Selection of Reference Group, Perceived Reference Group Permissiveness, and Personal Permissiveness Attitudes and Behavior: A Study of Two Consecutive Panels (1967-1971; 1970-1974)

Abstract

Employing two sequential, and partially overlapping panels of white, single students, covering the years 1967-1971 and 1970-1974, measurement was made (both longitudinally and cross-sectionally) of reference group selection with regard to sexual standards, perceived reference group norms with respect to premarital sexual permissiveness and the relationship of these variables to premarital sexual attitudes and behavior. Findings included: (a) selection of reference groups predominantly followed peer to peer and/or parent to peer patterns from Ti to T2 for both panels; (b) permissiveness increased from Ti to T2 for both panels, with significant changes in the same people-these changes were greater fobrfemales than for males; (c) selection of peers at TI and T2 and movement from selection oqfparents at TI to selection of peers at T2 were related to significant shifts of respondents in premarital sexual attitudes and behavior, in the direction qf greater permissiveness; (d) perception of reference group permissiveness at T2 which exceeded that perceived at Ti was related to significant shifts of respondents in premarital sexual attitudes and behavior, in the direction of greater permissiveness.