A Multidimensional Scaling Analysis Of Sex Guilt

Sixty males and sixty females, divided into groups of high and low sex-guilt, made all possible comparisons between fifteen descriptions of individuals. These descriptions were written to reflect characteristics felt to be important to the concept of sex guilt. Ratings of dissimilarity were analyzed by INDSCAL and an unfolding method, both of which are multidimensional scaling techniques. Results indicated that: 1) low sex guilt and high sex guilt subjects perceived the stimulus "individuals" quite similarly along the two major dimensions (sociability and positive-negative) underlying their comparisons; 2) that males and high sex guilt subjects utilized less of both the sociability and positive-negative dimensions in making their judgments concerning the interrelationships of the stimulus "individuals"; 3) that low sex guilt and high sex guilt subjects differ in evaluating themselves in relation to the stimulus "individuals"; and 4) high sex guilt subjects rated themselves as more similar to a trait sex guilty description than to descriptions dealing with trait sex anxiety, or general guilt or anxiety. It was concluded that: 1) low sex guilt and high sex guilt subjects differ in the value they place on different personal attributes; and 2) D. L. Mosher's model of preservation of self-esteem best explained the behavior of high sex guilt individuals.