Multiple Os

While working on my literature review for my latest project, I stumbled upon an excellent article and a body of sexual script theory literature.

Donald Mosher’s Script Theory and Human Sexual Response: A Glossary of Postulates, Corollaries, and Definitions highlights many of the scripts that are commonly used in individual’s behavior and decision-making as it pertains to human sexual response. People simultaneously can embrace these scripts, which can often be contradictory. Mosher’s glossary is useful because its compilation shows the complexity and numerosity of the nuances of scripts related to human sexual response and, ultimately, potential outcomes like orgasm.

For those of you unfamiliar with script theory, here’s an overview:

• Tomkins’s script theory explains human behavior through innate emotional responses called affects, which form scripted patterns. These scripts guide behavior based on seeking positive effects and avoiding negative ones, shaped by early experiences, and influencing personality, social interactions, and culture.
• According to sexual script theory, sexual encounters are not solely driven by biological instincts but are also heavily influenced by social and cultural factors. These scripts provide a guideline for individuals to navigate sexual situations, defining what is considered appropriate, desirable, and expected behavior in specific contexts.
• In terms of sexuality studies, sexual scripts are the approved norms regarding sexuality that individuals embrace, internalize, and endorse through a process of socialization.
• Scripts become the models people use to interpret and respond to sexual situations.
• People draw upon these scripts when judging their sexual experiences and when engaging in sexual behaviors.

Here’s an opensource link to the entire glossary of scripts as they pertain to human sexual response:

http://www.tomkins.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Mosher.glossary.C.pdf