Extradyadic sex: The role of descriptive and injunctive norms

Abstract

The willingness to engage in extradyadic sexual behavior was examined in relation to attitudes, descriptive norms (what others do or are willing to do), and injunctive norms (what others think one should do). Although in research on attitude‐behavior relationships injunctive norms are usually assessed, we assumed that descriptive norms would be at least as important a predictor of extradyadic sex. With an interval of 15 years, we questioned two samples, each consisting of 125 men and 125 women, and both including a substantial number of individuals who had been involved in extradyadic sex. In Study 1, the sample included a community subsample as well as subsamples of students, individuals of an ecumenical church organization, and members of the Dutch Society for Sexual Reform. The sample in Study 2 was participating in a research project on safer sex in heterosexual relationships. The results showed that, in both samples, attitudes, descriptive and, in Study 1, injunctive norms, and past behavior were independent predictors of willingness to engage in extradyadic sex. In addition, this willingness was stronger among men than among women. We concluded that not only injunctive norms that imply social pressure, especially descriptive norms that specify what is most common in a specific situation, are related to the willingness to engage in extradyadic sex. The implications for current research on attitude‐behavior relations are discussed.