Sexual behaviors are influenced by different factors that surround a person's life. One of them is society and culture. As a result, people form different ideas about sex depending on their environment, religion, family, education, social class, gender, race, age, and nationality.
In most cultures, sexual behaviors are considered taboo. Parents often teach children from an early age to repress their instinctive desire for pleasure by telling them it is wrong and shameful. This is because they believe that sexual attitudes should be kept private and sacred until marriage. In some societies, people have a strict view of what is acceptable when it comes to sex, and this includes the types of sexual acts considered moral and those considered immoral. They also impose restrictions on the number of partners allowed and the timing of such encounters.
Polygamy is a common practice in some African countries but illegal in others. Similarly, same-sex relationships are tolerated or even encouraged in some parts of the world while being frowned upon in others.
Cultural values shape relational expectations. People learn to associate certain feelings and behaviors with specific genders. Men are expected to initiate intimacy, while women are supposed to wait passively for men to approach them. Women are taught to be submissive and reserved towards their male counterparts, whereas men are permitted to show dominance and aggressiveness. Some cultures do not allow interracial marriages, which means couples must come from the same ethnic group to get married. Others have strict rules about who can marry whom within a family.
Society shapes communication patterns between individuals during sexual activity.
Many people grow up believing that silence during sex is acceptable, while other cultures consider talking dirty normal. It is also believed that men should not express emotions regarding love or commitment in bed, while women are free to express their feelings openly without judgment.
Cultural norms play a significant role in shaping sexual attitudes, relational expectations, and communication patterns.
In what ways do societal and cultural norms shape sexual attitudes, relational expectations, and communication patterns?
Societal and cultural norms influence how individuals perceive sexuality and relationships. They also shape communication patterns between individuals who come from different backgrounds or cultures. These norms are often handed down from one generation to another through family members, friends, religious institutions, educational systems, and mass media. Norms can be unspoken rules that guide behavior within a particular group or society.