Abstract
ven before the appearance of Freundian psychoanalysis, scientist have held that
processes of societal liberalization tend to contribute to a loosening of morals. The
degree of sexual permissiveness in a society is often regarded as an indicator for openness
and tolerance. In diachronic terms – from a temporal perspective – it is also taken as a
measure of social change. The article investigates the construct of sexual permissiveness
from different vantage points. From a methodological standpoint we examine bottom and
ceiling effects and their consequences for the quality and adequacy of these indicators for
comparative (cross-cultural) research. The substantive perspective is pursued in replicating other, mostly American studies in this area. The countries chosen are Germany and Israel. We examine the influence of socio-demographic variables in the two countries. In
particular, we address the question of system-related differences in the attitudes towards
sexuality and compare responses from Eastern Germans and Jewish immigrants from the
former Soviet Republics to Israel with responses from Western Germans and the remaining Israeli population.
processes of societal liberalization tend to contribute to a loosening of morals. The
degree of sexual permissiveness in a society is often regarded as an indicator for openness
and tolerance. In diachronic terms – from a temporal perspective – it is also taken as a
measure of social change. The article investigates the construct of sexual permissiveness
from different vantage points. From a methodological standpoint we examine bottom and
ceiling effects and their consequences for the quality and adequacy of these indicators for
comparative (cross-cultural) research. The substantive perspective is pursued in replicating other, mostly American studies in this area. The countries chosen are Germany and Israel. We examine the influence of socio-demographic variables in the two countries. In
particular, we address the question of system-related differences in the attitudes towards
sexuality and compare responses from Eastern Germans and Jewish immigrants from the
former Soviet Republics to Israel with responses from Western Germans and the remaining Israeli population.
| Original language | German |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 108-129 |
| Journal | ZUMA Nachrichten |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 44 |
| State | Published - 1999 |