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Cognitive frameworks of virginity and first intercourse.

Terry P Humphreys¹

¹Department of Psychology, Trent University, Ontario, Canada. terryhumphreys@trentu.ca

Journal of Sex Research

|July 25, 2012

Summary

Understanding virginity scripts, or frameworks, significantly influences decisions surrounding first sexual intercourse. These interpretations impact age, partner choice, and emotional reactions, but not contraceptive use.

Area of Science:

Psychology
Sociology
Sexual Health

Background:

Limited research exists on how subjective meanings of virginity and first coitus influence the sexual experience.
Understanding virginity scripts is crucial for comprehending decisions made during first sexual intercourse.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between virginity scripts and the approach and decisions made during first coitus.
To quantitatively measure virginity interpretations as gift, stigma, or process.

Main Methods:

Developed a quantitative measure of virginity interpretations based on Carpenter's (2001, 2005) qualitative research.
Administered questionnaires to university students (184 women, 31 men) who had experienced consensual first penile-vaginal intercourse.

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Main Results:

54% identified as process-oriented, 37.7% as gift-oriented, and 8.4% as stigma-oriented regarding virginity.
Virginity scripts correlated with age at first coitus, partner choice, relationship length, planning, affective reaction, and perceived life impact.
Virginity frameworks showed no relationship with contraceptive use during first coitus.

Conclusions:

Carpenter's virginity frameworks can be quantitatively measured.
These frameworks link individual interpretations of virginity to decisions made during first sexual intercourse.