Sex and Sexual Behavior in Costa Rica and the United States
artículo original
Date
2013Author
Rodríguez Arauz, Gloriana
Mealy, Marisa
Smith Castro, Vanessa
DiPlacido, Joanne
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study examined differences between Costa Ricans and Euro-Americans in perceptions of appropriate sexual behavior and definitions of sex. When compared to Costa Ricans, Euro- Americans were more likely to consider foreplay, oral sex, and intercourse to be appropriate in the early stages of a relationship. Costa Ricans considered these behaviors to be appro- priate only after steadily dating someone for 3 months or more. Euro-Americans were more likely to consider anal sex and phone/cyber sex to be appropriate prior to serious commit- ment (i.e. marriage). Cultural differences were also found in the types of behaviors that were considered to be sex. Costa Ricans defined non-penetrative acts such as foreplay, oral sex, and phone/cyber sex as sex more often than their Euro-American counterparts. In fact, Euro-Americans rarely considered foreplay or phone/cyber sex to be sex and defined oral sex as sex only in certain contexts. Finally, both Costa Rican and Euro-American partici- pants reported having had more lifetime sexual partners than penile–vaginal intercourse partners. Results are discussed in terms of differing cultural values.
External link to the item
10.1016/j.ijintrel.2012.06.002Collections
- Psicología [597]