Intersubjectivity, parental identification and sexual desire in women.
Item
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Title
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Intersubjectivity, parental identification and sexual desire in women.
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Identifier
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AAI9830687
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identifier
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9830687
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Creator
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Brody, Irene B.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Vera Paster
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Date
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1998
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Clinical | Psychology, Developmental | Women's Studies
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Abstract
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This study investigated sexual desire in a non-clinical sample of 31 married or cohabiting women between the ages of 28 and 47. The independent variables examined were: the level of differentiation from parents and spouse, capacity for interpersonal relatedness, and parental sex life and attitudes. Sexual desire was measured using the Ownership of Sexual Desire Scale developed by the researcher. This scale was used to evaluate results of a structured interview along six dimensions of sexual desire: self-acceptance, self-awareness, emotional expression, physical expression, agency, and the integration of sexual desire within a romantic relationship. Individuation from parents and spouse was measured by the Blatt Conceptual Level scale and the Geller De-illusionment scale. The capacity for relatedness was measured using the Urist-Schill Mutuality of Autonomy scale that uses the Rorschach as its basis.;Results indicated that sexual desire agency is correlated with interpersonal relatedness, with perceiving one's mother as having had a positive sexual relationship, and with perceiving one's mother as a sexual person who is assertive of her own sexual desire. A woman's awareness of her own sexual desire, and her capacity to express both the emotional as well as physical experience of desire, were correlated with perceiving one's mother as having had a satisfying sexual relationship. Being able to integrate sexual desire into a satisfying relationship was correlated with differentiation from, and low ambivalence towards, one's current spouse/partner. The best overall predictor of women's ownership of sexual desire was a positive perception of maternal sexual relationship happiness. Differentiation from mother as well as from partner/spouse, perception of paternal sex attitudes, and interpersonal relatedness were also predictors of ownership of sexual desire.;In addition, 61% of the women in this study reported some difficulty verbalizing sexual requests during lovemaking. 50% of the participants reported a tendency to "give in" to their partners' desires for sex. 25% of the women in this study reported interpersonal difficulties when turning down unwanted sex with their partners.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
