Would you go to bed with me tonight?

[archerships]

R. D. Clark & Hatfield (1989) had attractive undergraduates approach members of the opposite sex on a U.S. college campus and state:

"I have been noticing you around campus. I find you very attractive. Then the person would ask one of three questions:

(a) Would you go out with me tonight?
(b) Would you come over to my apartment tonight?
(c) Would you go to bed with me tonight?

There was a difference between men's and women's responses to these questions:

Women's responses: (a) 50% yes, (b) 6% yes, (c) 0% yes
Men's responses: (a) 50% yes, (b) 69% yes, (c) 75% yes

Typical men's comments re bed:

"Why do we have to wait until tonight?"
"I can't tonight, but tomorrow would be fine."

Men who said 'No' apologized:

"I'm married."
"I'm going with someone."

Typical women's comments (never apologized):

"You've got to be kidding."
"What's wrong with you? Leave me alone."


From Clark, R.D. and E. Hatfield."Gender differences in receptivity to sexual offers." Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality 2:39-55.


Comments

[kittles.livejournal.com]

Very interesting post. :)

[aviatrix.livejournal.com]

I've got to be the only woman on the planet who would appreciate the direct question... Not saying the answer would be yes, mind you. But there's been plenty of times in my life that, if the guy had asked directly, the night would have turned out differently.

[crasch.livejournal.com]

Well, then, "Would you....

Oh. I think I see a difference here. It sounds as if you knew the guy, maybe had dinner, went to a movie first, but the guy just didn't "step up to the plate", so to speak.

In this study, the guys (and gals) are complete, albeit attractive, strangers. If the women in the study had been offered a chance to get to know the guy, even for a few hours, I suspect the number of yes answers would've been much higher. (Although it would've been much more difficult not to reveal that it was an experiment.)

Re:

[aviatrix.livejournal.com]

You speak truth, m'dear.

[klarfax.livejournal.com]

This is a discouraging study. Men have it much harder.

[crasch.livejournal.com]

Yes...although I suppose straight women are a big part of the reason that AIDS hasn't spread nearly so far into the hetero community. I think gay men behave the way straight men would behave if straight women would let them. So three cheers for selective sexual receptivity!!

:>

[klarfax.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm trying to become gay.