Masters Thesis

Hooking Up on Campus: Cognitive Dissonance and Sexual Regret Among College Students

ABSTRACT HOOKING UP ON CAMPUS: COGNITIVE DISSONANCE AND SEXUAL REGRET AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS by © Anna Lind Thomas 2010 Master of Arts in Communication Studies California State University, Chico Spring 2010 This study investigated the psychological consequences of hooking up within the framework of cognitive dissonance theory. Participants were 134 male and 158 female (N = 292) college students attending a mid-sized university in the Western United States. Hypothesis 1 predicted that individuals with conflicting sexual attitudes and behaviors would experience dissonance. The results of the present study indicate that students with the combination of conservative sexual values and fewer sexual experiences were more likely to experience dissonance than any other group. In support of hypothesis 2, the results of the study revealed that there was a significantly positive correlation between dissonance and sexual regret. In addition, post hoc analyses revealed that dissonance was the best predictor of regret. Hypothesis 3 predicted there would be significant differences between males and females in reports of dissonance and sexual regret. In partial support of this hypothesis, the results showed that females reported experiencing dissonance significantly more than males. From those experiencing dissonance, research question 1 sought to determine how dissonance was reduced. The majority (63%; 43% males, 76% females) reduced their dissonance by changing an attitude or behavior more than any other reduction strategy. Within the framework of cognitive dissonance theory, this study was able to demonstrate that sexual attitudes inconsistent with sexual behaviors can cause dissonance and that dissonance is positively associated with sexual regret.

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