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Dating characteristics leading to unwanted vs. wanted sexual behavior

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Abstract

In 1987 Muehlenhard and Linton studied risk factors for sexual aggression by comparing recent dates with dates on which sex unwanted by the female occurred. The present study compared recent dates, unwanted sex dates, and dates on which sex wanted by both partners occurred, and was stimulated by concern about the accuracy of conclusions drawn from studies focusing on unwanted sex dates. European American and Latin American participants' responses were compared. Participants were 267 female and 148 male community college students. Some risk factors for unwanted sex dates replicated Muehlenhard and Linton's findings and did not characterize wanted sex dates in the present study. Some characteristics of unwanted sex dates, however, were also true of wanted sex dates. Many participants reporting unwanted sex dates also reported willingly engaging in some forms of sexual behavior during those dates, causing questions about the precise meaning of participants' descriptions of unwanted sex. Responses from European vs. Latin respondents were similar, except that significantly fewer Latin respondents reported wanted sex experiences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of the Pacific, USA

    Roseann Hannon, David S. Hall, Todd Kuntz, Sonja Van Laar & Jennifer Williams

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  1. Roseann Hannon
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  2. David S. Hall
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  3. Todd Kuntz
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  4. Sonja Van Laar
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  5. Jennifer Williams
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Hannon, R., Hall, D.S., Kuntz, T. et al. Dating characteristics leading to unwanted vs. wanted sexual behavior. Sex Roles 33, 767–783 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01544778

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