
Larger
Discrepancy
Did not x2 = 0.00 x2
=
0.21
like at all p < 1.00 P < 0.75
Liked a x2 = 0.67 x2
=
1.41
little p < 0.50 p < r 0.25
Liked a x2 = 2 .03 x2
=
2.07
lot p < : 0.50 p < 0.50
Was in love x2 = 2.28 x2
=
5.29
with
p <
0.25 p
< 0.10
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
152
love for the adjusted.
Experimental Hypothesis Number Six
Women's attitudes toward sex in marriage are posi
tively associated with their conformity to the moral code
relative to couple status in dating. Expressed in the form
of the null hypothesis, there is no difference between the
adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to their conform
ity to the moral code relative to couple status in dating.
The comparisons used in testing this hypothesis are
shown in Table 42.
The chi-squares for the adjusted and the unadjusted
relative to each of the degrees of couple status indicate
less discrepancy between appropriate and usual erotic be
havior for the adjusted than the unadjusted. This finding
is unequivocal. In general the higher the degree of couple
status, the greater the difference between the degrees of
appropriate and usual erotic behavior for both the adjusted
and the unadjusted. The difference between appropriate and
usual erotic behavior reached the level of significant dif
ference in the single instance of being engaged for the un
adjusted.
The findings in this portion of the study on moral
153
TABLE 42
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO APPROPRIATE AND USUAL EROTIC
BEHAVIOR FOR EACH OF THE DEGREES OF
COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Degrees of
Couple
Status
Appropriate v. Appropriate v.
Usual Behavior Usual Behavior
for the Adjusted for the Unadjusted
Larger
Discrepancy
Playing x2 = 0.27 x2 = 1.51
the field p < 0.75 P < 0.50
Going steadily
x2 -
P <
0.17
0.75
X2 =
p <
1.52
0.50
Going steady
x2 =
p <
0.66
0.75
Q
x2 =
p <
1.17
0.75
Engaged or x2 = 2.11 x2 = 6. 23
understanding p < 0.50 p < 0.05
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
Unadjusted
154
behavior in dating were that the adjusted were unequivocal
ly more moral than the unadjusted relative to affection and
couple status. In addition the study found in general that
the higher the degree of affection and couple status, the
greater the difference between appropriate and usual erotic
behavior for both the adjusted and the unadjusted. The
findings were supportive of experimental hypotheses five
and six.
A Comparison of Appropriate and Usual
Behavior with Respect to Affection
and Couple Status for
the Adjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between appropriate and usual behavior with respect to
affection and appropriate and usual behavior with respect
to couple status in dating for the adjusted.
The comparisons used in testing this assumption are
shown in Table 43.
The chi-squares for the differences between approp
riate and usual erotic behavior relative to affection and
couple status for the adjusted in dating equivocally indi
cate less discrepancy relative to couple status than affec
tion: the exception obtains in the first degree of involve
ment in which there is less discrepancy relative to
155
TABLE 43
A COMPARISON OF APPROPRIATE AND USUAL BEHAVIOR WITH
RESPECT TO AFFECTION AND COUPLE STATUS
FOR THE ADJUSTED
Degrees of
Involvement
Appropriate v.
Usual Behavior
Relative to
Affection
Appropriate v.
Usual Behavior
Relative to
Couple Status
Larger
Discrepancy
1
X = 0.00
P = 1.00
X = 0.27
P < 0.75
Couple Status
X =0.67
P < 0.50
X = 0 .17
P < 0.75
Affection
X = 2.03
P < 0.50
X = 0.66
P < 0.75
Affection
X = 2.28
P < 0.25
X = 2.11
P < 0.50
Affection
156
affection than couple status. Although none of the differ
ences reached the level of statistical significance, there
is a strong difference for affection in the fourth degree.
A Comparison of Appropriate and Usual
Behavior with Respect to Affection
and Couple Status for
the Unadjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between appropriate and usual behavior with respect to af
fection and appropriate and usual behavior with respect to
couple status in dating for the unadjusted.
The comparisons used in testing this assumption are
shown in Table 44.
The chi-squares for the differences between approp
riate and usual erotic behavior relative to affection and
couple status for the unadjusted in dating equivocally indi
cate less discrepancy relative to affection than to couple
status; the exception obtains in the third degree of in
volvement in which there is less discrepancy relative to
couple status than affection. The differences pertaining
to affection and couple status in the fourth degree reached
the level of statistical significance.
The findings in this portion of the study on moral
behavior in dating were that for the adjusted the smaller ,
157
TABLE 44
A COMPARISON OF APPROPRIATE AND USUAL BEHAVIOR WITH
RESPECT TO AFFECTION AND COUPLE STATUS
FOR THE UNADJUSTED
Degrees of
Affection and
Couple Status
Appropriate v.
Usual Behavior
Relative to
Affection
Appropriate v.
Usual Behavior
Relative to
Couple Status
Larger
Discrepancy
i
X2 = 0.21 x2 = 1.51 Couple
P < 0.75 p < 0.50 Status
o
X2 = 1.41 X2 = 1.52 Couple
P < 0.25
p <
0.5 0 Status
3
X2 = 2.07
P < 0.50
X2 =
p <
1.17
0.75
Affection
4
X2 = 5.29 X2 = 6.23 Couple
P < 0.10 p < 0.05 Status
158
discrepancies were generally associated with couple status
— the exception occurred in the third degree of involvement.
The differences between appropriate and usual erotic behav
ior were statistically significant only in the fourth de
gree for both affection and couple status for the unadjust
ed.
A Comparison of the Adjusted and the
Unadjusted with Respect to Moral
Behavior Relative to Affection
in Dating
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
moral behavior relative to affection in dating.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 45.
The chi-square of 0.378 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P <.70 >.50 levels. It does not
permit us to reject the hypothesis of no difference. The
distribution of frequencies does, however, indicate a weak
association of sexual adjustment in marriage and moral be
havior relative to affection in dating.
159
TABLE 45
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO MORAL BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO AFFECTION IN DATING
Congruence Non Congruence Totals
Adjusted 3 2 18 50
Unadjusted 29 21 50
Totals 61 39 100
X2 = 0.3 78; df= 1; P <.70 >.50
A Comparison of the Adjusted and the
Unadjusted with Respect to Moral
Behavior Relative to Couple
Status in Dating
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
moral behavior relative to couple status in dating.
The comparisons used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 46.
The chi-square of 1.980 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P <.20> .10 levels. Although there
is a strong indication of difference, it does not permit us
to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of frequencies
does, however, indicate a weak association of sexual adjust
ment in marriage and moral behavior relative to couple
160
TABLE 46
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO MORAL BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
Congruence Non Congruence Totals
Adjusted 31 19 50
Unadjusted 24 26 50
Totals 55 45 100
X2 = 1.980; df = 1; P <.20 >.10
status.
A Comparison of the Adjusted and the
Unadjusted with Respect to Moral
Behavior Relative to Affection
and Couple Status in Dating
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
moral behavior relative to affection and couple status in
dating.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 47.
The chi-square of 0.15 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P <.70 >.50 levels. It does not
permit us to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of
161
TABLE 47
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO APPROPRIATE EROTIC BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO EACH OF THE DEGREES OF
AFFECTION IN DATING
Congruence
Relative to
Affection
Congruence
Relative to
Couple Status
Totals
Adjusted 32 31 63
Unadjusted 29 24 53
Totals 61 55 116
X2 = 0.15; df = 1; P < .70 > .50
frequencies does, however, indicate a weak association of
sexual adjustment in marriage and moral behavior relative
to affection.
The findings in this portion of the study were that
the adjusted were not significantly different from the unad
justed with respect to moral behavior relative to both af
fection and couple status in dating; however, the difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted was stronger rela
tive to couple status than affection.
In terms of percentages of moral behavior; 64 per
cent of the adjusted were moral relative to affection; 62
per cent of the adjusted were moral relative to couple
162
status; 58 per cent of the unadjusted were moral relative
to affection; and 48 per cent of the unadjusted were moral
relative to couple status.
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to Appropriate
Erotic Behavior Relative to Each
of the Degrees of Affection
in Dating
The study hypothesized that there were no differ
ences between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect
to appropriate erotic behavior relative to each of the de
grees of affection in dating.
The comparisons used in testing this assumption are
shown in Table 48.
For the first degree of affection, the chi-square
of 1.8354 with P <.25 >.10 levels is not significant.
Though the difference is strong, it does not permit us to
reject the hypothesis.
For the second degree, the chi-square of 4.7030 is
significant beyond the .05 level. It permits us to reject
the hypothesis and state that there is a significant dif
ference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect
to what they considered to be appropriate erotic behavior
when they liked a dating partner a little.
163
TABLE 48
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO APPROPRIATE EROTIC BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO EACH OF THE DEGREES
OF AFFECTION IN DATING
X2 P X SD
Adjusted 1.000 .000
Affection 1.8354 .25
- L
Unadjusted 1.061 .314
Adjusted 1.042 .200
Affection 4.7030 .05
2
Unadj usted 1. 200 .447
Adj usted 1.720 .634
Affection 8.0789 . 05
Unadj usted 2.120 .765
Affection^
Adjusted 2.440 .697
1.2202 .70
Unadjusted 2.612 .778
164
For the third degree, the chi-square of 8.0789 is
significant beyond the .05 level. It permits us to reject
the hypothesis and state that there is a significant dif
ference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to what they considered to be appropriate erotic
behavior when they lihed a dating partner a lot.
For the fourth degree, the chi-square of 1.2202
with a P< .70 > .50 levels is not significant. It does not
permit us to reject the hypothesis.
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to Appropriate
Erotic Behavior Relative to Each
of the Degrees of Couple Status
in Dating
The study hypothesized that there were no differ
ences between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect
to appropriate erotic behavior relative to each of the de
grees of couple status in dating.
The comparisons used in testing this assumption are
shown in Table 49.
For the first degree of couple status, the chi-
square of 0.0080 with P <.95 >.90 levels is not signifi
cant. It does not permit us to reject the hypothesis.
For the second degree, the chi-square of 2.0857
165
TABLE 49
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO APPROPRIATE EROTIC BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO EACH OF THE DEGREES
OF COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
X2 P X SD
Couple
Status^
Adjusted
0.0080 .95
1.167 .373
Unadjusted 1.180 .433
Couple
Status-
Adjusted
2.0857 .50
1.638 .633
Unadjusted 1.833 .687
Couple
Status^
Adjusted
2.7327 .50
1.913 .747
Unadjusted 2.163 .865
Couple
Status.
4
Adjusted
Unadjusted
2.1495 .50
2.680
2.840
.705
.784
166
with P <.50 >.30 levels is not significant. It does not
permit us to reject the hypothesis.
For the third degree, the chi-square of 2.7327 with
P <.50 >.30 levels is not significant. It does not permit
us to reject the hypothesis.
For the fourth degree, the chi-square of 2.1495 with
P < .50 > .30 levels is not significant. It does not permit
us to reject the hypothesis.
The findings in this portion of the study with
respect to levels of appropriate behavior for each of the
degrees of affection were that the differences between the
adjusted and the unadjusted were significant only in the
second and third degrees of affection; e.g., in liking a
partner a little and in liking the partner a lot. The dif
ference was strong but not significant in the first degree
of affection; e.g., not liking a partner at all. The ad
justed and the unadjusted were closest in their beliefs
about appropriate behavior for the category of being in
love with the partner.
The adjusted believed in a lower level of appropri
ate behavior for each of the degrees of affection as indi
cated by the mean scores; and the adjusted were more defin
itive in what they believed to be the appropriate behavior
167
for each, of the degrees of affection as indicated by the
standard deviations.
The findings in this portion of the,study with
respect to levels of appropriate behavior for each of the
degrees of couple status were that there were no signifi
cant differences between the adjusted and the unadjusted.
The adjusted and the unadjusted indicated a near agreement
as to the appropriate level of erotic behavior for couple
status in the first degree; e.g., while playing the field.
The adjusted believed in a lower level of appropri
ate behavior for each of the degrees of couple status as
indicated by the mean scores; and the adjusted were more
definitive in what they believed to be the appropriate be
havior for each of the degrees of couple status as indi
cated by the standard deviations.
Both the adjusted and the unadjusted indicated that
they believed in a lower level of erotic behavior relative
to each degree of affection than to the equal degree of
couple status; and both the adjusted and the unadjusted
were more definitive with respect to what they believed to
be the appropriate behavior relative to each of the degrees
of affection than to the equal degree of couple status.
Summary
In the comparison of the adjusted with the unad
justed with respect to violations of personal standards of
erotic behavior relative to affection, for each of the de
grees of affection the adjusted had experienced less viola
tion than the unadjusted. In the comparison of the adjust
ed with the unadjusted with respect to violations of per
sonal standards of erotic behavior relative to couple
status, for each of the degrees of couple status the ad
justed had also experienced less violation than the unad
justed. The adjusted were more moral than the unadjusted
relative to both affection and couple status.
In the comparison of affection and couple status
as referents with respect to violations of personal stand
ards for the adjusted, there was less violation relative to
affection than couple status in the first degree of involve
ment and less violation relative to couple status than
affection in the second, third, and fourth degrees of in
volvement. In the comparison of affection and couple status
as referents with respect to violations of personal stand
ards for the unadjusted, there was less violation relative
to affection than couple status in the first, second, and
fourth degrees of involvement and less violation relative
169
to couple status in the third degree of involvement.
In the comparison of the adjusted with the unad
justed with respect to moral behavior relative to affection,
there was not a significant difference between the two
groups, but there was a weak association of adjustment and
moral behavior. In the comparison of the adjusted with the
unadjusted with respect to moral behavior relative to
couple status, there was a strong but not significant dif
ference between the two groups and a weak association of
adjustment and moral behavior. The difference between the
adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to moral behavior
was greater relative to couple status than to affection.
In the comparison of the adjusted with the unad
justed with respect to appropriate erotic behavior relative
to the degrees of affection, the level of the appropriate
was lower and the range was less for each of the degrees
for the adjusted. In the comparison of the adjusted with
the unadjusted with respect to appropriate erotic behavior
relative to the degrees of couple status, the level of the
appropriate was lower and the range was less for each of
the degrees for the adjusted.
In conclusion, then, the adjusted were relatively
moral in dating as compared with the unadjusted; they
170
believed in a relatively low level of appropriate behavior
in dating as compared with the unadjusted; as a group they
were more specific in what they believed to be appropriate
behavior in dating than the unadjusted. The levels of
appropriate behavior were lower and the spread of appropri
ate behavior was less in the context of affection than in
the context of couple status for both the adjusted and the
unadjusted.
The findings of the chapter were supportive of the
hypothesis that sexual adjustment in marriage is positively
associated with conformity to the moral code relative to
affection and to couple status in dating before marriage.
CHAPTER VIII
SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT IN MARRIAGE AND
SEQUENTIAL BEHAVIOR IN DATING
The findings reported in the preceding chapters of
this study were that the erotic behavior of neither the
adjusted nor the unadjusted was congruent with the norma
tive expectations of either the liberal or conservative
codes in dating; the erotic behavior of the adjusted was
found to be generally congruent with the normative expecta
tion of the moral code, but such congruence of the adjusted
was only slightly greater than that of the unadjusted.
This chapter presents findings on the relationship
of sexual adjustment in marriage and sequential behavior in
dating before marriage.
In its maximum sequentiality means that for the
first degree of affection and couple status, erotic behavior
was at the level of no contact or hugging and kissing only;
for the second degree of affection and couple status, light
171 ......... .....
