URBANISM AND UNCONVENTIONALITY - THE CASE OF SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR

Objective. Both classical urban theory and the subcultural theory of u rbanism predict that city-dwellers are relatively unconventional in th eir behavior, and accumulated evidence is consistent with that predict ion. However, it remains uncertain whether urbanism-the population siz e of a community-actually promotes unconventionality. The purpose of t his study is to assess urbanism's independent impact on unconventional sexual activity. Methods. Data from the NORC General Social Survey ar e analyzed, focusing on indicators of premarital sexual activity and c ohabitation, marital infidelity, and homosexuality. The analysis compa res these behaviors among residents of more urban and less urban commu nities while controlling for personal characteristics and migration hi story. Results. Findings show that urbanism promotes open homosexualit y but not premarital sex, cohabitation, or marital infidelity. Paradox ically, results also indicate that urbanism promotes permissive attitu des toward most of these behaviors. Conclusions. That urbanism promote s sexually permissive attitudes without necessarily promoting parallel behavior is consistent with classical urban theory's view that urban unconventionality is actually normful behavior within those subculture s that depend upon urban population concentration for their viability.