Sexual Motivations and Ideals Distinguish Sexual Identities within the Self-Concept: A Multidimensional Scaling Analysis

Celeste Sangiorgio, Warren A. Reich, Andrea C. Vial and Mirko Savone
Additional contact information
Celeste Sangiorgio: Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
Warren A. Reich: Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
Andrea C. Vial: Department of Psychology, Yale University, 2 Hillhouse Ave., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
Mirko Savone: Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA

Social Sciences, 2014, vol. 3, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Many studies explore when and how young people make sexual choices but few empirical investigations link their sexual motivations with their inner conceptions about their sexual identities. We used multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis to connect young adult participants’ (N = 128) self-descriptions of twelve identities to their sexual motivations and ideals. Identities clustered along two semantically distinct dimensions: Dimension 1 was anchored by family identities on one side and non-family identities on the other; Dimension 2 was anchored on one side by friend/romantic relationships and achievement-based social identities on the other. Those who cited intimacy (e.g., sex as an expression of love) and enhancement (e.g., gratification; to feel good) sexual motivations were more likely to describe their sexual identities and gender identities as distinct from other identities, especially for women. Idealizing physically passionate relationships was positively linked to a higher distinction between sexual and non-sexual identities, and between gender and personal identities and family identities. The mental structuring of identities may inform sexual relationship motives, ideals, and expectations.

Keywords: Multidimensional Scaling Analysis; semantic space; identity; sexual motivation; idealization; intimacy; dissimilarity; physical attraction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/2/215/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/2/215/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:3:y:2014:i:2:p:215-226:d:35376

Access Statistics for this article

Social Sciences is currently edited by Ms. Yvonne Chu

More articles in Social Sciences from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().