172
petting only; for the third degree, heavy petting only; for
the fourth degree, coitus only. In its minimum sequential
ity means that for the first degree of affection and couple
status, erotic behavior was at the level of no contact or
hugging and kissing only and remained at this level for
each of the other degrees of affection and couple status.
Sequentiality also includes patterns of erotic be
havior in which any degree of erotic behavior is repeated
in one or more of the higher degrees of affection or couple
status. Examples of sequentiality are shown in Figures 8,
9, and 10.
As a matter of illustration, both liberal and con
servative behaviors are definitionally sequential; liberal
behavior is in fact sequentiality in its maximum.
The research question for this portion of the study
was, "What is the relationship between women's attitudes
toward sex in marriage and their conformity to the dicta of
sequentiality in dating?"
Experimental Hypothesis Number Seven
Women's attitudes toward sex in marriage are posi
tively associated with their having conformed to the dicta
of sequentiality relative to affection in dating. Expressed
173
in the form of the null hypothesis, there is no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
their conformity to the dicta of sequentiality relative to
affection in dating.
The comparison used in testing this hypothesis is
shown in Table 50.
TABLE 50
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO SEQUENTIAL BEHAVIOR RELATIVE
TO AFFECTION IN DATING BEFORE MARRIAGE
Adjusted Unadjusted Totals
Sequential 35 3 0 65
Not Sequential .15" 20
...... 3 5 •
Totals 50 50 100
X2 = 1.099; df = 1; P <.30 >.20
The chi-square of 1.099 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P< .30 >.20 levels. It does not
permit us to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix does, however, indi
cate a moderate association of adjustment and sequentiality
relative to affection in dating.
174
Experimental Hypothesis Number Eight
Women's attitudes toward sex in marriage are posi
tively associated with their having conformed to the dicta
of sequentiality relative to couple status in dating. Ex
pressed in the form of the null hypothesis, there is no dif
ference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect
to their conformity to the dicta of sequentiality relative
to couple status in dating.
The comparison used in testing this hypothesis is
shown in Table 51.
TABLE 51
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO SEQUENTIAL BEHAVIOR
RELATIVE TO COUPLE STATUS IN
DATING BEFORE MARRIAGE
Adjusted Unadjusted Totals
Sequential 30 24 54
Not Sequential 20
26
46
Totals 50 50 100
X2 = 1.449; df = 1; P <.30 >.20
The chi-square of 1.449 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P < .30 >.20 levels. It does not
175
permit us to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix does, however, indi
cate a moderate association of adjustment and sequentiality
relative to couple status in dating.
A Comparison of Sequentiality Relative to
Affection and to Couple Status in Dating
for the Adjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between conformity to sequentiality relative to affection
and to couple status in dating for the adjusted.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 52.
TABLE 52
A COMPARISON OF SEQUENTIALITY RELATIVE TO AFFECTION
AND TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
FOR THE ADJUSTED
Affection Couple Status Totals
Sequential 35 30 65
Not Sequential 15 20 35
Totals 50 50 100
X2 = 1.099; df = 1; P < .30 >.20
The chi-square of 1.099 with one degree of freedom
176
is not significant with P <.30 > .20 levels. It does not
permit us to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix does, however, indi
cate a moderate association of affection and sequentiality
in dating for the adjusted.
A Comparison of Sequentiality Relative to
Affection and to Couple Status in Dating
for the Unadjusted
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between conformity to sequentiality relative to affection
and to couple status in dating before marriage for the un
adjusted.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 53.
TABLE 53
A COMPARISON OF SEQUENTIALITY RELATIVE TO AFFECTION
AND TO COUPLE STATUS IN DATING
FOR THE UNADJUSTED
Affection Couple Status Totals
Sequential 30 24 54
Not Sequential 20 26 46
Totals 50 50 100
X2 = 1.449; df = 1; P <.30 >.20
177
The chi-square of 1.449 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P < .30 >.20 levels. It does not
permit us to reject the hypothesis. The distribution of
frequencies in the cells of the matrix does, however, indi
cate a moderate association of affection and sequentiality
in dating for the unadjusted.
Summary
The differences between the adjusted and the unad
justed with respect to sequentiality relative to affection
and couple status were strong but not significant. There
was a moderate association of adjustment and sequentiality
relative to both affection and couple status.
For the adjusted the differences between affection
and couple status with respect to sequentiality were strong
but not significant. There was a moderate association of
affection and sequentiality for the adjusted.
For the unadjusted the differences between affection
and couple status with respect to sequentiality were strong
but not significant. There was a moderate association of
affection and sequentiality for the unadjusted.
The association of affection and sequentiality is
stronger for the adjusted than for the unadjusted.
178
The findings of this chapter of the study are sup
portive of experimental hypotheses seven and eight, but
they do not confirm them at the level of statistical sig
nificance .
In conclusion, then, the women of the study who are
among the sexually adjusted in marriage were relatively
sequential in their premarital erotic behavior, but not ex
clusively, for the women of the study who were among the
unadjusted were also relatively sequential— to a somewhat
lesser extent— in their premarital erotic behavior.
It would appear that sexual adjustment in marriage
is somewhat associated with sequentiality in dating before
marriage/'"
CHAPTER IX
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Summary
Statement of the Problem
The purpose of this study was to evaluate several
assumptions about the relationships between married women's
present attitudes toward sex and their erotic behavior in
dating before marriage.
Importance of the Problem
This study is concerned with the inability of some
wives to experience sexual satisfaction; it will be justi
fied to the extent that it contributes to the understanding
of the roots of their problem.
The Method
The study compared a group of married women who
were sexually well-adjusted with a group of married women
179
180
who were sexually poorly adjusted with respect to their
erotic behavior relative to affection and to couple status
in dating before marriage.
The Scope of the Study
The evaluations were based on the answers to ques
tionnaires administered to women in a church setting and to
women in a clinical setting in the spring and summer of
1964. The adjusted, N = 50, were obtained by the applica
tion of several criteria from the women queried in the
church setting; the unadjusted, N = 50, were obtained by
the application of the same several criteria from the women
queried in the clinical setting.
The questionnaire which was basic to the study con
tained five sections: (1) history of dating and courtship,
(2) personal background, (3) erotic behavior in dating and
courtship, (4) sexual adjustment in marriage using questions
from the literature, and (5) sexual adjustment in marriage
using an inventory produced by the researcher for this
study.
The use of non-parametric measures of statistical
significance was dictated by the method of obtaining the
two groups for study.
181
The Research Hypothesis
The research hypothesis of the study was that
women's attitudes toward sex in marriage were related to
their erotic behavior in dating before marriage.
The principal findings relevant to the research
hypothesis.—
1. For the adjusted there was a positive and
statistically significant association between the degrees
of erotic behavior with and affection for dating partners.
2. For the adjusted there was a positive and
statistically significant association between the degrees
of erotic behavior and couple status with dating partners.
3. For the unadjusted there was a positive and
statistically significant association between the degrees
of erotic behavior with and affection for dating partners.
4. For the unadjusted there was a positive and
statistically significant association between the degrees
of erotic behavior and couple status with dating partners.
5. For each of the degrees of affection the erotic
behavior of the adjusted was less involved than that of the
unadjusted.
6. For each of the degrees of couple status the
182
erotic behavior of the adjusted was less involved than that
of the unadjusted.
The Experimental Hypotheses
The research hypothesis was tested by means of
eight experimental hypotheses: there were two for the pat
terns of liberal behavior; two for the patterns of conser
vative behavior; two for the patterns of moral behavior;
and two for the patterns of sequential behavior.
Experimental hypothesis number one.— The first ex
perimental hypothesis was that women's attitudes toward sex
in marriage were positively associated with conformity to
the liberal code relative to affection in dating.
The principal findings were
1. Fewer of the adjusted than the unadjusted con
formed to the liberal code relative to affection; 0 per
cent for the adjusted and 6 per cent for the unadjusted.
The differences were statistically significant.
2. More of the adjusted than the unadjusted were
subliberal in their patterns of erotic behavior relative to
affection; 100 per cent for the adjusted and 82 per cent
for the unadjusted. The difference was statistically sig
nificant .
183
3. Fewer of the adjusted than the unadjusted were
supraliberal in their patterns of erotic behavior relative
to affection; 0 per cent for the adjusted and 8 per cent
for the unadjusted. Level of significance could not be
ascertained.
4. More of the adjusted were subliberal than
supraliberal in their patterns of erotic behavior relative
to affection; 100 per cent were subliberal and 0 per cent
were supraliberal.
5. More of the unadjusted were subliberal than
supraliberal in their patterns of erotic behavior relative
to affection; 82 per cent were subliberal and 8 per cent
were supraliberal.
Experimental hypothesis number two.— The second ex
perimental hypothesis was that women's attitudes toward sex
in marriage were positively associated with conformity to
the liberal code relative to couple status in dating.
The principal findings were
1. Fewer of the adjusted than the unadjusted con
formed to the liberal code relative to couple status; 0 per
cent for the adjusted and 6 per cent for the unadjusted.
The difference was statistically significant.
i 184
2. More of the adjusted than the unadjusted were
subliberal in their patterns of erotic behavior relative to
couple status; 74 per cent for the adjusted and 60 per cent
for the unadjusted. The difference was statistically sig
nificant .
3. Fewer of the adjusted than the unadjusted were
supraliberal in their patterns of erotic behavior relative
to couple status; 12 per cent for the adjusted and 24 per
cent for the unadjusted. The difference was not statisti
cally significant.
4. More of the adjusted were subliberal than
supraliberal in their patterns of erotic behavior relative
to couple status; 74 per cent were subliberal and 12 per
cent were supraliberal.
5. More of the unadjusted were subliberal than
supraliberal in their patterns of erotic behavior relative
to couple status; 60 per cent were supraliberal and 24 per
cent were subliberal.
Experimental hypotheses number one and number two.—
The principal findings were
1. None of the adjusted conformed to the liberal
code relative to either affection or couple status.
185
2. More of the adjusted were subliberal in their
patterns of erotic behavior relative to affection than to
couple status; 100 per cent relative to affection and 74
per cent relative to couple status.
3. More of the adjusted were supraliberal in their
patterns of erotic behavior relative to couple status than
to affection; 12 per cent relative to couple status and 0
per cent relative to affection.
4. An equal number of the unadjusted conformed to
the liberal code relative to affection and couple status;
6 per cent liberal conformity and 6 per cent conservative
conformity.
5. More of the unadjusted were subliberal in their
patterns of erotic behavior relative to affection than to
couple status; 82 per cent relative to affection and 60 per
cent relative to couple status.
6. More of the unadjusted were supraliberal in
their patterns of erotic behavior relative to couple status
than to affection; 24 per cent relative to couple status
and 8 per cent relative to affection.
Experimental hypothesis number three.— The third
experimental hypothesis was that women's attitudes toward
186
sex in marriage were positively associated with conformity
to the conservative code relative to affection in dating.
The principal findings were
1. More of the adjusted than the unadjusted con
formed to the conservative code relative to affection; 24
per cent for the adjusted and 20 per cent for the unad
justed. The difference was not statistically significant.
2. More of the adjusted than the unadjusted were
subconservative in their patterns of erotic behavior rela
tive to affection; 48 per cent for the adjusted and 30 per
cent for the unadjusted. The difference was not statisti
cally significant.
3. Fewer of the adjusted than the unadjusted were
supraconservative in their patterns of erotic behavior
relative to affection; 26 per cent for the adjusted and 46
per cent for the unadjusted. The difference was not stat
istically significant.
4. More of the adjusted were subconservative than
supraconservative in their patterns of erotic behavior
relative to affection; 48 per cent were subconservative and
26 per cent were supraconservative.
5. More of the unadjusted were supraconservative
than subconservative in their patterns of erotic behavior
187
relative to affection; 46 per cent were supraconservative
and 30 per cent were subconservative.
Experimental hypothesis number four.— The fourth
experimental hypothesis was that women's attitudes toward
sex in marriage were positively associated with conformity
to the conservative code relative to couple status in
dating.
The principal findings were
1. More of the adjusted than the unadjusted con
formed to the conservative code relative to couple status;
10 per cent for the adjusted and 6 per cent for the unad
justed. The difference was not statistically significant.
2. More of the adjusted than the unadjusted were
subconservative in their patterns of erotic behavior rela
tive to couple status; 38 per cent for the adjusted and 18
per cent for the unadjusted. The difference was not
statistically significant.
3. Fewer of the adjusted than the unadjusted were
supraconservative in their patterns of erotic behavior
relative to couple status; 48 per cent for the adjusted
and 68 per cent for the unadjusted. The difference was not
statistically significant.
188
4. More of the adjusted were supraconservative
than subconservative in their patterns of erotic behavior
relative to couple status; 48 per cent were supraconserva
tive and 38 per cent were subconservative.
5. More of the unadjusted were supraconservative
than subconservative in their patterns of erotic behavior
relative to couple status; 68 per cent were supraconserva
tive and 18 per cent were subconservative.
Experimental hypotheses number three and number
four.— The principal findings were
1. More of the adjusted conformed to the conserva
tive code relative to affection than to couple status; 24
per cent relative to affection and 10 per cent relative to
couple status.
2. More of the adjusted were subconservative in
their patterns of erotic behavior relative to affection
than to couple status; 48 per cent relative to affection
and 38 per cent relative to couple status.
3. More of the adjusted were supraconservative in
their patterns of erotic behavior relative to couple status
than to affection; 48 per cent relative to couple status
and 26 per cent relative to affection.
189
4. More of the unadjusted conformed to the con
servative code relative to affection than to couple status;
20 per cent relative to affection and 6 per cent to couple
status.
5. More of the unadjusted were subconservative in
their patterns of erotic behavior relative to affection
than to couple status; 30 per cent relative to affection
and 18 per cent relative to couple status.
6. More of the unadjusted were supraconservative
in their patterns of erotic behavior relative to couple
status than to affection; 68 per cent relative to couple
status and 46 per cent relative to affection.
Experimental hypothesis number five.— The fifth
experimental hypothesis was that women's attitudes toward
sex in marriage were positively associated with conformity
to the moral code relative to affection in dating.
The principal findings were
1. The adjusted were more moral than the unad
justed relative to each degree of affection. The signifi
cance of the difference was not measurable.
2. The adjusted experienced more congruence than
incongruence with respect to appropriate and usual erotic
190
behavior relative to affection; 64 per cent congruence and
36 per cent incongruence. The significance of the differ
ence was not measurable.
3. The unadjusted experienced more congruence
than incongruence with respect to appropriate and usual
erotic behavior relative to affection; 58 per cent con
gruence and 42 per cent incongruence. The significance of
the difference was not measurable.
4. More of the adjusted than the unadjusted ex
perienced the congruence of appropriate and usual erotic
behavior relative to affection; 64 per cent of the adjusted
were congruent and 58 per cent of the unadjusted were con
gruent. The difference was not statistically significant.
5. The adjusted subscribed to a lower level of
appropriate erotic behavior than the unadjusted for each
of the degrees of affection. The significance of the dif
ference was not measurable.
Experimental hypothesis number six.— The sixth ex
perimental hypothesis was that women's attitudes toward sex
in marriage were positively associated with conformity to
the moral code relative to couple status in dating.
The principal findings were
191
1. The adjusted were more moral than the unadjust
ed relative to each degree of couple status. The signifi
cance of the difference was not measurable.
2. The adjusted experienced more congruence than
incongruence with respect to appropriate and usual erotic
behavior relative to couple status; 62 per cent congruence
and 38 per cent incongruence. The significance of the dif
ference was not measurable.
