Sexual Liberalism-Conservatism: the effect of human values, gender, and previous sexual experience

Experimental and cross-cultural evidence that parenthood and parental care motives increase social conservatism

Differences in attitudes on social issues such as abortion, immigration and sex are hugely divisive, and understanding their origins is among the most important tasks facing human behavioural sciences. Despite the clear psychological importance of parenthood and the motivation to provide care for children, researchers have only recently begun investigating their influence on social and political attitudes. Because socially conservative values ostensibly prioritize safety, stability and family values, we hypothesized that being more invested in parental care might make socially conservative policies more appealing. Studies 1 (preregistered; n = 376) and 2 (n = 1924) find novel evidence of conditional experimental effects of a parenthood prime, such that people who engaged strongly with a childcare manipulation showed an increase in social conservatism. Studies 3 (n = 2610, novel data from 10 countries) and 4 (n = 426 444, World Values Survey data) find evidence that both parenthood and parental care motivation are associated with increased social conservatism around the globe. Further, most of the positive association globally between age and social conservatism is accounted for by parenthood. These findings support the hypothesis that parenthood and parental care motivation increase social conservatism.

Sexual Attitudes and Characteristics of OnlyFans Users

As new forms of sexually explicit material (SEM) platforms emerge, sex research and sexuality-based studies must also evolve. Although the subscription-based platform OnlyFans has become an increasingly popular way for content creators to share and access SEM, the demographic information and sexual attitudes of users across sex have not yet been reported. The present study contributes to the existing body of SEM literature by providing a demographic analysis of OnlyFans users and an assessment of sexual attitudes between users and nonusers across sex. In this study, participants from a US-based sample (n = 718, M_age = 29.46, male [n = 335, 46.7%], female [n = 383, 53.3%]) were solicited using the Mechanical Turk platform. Participants were predominately White (n = 475, 66.2%); additional representation of ethnic/racial groups included Black/African-American (n = 121; 16.9%), American Indian/Alaskan Native (n = 10; 1.4%), Asian-American/Asian (n = 32; 4.4%), Hispanic/Latinx (n = 53; 7.3%), Arab American/Arab (n = 10; 1.4%), and biracial or multiracial (n = 17; 2.4%). Based on our findings, OnlyFans users were predominantly married, white, males who identified as heterosexual or bisexual/pansexual. Our findings also revealed that OnlyFans users and nonusers endorsed similar sexual attitudes related to permissiveness, communion, instrumentality, and birth control across sex. Findings from this study may be helpful for future studies on OnlyFans and other forms of subscription-based platforms.

Knowledge of and attitudes towards abortion among adolescents in Lao PDR

Background

Adolescents are at high risk of unintended pregnancy and consequent unsafe abortion. Evidence from Lao PDR suggests a high but underreported prevalence of induced abortion, especially amongst adolescents. Research suggests adolescents are less likely to have an unsafe abortion when they have accurate knowledge about abortion and hold positive attitudes towards abortion.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate awareness and attitudes towards abortion and associated factors in Lao PDR.

Methods

This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional design. The study was conducted between January and May 2019 in two different provinces within Lao PDR, namely, Khammouane and Champasack provinces. Participants included in- and out-of-school male and female adolescents (n = 800). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and entered into the EPI Data version 3.1. All analysis was undertaken using STATA v.13. Univariate analysis and frequency distributions were used to study the pattern of responses and bivariate descriptive analysis to report attitudes and knowledge by participant characteristics. The association between participant characteristics and overall scores of attitudes towards abortion was evaluated using multiple logistic regression.

Findings

Most respondents (78.8%) were aware of the processes and potential consequences of becoming pregnant at a young age. One-third of respondents (31.5%), were aware of induced abortion. Of those, only 12.1% held positive attitudes towards induced abortion. Factors associated with positive attitudes towards abortion were ethnicity, mother’s education and ever having had sex.

Conclusion

In the case of unintended or unwanted pregnancy, adolescents must also have adequate knowledge and access to safe abortion and associated counselling services. This study suggests a need to increase sexual and reproductive health literacy including information about safe abortion. This requires a holistic approach to sexual education and needs the support and involvement of adolescents themselves as well as parents, community members and healthcare workers.

