性行為的發展

正如性別角色行為一樣，成人的性欲行為也遵循著腳本或更準確地說遵循著多種腳本的整合腳本而發展。即使對於表面上看來單一的已婚和未婚性欲行為也是如此。此處發揮作用的內化腳本和人際間腳本都被性交的意義和總體的文化腳本抹上了文化色彩；總體的文化腳本對性欲行為的目的、理想的頻率和“正常的”持續時間等等都有相應的規定。總體的文化腳本也判定性欲行為在哪里和什麼時候應該和不應該發生，還判定誰應該採取主動，等等。最後，文化腳本決定除了性交以外，其它什麼方式的性行為要禁止，或在哪一種情形下是被允許的。所有這些因素意味著社會-文化環境的變化也可能導致個人性欲行為的改變。

例如，美國在過去的半個世紀裏，口交（oral intercourse）已經既在已婚、也在未婚的異性性伴中變得更為普遍。毋庸置疑，這種變化歸因於所有西方國家裏愈來愈自由的社會風氣。這種風氣也第一次引起男子之間增加肛交（anal intercourse）行為；不過，AIDS的突然現世，肛交行為又引人注目地下降了。簡而言之，像其它任何社會行為一樣，個體相互之間的性行為容易折射出較大的社會變革。

但是，總會有人堅守著舊的行為模式。典型的例子就是男人對設法爭取較大獨立性的女人濫用權力。這種權力的濫用，多由文化腳本所塑造，並且當男性主導地位確立的時候，也是家長制時代的遺痕。現時，一些男人仍固守這種很大程度上已經被廢棄的文化腳本，而且把它帶進了性欲行為的關係之中。這常常會導致性失調、性功能障礙，並最終導致離異。

與之相反，當今有許多夫妻因為對摒棄傳統的成規陋習感到自由自在，他們在很大程度上達到了關係的融洽，尤其在婚姻後期更為如此。通過忽視社會已經制定的性別角色行為和性欲行為腳本，他們在相互關係中變得更富有創造性和更具個性。其結果是，他們也會得到較大的性滿足。

然而，除此之外，我們必須謹記，成人期是兒童期和青春期性腳本顯然形成之後的生命時期。個體的性愛偏好顯露無遺，並且個體與個體之間會顯示出顯著的差異。因此，我們會發現各式各樣的人，他們要麼參與一種類型的性行為，要麼數種，要麼許多種，要麼所有類型的性行為都參與。

Stages of Development: Adulthood

Erotic Behavior

Adult erotic behavior, just like gender role behavior, also follows a script or rather a combination of scripts. This is true even for the seemingly simple case of marital and non-marital coitus. The intrapsychic and interpersonal scripts at work here are colored by general cultural scripts about the meaning and importance of sexual intercourse, its purpose, ideal frequency and “normal” duration. These scripts also say where and when it should and should not take place, who should take the initiative etc. Finally, cultural scripts determine what other forms of sexual interaction besides coitus are prohibited or permitted and under which circumstances. All of this means that changes in the socio-cultural environment are also likely to lead to changes in individual erotic behavior.
For example, in the last half century, oral intercourse has become more common in both married and unmarried heterosexual couples in the US. This is undoubtedly due to an increasingly liberal social climate in all Western countries. This climate also first led to an increase in anal intercourse between homosexual men, but after the sudden appearance of AIDS, there was a dramatic decrease. In short: The interactive sexual behavior of individuals, like any other social behavior, tends to reflect larger social changes.
However, there are always individuals who cling to older behavior patterns. A good example is the violence committed by men against women who try to achieve greater independence. Much of this violence is culturally scripted and a relic of patriarchal times, when male dominance was taken for granted. Some men still follow this now largely obsolete script and carry it over into their erotic relationships. This often results in sexual discord, dysfunction, and finally, a parting of ways.
On the positive side, many couples today achieve greater harmony, especially in their later years, because they now feel free to abandon traditional stereotypes. Ignoring the established scripts for gender role behavior and erotic behavior, they become more creative and individualistic in their relationships. As a result, they also find greater satisfaction.
Apart from all that, however, it must be remembered that adulthood is the stage of life when the the results of childhood and adolescent sexual scripting become apparent. The individual erotic preferences fully manifest themselves and reveal remarkable differences from one individual to the next. Accordingly, one finds different adults engaging in one, several, many, or all types of sexual behavior.