STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF SEX-ROLE ATTITUDE, SEXUAL CONTROL, AND VARIETY OF SEXUAL BEHAVIORS WITH THE FREQUENCY OF ORGASMIC RESPONSE IN WOMEN

This study is derived from an ecletic theoretical framework drawing from John Gagnon, Julian Rotter, Janet Spence, and Sandra Bem. Gagnon suggests that sexual behavior is learned behavior. Rotter argues that learned behavior is repeated when there is the expectation that a goal is contingent upon one's own behavior rather than on forces outside of one's behavior. Spence and Bem suggest that learning behavior is conditioned by cultural attitudes, and that attitudes toward women have had a restricting effect upon their learning. They feel that an androgynous sex role may break down stereotypic definitions of femininity and allow women to learn more flexible behavior and to take more control over their lives. With more internal control, women could engage in a variety of sexual behaviors that could help them attain their goal of reaching orgasm while engaging in sex with a partner. Therefore, the intent of this study was to test this ecletic theoretical formulation by investigating the relationship between sex-role attitude, sexual control, variety of sexual behavior, and frequency of orgasm with partner stimulation.;The major findings of this study were that sexual control and variety of sexual behavior were related to frequency of orgasm with a partner, greater frequency being associated with greater control and greater variety. Greater sexual control was also found to be related to greater variety of sexual behavior. Sex-role attitude was related to neither frequency of orgasm with a partner nor to variety of sexual behavior.;This study found that sexual control was the most influential variable. Women with high levels of internal control reached orgasm most frequently when having sex with their partners, and engaged in the greatest variety of sexual behaviors. Lack of orgasmic consistency may be the result of women's inability to assume adequate control over their sexuality and sexual behavior.;There was no support for the sex-role theory, which suggested that opportunities for learning are restricted by gender related norms. Women identified as androgynous in this study were no more adaptive or flexible in their sexual behavior than were the stereotypic feminine women. In fact, it was the more masculine typed women who appeared to be the most adaptive.;The subjects were 243 suburban women who agreed to participate in this study. Each woman was asked to complete a five-part questionnaire. The data were collected over a two-month period.;Supplementary analyses compared women who used self stimulation with women who did not use self stimulation to determine if there were differences between the two groups. The findings suggested that women who self stimulate differed from those who do not only in variety of sexual behavior and religious affiliation. Women who did not engage in self stimulation had less variety of sexual behavior, and Jewish women engaged in self stimulation more often than either Protestant or Catholic women.