The gendered nature of sexual scripts.
Abstract
Social scripting theory points to the fact that much of sexual behavior seems to follow a script. Similar to scripts that stage actors use to guide their behavior, social scripts instruct members of a society as to appropriate behavior and the meanings to attach to certain behaviors. In Western cultures, scripts for sexual activity are markedly different for males and females. In this article, the goals are to provide (a) an introduction to social scripting theory, (b) an exploration of the ways and potential reasons sexual scripts differ by gender, and (c) a discussion of ways that a social scripting perspective can be applied to work with individuals and couples experiencing sexual problems.
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Analyses were performed separately by sex because of differences in the experience and reporting of sexual behaviors and the meaning and interpretation that shape these behaviors.
“Analyses were performed separately by sex because of differences in the experience and reporting of sexual behaviors18 and the meaning and interpretation that shape these behaviors.19”
From Trends in Frequency of Sexual Activity and Number of Sexual Partners Among Adults Aged 18 to 44 Years in the US, 2000-2018 (2020) · cites this paper as [19]
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- Authors
- Wiederman, M. W.
- Affiliations
- Columbia College Hollywood (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wiederman, Michael W.
- Venue
- The Family Journal
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2005-10
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 496-502
- ISSN
- 1066-4807 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-3950
- OpenAlex
- W2011738036
- Cited by
- 583
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 35 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 53 · 2021: 63 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 6.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Family Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Keywords
- sexual scripts, gender differences, sexual behavior, sexual dysfunction, couple therapy, gender roles
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