skip navigation
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Login | Subscribe/Register | Manage Account | Shopping Cartshopping cart icon | Help | Contact Us | Home     
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
  Advanced Search
Search Help
     
| | | | |
place holder
Administered by the Office of Justice Programs U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Seal National Criminal Justice Reference Service National Criminal Justice Reference Service Office of Justice Programs Seal National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Topics
A-Z Topics
Corrections
Courts
Crime
Crime Prevention
Drugs
Justice System
Juvenile Justice
Law Enforcement
Victims
Left Nav Bottom Line
Home / NCJRS Abstract

Publications
 

NCJRS Abstract


The document referenced below is part of the NCJRS Library collection.
To conduct further searches of the collection, visit the NCJRS Abstracts Database.

How to Obtain Documents
 
NCJ Number: NCJ 222547  
Title: I Wanted To Get To Know Her Better: Adolescent Boys' Dating Motives, Masculinity Ideology, and Sexual Behavior
Journal: Journal of Adolescence  Volume:31  Issue:1  Dated:February 2008  Pages:17 to 32
Author(s): Andrew P. Smiler
Publisher Url*: http://www.elsevier.com 
Publication Date: 02/2008
Pages: 16
Type: Studies/research reports
Origin: United Kingdom
Language: English
Annotation: This study examined motives for dating among 105 racially and socioeconomically diverse 10th-grade boys.
Abstract: The findings indicate that the boys engaged in dating and romantic interactions with girls for a variety of reasons that were distinct from wanting to have sex with them. The most frequently mentioned reasons for dating pertained to wanting to know or experience positive interactions with the girl being dated, and sexual contact was viewed as an expression of an intimacy that developed over time. Thus, sexual contact was not the primary aim of dating a particular girl, but rather a behavior that emerged from the emotional and physical closeness that developed. A minority of the boys gave high priority to dating motives and behaviors that reflected masculine peer norms. The boys who dated primarily to conform with peer norms for dating and having sexual intercourse were less likely to value social interaction and emotional intimacy with the girls they dated. This suggests that social status among their masculine friends is an important motive for initiating dating and for sexual behaviors within the dating relationship. Peer conformity motives, however, were less often mentioned than other motives and typically co-occurred with other motives. The findings show the importance of resisting stereotypical and one-dimensional perspectives for why boys pursue dating interactions. The 105 boys (71 percent European-American, 22 percent Latino, and 7.6 percent African-American) were provided with a list of 11 possible reasons for dating and 10 possible reasons for engaging in sexual intercourse. The list was developed from existing research, interview data, journalistic accounts, and "brainstorming" sessions of the original research group. The instructions for completing the questionnaire made clear the boys could select multiple reasons. 5 tables and 54 references
Main Term(s): Sexual behavior ; Socialization ; Adolescent males
Index Term(s): Adolescent attitudes ; Juveniles ; Peer influences on behavior ; Juvenile social adjustment
 
To cite this abstract, use the following link:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=244448

* A link to the full-text document is provided whenever possible. For documents not available online, a link to the publisher's web site is provided.


Contact Us | Feedback | Site Map
Freedom of Information Act | Privacy Statement | Legal Policies and Disclaimers | USA.gov

U.S. Department of Justice | Office of Justice Programs | Office of National Drug Control Policy

place holder