Sexual scripts

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sexual scripts are a theory by John Gagnon and William S. Simon about the origins of sexual behavior . It was first published in 1973 in her book Sexual Conduct .

Basics

The authors reject Sigmund Freud's theory and psychoanalysis about a sex drive . Sexual behavior is much more complex than that it could be explained by a naturally given drive . The cultural anthropological and historical differences in sexual behavior are emphasized , which could not agree with the Freudian drive theory. The so-called latency phase , i.e. the decrease in the quantity of sexual behavior postulated as a natural drive in older children, would be triggered by oppression and punishment; in other cultures where sexual behavior in children is tolerated or even promoted, this decrease is not recognizable.

The theory is based on microsociological symbolic interactionism and is now widely recognized in sociology and sexology .

It should be noted that the theory of sexual scripts only explains the development of sexual behavior; it does not deal with sexual orientation, including deviating sexual preferences . Sexual behavior is understood to mean not only specific sexual acts, but also the classification and evaluation of possibly sexual behavior.

Development of sexual behavior

A person learns through observation, verbal interaction and other influencing what types of behavior there are and how this is assessed by socialization bodies. The input is sent out by parents , other relatives , peers , school , media , social groups such as celebrities or people with the same sexual preference and others and perceived to a different extent. The learning process is strongest in early childhood, but it continues all the time. In the course of life, a person also learns to evaluate behavior as sexual and to adapt it as his own behavior by means of stimulus-response patterns, while further influencing his own moral views . A not unimportant influencing factor for sexual behavior is the assignment to a gender and the corresponding non-gender-neutral upbringing .

In addition to the specific sexual behavior, the recognition of sexual acts and their evaluation are learned. The different forms of kiss are valued differently depending on the culture : The same form of a kiss is an expression of sexual attraction in one culture, but a non-sexual expression of friendship in another country . The masturbation is perceived differently. While it is always perceived as a sexual act in Western Europe in the 21st century, it is a popular method of calming babies and young children in many areas of Central America, among others, and is not considered sex in this case.

A person scripted in this way later meets a sexual partner who in turn has its own, perhaps completely different, scripting. There is a corresponding approximation of a common, for both acceptable sexual behavior. If this is not possible, sexual behavior that is satisfactory for both sides is usually not possible and, according to Western understanding, usually no partnership-based and equal relationship is possible. Sexual scripts therefore not only have an intrapsychic, but also an interpersonal effect.

The sexual behavior learned also has an influence on the subjective moral evaluation of sexual behavior, since sexual behavior perceived as acceptable is also more likely to be evaluated as acceptable. Due to the pluralism of sexual values, especially in western and industrial societies, in which freedom of expression has a high priority and taboos do not have a great influence, sexual morality is sometimes different within a cultural area.

The increased socio-cultural interaction, such as the integration of Islamic cultures into Western societies, can lead to major problems: While an individual's behavior is perceived as subjectively normal and not objectionable due to his cultural background, it can be intrusive in the corresponding other cultural area , neglected or even perceived as a borderline violation. While members of the cultural area can be psychologically confused or damaged by a border violation, this can in turn also take place in the individual due to the usually harsh social reaction. Another problem of sex scripting is that especially people with a deviating sexual preference also adapt behavior that transgresses boundaries as necessary if this is prescribed by the socialization authorities and there are no positive role models. This is true even if the individual actually rejects such behavior through his or her developed moral view. Various scientists, including the psychologist Horst Vogt in Germany , are therefore calling for the prevention of sexual abuse of children by pedophiles , who, however, only commit one to five percent of all relevant acts, for better social integration and socially appropriate and non-sexual behavior with children enable. The learning of socially appropriate behavior towards children is also conveyed through the traffic light system at the Berlin Charité and its sister projects.

literature

  • John Gagnon , William S. Simon : Sexual Conduct: The Social Sources of Human Sexuality , 1973
  • John Gagnon: Gender Preference in Erotic Relations: The Kinsey Scale and Sexual Scripts , 1990
  • Erwin J. Haeberle : Cycle, Curve, Drive and Script: Models of Sexual Development , in: A Lüderliches Leben - Portrait of an Unadjusted, Festschrift for Ernest Borneman on his 80th birthday , 1995