Psychology of the misuse and rejection of contraception

Abstract

It is obvious from the large number of illegitimate births, legally and illegally induced abortions, and legitimate but undesired pregnancies in this country and abroad that contraceptive measures are commonly ignored or actively rejected by a substantial proportion of coitally active human beings who consciously deny procreative intent. While many of the reasons for misuse or rejection of contraception are included within the commonly discussed areas of contraceptive knowledgeability, acceptability, availability, cost, religious proscription, etc., innumerable other reasons, principally in the psychological and intersonal relationship realms, are also operative, consciously and unconsciously, in both partners. Many of these other reasons have been examined, and their ultimate influence on the concept of control of population growth by contraceptive means is discussed. Even with the future availability of an “ideal” contraceptive, it is probable for reasons of psychology rather than technology that social systems which require or allow volitional and individually initiated contraceptive use as the sole method for population control will fail to accomplish that goal.