Value priorities, impression management and self-deceptive enhancement: Once again, much substance and a little bit of style

The connection between self-reported personal values and socially desirable responding in social psychology has been backed up by little empirical evidence. This study expands upon the pioneering work carried out by Schwartz and colleagues by analyzing the relationship between values and social desirability through the use of different self-report measures of values and by considering the multidimensional nature of social desirability. The study involved 224 Italian respondents (63.4% female, mean age = 22.39, SD = 2.47) who completed a questionnaire. Results confirmed Schwartz et al.'s previous findings supporting the substantive hypothesis. Specifically, impression management was more related to values highlighting the importance of social harmony (i.e., conservation and self-transcendence) rather than to those characterized by a personal focus (i.e., openness to change and self-enhancement). However, a different pattern of connection was found for self-deceptive enhancement. This study addresses how to deal with social desirability in research into personal values.

How Human Values Relate to Attitudes Toward Pornography: A Portuguese Survey

Pornography consumption is increasing. Nevertheless, in Portugal, research is scarce, namely its relationship with psychosocial variables. We investigated the relation between human values and attitudes toward pornography consumption. Values were measured through the Basic Values Survey and attitudes toward pornography consumption were assessed with the Scale of Attitudes Toward Consumption of pornographic materials. The results showed that positive attitudes were associated with personal values (pleasure, sexuality, emotion, power, and prestige). Instead, the negative attitudes were associated with social values (religiosity and support). The consideration of values can help clinicians and sexual educators to better discuss and integrate pornography consumption.

Correlatos Valorativos das Motivações para Responder sem Preconceito frente à Homoparentalidade

Resumo Esta pesquisa objetivou conhecer em que medida os valores humanos se relacionam com as motivações para responder sem preconceito frente à homoparentalidade, tomando como base a Teoria Funcionalista dos Valores Humanos. Contou-se com a participação de 235 estudantes universitários, com idades variando de 18 a 55 anos (M = 24,0, DP = 6,82), a maioria do sexo feminino (57%). Estes responderam à Escala de Motivações para Responder sem Preconceito frente à Homoparentalidade, o Questionário dos Valores Básicos e perguntas demográficas, sendo os dados coletados on-line. Realizaram-se regressões múltiplas, tendo os resultados indicado que as motivações internas para responder sem preconceito foram explicadas pelas subfunções experimentação, suprapessoal, interativa e normativa, enquanto que os valores normativos e de experimentação explicaram as motivações externas. Concluiu-se que os valores podem ser bons preditores das motivações para responder sem preconceito frente à homoparentalidade, principalmente os idealistas, reforçando que pessoas que se pautam por tais valores costumam ser menos preconceituosas.

Atitudes de Jovens frente à Pornografia e suas Consequências

Resumo Esta pesquisa qualitativa objetiva identificar e compreender as atitudes que homens e mulheres têm em relação à pornografia, bem como verificar as vantagens e desvantagens percebidas do consumo desse tipo de material no comportamento sexual e nos relacionamentos amorosos. Foram entrevistados dez homens e dez mulheres nascidos no Brasil, entre 20 e 30 anos de idade. Da análise de conteúdo emergiram quatro eixos temáticos: definição de pornografia, finalidade do uso, mudanças na forma de uso, e impactos do uso no comportamento sexual e no relacionamento amoroso. Os entrevistados, tanto homens quanto mulheres, elencaram prejuízos e benefícios do uso de forma semelhante, e sugeriram que características pessoais possam ser elementos importantes nessa avaliação.