^3. The unadjusted experienced more congruence than
incongruence with respect to appropriate and usual erotic
behavior relative to couple status; 52 per cent congruence
and 48 per cent incongruence. The significance of the dif
ference was not measurable.
4. More of the adjusted than the unadjusted ex
perienced the congruence of appropriate and usual erotic
behavior relative to couple status; 62 per cent for the
adjusted and 52 per cent for the unadjusted. The differ
ence was not statistically significant.
5. The adjusted subscribed to a lower level of
appropriate erotic behavior than the unadjusted for each
of the degrees of couple status. The significance of the
difference was not measurable.
192
Experimental hypotheses number five and number
six.— The principal findings were
1. The adjusted were more moral relative to couple
status than to affection in the second, third, and fourth
degrees and more moral relative to affection than to
couple status in the first degree. The significance of
the differences was not measurable.
2. The unadjusted were more moral relative to
affection than to couple status in the first, second, and
fourth degrees and more moral relative to couple status
than to affection in the third degree. The significance
of the differences was not measurable.
Experimental hypothesis number seven.— The seventh
experimental hypothesis was that women's attitudes toward
sex in marriage were positively associated with having
conformed to sequentiality relative to affection in
dating.
The principal findings were
1. More of the adjusted than the unadjusted were
sequential in their patterns of erotic behavior relative
to affection; 70 per cent for the adjusted and 60 per cent
for the unadjusted. The difference was not statistically
193
significant.
Experimental hypothesis number eight.— The eighth
experimental hypothesis was that women's attitudes toward
sex in marriage were positively associated with having
conformed to sequentiality relative to couple status in
dating.
The principal findings were
1. More of the adjusted than the unadjusted were
sequential in their patterns of erotic behavior relative
to couple status; 60 per cent for the adjusted and 48 per
cent for the unadjusted- The difference was not statisti
cally significant.
Experimental hypotheses number seven and number
eight.--The principal findings were
1. More of the adjusted were sequential in their
patterns of erotic behavior relative to affection than to
couple status; 70 per cent relative to affection and 60 per
cent relative to couple status. The difference was not
statistically significant.
2. More of the unadjusted were sequential in
their patterns of erotic behavior relative to affection
than to couple status; 60 per cent relative to affection
194
and 48 per cent relative to couple status. The difference
was not statistically significant.
Summary.— None of the adjusted were liberal rela
tive to affection, and none were liberal relative to
couple status; 12 of the adjusted were conservative rela
tive to affection, and five were conservative relative to
couple status; 32 of the adjusted were moral relative to
affection, and 31 were moral relative to couple status;
3 5 of the adjusted were sequential relative to affection,
and 30 were sequential relative to couple status.
Three of the unadjusted were liberal relative to
affection, and three were liberal relative to couple
status; 10 of the unadjusted were conservative relative to
affection, and three were conservative relative to couple
status; 29 of the unadjusted were moral relative to affec
tion, and 24 were moral relative to couple status; 30 were
sequential relative to affection, and 24 were sequential
relative to couple status.
Conclusions
Conclusions with Respect to the Present Study
With respect to the research hypothesis, the study
195
found that for both the adjusted and the unadjusted, the
level of erotic involvement in dating depended to a con
siderable degree— P beyond the .001 level— on how they felt
about their partners and the security of their relationship
with their partners. This relationship was stronger be
tween adjustment and both affection and couple status than
between unadjustment and both affection and couple status.
The adjusted were less erotically involved than
the unadjusted relative to each of the degrees of affection
and of couple status.
Both the adjusted and the unadjusted were less in
volved erotically relative to each of the degrees of affec
tion than to each of the same degrees of couple status.
With respect to experimental hypotheses one and two
on patterns of erotic behavior evaluated in terms of con
gruence with the liberal code, none of the adjusted had
experienced such congruence relative to affection and coup
le status and relatively few of the unadjusted had experi
enced such congruence; on the contrary, both the adjusted
and the unadjusted were characteristically subliberal in
their patterns of erotic behavior relative to affection
and couple status.
With respect to experimental hypotheses three and
196
four on patterns of erotic behavior evaluated in terms of
congruence with the conservative code, relatively few of
the adjusted had experienced such congruence relative to
affection and couple status, and fewer yet of the unad
justed had experienced such congruence. The adjusted were
characteristically subconservative relative to affection
and supraconservative relative to couple status; the unad
justed were characteristically supraconservative relative
to both affection and couple status.
In the comparison of the liberal and conservative
patterns of premarital erotic behavior, sexual adjustment
in marriage was unequivocally associated with the conserva
tive patterns.
With respect to experimental hypotheses five and
six on patterns of erotic behavior evaluated in terms of
congruence with the moral code, the adjusted were more
nearly moral than the unadjusted for each of the degrees of
affection and couple status. More of the adjusted than the
unadjusted were absolutely moral relative to affection and
couple status. The level of what was considered to be
appropriate erotic behavior for each of the degrees of
affection and couple status was lower for the adjusted than
for the unadjusted.
197
With respect to experimental hypotheses seven and
eight on patterns of erotic behavior evaluated in terms of
congruence with sequentiality, and adjusted were more
sequential than the unadjusted relative to both affection
and couple status.
In conclusion, then, the study determined at a very
high level of statistical significance that sexual adjust
ment in marriage for the women of the study was associated
with their having been relatively uninvolved with respect
to premarital erotic behavior relative to each of the de
grees of both affection and couple status. The study did
not find support for the hypotheses asserting that sexual
adjustment in marriage was positively associated with
liberal behavior in dating; it did not find support for the
hypotheses asserting that sexual adjustment in marriage
was positively associated with conservative behavior in
dating; it did find slight support for the hypotheses
asserting that sexual adjustment in marriage was positively
associated with moral behavior in dating; and it did find
slight support for the hypotheses asserting that sexual
adjustment in marriage was positively associated with
sequential behavior in dating.
198
Conclusions with Respect
to Prior Researches
In its failure to find empirical support for the
association of sexual adjustment in marriage and conformity
to the liberal code of premarital erotic behavior, the
present study must question the implications of some of
the findings with respect to premarital sexual behavior of
the studies-in-review for post marital sexual adjustment,
to wit:
Kinsey in the context of coitus and orgasm before
marriage spoke of the value of early physical contact and
emotional response— that developmentally speaking, sexual
response was better learned earlier than later.
Burgess and Wallin in the context of development
for marriage spoke of girls1 erotic behavior in response to
a code defining the extent of physical involvement in terms
of the degree of mutual affection and couple relationship.
Ehrmann spoke of the peer code, a liberal, single
standard, relating physical intimacy to going steady, being
in love, and the nearness of marriage; how far a girl goes
is directly related to her feeling for her partner and the
security of her relationship with her partner.
Reiss spoke of the person-centered code of per-
199
missiveness with affection approving premarital inter
course for those who enjoy a stable and affectionate re
lationship; under this standard, love and engagement are
the necessary and sufficient preconditions for coitus.
Kirlcendall, in his study of the sexual liaisons of
young men reported the hierarchal arrangement of the de
grees of erotic involvement of young women and that they
used the feeling of love to rationalize and sanctify pre
marital coitus.
The essence of each of the five studies in the con
text of premarital erotic behavior was (1) the develop
mental worth of early physical contact and emotional re
sponse; (2) premarital sexual behavior as a positive func
tion of mutual affection; (3) the relationship of physical
intimacy and going steady, being in love, and the nearness
of marriage; (4) premarital intercourse for those who enjoy
a stable and affectionate relationship; and (5) love
rationalizes and sanctifies premarital coitus— but the
essence of the present study is that sexual adjustment in
marriage is positively associated with a relatively un
sophisticated erotic behavior before marriage.
In the context of the failure of the present study
to find support for premarital liberality, we must consider
200
the meanings of the study's findings for family life edu
cation and premarital counseling.
Although the differences between the adjusted and
the unadjusted in terms of the four patterns of premarital
erotic behavior are, unfortunately, not definitive, they
do suggest that good attitudes toward sex in marriage are
related to premarital erotic behavior that was relatively
in keeping with the standards of the family, church, and
community. They suggest that good attitudes toward sex in
marriage are related to premarital erotic behavior that
was relatively in keeping with the individuals' own con
sciences. They suggest that good attitudes toward sex in
marriage are related to premarital erotic behavior that was
relatively sequential in order of involvement.
Even though the findings of this study are not
strong enough to permit us assuredly to state the pre
marital concomitants of favorable attitudes toward sex in
marriage with respect to the experimental hypotheses; they
do suggest the need for youth and the advisors of youth
seriously to question the long-range consequences of the
sexual revolution and the liberal point of view.
Limitations of the Study
Limitations in Matching and Differentiating
the Adjusted and the Unadjusted
The study controlled for seven variables: age,
ethnic group, religion, education, husband's occupation,
parental status, and marital situation. There is no way
to know or to make allowance for the effects of the un
accounted for and/or unknown variables such as: the number
of marriages, the conditions leading to the dissolution of
former marriages, the total number of years in marriage,
and the length of the present marriage.
In its concern with the association of women's
attitudes toward sex in marriage and their patterns of
erotic behavior in dating before marriage considered de
velopmental ly, the study should have eliminated all who had
experienced any of the other major "causes" of sexual unad
justment; for instance: more than nominal parental and/or
religious indoctrination against sex; being molested as a
child with family and/or community uproar; assaultive rape
at any age; homosexual experience or homosexuality; crimi-
' i t .
nal, natural, or therapeutic abortion in or out of mar
riage; miscarriage in or out of marriage; traumatic pre
marital coitus; premarital pregnancy and forced marriage;
202
inept, brutal, and/or impotent husband; unhappy and/or
failing marriage; and being an outworn housewife and/or
overburdened mother.
Although the research design required the indepen
dent criterion of the counselor's or psychotherapist's
judgment of severe sexual unadjustment for clinical par
ticipation in the study, the clinician was not required to
specify the nature of the woman's sexual problem; to wit,
21 of the unadjusted indicated sexual satiety as would be
expected, but also 21 indicated sexual hunger as would not
be expected. The study would have been more sharply
focused and consequently more productive if all those in the
category of sexual unadjustment were characteristically
non-responsive, angry, and sated and all those in the cate
gory of sexual adjustment were characteristically respons
ive, pleased and satisfied with the frequency of coitus.
It would have been well if the adjusted group had
included only those who "almost always" and "always" ex
perienced sexual climax in coitus with their husbands and
the unadjusted group had included only those who "seldom"
or "never" experienced sexual climax with their husbands.
The seven variables that were controlled in the
selection of the two groups made for a composition that was
203
not representative of the population of women at large; the
groups represented only themselves. Generalization from
the findings of this study would be academically and pro
fessionally hazardous.
Limitations in the Design and
Execution of the Study
This study suffers one of the inherent deficiencies
of the ex post facto research design, effect to cause;
e.g., the oldest of the participants were asked to recall
and report in some detail events that occurred 30 to 35
years ago.
In the interest of relative ease in statistical
evaluation, the participants were required to indicate
their answers on four or five point scales. One of the
consequences of forcing a person to describe his behavior
in terms of a single degree of a four or five degree scale
is the loss of the richness, the variety, and the subtlety
that characterize the interpersonal behavior of human
beings. On the other hand, though, the quantification of
the open-ended answer would have been impossibly time-
consuming and much too subject to the researcher's biases.
The study should have taken cognizance of and made
allowance for the possibility that the members of each of
204
the groups may have responded to the latent factor of
social desirability, so that the women in the clinical set
ting may have described themselves as worse than they
really were and the women in the church setting may have
described themselves as better than they really were. As
a case in point, 7 0 per cent of the women contacted in the
clinical setting said they had had premarital coitus; 40
per cent of the women contacted in the church setting said
they had had premarital coitus. But for the latent factor
of social desirability expressed in terms of the expecta
tions of the respective reference groups, the clinical
group would probably have reported less than 70 per cent
and the church group more than 40 per cent.
The research design did not call for invisibility
of intent or content of the questionnaire; the question
naire was clearly labelled "Sexual Adjustment of Married
Women." In consequence of this unconcern for invisibility,
a respondent could have easily checked answers to corres
pond with the normative expectations of a reference group
of her choice or she could fabricate a sex life past and
present to her own specifications and in the process not
reveal in any way her own erotic behavior past or present.
It was partially in recognition of this possibility that
205
the groups were larger than required by the nature of the
samples and the kind of statistical evaluations to be used.
The study did not make allowances for the partici
pants' need to maintain self-respect. It seems likely that
the respondents would not only tend to screen out unfavor
able memories from the past but selectively to report the
past in terms of present experience and self-concepts.
The study made no effort to identify the partici
pants by childhood socioeconomic class; ordinality in the
sibship; structure, stability, and primary values in the
family of orientation; past and present styles of life;
and most especially history of and/or neurosis and near
psychosis in the here and now. The two groups should have
been matched on the first four and none in the fifth cate
gory should have been retained in the study.
To the extent that sexual adjustment in marriage
is global, those with relatively happy marriages would tend
to report their sex lives more favorably, and those with
relatively unhappy marriages would tend to report their sex
lives more unfavorably. It is a matter of clinical obser
vation that for women, particularly, one of the first signs
of a worsening marital relationship is the decreasing fre
quency of their desire for coitus and the lessening of
206
their satisfaction in coitus. The study failed to ac
knowledge and allow for the halo about sex deriving from
past and present marital situations.
Comment on the Limitations
o f the S tudy
In consideration of the limitations of the study
as expressed and implied, the findings should be consid
ered as provisional subject to affirmation, modification
and/or negation in the process of replication. They are,
notwithstanding, of value in themselves and suggestive of
the directions and content of future research.
Implications for Future Research
Implicit to the sexual revolution in America is the
notion that coitus is a physical activity offering pleasure
to the partners with little or no personal involvement or
stability of the relationship. But what can be antici
pated for the future sexual adjustment, in marriage, of the
parties to myriad sexual liaisons with passers by? This
study found a relatively conservative premarital erotic
behavior on the part of those presently enjoying good sex
in marriage.
What is the pattern of premarital erotic behavior
that is most strongly associated with favorable attitudes
207
toward sex in marriage?
Although the findings of this study were not sup
portive of the experimental hypotheses on the developmental
association of favorable attitudes toward sex in marriage
and conformity to the liberal code, per se, or conformity
to the conservative code, per se, they did suggest patterns
of erotic behavior within the categories of both liberal
and conservative behavior that may well be developmental.
The findings were supportive in some degree of the
experimental hypotheses on the developmental association
of favorable attitudes toward sex in marriage and conform
ity to the moral code and to the dicta of sequentiality.
The present study tested the relationships between
sexual adjustment in marriage and patterns of premarital
erotic behavior. Future research should be directed toward
identifying the assumed patterns of premarital erotic be
havior that did in fact obtain for the adjusted and the un
adjusted. Several suggestions follow.
Work should be done on the function of reference
groups and the self as reference object in the determina
tion of patterns of premarital erotic behavior for the
adjusted and the unadjusted. Especially in light of the
changing structure of authority in the family, church, and
208
community; patterns of premarital erotic behavior in con
gruence with the normative expectations of peer groups
should be identified and evaluated for their relationships
with sexual adjustment in marriage.
Parallel research should be done in equally sharp
focus on patterns of premarital erotic behavior in congru
ence with the normative expectations of the family, church,
and community to determine what relationship they have with
sexual adjustment in marriage.
