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Identifier	Thesis 2072
Author	Rodríguez-Arauz, Gloriana, 1981-
Title	Sexual behavior among Costa Ricans and Euro-Americans
Publisher	Central Connecticut State University
Date	2010
Resource Type	Master's Thesis
Notes	Sex is a vital part of oneself. Due to its biological and social functions, sex has a profound impact on an individual’s physical and psychological health. Risky sexual behavior may have particularly harmful consequences, including contracting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections, lowered self-esteem, unwanted pregnancy, and the experience of social stigma. There are moral battles fought over sex education or abstinence only programs, yet what exactly is understood by the word “sex” is often left to the interpretation of the individual. In fact, although evidence suggests that there is a high level of agreement indicating that both penile-vaginal and anal intercourse are considered “having sex,” this consensus does not extend to other behaviors, such as oral sex (Randall & Byers, 2003; Trotter & Alderson, 2007). Several factors are believed to influence variations in definitions of sex, including perceptions of behavioral appropriateness, the level of commitment in a relationship, and gender. Additionally, many cultures hold different norms and values in relation to appropriate behavior, relationships, and gender roles. Yet, research regarding the impact of ethnocultural influences on perceptions of sexual behavior has been limited. This thesis explores definitions of sex and the perceived appropriateness of sexual behaviors in two cultures with contrasting values: Costa Rica and the United States. Results suggest that although both cultures define penile-vaginal and anal intercourse as sex, Costa Ricans consider behaviors associated with foreplay, oral sex, and phone/cyber sex as ‘having sex’ more frequently than their Euro-American counterparts. For Euro-American participants, oral sex was considered sex only when it occurred within a new relationship, while foreplay and phone/cyber sex were almost never considered ‘having sex’. On the other hand, for Costa Ricans, behaviors associated with phone/cyber sex were perceived as ‘having sex’ only within a new relationship, while all other categories of behavior were defined as sex regardless of context. Findings also suggest that relational commitments are a stronger contextual barrier in perceptions of appropriate of sexual behavior among Costa Ricans, when compared to Euro-Americans. In fact, the majority of Euro-American respondents rated all sexual behaviors as appropriate prior to a formal commitment (marriage or domestic partnership). The only exception to this was among the Euro-American females, who indicated that anal sex was only appropriate within the context of a formal committed relationship. On the other hand, Costa Ricans generally rated the sexual behaviors as appropriate after a minimum of 3 months dating. For Costa Rican females, phone/cyber sex was only appropriate within the context of a formal commitment and anal sex was almost never considered appropriate. This thesis demonstrates the importance of considering culture when exploring sexual behavior. It explains cultural differences in accordance with the theoretical implications of individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity, and conservative morality. Furthermore, it discusses implications for intercultural relationships, the design of prevention programs, and health care.
Subject	Costa Ricans -- Sexual behavior Americans -- Sexual behavior
Department	Department of Psychology
Advisor	Mealy, Marisa
Type	Text
Digital Format	application/pdf
Language	eng
OCLC number	713734368
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