Is There a Sexual Stereotype Linking Casual Sex with Low Self-Esteem?

Abstract

An experimental vignette study was conducted to examine the pervasiveness of sexual stereotypes that women (although not men) who engage in casual sex are perceived to have lower self-esteem–and are considered to be less desirable for a relationship–than those who do not engage in casual sex. In a 2 × 2 experimental design, we embedded information about the recent relationship history (two casual sexual relationships vs. two committed sexual relationships) in a hypothetical online dating profile, and also manipulated the profile author’s gender. The participants (N = 318, obtained from two college settings and through Prolific) forecasted that an online profile statement that referred to casual sexual partners would lead to less overall attraction (by other users) than a statement that referred to committed relationships. However, this difference was found regardless of the author’s gender (i.e., no evidence was found for a double standard). Furthermore, participants did not stereotype the hypothetical woman (or man) as having lower self-esteem if they had casual sex partners. The author’s sexual history also did not affect the participants’ ratings of their desirability as a partner, with the exception that the author who had prior casual sexual partners was assumed to be more attractive for a short-term relationship than the author with prior committed sexual partners, and regardless of the author’s gender. The findings are discussed in the contexts of first impressions made in real-world settings, waning double standards in a society of increased egalitarianism, and changing cultural, sexual scripts.