Onstage and offstage sex: exploring a hypothesis

Cornell Journal of Social Relations • Vol/Iss. 1 • Published In 1967 • Pages: 75-84 •

By Maxwell, Robert J.

Abstract

The relationship between restrictions on premarital sex and the privacy of sexual practices is examined, using the degree of impenetrability of house materials as both a proxy and assumed cause for "offstage" or private sex. The author theorizes that permissive premarital sex norms are a response to open dwelling types which are themselves an adaptation to warm temperatures.

Samples
Sample Used	Coded Data	Comment
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)	Other Researchers	A subsample of 93 societies used.

Hypotheses (4)
Hypothesis	Supported
The use of private settings for sexual behavior will be associated with more restrictive codes of premarital sexual behavior.	Supported
Penetrable walls will be more likely than impenetrable walls with increased proximity to the equator.	Supported
Premarital sex norms will be more permissive closer to the equator.	Supported
"[We will] find invariable sanctions on premarital sexual activity associated with [rectangular and quadrangular] floor plans and no sanctions on sex associated with [circular floor plans]"	Claimed supported

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: mas Tahlisa Brougham

Onstage and offstage sex: exploring a hypothesis

Cornell Journal of Social Relations • Vol/Iss. 1 • Published In 1967 • Pages: 75-84 • Cite

By Maxwell, Robert J.

Abstract

Samples

Hypotheses (4)

Cornell Journal of Social Relations • Vol/Iss. 1 • Published In 1967 • Pages: 75-84 •