Stereotypes About Male Sexuality and the Use of Social Influence Strategies in Intimate Relationships

Abstract

The types of social influence strategies that women and men use with their intimate partners fall into two main categories: power strategies, involving tactics to persuade a partner to do what one wants, and avoidance strategies, techniques used in response to a partner's unwelcomed requests. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the relationship between women's and men's use of power and avoidance strategies and their endorsement of several stereotypes about men and their sexuality, as measured by the Stereotypes about Male Sexuality Scale (SAMSS). The results indicated that men who adhered to conventional stereotypes about male sexuality reported using unilateral power and avoidance strategies in their intimate relationships. By contrast, women who reported more traditional views about male sexuality reported using indirect power strategies and both compliance and unilateral types of avoidance strategies with their intimate male partners.