The third piece of research suggested by the find
ings of this study should be on an evaluation of the rela
tionship between patterns of permarital erotic behavior in
congruence with the normative expectations of the self as
reference object and sexual adjustment in marriage; e.g.,
to what extent is good sex in marriage for the woman
related to her being true to the voice of her own con
science in matters of physical involvement in dating.
The findings of this, a postdictive study, indicate
the need for a predictive study or a set of predictive
studies in the genre of Burgess and Wallin's that would
follow the study group from the beginning of dating into
the early years of marriage. Such a longitudinal study
involving a large number of participants, the financial
assistance of a research grant, and the statistical evalua
tions made possible in modern data processing should pro
vide definitive answers to the question, "What is the
relationship between women's attitudes toward sex in mar
riage and their erotic behavior in dating before mar
riage? "
B I B L I O G R A P H Y
210
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books
Beauvoir, Simone de. The Second Sex. New York:
Bantam Books, Inc., 1961.
Burgess, Ernest W. , and Leonard S. Cottrell. Predict
ing Success or Failure in Marriage. New York:
Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1939.
Burgess, Ernest W. , Harvey J. Locke, and Mary Margaret
Thornes. The Family from Institution to Courtship.
New York: American Book Company, 1963.
Burgess, Ernest W. and Paul Wallin. Engagement and
Marriage. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company,
1953.
Davis, Katharine B. Factors in the Sex Life of
Twenty-two Hundred Women. New York: Harper and
Brothers, 1929.
Dickinson, Robert Latou and Lura Beam. A Thousand
Marriages. Baltimore: The Williams and Wilkins
Company, 1931.
Duvall, Evelyn M. and Reuben Hill. When You Marry.
Boston: D. C. Heath and Company, 1953.
Edwards, Allen L. The Technique of Attitude Scale
Construction. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts,
Inc., 1957.
Ehrmann, Winston. Premarital Dating Behavior. New
York: Henry Holt and Company, Inc., 1959.
212
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Ellis, Albert and Albert Abarbanel (eds.). "Frigid
ity," in The Encyclopedia of Sexual Behavior.
New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc., 1961.
Festinger, Leon and Daniel Katz (eds.). Research
Methods in the Social Sciences. New York: The
Dryden Press, 1953.
Guilford, Joy Paul. Psychometric Methods. New York:
McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1954.
_________. Fundamental Statistics in Psychology and
Education. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company,
Inc., 1950.
Hamilton, Gilbert V. A Research in Marriage. New
York: Albert and Charles Boni, 1929.
Hill, Reuben and Roy H. Rodgers. "The Developmental
Approach," in Handbook on Marriage and the Family.
Ch. IV. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1964.
Kinsey, Alfred C., Wardell E. Pomeroy, Clyde E. Mar
tin, and Paul E. Gebhard. Sexual Behavior in the
Human Female. Philadelphia: W. E. Saunders Com
pany, 1953.
Kirkendall, Lester A. Premarital Intercourse and
Interpersonal Relationships. New York: Julian
Press, 1961.
Locke, Harvey J. Predicting Adjustment in Marriage:
A Comparison of a Divorced and a Happily Married
Group. New York: Henry Holt and Company, Inc.,
1951.
Masters, W. H. and V. E. Johnson. "The Anatomy of the
Female Orgasm," in The Encyclopedia of Sexual Be
havior . Edited by Albert Ellis and Albert Abar
banel. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1961. Pp. 788-
7 93 .
20. Peterson, James A. Education for Marriage. New York:
Charles Scribner's Sons, 1965.
213
21. Reiss, Ira L. Premarital Sexual Standards in Amer
ica . Glencoe, 111.: The Free Press, 1960.
22. Riley, Matilda White. Sociological Research: A Case
Approach. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World,
Inc., 1963.
23. Siegel, Sidney. Nonparametric Statistics for the
Behavioral Sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company, 1956.
24. Sussman, Marvin B. Sourcebook in Marriage and the
Family. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1963.
25. Stouffer, Samuel A. Social Research to Test Ideas.
New York: The Free Press of Glencoe, 1962.
26. Terman, Lewis W., et al. Psychological Factors in
Marital Happiness. New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company, Inc., 1938.
27. Thurstone, Louis Leon and E. J. Chave. The Measure
ment of Attitude. Chicago: The University of
Chicago Press, 1929.
28. Timasheff, Nicholas S. Sociological Theory: Its
Nature and Growth. New York: Random House, 1957.
29. Walker, Helen M. and Joseph Lev. Statistical Infer
ence . New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.,
1953 .
30. Waller, Willard and Reuben Hill. The Family: A Dynam
ic Interpretation. New York: Holt, Rinehart and
Winston, Inc., 1951.
31. Winch, Robert F. The Modern Family. New York: Henry
Holt and Company, 1952.
32. Zetterberg, Hans L. On Theory and Verification in
Sociology. New York: The Tressler Press, 1954.
214
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
Articles and Periodicals
Ehrmann, Winston. "Influence of Comparative Social
Class of Companion upon Premarital Heterosexual
Behavior," Marriage and Family Living, XVII
(February, 1955), 22.
Hill, Reuben and Donald A. Hansen. "The Identifica
tion of Conceptual Frameworks Utilized in Family
Studies," Marriage and Family Living, XXII (Novem
ber, 1960), 299-311.
Unpublished Materials
Hill, Reuben. "Schema Depicting Stages of Family
Development and Accompanying Changes in Family
Structure and Functioning." Los Angeles, 1962.
(Mimeographed.)
Other Sources
Computer Sciences Laboratory. "Unsupported Research
Grant Number 269." Los Angeles: University of
Southern California.
University of Southern California, Los Angeles,
California. Personal interview with William R.
Larson, Associate Professor of Public Administra
tion, University of Southern California, Los
Angeles, California. Fall, 1963.
_________. Personal interview with James A. Peterson,
Chairman, Department of Sociology and Anthropolo
gy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles,
California. Summer, 1963.
A P P E N D I C E S
215
APPENDIX A
INSTRUCTIONS TO CLINICIANS ASSISTING
IN GATHERING INFORMATION
FOR THE STUDY
216
APPENDIX A
INSTRUCTIONS TO CLINICIANS ASSISTING
IN GATHERING INFORMATION
FOR THE STUDY
Sexual Adjustment in Marriage
Information for Those Who Are Helping
in the Collection of Data
This is a developmental study of the relationship
of women's experiences in dating and courtship before mar
riage (the independent variable) and their attitude toward
sex after marriage (the dependent variable).
To the end of isolating and evaluating the rela
tionship of the independent and dependent variables, it is
essential to eliminate the effects of other variables;
e.g., please screen your clients-patients so that those who
are asked to participate in the study satisfy these cri
teria :
1. Female
217 ....
2. 20 to 50 years of age
3. Caucasian (not including Mexican-Araerican)
4. Protestant religious preference (not including
fundamentalists or members of other-worldly
sects)
5. High school graduate at least
6. Husband in white collar occupation
7. Minor children in the home
8. Married (not including separation or divorce in
process).
In as much as the research involves the comparison
of two groups, (1) sexually well-adjusted and (2) sexually
poorly adjusted, your part of the study, please make a
special effort whenever possible to get the most sexually
poorly adjusted to participate.
In any event, do what you can to select partici
pants on the basis of the criteria; I know that in some
cases it will be either impracticable if not impossible;
whatever you cannot do within reason considering the
realities of your work load, I will do by inspection of
the completed forms.
Thank you for helping.
APPENDIX B
INSTRUCTIONS TO PARTICIPANTS
IN THE STUDY
219
APPENDIX B
INSTRUCTIONS TO PARTICIPANTS
IN THE STUDY
A Questionnaire for Marriage Counseling
Introduction
The results of this study on sexual adjustment in
marriage will be helpful to marriage counselors and others
in the helping professions who work with people who are
trying to improve their marriages.
The study is based on a questionnaire that has sev
eral sets of questions. In answering the individual ques
tions in each set, please be as matter-of-fact as possible.
Answer the questions according to what your experiences
actually were and not according to what you think they
should have been. Keep in mind that in a study such as
this, there are no "right" or "wrong" answers.
When you finish, take the time to look the form
220
over and make any necessary changes.
Thank you for participating in the study.
APPENDIX C
HISTORY OF DATING AND COURTSHIP
222
APPENDIX C
HISTORY OF DATING AND COURTSHIP
Part I
How old were you when you went on your first real date
without adult supervision? _____
How old were you when you went steady for the first
time with a regular dating partner? _____
How many people would you say you dated or went with
altogether before you married? _____ _
How many of these people did you go steady with? _____
How old were you when you first had an agreement or
private understanding to marry? _____
How old were you when you first became engaged to
marry? _____
Note: The next seven questions refer to your first
marriage if you have been married more than once and to
your present marriage if you have been married only
once.
224
7. How many times were you engaged before you were mar
ried? _____
8. How many months did you know your spouse before you
were married? _____
9. How many months were you engaged to your spouse before
you were married? _____
10. How old were you when you were married? _____
11. How would you say your parents or guardians felt about
your marriage? _____
Completely disapproved _____; somewhat disapproved ;
did not express their feelings or just so-so _____;
somewhat approved _____; completely approved .
12. How would you say your closest friends felt about
your marriage?
Completely disapproved ____ ; somewhat disapproved ;
did not express their feelings or just so-so _____;
somewhat approved ____ ; completely approved .
13. People usually have more than one good reason for the
really important things they do. Keeping this in
mind, please list your reasons for getting married.
APPENDIX D
FINDINGS ON THE HISTORY OF
DATING AND COURTSHIP
225
APPENDIX D
FINDINGS ON THE HISTORY OF
DATING AND COURTSHIP
This portion of the appendix presents findings on
the answers to the questions of Part I of the question
naire which were concerned with a selection of facts on
dating and courtship before marriage. The findings are
supportive of but not directly applicable to the primary
work of the study.
Part I
1. "How old were you when you went on your first
real date without adult supervision?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
age of first real date.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 54.
226
227
TABLE 54
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO AGE AT FIRST REAL DATE
i fourteen years i fifteen years* Totals
Adjusted 18 31 49
Unadjusted 21 29 50
Totals 3 9 60 99
X2 = 0.284; df = 1; P <.75 >.50
*The age at first real date was dichotomized between 14 and
15 years in nominal correspondence with the end of junior
high school and the beginning of senior high school.
The chi-square of 0.284 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P beyond the .75 level. It does
not permit us to reject the hypothesis of no difference.
The cellular distribution does, however, indicate a weak
association of sexual adjustment in marriage and being
older at the time of the first real date.
2. "How old were you when you first went steady
with a regular dating partner?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
age of first going steady.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
228
shown in Table 55.
TABLE 5 5
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO AGE OF FIRST GOING STEADY
£ 14 years 15-17 years ^ 18 years* Totals
Adjusted 05 22 20 47
Unadjusted 13 21 13 47
Totals 18 43 33 94
2
X = 5.063 7; df = 2; P < .10 >.05
*The subdivisions of the age of first
ly correspond to the years of junior
years of senior high school, and the
school.
going steady nominal-
high school, the
years after high
The chi-square of 5.0637 is significant beyond the
.10 level. It permits us to reject the hypothesis and
state that there was a significant difference between the
adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the age of
first going steady. The cellular distribution indicates a
weak association of sexual adjustment in marriage and being
older at the time of first going steady.
3. "How many people would you say you dated or
went with altogether before you were married?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
229
between the adjusted and tbe unadjusted with respect to the
number of people dated altogether before marriage.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 56.
TABLE 56
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
DATED ALTOGETHER
i 5 6 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 > 31 Totals
Adjusted 5 17 13 7 5 47
Unadjusted 5 14 6 9 15 49
Totals 10 31 19 16 20 96
X2 = 8.0811; df =
1 d)
i
i • '
i ^
I
<.10 > .05
The chi-square of 8.0811 with four degrees of free
dom is significant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis and state that there was a signifi
cant difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted
with respect to the number of people dated altogether be
fore marriage. The cellular distribution indicates a weak
association of sexual adjustment in marriage and having
dated a smaller number of different people altogether.
4. "How many of these people did you go steady
230
with?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
number of people they went steady with.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 57.
TABLE 57
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
GONE STEADY WITH
1 2 3 4 i5 Totals
Adjusted 12 12 6 8 4 42
Unadjusted 8 11 10 5 12 46
Totals 20 23 16 13 16 88
X2 = 4.9851; df = 4; P
< .
25 >.10
The chi-square of 4.9851 is not significant with P
beyond the .25 level. Although there is a strong indica
tion of independence, tive finding does not permit us to
reject the hypothesis. The cellular distribution does,
however, indicate a weak association of sexual adjustment
in marriage and having gone steady with a smaller number of
different people altogether.
231
5. "How old were you when you first had an agree
ment or private understanding to get married?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
age of informal plans to marry.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 58.
TABLE 58
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE AGE OF FIRST
AGREEMENT TO MARRY
14 to 17 18 to 21 22 to 27* Totals
years years years
Adjusted 14 23 13 50
Unadjusted 18 27 5 50
Totals 32 50 18 100
2
X = 4.3756; df = 2; P < .25 > .10
*14 to 17 years, inclusive, nominally corresponds to
years of high school; 18 to 21, inclusive, the years
college; and 22 to 27, the years beyond college.
the
of
The chi-square of 4.37 56 with two degrees of free
dom is not significant with P beyond the .25 level. Al
though there is a strong indication of independence, the
232
finding does not permit us to reject the hypothesis. The
cellular distribution does, however, indicate a weak asso
ciation of sexual adjustment in marriage and having been
older at the time of the first informal plans to marry.
6. "How old were you when you first became for
mally engaged?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
age of first engagement to marry.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 59.
TABLE 5 9
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE AGE OF FIRST FORMAL
ENGAGEMENT TO MARRY
15 to 17
years
18 to 20
years
21 to 23
years
24 to 31
years
Totals
Adjusted 5 19 14 7 45
Unadjusted 6 22 12 6 46
Totals 11 41 26 13 91
X2 = 0.5303; df = 3; P <.95 >.90
The chi-square of 0.5303 with three degrees of
freedom is not significant with P beyond the .95 level. It
does not permit us to reject the hypothesis. The cellular
distribution does, however, indicate a weak association of
sexual adjustment in marriage and having been older at the
time of the first formal engagement to marry.
7. "How many times were you engaged before you
were married?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
total number of engagements before the first marriage.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 60.
TABLE 60
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO NUMBER OF ENGAGEMENTS
1 2 or 3 Totals
Adjusted 33 9 42
Unadjusted 28 16 44
Totals 61 25 86
X2 = 2.3246; df = 1; P <.25 >.10
The chi-square of 2.3246 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P beyond the .25 level. Although
there is a strong indication of independence, the finding
does not permit us to reject the hypothesis. The cellular
distribution does, however, indicate a weak association of
sexual adjustment in marriage and having had a smaller
number of engagements before the first marriage.
8. "How long did you know your spouse before you
were married?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
length of time the spouse was known before the first mar
riage .
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 61.
The chi-square of 2.3563 with four degrees of free
dom is not significant with P beyond the .75 level. It
does not permit us to reject the hypothesis. The cellular
distribution does, however, indicate a weak association of
sexual adjustment in marriage and having known the spouse
for a longer time before the first marriage.
9. "How long were you engaged before you were
married?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
235
TABLE 61
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE NUMBER OF MONTHS
THE SPOUSE WAS KNOWN BEFORE
THE FIRST MARRIAGE
< 12 13 to 24 25 to 36 37 to 48 * 49 Totals
Adjusted 17 12 9 5 7 50
Unadjusted 18 15 4 4 7 48
Totals 35 27 13 9 14 98
X2 = 2.3563; df = 4; P < .75 > .50
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
length of engagement before the first marriage.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 62.