Endorsement of Social and Personal Values Predicts the Desirability of Men and Women as Long-Term Partners

A prospective romantic partner's desirability as a long-term partner may be affected by the values that he or she endorses. However, few studies have examined the effects of "values" on a person's desirability as a long-term partner. We hypothesized that individuals who endorse social values (vs. personal values) will be perceived as more desirable long-term partners (Hypothesis 1) and that the endorsement of social values will be especially desirable in a male (vs. female) long-term partner (Hypothesis 2). The current study employed a 2 (sex of prospective partner: male vs. female) × 2 (values of prospective partner: personal vs. social) × 2 (physical attractiveness of prospective partner: unattractive vs. highly attractive) mixed-model design. Participants were 339 undergraduates (174 men, 165 women), with ages varying between 18 and 33 years ( M = 19.9, SD = 3.6), and mostly in a romantic relationship (53.7%). Participants reported interest in a long-term relationship with prospective partners depicted in four scenarios (within subjects), each varying along the dimensions of values (personal vs. social) and physical attractiveness (unattractive vs. highly attractive). Individuals endorsing personal values (vs. social values) and men (vs. women) endorsing personal values were rated as less desirable as long-term partners. The current research adds to the partner preferences literature by demonstrating that an individual's ascribed values influence others' perceptions of desirability as a long-term partner and that these effects are consistently sex differentiated, as predicted by an evolutionary perspective on romantic partner preferences.

The construct of sexual openness for females in steady intimate relationships

The analysis of open-minded attitudes towards sexuality in general requires a construct based on attitudinal dimensions. Although several existing studies involve sexual attitudes, they differ substantially and standardized conceptual work is missing. Thus, the authors introduce the latent variable sexual openness to develop a construct based on self-oriented attitudes towards different sexual topics. Available survey data of female German students in a steady relationship allowed providing a first empirical test for the applicability of this construct. Five subdimensions are acknowledged central for sexual openness: sexual practices, masturbation, bisexuality, permissiveness, and pornography consumption. Confirmatory factor analysis and correlations confirmed the idea of an underlying mechanism with an impact on all five variables. Though further validation of the construct of sexual openness is required, the findings strongly support the notion of an overarching latent attitude variable, which influences the individual relation to everything sexual. The results were compared to other studies and potential approaches for future analyses were proposed.

Actitudes hacia la sexualidad de estudiantes de enfermería menores de 20 años de una universidad colombiana

<p><strong>Objetivo:</strong> Para describir las actitudes hacia la sexualidad de los alumnos de enfermería de una universidad colombiana, en el año 2009 se realizó un estudio de corte transversal<br />en el cual participaron todos los estudiantes menores de 20 años.</p><p><strong>Metodología:</strong> Se utilizó una encuesta de carácter anónimo que<br />contenía información sobre la edad y el sexo, además de la escala Trueblood Sexual Attitudes Questionnaire (TSAQ) que evalúa las actitudes ante la sexualidad propia (yo) y la de los<br />demás (otros); se obtuvo un puntaje promedio máximo de 9, que equivaldría a la mayor liberalidad.</p><p><strong>Resultados:</strong> Participaron 44 alumnos, cuyo promedio de edad<br />fue de 18 años; el 77% de los participantes era de sexo femenino. El puntaje promedio total fue = 4,6; los puntajes promedio por subescala fueron: heterosexualidad = 5,7; comercio sexual = 4,8; autoerotismo = 4,7; variación sexual = 4,1 y homosexualidad = 3,6. Los puntajes de las actitudes hacia la sexualidad propia fueron menores que los de la sexualidad de los demás.</p><p><strong>Conclusión:</strong> Se concluyó para esta investigación que los estudiantes de enfermería tuvieron una moderada liberalidad frente a las actitudes hacia la sexualidad propia y de los otros.</p>

U.S. adults' pornography viewing and support for abortion: a three-wave panel study

Pornography consumption may affect judgments on a wide range of sexual and reproductive topics. The present study hypothesized that the consistent images projected in pornography affect sexual scripts related to abortion judgments. National, three-wave longitudinal data gathered from U.S. adults were employed to examine associations between earlier pornography consumption and subsequent support for abortion. The findings suggested that prior pornography consumption may lead to later support for abortion. This study provides additional evidence of pornography's socializing impact, particularly for the older White segment of the population, and adds to knowledge about what environmental factors influence judgments about abortion. Mechanisms that may explain how pornography viewing shapes support for abortion are discussed.