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Article
Sexual Goals-Plans-Actions: Toward a Sexual Script in Marriage
Communication Quarterly
  • Tina Coffelt, Iowa State University
  • Jon A Hess, University of Dayton
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
4-1-2015
DOI
10.1080/01463373.2015.1012216
Abstract

This study introduces a sexual script in heterosexual marriage, based on interviews with 12 married women and 13 married men. The qualitative data analysis revealed a two-phase sexual script, beginning with priming messages and culminating in synchronizing messages. Synchronizing messages took one of three forms—in-synch, token acceptance, or out-of-synch. In-synch messages showed alignment between an initiation message and an acceptance message such that a sexual episode occurred. Token acceptance messages, made by women, conveyed compliance with a sexual episode despite low desire. Out-of-synch messages rejected an initiation message.

Comments

This article is published as Coffelt, T. A., & Hess, J. A. (2015). Sexual goals-plans-actions: Toward a sexual script in marriage. Communication Quarterly, 63, 221-238. doi:10.1080/01463373.2015.1012216. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
Eastern Communication Association
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Tina Coffelt and Jon A Hess. "Sexual Goals-Plans-Actions: Toward a Sexual Script in Marriage" Communication Quarterly Vol. 63 Iss. 2 (2015) p. 221 - 238
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/tina-coffelt/7/