The chi-square of 0.27 61 with one degree of freedom
is not significant with P beyond the .75 level. It does
not permit us to reject the hypothesis. The cellular dis
tribution does, however, indicate a weak association of
sexual adjustment in marriage and having had shorter en
gagements before the first marriage.
10. "How old were you when you were married?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference!
i
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the!
j
. . ____ J
236
TABLE 62
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO NUMBER OF MONTHS OF
ENGAGEMENT BEFORE THE
FIRST MARRIAGE
< 6
months
> 7
months
Totals
Adjusted* 27 17 44
Unadjusted** 24 19 43
Totals 51 36 87
X2 = 0.2761; df
= 1?
P < .75 > .50
*Modal category for the adjusted was four months.
**Modal category for the unadjusted was 1 and 2 months
•
age at first marriage.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 63.
The chi-square of 3.1253 with two degrees of free
dom is not significant with P beyond the .75 level. It
does not permit us to reject the hypothesis. The cellular
distribution fails to indicate an association of sexual
adjustment in marriage and age at time of first marriage.
11. "How did your parents or guardians feel about
your marriage?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference;
237
TABLE 63
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO AGE AT FIRST MARRIAGE
15 to 18 19 to 23
years years
24 to 32*
years
Totals
Adjusted** 6 37 7 50
Unadjusted*** 10 28 11 49
Totals 16 65 18 99
X2 = 3.1253; df =
2; P < .75 > .50
*Column designations were determined by the distribution
of responses and the requirements of statistical evalu-
ation.
**Modal category for the adjusted was 21 years.
***Modal category for the unadjusted was 21 years.
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
parents' or guardians' feelings about the first marriage.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 64.
The chi-square of 3.83 with three degrees of free
dom is not significant with P beyond the .50 level. It
does not permit us to reject the hypothesis. The cellular
distribution does, however, indicate a weal association of
sexual adjustment in marriage and having had the parents'
or guardians' approval of the first marriage.
238
TABLE 64
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO PARENTS' OR GUARDIANS'
ATTITUDE TOWARD THE FIRST MARRIAGE
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 2 5 3 12 28 50
Unadjusted 8 6 7 13 14 48
Totals 10 11 10 25 42 98
X2 = 3.83? df = 3; P <.50 > .30
*In the scale used to
or guardians, 1 (one)
5 (five) represented
indicate the attitude
represented complete
complete approval.
of the parents
disapproval and
12. "How did your closest friends feel about your
marriage?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
closest friends' feelings about the first marriage.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 65.
The chi-square of 5.7400 with two degrees of free
dom is significant beyond the .10 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis and state that there was a signifi
cant difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted
TABLE 65
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO FRIENDS' ATTITUDE
TOWARD THE FIRST MARRIAGE
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 0 1 7 8 32 48
Unadjusted 1 7 8 12 21 49
Totals 1 8 15 20 53 97
X2 = 5.7400; df = 2; P <.10 >. 05
*In the scale used to indicate the attitude of
friends, 1 (one) represented complete approval
represented complete disapproval.
the closest
and 5 (five)
with respect to how the closest friends felt about the
first marriage. The cellular distribution indicates a
weak association of sexual adjustment in marriage and
having had the closest friends' approval of the first
marriage.
APPENDIX E
QUESTIONS ON PERSONAL BACKGROUND USED FOR
MATCHING THE ADJUSTED AND
THE UNADJUSTED
240
APPENDIX E
QUESTIONS ON PERSONAL BACKGROUND USED FOR
MATCHING THE ADJUSTED AND
THE UNADJUSTED
Part II
14. How old are you? _____ _
15. What is your race? Caucasian ______? Negro _;
Oriental _____ .
16. What is your religious preference? ___________________
How much do you participate in the religious life of
your church? None ______; little ______; some ;
much _____ very much ________.
17. What was the highest grade you completed in school?
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 16+
18. What is your husband's present occupation or the
occupation in which he has had the most experience?
19. What is your husband's income from all sources per
241
year? ___________
How many minor children do you have— either born
you or adopted? _____
APPENDIX F
FINDINGS ON PERSONAL BACKGROUND USED FOR
MATCHING THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED
243
APPENDIX F
FINDINGS ON PERSONAL BACKGROUND USED FOR
MATCHING THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED
This portion of the appendix presents findings on
the answers to the questions of Part II of the question
naire which were concerned with items of personal back
ground necessary for matching the two groups of women.
Three of the seven control variables lent themselves to
quantification and statistical evaluation; they are numbers
14, 17, and 20.
Part II
14. "How old are you?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
ages at the time of the study.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 66.
244
245
TABLE 66
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO PRESENT AGE
<24 25 to 30
Years
31 to 35 36 to 40 ^ 41
Totals
Adjusted 6 14 11 10 9 50
Unadjusted •7 8 12 15 8 50
Totals 13 22 33 25 17 100
X2 = 2.8156; df = 4;
i
A
-J
O
> .50
The chi-square of 2.8156 with four degrees of free
dom is not significant with P beyond the .70 level. It
does not permit us to reject the hypothesis. The cellular
distribution does, however, indicate a weah association of
sexual adjustment in marriage and being younger at the time
of the study.
17. "How far did you go in school?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to how
far they went in school.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 67.
The chi-square of 8.1696 with five degrees of
246
TABLE 67
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO LEVEL OF EDUCATION
12 13
Grade
14 15 16 >16
Totals
Adjusted 10 8 11 4 9 7 49
Unadjusted 19 4 4 6 10 5 48
Totals 29 12 15 10 19 12 97
X2 = 8.1696; df = 5; P <.25 >.10
freedom is not significant with P beyond the .25 level.
Although there is a strong indication of independence, it
does not permit us to reject the hypothesis. The cellular
distribution does, however, indicate a weah association of
sexual adjustment in marriage and a higher level of educa
tion.
20. "How many natural-born or legally adopted
children live with you in the home?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
number of children they had in the home.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 68.
247
TABLE 68
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE NUMBER OF MINOR
CHILDREN IN THE HOME
Number of
1 2
Minor Children
3 ^4 Totals
Adjusted 7 27 15 1 50
Unadjusted 9 24 7 9 49
Totals 16 51 22 10 99
X2 = 9.7265; df = 3; P <.05 > .02
The chi-square of 9.7265 with three degrees of
freedom is significant beyond the .05 level. It permits us
to reject the hypothesis and state that there is a signifi
cant difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted
with respect to the number of children they had in the
home. The cellular distribution indicates a weak associa
tion of sexual adjustment and having fewer children in the
home.
APPENDIX G
QUESTIONS ON PERSONAL BACKGROUND USED IN
DIFFERENTIATING THE ADJUSTED FROM
THE UNADJUSTED
248
APPENDIX G
QUESTIONS ON PERSONAL BACKGROUND USED IN
DIFFERENTIATING THE ADJUSTED FROM
THE UNADJUSTED
Part II
21. Keeping in mind the fact that few if any human rela
tionships are all that we would like them to be, how
satisfying would you say your marriage is?
Completely unsatisfying ______; somewhat unsatisfying
______; just so-so ______; somewhat satisfying ______;
completely satisfying _____ .
22. Continuing to think about the kind of relationship you
have with your spouse, how lasting do you think your
marriage will be?
Completely sure it will not last ______; somewhat sure
it will not last ; undecided or not able to
say ______; somewhat sure it will last ______• complete
ly sure it will last .
249 - ..... .....
APPENDIX H
FINDINGS ON PERSONAL BACKGROUND USED IN
DIFFERENTIATING THE ADJUSTED FROM
THE UNADJUSTED
250
APPENDIX H
FINDINGS ON PERSONAL BACKGROUND USED IN
DIFFERENTIATING THE ADJUSTED FROM
THE UNADJUSTED
This portion of the appendix presents findings on
the answers to the questions of Part II of the question
naire which were concerned with items of personal back
ground used in differentiating the adjusted from the un
adjusted .
Part II
21. "Keeping in mind the fact that few if any
human relationships are all that we would like
them to be, how satisfying would you say your
marriage is?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
satisfaction with the marriage.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
251...... :
252
shown in Table 69.
TABLE 69
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO MARITAL SATISFACTION
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 0 0 1 11 38 50
Unadjusted 6 18 2 22 2 50
Totals 6 18 3 33 40 100
X2 = 59.2148; df = 2; P <.01
*In the scale
satisfaction
and 5 (five)
used to indicate the degrees of marital
, 1 (one) represented completely unsatisfying
represented completely satisfying.
The chi-square of 59.2148 with two degrees of free
dom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to satisfaction with marriage.
The distribution of frequencies in the matrix indi
cates a strong association of adjustment and satisfaction
with the marriage.
2. "Continuing to think about the kind of rela
tionship you have with your spouse, how
253
lasting do you think your marriage will be?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted with respect to the expectation of the
durability of the marriage.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 70.
TABLE 70
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO EXPECTATION OF
MARITAL DURABILITY
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 0 0 0 5 45 50
Unadjusted •.■ ■ . 5. , .................. 4 -V. 13 14 14 50
Totals 5 4 13 19 59 100
X2 = 42.5513; df = 2; P <.01
*In the scale used to indicate the expectations of marital
durability, 1 (one) represented complete conviction that
the marriage would not last and 5 (five) represented com
plete conviction that the marriage would last.
The chi-square of 42.5513 with two degrees of free
dom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to the expectation of marital durability. The
distribution of frequencies in the matrix indicates a mod
erate association of adjustment and the expectation that
the marriage will last.
APPENDIX I
QUESTIONS ON THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
THE FACTORS OF AFFECTION, COUPLE
STATUS, AND EROTIC BEHAVIOR
IN DATING BEFORE MARRIAGE
255
APPENDIX I
QUESTIONS ON THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
THE FACTORS OF AFFECTION, COUPLE
STATUS, AND EROTIC BEHAVIOR
IN DATING BEFORE MARRIAGE
Part III
As mentioned in the introduction, the purpose of
this study is to show how women's experiences in dating"'’
and courtship before marriage are related to their sexual
adjustment after marriage. In keeping with this purpose,
your dating experiences are the subject of this portion of
the questionnaire. Your dating experiences are to be con
sidered in terms of the interaction of your affection for
dating partners, your couple feeling or couple status with
dating partners, and your physical intimacy with dating
The word "dating" should be understood to mean
either dating or courtship according to the situation in
which it is used.
256
257
partners.
An example of one of the questions and its answer
follows:
37. What was the highest couple status you ever had when
you were in love? _____
See the hey below for possible answers to this
question.
Key to degrees of couple status with dating part
ners :
1— playing the field— little or no couple status
2— going steadily— repeatedly dating the same per
son, but not limited to dating just that
' person
3— going steady— repeatedly dating the same person,
and limited to dating just that person
4— being engaged or having a private understanding
to marry--complete personal and social iden
tification with the partner
As you think back to the time before you were mar
ried, it is quite likely that you will remember that "the
highest couple status you ever had when you were in love"
was "being engaged." If this were, in fact, true for you,
you would put a "4" in the blank.
All the questions in this part of the questionnaire
are to be answered in the same manner— putting the approp
riate numbers in the blanks.
259
The first set of questions is concerned with your
dating experiences in terms of the relationship between
your affection for dating partners and your couple status
with dating partners.
Key to degrees of affection for dating partners:
1— did not like at all
2— liked a little
3— liked a lot
4— in love with
23. What did you consider an appropriate amount of feeling
when you were engaged or had a private understanding
to marry? ____ .
24. What was your usual feeling when you were engaged or
had a private understanding to marry? ______
25. What was the most feeling you ever had when you were
engaged or had a private understanding to marry? ______
26. What did you consider an appropriate amount of feeling
when you were playing the field? __
27. What was your usual feeling when you were playing the
field? _____
28. What was the most feeling you ever had when you were
playing the field? ______
260
29. What did you consider an appropriate amount of feeling
when you were going steady? ______
30. What was your usual feeling when you were going
steady? ______
31. What was the most feeling you ever had when you were
going steady? ______
32. What did you consider an appropriate amount of feeling
when you were going steadily? ______
33. What was your usual feeling when you were going
steadily? _____
34. What was the most feeling you ever had when you were
going steadily? ______
The next set of questions is concerned with your
dating experiences in terms of the relationship between
your couple status with dating partners and your affection
for dating partners.
Key to degrees of couple status with dating part
ners:
1— playing the field— little or no couple
status
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
261
2— going steadily— repeatedly dating the same
person, but not limited to dating just
that person
3— going steady— repeatedly dating the same
person, and limited to dating just that
person
4— being engaged or having a private under
standing to marry— complete personal
and social identification with the
partner
What did you consider an appropriate couple status
when you were in love? _____
What was your usual couple status when you were in
love? '
What was the highest couple status you ever had when
you were in love? _____
What did you consider an appropriate status when you
did not like dating partners at all? _____
What was your usual couple status when you did not
like dating partners at all? ______
What was the highest couple status you ever had when
you did not like a dating partner at all? _____
262
41. What did you consider an appropriate couple status
when you liked dating partners a lot? ______
42. What was your usual couple status when you liked
dating partners a lot? _____
43. What was the highest couple status you ever had when
you liked a dating partner a lot? ______
44. What did you consider an appropriate couple status
when you liked dating partners a little? ______
45. What was your usual couple status when you liked
dating partners a little? ______
46. What was the highest couple status you ever had when
you liked a dating partner a little? ______
The next set of questions is concerned with your
dating experiences in terms of the relationship between
your physical intimacy with dating partners and your affec
tion for dating partners.
Key to degrees of physical intimacy with dating
partners:
1— no contact or hugging and kissing only
2— light petting
3— heavy petting
4— sexual intercourse
263
47. What did you consider an appropriate degree of physi
cal intimacy when you liked dating partners a
little? _____
48. How far did you usually go when you liked dating
partners a little? ______
49. What was the farthest you ever went when you liked a
dating partner a little? ______
50. What did you consider an appropriate degree of physi
cal intimacy when you were in love with dating
partners? ______
51. How far did you usually go when you were in love with
dating partners? ______
52. What was the farthest you ever went when you were in
love with a dating partner? ______
53. What did you consider an appropriate degree of physi
cal intimacy when you did not like dating partners at
all? ______
54. How far did you usually go when you did not like
dating partners at all? ______
55. What was the farthest you ever went when you did not
like a dating partner at all? ______
264
56. What did you consider an appropriate degree of physi
cal intimacy when you liked dating partners a lot?
57. How far did you usually go when you liked dating
partners a lot? _____
58. What was the farthest you ever went when you liked a
dating partner a lot? _____
The next set of questions is concerned with your
dating experiences in terms of the relationship between
your physical intimacy with dating partners and your couple
status with dating partners.
Key to degrees of physical activity with dating
partners:
1— no contact or hugging and kissing only
2— light petting
3— heavy petting
4— sexual intercourse
59. What did you consider an appropriate degree of physi
cal intimacy when you were engaged or had a private
understanding to marry? _____
265
60. How far did you usually go when you were engaged or
had a private understanding to marry? ______
61. What was the farthest you ever went when you were
engaged or had a private understanding to marry? _____
62. What did you consider an appropriate degree of physi
cal intimacy when you were going steady? ______
63. How far did you usually go when you were going
steady? ______
64. What was the farthest you ever went when you were
going steady? ______
65. What did you consider an appropriate degree of physi
cal intimacy when you were playing the field?
