M. Hynie et al., RELATIONAL SEXUAL SCRIPTS AND WOMENS CONDOM USE - THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERNALIZED NORMS, The Journal of sex research, 35(4), 1998, pp. 370-380
Three studies were conducted to explore the impact of scripted sociose
xual norms on women's contraceptive behavior. In Study I, scripts of a
n initial sexual encounter written by 36 female and 30 male undergradu
ates were analyzed for relational orientation. Women portrayed the fem
ale character as more relational than the male character Scripts inclu
ding condom use were less relational than chase without condom use. In
Study 2, a Relational Ideal factor from an Ideal Sexual Self Scale wa
s obtained from the responses of 272 female participants. The Relation
al Ideal was used in Study 3 to predict contraceptive attitudes and be
havior in 62 undergraduate women. Endorsement of the Relational Ideal,
controlling for sexual attitudes, was associated with less positive a
ttitudes towards condoms, lesser likelihood of condom use during last
intercourse, and greater latency to obtaining contraceptives in relati
onships These results are discussed with respect to the incorporation
of condoms into relational scripts, and the impact of these scripts on
women's contraceptive behavior.