Gender Differences in Receptivity to Sexual Offers

Abstract

Recent research on both the concept of illusion of fertility control and infant-mother attachment theory have provided insight into the nature of people's sexual behavior. The present investigation examined the influence of both (a) illusion of fertility control and (b) attachment tendencies on contraceptive behavior. The participants were undergraduates at a small Midwestern university who received partial course credit for participation. Multiple regression analyses revealed that illusion of fertility control and attachment style were related to contraception. Two subscales of the IFCS were related to contraception. More specifically, a belief in bodily control was associated with less effective current contraceptive use. In addition, females who felt more independence from their partners in making sexual decisions were characterized by a higher contraceptive failure rate. Other results indicated that individuals with a dismissing attachment style reported a history of less reliable contraception.