66. How far did you usually go when you were playing the
field? ______
67. What was the farthest you ever went when you were
playing the field? ______
68. What did you consider an appropriate degree of physi
cal intimacy when you were going steadily? ______
69. How far did you usually go when you were going
steadily? ______
70. What was the farthest you ever went when you were
going steadily? ______
APPENDIX J
QUESTIONS FROM THE LITERATURE USED :
DIFFERENTIATING THE ADJUSTED FROM
THE UNADJUSTED
APPENDIX J
71.
72.
QUESTIONS FROM THE LITERATURE USED IN
DIFFERENTIATING THE ADJUSTED FROM
THE UNADJUSTED
Part IV
How much does fear of pregnancy interfere with your
enjoyment of sexual intercourse with your spouse?
(18:380)
Completely _____ • very much _____ • some ______; very
little ______; not at all ______.
How much release or satisfaction do you usually get
from sexual intercourse with your spouse? (18:381)
None at all ______; very little ; some ;
very much ; complete ______.
267
73 .
74.
75.
76.
77.
268
In sexual intercourse with your spouse, do you experi
ence an orgasm; i.e., a climax of intense feeling
followed by quietness and a feeling of relief? (4:670)
Never ______; rarely ; sometimes ; usually
_____ ; always ______ .
About how many times per month did you have sexual
intercourse with your spouse during the last year?
______ (4:661)
About how many times per month would you prefer to
have sexual intercourse with your spouse? ______ (4:
661)
Do you refuse to have sexual intercourse when your
spouse desires it? (18:381)
Very frequently _____ ; frequently _______; some
times ______; rarely ______; never _____.
Do you experience a desire for sexual intercourse with
someone other than your spouse? (18:381)
Very frequently _____ ; frequently _______; some
times ______; rarely ______; never _____.
269
78. How many people other than your spouse(s) have you had
sexual intercourse with during this or any previous
marriage(s)? (18:381)
None ______; one ; two to five ______; six to
ten ; more than ten .
APPENDIX K
FINDINGS ON THE QUESTIONS FROM THE
LITERATURE USED IN DIFFERENTIATING
THE ADJUSTED FROM THE UNADJUSTED
270
APPENDIX K
FINDINGS ON THE QUESTIONS FROM THE
LITERATURE USED IN DIFFERENTIATING
THE ADJUSTED FROM THE UNADJUSTED
This portion of the appendix presents findings on
the answers to the questions of Part IV of the question
naire which consists of eight questions from the litera
ture providing seven criteria for the measurement of sexual
adjustment in marriage. These seven criteria considered as
a set provided the study's primary criterion of sexual ad
justment in marriage and concomitantly the ultimate ration
ale for the composition of the adjusted and the unadjusted
groups.
Part IV
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to the Factors
of Sexual Adjustment Considered
Individually . ;
71. "How much does fear of pregnancy interfere
271
272
with your enjoyment of sexual intercourse with
your spouse?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
fear of pregnancy interfering with their enjoyment of
coitus with their husbands.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 71.
The chi-square of 12.8877 with three degrees of
freedom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits us
to reject the hypothesis and state that there is a signifi
cant difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted
with respect to the extent to which fear of pregnancy inter
feres with the enjoyment of intercourse with the women's
spouses. The distribution of frequencies in the matrix
indicates a weak association between adjustment and less
fear of pregnancy.
72. "How much release or satisfaction do you
Usually get from sexual intercourse with your
spouse?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
amount of release or satisfaction obtained from intercourse
273
TABLE 71
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE
FEAR OF PREGNANCY INTERFERES WITH
THE ENJOYMENT OF COITUS
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 00 00 05 17 28 50
Unadjusted 02 08 08 12 20 50
Totals 02 08 13 29 48 100
X2 = 12.8877 ; df = 3; PC.01
x = 4.460; x _ . = 3.800
adj unadj
SD . = 0.670; SD _. = 1.233
adj unad^
Note: Columns one and two combined for statistical
evaluation.
*The larger the scale value the less the interference with
coital enjoyment. —
274
with the spouse.
The comparison used in testing this hypothesis is
shown in Table 72.
The chi-square of 53.8697 with three degrees of
freedom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits
us to reject the hypothesis and state that there is a sig
nificant difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted
with respect to release or satisfaction obtained from
coitus with the spouses. The distribution of frequencies
in the matrix indicates a moderate association of adjust
ment and more satisfaction from coitus with the spouses.
73. "In sexual intercourse with your spouse, do
you experience an orgasm; i.e., a climax of
intense feeling followed by quietness and a
feeling of relief?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
frequency of orgasm in coitus with the spouses.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 73.
The chi-square of 44.4062 with three degrees of
freedom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits
us to reject the hypothesis and state that there is a
275
TABLE 72
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO COITAL SATISFACTION
IN MARRIAGE
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 00 00 00 22 28 50
Unadjusted 06 07 22 07 08 50
Totals 06 07 22 29 36 100
X2 = 53.8697? df = 3? P < .01
x = 4.560?
adj
x =
unad]
3 .080
SD ^ = 0.496?
ad j
SD .
unad}
= 1.181
Note: Columns one and two combined for statistical
evaluation.
*The larger the scale value, the greater the degree of
coital satisfaction.
276
TABLE 73
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE FREQUENCY OF
ORGASM IN MARITAL COITUS
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 00 00 01 36 13 50
Unadjusted 16 08 07 15 04 50
Totals 16 08 ' 08 51 17 100
X2 = 44.4062; df = 3; P < .01
x = 4.240; x , . =
adj unad;j
2.660
30^.= 0.472; SD
adj unadj
= 1.394
Note: Columns two and three combined for statistical
evaluation.
*The larger the scale value, the greater the frequency of
orgasm.
277
significant difference between the adjusted and the unad
justed with respect to the frequency of orgasm in coitus
with the spouses. The distribution of frequencies in the
matrix indicates a strong association of adjustment and
the greater frequency of orgasm in coitus with the spouses.
74. "On the average about how many times have you
had sexual intercourse per month during the
last year?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
frequency per month of sexual intercourse with the spouse
in the last year.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 74.
The chi-square of 3.382 with three degrees of free
dom is not significant— P beyond the .50 level. It does
not permit us to reject the hypothesis of no difference.
The distribution of frequencies in the matrix does, how
ever, indicate a weak association of adjustment and the
greater frequency of coitus per month with the spouse in
the past year.
75. "About how many times per month would you
prefer to have sexual intercourse?"
278
TABLE 74
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTUAL FREQUENCY
OF MARITAL COITUS PER MONTH
IN THE PAST YEAR
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 14 19 10 05 01 49
Unadjusted 19 12 09 03 03 46
Totals 33 31 19 08 04 95
X2 = 3.382; df = 3; P < .50 >.30
Note: Columns four and
evaluation.
five combined for statistical
*The larger the scale value,
frequency per month.
the greater the actual coital
279
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
preferred frequencies of coitus per month with the spouses.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 75.
The chi-square of 3.76 with three degrees of free
dom is not significant--? beyond the .50 level. It does
not permit us to reject the hypothesis of no difference.
The distribution of frequencies in the matrix does, how
ever, indicate a weak association of adjustment and the
greater preferred frequency of coitus per month with the
spouses.
76. "Do you refuse sexual intercourse when your
spouse desires it?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
refusal of coitus when the spouses wanted it.
The comparison used in testing this assumption in
shown in Table 76.
The chi-square of 11.1601 with two degrees of free
dom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
280
TABLE 75
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE PREFERRED FREQUENCY
OF MARITAL COITUS PER MONTH IN
THE PAST YEAR
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 08 23 13 03 02 49
Unadjusted 10 12 11 07 01
41**
Totals 18 35 24 10 03 90
X2 = 3.76; df = 3 ; P < .50 > .30
Note: Columns four and five combined for statistical
evaluation.
*The larger the scale value, the greater the preferred
coital frequency per month.
**Nine of the unadjusted chose not to answer this question.
281
TABLE 7 6
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE FREQUENCY OF DENIAL
OF COITUS IN MARRIAGE
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 00 01 09 31 09 50
Unadjusted 03 04 19 18 06 50
Totals 03 05 28 49 15 100
X2 = 11.1601; df = 2 ; P <.01
x _. = 3.960;
adj Xunadj
3 .400
SD . = 0.662;
ad 3
SD
unad3
= 1.000
Note: Columns one, two and three combined for statistical
evaluation.
*The larger the scale value, the less the frequency of
coital denial
282
respect to refusal of coitus when the spouse wants it.
The distribution of frequencies in the matrix indicates
a weak association of adjustment and the lesser frequency
of refusing coitus to the desiring spouse.
77. "Do you experience a desire for sexual inter
course with someone other than your spouse?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
frequency of desire for coitus with someone other than the
spouse.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 77.
The chi-square of 16.3057 with two degrees of free
dom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis between the adjusted and the unad
justed with respect to the frequency of desire of extra
marital coitus. The distribution of frequencies in the
matrix indicates a moderate association of adjustment and
the lesser frequency of desire for extramarital coitus.
78. "How many people other than your spouse have
you had sexual intercourse with during this or
any previous marriage?"
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
283
TABLE 77
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE FREQUENCY OF DESIRE
FOR EXTRAMARITAL INTERCOURSE
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 00 00 04 14 32 50
Unadjusted 04 05 12 12 17 50
Totals 04 05 16 26 49 100
X 2 = 16.3057; df = 2; P <.01
x . = 4.560; x = 3.660
ad3 unadj
SD = 0.637; SD = 1.259
adj unad]
Note: Columns one, two and three combined for statistical
evaluation.
*The larger the scale value, the less the frequency of
extramarital coital desire.
284
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
frequency of extramarital coitus.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 78.
The chi-square of 18.6286 with two degrees of
freedom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits
us to reject the hypothesis between the adjusted and the
unadjusted with respect to the frequency of extramarital
coitus. The distribution of frequencies in the matrix
indicates a moderate association of adjustment and the
lesser frequency of extramarital coitus.
Summary
In as much as the eight questions of Part IV pro
vided the prime criterion for differentiating the adjusted
from the unadjusted, the purpose of these statistical
evaluations was not to prove that the adjusted were differ
ent from the unadjusted but to describe the degree of dif
ference between the two groups. Only in response to two of
the questions were the adjusted not significantly different
from the unadjusted; the two were actual frequency and
preferred frequency of coitus per month in the past year.
When these two were combined as a meaure of sexual hunger
285
TABLE 78
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE FREQUENCY OF THE
EXPERIENCE OF EXTRAMARITAL
INTERCOURSE
1 2 3 4 5* Totals
Adjusted 00 00 00 06 44 50
Unadjusted 00 03 09 12 26 50
Totals 00 03 09 18 70 100
X 2 = 18.6286; df = 2 ; P < .01
X ■ . = 4.880;
adj \nad j
4.220
30^.= 0.325;
adj
SD , .
unad j
= 0.944
Note: Columns one, two, and three combined for statistical
evaluation.
*The larger the scale value, the less the frequency of
extramarital coital experience.
286
and sexual satiety, the differences between the two groups
were significant.
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to the Factors
of Sexual Adjustment Considered
Collectively
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to the
distribution of the collective scores of sexual adjustment
about the median of all such scores.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 79.
TABLE 79
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE
MEANS OF THE COLLECTIVE SCORES
OF SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT
Adj usted Unadjusted Totals
Above the median 45 01 46
Below the median 00 46 46
Totals 45 47 92
X2 = 85.40; df = 1
justed scores were
; P < . 01; (five
at the median)
adjusted and three unad-
The chi-square of 85.40 with one degree of freedom
287
is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to the distribution of the collective scores of
sexual adjustment about the median of all such scores.
The distribution of the frequencies in the matrix indicates
an almost complete association of adjustment and scores
above the median.
As in the preceding section treating of the scores
individually, the purpose was not to prove the fact of dif
ference but to describe the degree of difference.
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to the Means
of the Collective Scores of Sexual
Adjustment for Each of the Age
Groups in the Study
The comparison of these scores is shown in Table
80.
The table shows that the highest scores for the
adjusted are in the age categories 35 to 39 and 40 and
over. For the unadjusted the highest score was in the age
category 30 to 34. The lowest score for the adjusted was
in the age category 30 to 34. For the unadjusted the low
est score was in the age category 21 to 24.
288
TABLE 80
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE MEANS OF THE COLLECTIVE
SCORES OF SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR EACH
OF THE AGE GROUPS IN THE STUDY
Aqe Groups
Grand
40 &
Over
21-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 Mean
Adj usted 31.0 31.5 30.5 32.0 32.0 31.5
Unadj usted 22 .5 23.7 26.4 22.8 24.4 24.1
The highest score for any age category of the unad
justed was lower than the lowest for any age category of
the adjusted.
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to Sexual
Hunger, Satisfaction, and Satiety
The ratios of actual to preferred coitus per month
in the past year are shown in Table 81.
The scalar values of representative ratios are
shown in Table 82. The extremes of both sexual hunger and
sexual satiety were assigned a value of 1 (one) on the
scale; the minimum of sexual hunger and satiety, satisfac
tion with the frequency of coitus, was assigned a value of
5 (five) on the scale.
The distribution of the responses of the adjusted
289
TABLE 81
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THE RATIOS OF ACTUAL AND
PREFERRED FREQUENCIES OF COITUS
PER MONTH IN THE PAST YEAR
Adi usted Unadi usted
Sexual Satis Sexual Sexual Satis Sexual
Hunger faction Satiety Hunger faction Satiety
3/6 8/8 15/10
3/7 15/15 8/5
4/6 10/10 15/10
6/8 12/12
3/4 8/8
5/7 4/4
6/7 4/4
9/13 12/12
5/8 2/2
4/6 5/5
2/3 10/10
5/8 6/6
4/8 2/2
5/10 12/12
8/8
8/8
16/16
6/6
8/8
6/6
8/8
25/25
12/12
12/12
10/10
3/3
8/8
10/10
8/8
3/3
8/8
4/4
10/10
3/4 5/5 3/0
2/4 8/8 16/10
6/12 12/12 13/4
9/17 6/6 4/0
0/5 15/15 8/4
0/3 8/8 8/0
1/16 10/10 1/0
12/15 7/7 10/5
1/20 25/15
8/12 8/5
10/15 15/10
2/8 9/5
3/8 20/10
4/8 10/3
11/15 3/0
1/4 20/0
0/4 8/1
3/5 8/0
4/8 5/4
2/3 14/10
2/12 4/2
TABLE 81 (continued)
290
Sexually adj usted
hunger
= 14
N . ■
satis faction
= 33
N . • i
satiety
= 3
Xactual
—
7.7 times per month
Xpreferred
= 8.0 times per “month
Mod e
actual
=
8 times per month
Mode
preferred
—
8 times per month
Sexually unadj usted
hunger
= 21
satisfaction
=
8
N 4- • 4-
satiety
= 21
X
actual
= 7.3 times per month
Xpreferred
= 7.1 times per month
Mode
actual
=
8 times per month
Mode
preferred
=
0 and 4 times per month
291
TABLE 82
SCALE VALUES OF REPRESENTATIVE RATIOS OF ACTUAL
TO PREFERRED FREQUENCIES OF COITUS
PER MONTH IN THE PAST YEAR
1
Sexual
2
Satisfaction
3 4 5*
Sexual
Hunger
1/5
1/4
1/3 1/2
1/1
Sexual
Satiety
5/1 4/1
3/1
2/1
1/1
*The larger the scale
satisfaction with the
the past year.
value, the
frequency
greater the degree of
of coitus per month in
and the unadjusted in terms of frequencies for each of the
scalar values is shown in Table 83. In this context it is
important to note that each of the scalar values is repre
sentative of a portion of the continuum of satisfaction
with the frequency of coitus; for example, although 33 of
the adjusted indicated absolute satisfaction with coital
frequency, 41 fell into 5 (five) the category of nominal
satisfaction.
