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Donald S. Strassberg, Ph.D.,,2 and Lisa K. Lockerd, M.D.1
Attitudinal and experiential correlates of sexual fantasies involving force or coercion against the fantasizer were studied in 137 college women. Results revealed that (i) virtually every woman reported engaging in sexual fantasy on a regular basis, (ii) more than half the subjects reported having engaged in a force fantasy, (iii) those reporting force fantasies scored as less sexually guilty and more erotophilic than those not reporting such fantasies. Those reporting force fantasies also had more sexual experience and engaged in more fantasizing of the nonforce type than the other subjects. A history of exposure to sexual force or coercion was unrelated to the report of force fantasies. Taken together, these findings are offered in support of the hypothesis that the occurrence of force fantasies, rather than resulting from an attempt to deal with sexual guilt, represents one of a number of ways in which some women demonstrate a relatively open, unrestricted, and varied approach to their sexuality.
KEY WORDS: sex fantasies; sex guilt; coercion.
INTRODUCTION In recent years, the study of sexual fantasies has become an important part of the effort to understand human sexual behavior. Research has demonstrated that sexual fantasizing can be a normal, adaptive, and healthy aspect of sexuality for both men and women (Chick and Gold, 1987-1988; Davidson, 1985; Davidson and Hoffman, 1986; Hariton and Singer, 1974; Knafo and Jaffe, 1984; Pope et al., 1984). Apparently, almost everyone at least occasionally engages in sexual fantasizing, either to enhance the pleasure of other sexual activities (e.g., intercourse or masturbation) or as a pleasurable act in and of itself (Knafo and Jaffe, 1984; Pelletier and Herold, 1988).
Researchers examining sexual fantasies have found remarkable similarity across different samples of both men and women in terms of the general content of the most frequently occurring of such fantasies. Themes such as sex with an imaginary lover, reliving a previous sexual experience, sex with a stranger or famous person, or sex in a different or exotic place, are frequently reported among those occurring most often by both men and women (e.g., Hariton and Singer, 1974; Knafo and Jaffe, 1984; Pelletier and Herold, 1988). Another theme reported by men involves their using some type of...