Marital and Sexual Lifestyles in the United States : Attitudes, Behaviors, and Relationships in Social Context

Preface xi Needs Addressed by This Text xii Content Covered xiii Acknowledgments xvii Introduction 1(1) Marital Lifestyles in the United States 2(6) Human Sexuality 8(7) The Effects of Change 15(1) Summary 16(3) Research Methods 19(26) Facts and Values 20(2) Rules and Exceptions 22(2) Validity and Generalizability 24(5) Methods of Data Collection 29(11) Research Methods Supplement 40(5) Marital Lifestyles: Single, Married, and Cohabiting 45(40) Being Single 45(7) Dating and Mate Selection 52(8) Theories of Mate Selection 60(2) Starting New Relationships 62(23) Sex and Singles 85(32) Premarital Sex: Attitudes and Behaviors 85(5) Repercussions of Changing Sexual Standards 90(4) Sex and Communication 94(10) Contraception 104(1) Sexually Transmitted Diseases 105(5) Responding to STDs 110(4) The Individual and Social Change 114(3) Marriage, Divorce, and Sex 117(28) Marriage and Overall Well-Being 117(2) Divorce As a Safety Valve 119(3) Sex and Divorce 122(3) Participation in Extramarital Sex 125(2) Open Marriage, Sexually Open Marriages, and Swinging 127(6) Marital Sex 133(6) Frequency of Intercourse 139(2) Talking to a Partner About Sex 141(1) Conclusion 142(3) Sexual Morality and Sexual Hang-Ups 145(28) Sexual Morality 145(4) Institutional Perspectives 149(15) Personal Preferences in Social Context 164(5) Conclusion 169(4) Homosexuality 173(26) The Nature of Homosexuality 173(5) Can Homosexuality be ``Cured''? 178(2) Public Attitudes 180(2) Prevalence of Homosexuality 182(2) Homosexuality and the Family 184(12) Conclusion 196(3) Marital Relationships: Men, Women, and Children 199(34) Gender Roles 199(6) Working Wives 205(5) Egalitarian Relationships 210(5) Expectations of Parenthood 215(4) Work Versus Family: A Historical Overview 219(1) Effects of Divorce 220(13) Growing Older and Improving Relationships 233(30) Growing Older 233(8) Improving Relationships 241(5) Theoretical Perspectives in Counseling 246(5) Myths About Relationships 251(4) Successful Relationships 255(4) Sex Therapy 259(4) Looking Ahead 263(24) Marital Lifestyles: Divorce and Cohabitation Trends 263(5) Sexual Lifestyles: Continuing Concerns 268(2) Facts, Values, and Social Science Revisited 270(2) Diversity 272(1) Social Policy 273(4) Closing Comment 277(10) Appendix, Sample Survey Items 287(10) References 297(22) Index 319