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to
Satisfaction with the
Frequency of Coitus
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
292
TABLE 83
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO SATISFACTION WITH THE
FREQUENCY OF COITUS IN MARRIAGE
Scalar Values Adj usted Unadj usted Totals
5 41 14 55
4 09 15 24
3 05 05
2 01 01
1 15 15
Totals 50 50 100
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
satisfaction with the frequency of coitus in marriage.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 84.
The chi-square of 30.0 with two degrees of free
dom is significant beyond the .01 level. It permits us to
reject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to satisfaction with the frequency of coitus in
marriage. The distribution of frequencies in the matrix
indicates a weak association of adjustment and sexual
hunger.
293
TABLE 84
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED WITH
RESPECT TO SATISFACTION WITH THE FREQUENCY
OF COITUS IN MARRIAGE
Sexual Sexual
Hunqer Satisfaction
Sexual
Satiety Totals
Adj usted 14 33 03 50
Unadjusted 21 08 21 50
Totals 35 41 24 100
X2 = 30.0; df = 2; P < . 01
Summary
Part IV consisted of a number of questions drawn
from the work of Burgess and Wallin and of Locke and con
firmed in the clinical practice of marriage counselors and
psychotherapists. The sum of the scale values checked for
each of the questions was the ultimate criterion for the
assignment of individual women to the adjusted and the un
adjusted groups.
It follows, then, that the purpose of the statisti
cal evaluations of Appendix K was not to establish the fact
that the two groups occupied different positions on the con
tinuum of sexual adjustment in marriage but, rather to de
fine the extent of separation of the two groups.
294
On the basis of the statistical evaluations of the
questions taken individually (numbers 74 and 75 were com
bined to provide one measure) and as a set, the evidence is
clear that the two groups were widely separated--signifi-
cantly different with respect to sexual adjustment in mar
riage. The findings justified the use of the questions for
selecting the members of the two groups.
APPENDIX L
RATING SCHEDULE USED BY INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
IN THE PREPARATION OF THE RESEARCHER'S
OWN SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT INVENTORY
FOR USE IN THE STUDY
295
APPENDIX L
RATING SCHEDULE USED BY INDIVIDUAL JUDGES
IN THE PREPARATION OF THE RESEARCHER'S
OWN SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT INVENTORY
FOR USE IN THE STUDY
Sexual Adjustment Inventory
In the example below, you will find three peoples'
statements on the subject of sex and a seven-point rating
scale beside each of the statements. In the example, a
judge, such as yourself, decided how favorable or unfavor
able the peoples' attitudes toward sex were according to
their statements about sex.
Example:
Intercourse is one of the really 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
great pleasures in living.
In the sexual act, men are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
inconsiderate of their partners'
needs.
296
297
People should have a good under- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
standing of the process of human
reproduction.
The person who judged the statements in the example
decided that the statement, "Intercourse is one of the
really great pleasures in living," is the kind of statement
that would be made by someone who had a very good feeling
about sex. The judge rated it as a 7 ("extremely favorable
attitude toward sex").
The same judge decided that, "In the sexual act,
men are inconsiderate of their partners' needs" is the
kind of statement that would be made by someone who was
cynical or bitter about sex— but not totally against sex.
He rated it as a 2 ("quite unfavorable attitude toward
sex").
The last statement in the example, "People should
have a good understanding of the process of human repro
duction" does not in itself indicate the speaker's attitude
toward sex. It is a factual-type statement that would have
to be rated as a 4 ("neither favorable nor unfavorable
toward sex— a neutral statement").
Many people's statements about sex have been
brought together in the list that follows. You are to
judge the.degrees of favorability or unfavorability of
298
their attitudes toward sex as indicated by their statements
about sex.*
As a rule you can tell a person's attitudes about
the really important things in his life by the way he talks
about these things; and sex is no exception.
*See the next page for the key to use in rating the state
ments about sex; the page may be torn out for easier use
while you go through the list.
299
KEY FOR RATING STATEMENTS ABOUT SEX
1. Indicated an extremely unfavorable attitude
toward sex
2. Indicated a quite unfavorable attitude toward
sex
3. Indicates a slightly unfavorable attitude
toward sex
4. Indicates a neither favorable nor unfavorable
attitude toward sex— a neutral statement
5. Indicates a slightly favorable attitude toward
sex
6 . Indicates a quite favorable attitude toward sex
7. Indicates an extremely favorable attitude to
ward sex
300
1. Women would be happier if their 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
husbands never touched them.
2. Intercourse before marriage is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
all wrong.
3. The bestiality of intercourse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
is absolutely repulsive.
4. Sex is important to women. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
5. Husbands should not talk about 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
sex so much.*
6 . It takes time and effort for a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
married couple to achieve a
good sexual relationship.*
7. The sexual embrace is supreme- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ly enjoyable.
8 . A women who has any sense will 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
use any excuse to get out of
having intercourse.
9. Married couples should experi
ment with different positions
for intercourse.
10. Sex is indispensible to happi
ness in marriage.
11. It is all right for a women to
let her husband know she wants
intercourse.
*The 30 asterisked statements about sex in marriage were
selected by means of Guilford's modification of Thurstone's
"Method of Successive Intervals" for use in the sexual ad
justment inventory that comprised Part V of the question
naire. The sexual adjustment inventory as used in the
study is shown in Appendix M.
301
12.
13.
14.
15.
15.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Even a happily married woman 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
sometimes finds herself think
ing of having intercourse with
another man than her husband.
It is the fact of being pene- 1 2 3 4 5 5 7
trated that makes it so de
grading.
A woman usually feels good 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
after intercourse.
A women looks to her sex life 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
as a source of profound
satisfaction.
Sex is humiliating. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Honeymoons are difficult.* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Women have intercourse only 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
because their husbands say
they cannot get along without
it.
Intercourse is really a rather 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
foolish activity for a couple
of adult human beings.
A married couple should be will- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ing to put some effort into
achieving a good sexual rela
tionship .
Couples should work out a 123 4567
monthly schedule for having
intercourse.
Most husbands are reasonably 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
responsive to their wives' ”~"
sexual needs.
23. Sex is disgusting. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
302
24. Married couples would be better 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
off if they did not worry so
much about sex.*
25. To men sex is conquest. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
26. There are no rights or wrongs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
in a married couple's sex life
together.
27. Intercourse is better when the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
couple do not have to hurry.
28. Most people are satisfied that 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
their sex lives are as good as
can be expected.*
29. Sex is part of the price of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
having children.
30. A woman should not use sex to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
bribe her husband.*
31. Most people are uncomfortable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
in talking about sexual
matters.
32. It is all right for a wife to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
tease her husband into having
intercourse.*
33. Whether or not a woman enjoys 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
intercourse depends a lot on
how she feels about her hus
band . *
34. It is fun to experiment with 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
different ways to have inter
course .
35. It is all right for a woman to ; 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
enjoy sex.
36. Sexual adjustment has a lot to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
do with how a couple feel about
each other.
303
37. It would be just fine with women 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
if they never had intercourse
again as long as they lived.
38. Men use sex to build up their 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
self esteem.
39. A lot of the troubles in mar- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
riage have something to do
with sex.*
40. Men have a know-it-all attitude 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
toward sex.
41. Sex is the ultimate pleasure 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
in life.
42. In sex a woman has absolute 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
control over her husband.
43. A husband and wife should dis- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
cuss their sexual differences.
44. Intercourse makes a woman feel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
■ - ' dirty .
45. People worry too much about sex. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
46. It is all right for the wife to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
be the aggressor sometimes.
47. What a couple choose to do in 12 3 4 5 6 7
their sex life is strictly
their own business.
48. In a good relationship fore- 12 3 4 5 6 7
play is not always necessary.
49. Husbands and wives should have 12 3 4 5 6 7
the same sexual freedom.
50. Three times a day would be just 12 3 4 5 6 7
fine.
304
51. A woman loathes the feeling of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
being used.
52. Husbands should be passionate. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
53. The after rundown is one of the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
important part of the sexual
act.
54. A good sexual relationship has 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
a lot of give and take.*
55. Except for the babies sex is a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
waste of time.
56. That is all a man ever thinks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
about.
57. Wives should make sure that 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
their husbands know the dif
ferent ways they can be sexual
ly aroused.*
1. It is best when a husband and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
wife want intercourse at the
same time.*
2. Sex is just for men. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
3. Intercourse is natural. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4. It is too much to expect that 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
women should be satisfied very
often.
5. It is fun to try different 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
positions.
6 . Intercourse becomes unimportant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
after the first few years of
marriage.*
305
7 .
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
A woman could get along without
sex for a long time.
A couple should have different
positions for different situa
tions .
It is worthwhile trying to find
solutions to sexual problems.
A woman should never take the
lead in sex.
Women could learn to get along
without sex.
Sex is great even without a
climax.
It is a good thing to be a
virgin at marriage.
Most women have intercourse
about as often as they want
it.*
A woman just has to put up with
sex.
Sex is good only when the day's
work is done.
A husband should wait until his
wife lets him know that she is
interested.
When a girl starts dating, she
is better off knowing nothing
about sex.
Good technique cannot take the
place of good manners.
The cuddling after the act is
something to look forward to.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
306
21. Most husbands do not make un- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
reasonable demands on their
wives.
22. Sex helps newlyweds learn to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
know each other.
23. Sex is simply fun. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
24. Sex problems in marriage tend 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
to disappear in time.
25. A woman just wants her husband 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
to get it over with as soon as
possible.
26. One of the best things about 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
getting older is that a woman
does not have to have inter
course.
27. Women are too concerned about 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
getting pregnant to be able to
get anything out of intercourse.
28. How a woman feels about sex in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
marriage has a lot to do with
how boys treated her in dating.
29. Intercourse is a nuisance. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
30. How a woman feels about sex has 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
something to do with how her
mother felt about sex.
31. Women have to have intercourse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
because their husbands demand
it.
32. Sexual adjustment is essential 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
to marital adjustment.
33. Sex is one of life's greatest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
satisfactions.
307
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
Menstruation brings welcome re- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
lief from the obligations of
intercourse.
Parents should always give their 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
children accurate answers to
their questions about sex.
Sexual desire is good. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Women look forward to sexual 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
fulfillment in marriage.
The pleasure of orgasm is almost 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
unbearable.
A husband's satisfaction in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
intercourse is just as important
as the wife's.
Good sexual mating is mostly a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
matter of good attitudes toward
sex.
The pleasure of sex makes a good 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
marriage better.
Women consider the sex act as an 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
important part of their overall
relationship with their hus
bands.*
Married men and women should
live by the same rules of
sexual behavior.
A married woman is nothing but
a sexual slave to her husband.
Men have delusions of grandeur
about their part in sex.*
Women can really enjoy sex when
they can get away from the
house for a few days.
308
47. Men are sincerely interested in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
their wives' sexual satisfac
tion .
48. A woman who knows how to use sex 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
can get what she wants out of
her husband.
49. For a woman one of the very best 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
things about intercourse is
being close to her husband.*
50. Intercourse is best on the spur 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
of the moment.
51. One of the good things about 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
being married is that the woman
does not have to be on her sexual
guard at all times.
52. A woman of good breeding can find 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
no pleasure in sex.
53. A really nice woman merely puts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
up with sex.
54. The single standard for sex
really makes good sense.*
55. Sex makes husbands and wives
hate each other.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
56. A couple can never learn all 1 2 3 4 5 6
there is to know about their
sexual relationship.
57. Compromise is essential to a 1 2 3 4 5 6
good sexual relationship.*
1. Sex makes a married woman feel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
guilty.
309
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7 .
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
A woman soon learns that her
husband is no Don Juan.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
How a woman feels about sex
has a lot to do with how she
feels about herself.
4
Sex completes marriage.
The tenderness of a husband
during intercourse is very-
important to his wife.
Women cannot help but be embar
rassed by the sexy stories
they hear at parties.
Simultaneous climax is worth
the effort.
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
The less a girl is told about 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
sex, the safer she will be with
boys.
Without sex marriage would be a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
cold and empty thing.
Sex causes the troubles in mar- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
riage.
A little sexual bribery is a
good thing.*
Having intercourse is a good
way to end the day.
A certain amount of sex is
essential to a woman's
happiness.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
14. Husbands expect to be rewarded 1 2 3 4 2 6 7
sexually for their work around
the house and yard.*
309
2. A woman soon learns that her 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
husband is no Don Juan.
3. How a woman feels about sex 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
has a lot to do with how she
feels about herself.
4. Sex completes marriage. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
5. The tenderness of a husband 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
during intercourse is very
important to his wife.
6 . Women cannot help but be embar- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
rassed by the sexy stories
they hear at parties.
7. Simultaneous climax is worth 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
the effort.
8 . The less a girl is told about 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
sex, the safer she will be with
boys.
9. Without sex marriage would be a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
cold and empty thing.
10. Sex causes the troubles in mar- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
riage.
11. A little sexual bribery is a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
good thing.*
12. Having intercourse is a good 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
way to end the day.
13. A certain amount of sex is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
essential to a woman's
happiness.
14. Husbands expect to be rewarded 1 2 3 4 2 6 7
sexually for their work around
the house and yard.*
310
15.
16.
17 .
18.
19.
20.
21.
22 .
23.
24.
25 .
26.
Men have to get sexy about 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
everything.
A woman is pleased when her 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
husband pays attention to how
she looks.
The sex act brings equal pleas- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ure to husband and wife.
Men are too self centered to be 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
good sexual partners.
Sex makes people act like 1 2 3 4 5 6.7
animals.
There are better things for a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
couple to do than think about
sex.
Husbands are more interested 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
in sex than wives are.*
A lot of girls are pregnant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
when they marry.
Sex is never a fit subject of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
discussion for a husband and
wife.
Couples have more trouble over 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
sex than over anything else in
their marriages.
Sex is the key to a great deal 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
of happiness in marriage.
It is a rare woman who is inter- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ested sexually in anybody other
than her husband.
27. A man never looks more ridicu- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
lous than while he is in the
sex act.
311
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
In sex a woman has absolute
control over her husband.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Intercourse is almost always a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
pleasure.
Men never give a thought to their 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
wives' needs in intercourse.
Women soon learn that sex is
one of the burdens of mar
riage .
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
A woman would not miss it very 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
much if her husband did not want
it anymore.
Children should be told abso- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
lutely nothing about sex.
Older people have better things 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
than sex to occupy their minds.
Sex is too embarrassing to talk 1 2 3 4 5 6 1
about easily.
There should be no nudity in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
the home.*
If it were not for sex, marriage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
could be happy.
A woman should resign herself to 1 2 3 4 5_ '6 7
the fact that some intercourse
is unavoidable.
It would be better if husbands 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
and wives never saw each other
undressed.
Women enjoy their husbands' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
bodies.
41. Sex is best when a couple have 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
nothing to worry about.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
312
Men are totally selfish in the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
sex act.
Women find the passive role in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
sex very nearly intolerable.
There are not many people a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
woman can talk to about sex.
Women have all the pains of sex. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Women do not like sex. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
It is a wise woman who keeps 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
her husband sexually ex
hausted . *
The only good reason for sex is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
to keep a husband from running
off with another woman.
