1. USING THE SOCIAL NORMS APPROACH TO EXPLORE GENDER DIFFERENCES IN HOOKING UP BEHAVIOUR IN AN EMERGING ADULTHOOD POPULATION
Elaine Byrnes
Doctoral Researcher, School of Psychology,
National University of Ireland, Galway
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2. Overview Introduction to relevant theories
Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviour
Consequences of Risky Sexual Behaviour
Psychological
Consent
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3. Theory of Emerging Adulthood
Arnett (2000, 2004, 2006) defines it as a distinct developmental stage
There are identifiable characteristics – identity explorations, instability, self-focus
There are three main factors to this historically embedded and culturally constructed concept
College experience is highly relevant to social and relationship exploration
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4. Social Norms Theory
Describes situations in which individuals incorrectly perceive the attitudes and/or behaviours of peers and other community members to be different from their own when in fact they are not (Perkins and Berkowitz, 1986)
 This phenomenon has been called “pluralistic ignorance”
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5. Social Norms Theory
These misperceptions occur in relation to problem or risk behaviours
(which are usually overestimated)
And in relation to healthy or protective behaviours
(which are usually underestimated)
One of the effects of pluralistic ignorance is to cause individuals to change their own behaviour to approximate the misperceived norm
May also provide a useful explanatory device for casual sexual activity in an emerging adulthood population
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6. What is Hooking Up?
Hooking up is generally understood as brief, uncommitted sexual encounters among individuals who are not romantic or dating partners
Arnett’s emerging adulthood perspective directs attention to young adulthood as a period where the exploration of risk and opportunity can give rise to threats to health and well-being
Among heterosexual emerging adults of both sexes hook-ups have become more acceptable
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7. Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviour Gender
Owen et al., (2010) demonstrated gender differences in reactions to hooking up, with almost twice as many men as women reporting a positive experience
Hooking up is more positively associated for men than women, psychologically
May be due to the greater social acceptability of non-dating sexual behaviour for men (Crawford & Popp, 2003)
Role stereotypes - its evolution!
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8. Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviour Alcohol
Dantzer et al. (2006) found that Irish university students had one of the highest consumption rates for alcohol internationally at 94%. NO gender differences
For women there are stricter injunctive norms (Social Norms Theory) regarding sexual behaviour than for men. If alcohol consumption reduces sexual inhibitions its effects may be more noticeable in the case of women and in the case of acts involving casual sexual partners
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9. Research Findings on Social Norms Misperceptions
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10. Psychological Consequences of Social Norm Misperceptions for Females
Women may feel more regret about casual sex as engaging in it violates the “standards” for female sexual behaviour
Zeelenberg (1999) defined regret as a negative emotion that one feels when remembering the past and imagining the present would be different if one had behaved differently
Regrets can result from acting in a certain way (regrets of action or commission) or from failing to act (regrets of inaction, or regrets of omission) Oswalt et al., (2005)
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11. Addressing these Social Norms Misperceptions through Smart Consent Workshops
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12. CONSENT IS…..
Affirmative = The presence of a YES (Not just the absence of a NO)
Active = Silence is not consent, participation is not consent
Freely Given = Not something you can be pressured into giving; it can be revoked at any time and is never implied. People cannot give consent if they are unconscious or incapacitated by drugs or alcohol
!!!!!!ENTHUSIASTIC!!!!!!

13. Twitter: @ebyrnesNUIG
THANK YOU
Any questions?
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