Premarital coitus and commitment among college students.

In contrast to some popular speculations about a massive increase in sexual behavior labeled "permissiveness without commitment," this survey of 2453 undergraduate students from four geographical areas in the United States provides data which suggest a behavioral pattern of "permissiveness with commitment." This pattern of "coitus with commitment" was evident not only for females, but for males as well. With minor exceptions, the pattern was detected for both sexes in all four geographical regions. Speculation is made about ways in which this pattern may be one outcome of the alleged intersex convergence in sexual attitudes and behavior among American college youth. Implications are drawn for the increment of theory.