The Impact of Males Proposing Condom Use on Perceptions of an Initial Sexual Encounter

Abstract

The authors investigated the impact of the introduction of a condom into an initial sexual encounter on the perception of the male condom proposer and the likely outcome of the sexual encounter. College students viewed a videotape depicting the development of an initial sexual encounter. Method of condom introduction (verbal, nonverbal, no condom control) was varied. Respondents evaluated the condom proposer on five characteristics (nice, mature, romantic, exciting, promiscuous). Condom proposers were perceived as nicer and more mature but less romantic and exciting than nonproposers. Women but not men perceived the proposer as nicer and more mature and less promiscuous when he introduced the condom verbally rather than nonverbally. Men but not women estimated that proposing condom use diminished the chance of sexual intercourse. Results are discussed from the perspectives of person perception, sex role stereotypes, the evolutionary perspective on mate selection, and the applied perspective of the implications for intervention.