Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Megan E. Author Notes: M. Gibbons and M. Gerrard are now in the Department of Psychology at the University of Connecticut.
In two experiments, we tested whether people reporting no behavioral intentions BI for casual sex were nevertheless more responsive to risk-conducive cues, when compared to those with some BI. Responsiveness to cues was assessed in terms of increases in behavioral willingness BW for casual sex. In Study 1, subliminal priming of sexual images vs. In Study 2, these results were replicated using supraliminal priming with a more diverse online sample; effects were not moderated by age, education, or relationship status.
Overall, these findings suggest that although sexually conservative people often do not plan on having sex i.
During the latter days of the sexual revolution, Gerrard collected data that indicated a puzzling situation: sexually conservative individuals were having a lower frequency of sex, but, when they did have sex, they were engaging in riskier sexual practices.
There is evidence that this seemingly paradoxical finding still holds true today, with some recent findings indicating that conservative perspectives about sex are associated with more risky sexual behavior i. An intriguing element to this paradox is the question of why sexually conservative individuals are having risky sex at all. BI vary according to age and experience Gerrard et al.