Most of the time a wife looks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
forward to intercourse.
In intercourse a husband should 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
do more and talk less.
Men are overbearing in inter- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
course.
Sex contributes a great deal to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
the success of marriage.
A respectable woman will never 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
admit feeling sexy.
The worst part of intercourse is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
having to submit to a man.
Any woman who likes intercourse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
is little more than an animal.
Women have to submit to men. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Most sexual taboos are stupid. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
313
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Women like sex as much as their
husbands do.
Sex brings out the very best in
a couple's relationship.
Whatever a couple want to do in
their sexual life is all right
if it is pleasing to both of
them.
Sexual satisfaction is the least
of a woman 1s concerns.
Women have to fight for every
thing they ever get.
Women just wish men would leave
them alone.
A woman cannot expect to be
satisfied sexually very often.
A woman should be sexually
attractive to her husband.
A woman should not let herself
get sloppy around the house.
It is sex that makes the tender
ness in marriage.
A woman could not keep going
without the pleasures of sex.
A couple have to expect some
troubles in their sexual lives.
Women have a reasonably good
time of it sexually.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
14. Marriage without sex would be 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
incomplete.
314
15.
16.
17 .
18.
19 .
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25 .
26.
27.
Intercourse without climax is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
just about a waste of time.*
Women would be happier if their 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
husbands never touched them.
Intercourse is usually satisfy- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ing to a woman.
Sometimes wives should indicate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
to their husbands that they
want to have intercourse.
Women do not like sexy stories. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Classes in preparation for mar- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
riage should be part of the
requirements for graduation
from high school.
Women could not care less about 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
having intercourse.
Women have just as much need 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
for sexual stimulation as men.
It is a good thing when the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
husband and wife are equally
passionate.
Sometimes women get so excited 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
in intercourse they nearly go
out of their minds.
There are several different 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ways for a woman to be stimu
lated to climax.
Orgasm is good no matter how 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
the woman achieves it.
Sex is a woman's most effective 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
weapon.
28. Men can be bribed with sex. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
315
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
The only way a woman can keep her 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
husband interested in her is to
play up to other men.*
Women feel used if they have 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
intercourse while they are
angry with their husbands.
It is inevitable that couples 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
should have some troubles in
their sex lives.*
Women have a rough time of it 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
sexually.
The most important quality 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
about a husband is how much
money he makes.
Intercourse is important only 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
to newlyweds.
Women need the physical close- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ness of sexual intercourse.
Women never get over their 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
first experience of sexual
intercourse.*
The notion of sex in middle age 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
is silly.
If women had their way, there 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
would be no sex in marriage.
A considerate husband has a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
variety of ways to bring sexual
pleasure to his wife.
A husband's tenderness is impor- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
tant in intercourse.
There is only one decent way to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
do it.
316
42. Women need the personal fulfill- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ment of sex in marriage.
43. Technique is not the most im- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
portant factor in a successful
sex life.*
44. A good sex life is important 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
in marriage.
45. A couple should have at least 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
one weekend a year away from
their children.
46. There is a lot more to sex than 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
the physical stimulation.
47. Women should know the very best 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
ways to stimulate their hus
bands sexually.*
48. Women take pride in being 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
sexually attractive to their
husbands.
49. Couples find great closeness 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
in the sexual act.
50. A married couple should have a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
variety of positions to choose
from.
51. Sometimes a wife likes to be 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
seduced by her husband.
52. The game of romance is an im- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
portant part of a couple's
sex life.
53. Sex will get better and better 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
in the years of a couple's
marriage.
54. Sex brings out the best in
marriage.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
317
55.
56.
57.
A woman just cannot stand the
feeling of being used.
Sex ruins marriage.
It takes a while to work out a
good sexual relationship in
marriage.
APPENDIX M
THE RESEARCHER'S OWN SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT
INVENTORY USED IN THE STUDY
318
APPENDIX M
THE RESEARCHER'S OWN SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT
INVENTORY USED IN THE STUDY
Part V
Please indicate how you feel about each of the
following statements.
1. A lot of the troubles in marriage have something to
do with sex.
Agree _____ Disagree______
2. Husbands are more interested in sex than wives are.
Agree _____ Disagree______
3. A woman should not use sex to bribe her husband.
Agree _____ Disagree______
4. Women consider the sexual act an important part of
their overall relationship with their husbands.
Agree _____ Disagree______
5. Women never get over their first experience of sexual
intercourse.
Agree _____ Disagree______
319
320
6. Men have delusions of grandeur about their part in
sex.
Agree Disagree _____
7. Men expect to be rewarded sexually for their work
around the house and yard.
Agree Disagree _____
8. A little sexual bribery is a good thing.
Agree Disagree _____
9. Married couples would be better off if they did not
worry so much about sex.
Agree _____ Disagree______
10. The only way a woman can keep her husband interested
in her is to play up to other men.
Agree _____ Disagree______
11. Intercourse without a climax is just about a waste of
time.
Agree _____ Disagree______
12. It takes time and effort for a married couple to
achieve a good sexual relationship.
Agree _____ Disagree______
13. Technique is not the most important factor in a suc
cessful sex life.
Agree _____ Disagree______
14. It is a wise woman who keeps her husband sexually
exhausted.
Agree _____ Disagree______
321
15. Most women have intercourse about as often as they
want it.
Agree _____ Disagree _____
16. The single standard for sex really makes good sense.
Agree _____ Disagree _____
17. There should be no nudity in the home.
Agree _____ Disagree _____
18. Women should know the very best ways to stimulate
their husbands sexually.
Agree _____ Disagree _____
19. Compromise is essential to a good sexual relationship.
Agree _____ Disagree _____
20. It is inevitable that couples should have some
troubles in their sex lives.
Agree _____ Disagree _____
21. A good sexual relationship has a lot of give and take.
Agree _____ Disagree _____
22. Intercourse becomes unimportant after the first few
years of marriage.
Agree _____ Disagree _____
23. It is best when the husband and wife want intercourse
at the same time.
Agree _____ Disagree _____
24. For a woman one of the very best things about inter
course is being close to her husband.
Agree _____ Disagree _____
322
25. Most people are satisfied that their sex lives are
about as good as can be expected.
Agree _____ Disagree______
26. Husbands should not talk about sex so much.
Agree _____ Disagree______
27. Whether or not a woman enjoys intercourse depends a
lot on how she feels about her husband.
Agree _____ Disagree______
28. Honeymoons are difficult.
Agree _____ Disagree______
29. Wives should make sure that their husbands know the
different ways they can be sexually aroused.
Agree _____ Disagree______
30. It is all right for a wife to tease her husband into
having intercourse.
Agree Disagree
APPENDIX N
FINDINGS BASED ON THE RESEARCHER'S
OWN SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT INVENTORY
323
APPENDIX N
FINDINGS BASED ON THE RESEARCHER'S
OWN SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT INVENTORY
Part V
The sexual adjustment inventory designated Part V
of the questionnaire was derived from Thurston's Method of
Successive Intervals (8:120-147). The construction of the
inventory as used in the present study began with the col
lection of several hundred statements about sex in marriage
informally appraised by the researcher as representative of
the spectrum of women's attitudes toward sex in marriage.
Two-hundred twenty-eight of these statements were presented
to a number of women with the request that they rate each
of the statements in terms of its degree of favorability
toward sex in marriage. The rating involved the use of a
seven-point scale in which the scalar value of one repre
sented the most unfavorable attitude; four, the nominally
favorable; and seven, most favorable. "The Method of Suc-
324
325
cessive Intervals" assumes a normative structure upon
which the respondent depends in his evaluation of the
favorability-unfavorability of each of the statements;
e.g., there is an ideal response independent from though
possibly identical with the judge's personal response.
People can judge the relative favorability of a statement
irrespective of their own position or bias (37).
As a result of processing peculiar to the method,
each of the statements was placed in its own position on
the psychological continuum implicit to the collection of
statements. The psychological continuum was then divided
into 30 equal sections each of which contained one or more
of the statements. In keeping with the design dictum call
ing for an approximate uniformity of attitudinal distribu
tion of the 30 statements as finally used, one statement
was chosen from each of the sections. The 30 statements
comprised a thirty-degree spectrum of attitude toward sex
in marriage.
The 30 statements arrayed in order of favorability
toward sex in marriage with number one representing the
least favorable and number thirty representing the most
favorable are shown in Appendix 0.
For use as Part V of the questionnaire, the
326
statements were placed in random order. Randomization was
employed to avoid the obvious progression of favorability
with its concomitant suggestion of response to the state
ments .
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to their
Answers to the Individual
Statements of the Sexual
Adjustment Inventory
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
their answers to the individual questions of the sexual
adjustment inventory.
The hypothesis of no difference was rejected for 10
of the statements; of the 10, the marginals of four were in
sufficient balance that they could be considered reliable.
Statements differentiating the adjusted from the
unadjusted at a level of statistical significance are in
dicated in Appendix O with a single asterisk; double
asterisks indicate significance with balanced marginals.
A Comparison of the Adjusted with the
Unadjusted with Respect to Their
Overall Scores on the Sexual
Adjustment Inventory
The study hypothesized that there was no difference
327
between the adjusted and the unadjusted with respect to
their overall scores on the sexual adjustment inventory.
The comparison used in testing this assumption is
shown in Table 85.
TABLE 85
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED WITH THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THEIR OVERALL SCORES ON
THE SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT INVENTORY
Adjusted Unadjusted Totals
Above the Median 30 18 48
Below the Median 18 30 48
Totals 48 48 96
X2 = 6.0; df = 1; P <.02 >.01
Note: Two adjusted and two unadjusted scores were
median.
at the
The chi-square of 6.0 with one degree of freedom
is significant beyond the .02 level. It permits us to re-
ject the hypothesis and state that there is a significant
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted with
respect to their overall scores on the sexual adjustment
inventory.
The level of significance (P <.02 >.01) for the
difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted on the
328
instrument as a whole justifies the use of the instrument
in support and refining of the work of Part IV of the
questionnaire. _ .
Summary
In as much as each respondent's placement on the
psychological continuum was taken into account in the com
position of the two groups, the question was not the fact
of the adjusted's being different from the unadjusted in
this regard but the degree of difference. The ancillary
use of the sexual adjustment inventory found justification
in its discrimination of the two groups at P less than .02.
It should be noted that the study assumed that the
items near and at the extremes of the continuum would each,
individually, discriminate between the two groups; however,
there was no apparent pattern to the distribution of the
statistically significant items on the continuum. And only
four items satisfied the requirements of level of signifi
cance and balanced marginals.
APPENDIX O
THE ITEMS OF THE RESEARCHER'S OWN SEXUAL
ADJUSTMENT INVENTORY IN ORDER OF
DEGREES OF FAVORABILITY ON THE
CONTINUUM OF SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT
IN MARRIAGE
329
APPENDIX O
THE ITEMS OF THE RESEARCHER'S OWN SEXUAL
ADJUSTMENT INVENTORY IN ORDER OF
DEGREES OF FAVORABILITY ON THE
CONTINUUM OF SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT
IN MARRIAGE
1. The only way a woman can keep her husband interested
in her is to play up to other men.*
2. There should be no nudity in the home.
3. Intercourse becomes unimportant after the first few
years of marriage.*
4. Men have delusions of grandeur about their part in
sex.**
*The difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted is
statistically significant.
**The difference between the adjusted and the unadjusted is
statistically significant and the marginals are suffic
iently in balance so as to suggest the reliability of the
finding of significance.
330
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
331
It is a wise woman who keeps her husband sexually-
exhausted .
Men expect to be rewarded sexually for their work
around the house and yard.*
A little sexual bribery is a good thing.
Husbands should not talk about sex so much.
Husbands are more interested in sex than wives are.
Women never get over their first experience of sexual
intercourse.
Intercourse without a climax is just a waste of
time.**
Married couples would be better off if they did not
worry so much about sex.
Honeymoons are difficult.
The single standard for sex really makes good sense.
A lot of the troubles in marriage have something to
do With sex.
Most people are satisfied that their sex lives are
about as good as can be expected.**
It is inevitable that couples should have some
troubles in their sex lives.
Most women have intercourse about as often as they
want it.**
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27 .
28.
29.
30.
332
A woman should not use sex to bribe her husband.*
Whether or not a woman enjoys intercourse depends a
lot on how she feels about her husband.*
Compromise is essential to a good sexual relationship.
Technique is not the most important factor in a suc
cessful sex life.
It is all right for a wife to tease her husband into
having intercourse.
It is best when the husband and wife want intercourse
at the same time.
It takes time and effort for a married couple to
achieve a good sexual relationship.
Wives should make sure that their husbands know the
different ways they can be sexually aroused.
Women should know the very best ways to stimulate
their husbands sexually.
For a woman one of the very best things about inter
course is being close to her husband.*
A good sexual relationship has a lot of give and take.
Women consider the sexual act an important part of
their overall relationship with their husbands.
APPENDIX P
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THREE CATEGORIES OF PREMARITAL
COITUS RELATIVE TO BEING IN LOVE AND
BEING ENGAGED
333
APPENDIX P
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THREE CATEGORIES OF PREMARITAL
COITUS RELATIVE TO BEING IN LOVE AND
BEING ENGAGED
TABLE 86
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THREE CATEGORIES OF PREMARITAL
COITUS RELATIVE TO BEING IN LOVE
Felt It Was Appropriate to Have Intercourse
Adiusted Unadi usted Totals
Yes 3 7 10
No 47 43 90
Totals 50 50 100
X2 = 1.778; df = 1; P <.20 >.10
334
TABLE 86 (continued)
335
Usually Had Intercourse
Adiusted Unadi usted Totals
Yes 5 13 18
No 45 37 82
Totals 50 50 100
X2 = 4.336; df = 1; P <.05 >.02
Had Intercourse At Least Once
Adi usted Unadiusted Totals
Yes 20 30 50
No 30 20 50
Totals 50 50 100
X2 = 4.000; df = 1; P <.05 >.02
336
TABLE 87
A COMPARISON OF THE ADJUSTED AND THE UNADJUSTED
WITH RESPECT TO THREE CATEGORIES OF PREMARITAL
COITUS RELATIVE TO BEING ENGAGED
Felt It Was Appropriate to Have Intercourse
Adiusted Unadi usted Totals
Yes 7 10 17
No 43 40 83
Totals 50 ' 50 100
X2 = 0.638; df = 1; P <.50 >. 30
Usually Had Intercourse
Adi usted Unadi usted Totals
Yes 8 21 29
No 42
. 29
71
Totals 50 50 100
X2 = 8.208; df = 1; P < .01
Had Intercourse At Least Once
Adiusted Unadiusted Totals
Yes 19 35 54
No 31 15 46
Totals 50 50 100
X2 = 10.306; df = 1; P <.01

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Asset Metadata

Creator Ranker, Jr. (jess elwood)

Core Title Attitudes Toward Sex In Marriage And Patterns Of Erotic Behavior In Dating And Courtship Before Marriage

Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Program Sociology

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag OAI-PMH Harvest,sociology, individual and family studies

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Advisor Peterson, James A. (committee chair), Lasswell, Thomas E. (committee member), Meyers, Charles Edward (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-136252

Unique identifier UC11359907

Identifier 6710772.pdf (filename),usctheses-c18-136252 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier 6710772.pdf

Dmrecord 136252

Document Type Dissertation

Rights Ranker, Jr., Jess Elwood

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the au...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA