DYSFUNCTIONAL
COGNITIVE BELIEFS
AS A SUSTAINING FACTOR
OF INVOLUNTARY CELIBACY
Kateřina Bartošová, David Minarčík, Jana Schwarzová
Goals
To look at involuntary celibacy
and sexual inexperience in
adulthoodinthecontextof Beck’s
dysfunctional beliefs theory
Methods
Personality Belief Questionnare
– Short Form (PBQ-SF) and Brief
Sexual Attitudes Scale (BSAS)
Sample
106 respondents, aged 17
to 58 (avarage age - 27,31)
Item Avarage SD
I do not need to be committed to a person
to have sex with him/her.
2.91 1.59
Casual sex is acceptable. 2.60 1.55
I would like to have sex with many partners. 3.07 1.51
One-night stands are sometimes very
enjoyable.
2.76 1.37
It is okay to have ongoing sexual
relationships with more than one person
at a time.
3.58 1.52
Sex as a simple exchange of favors is okay
if both people agree to it.
2.43 1.51
The best sex is with no strings attached. 3.81 1.18
Life would have fewer problems if people
could have sex more freely.
3.04 1.56
It is possible to enjoy sex with a person and
not like that person very much.
2.99 1.38
It is okay for sex to be just good physical
release.
2.42 1.36
Results
Permissiveness Instrumentality
Communion
Item Average SD
Sex is the closest form of communication
between two people.
2.69 1.40
A sexual encounter between two people deeply
in love is the ultimate human interaction.
2.08 1.21
At its best, sex seems to be the merging of two
souls.
2.48 1.25
Sex is a very important part of life. 1.75 0.94
Sex is usually an intensive, almost overwhelming
experience.
2.31 0.93
Item Average SD
Sex is best when you let yourself go and focus on
your own pleasure.
3.05 0.99
Sex is primarily the taking of pleasure from
another person.
3.80 1.11
The main purpose of sex is to enjoy oneself. 3.07 1.32
Sex is primarily physical. 2.90 1.14
Sex is primarily a bodily function, like eating. 2.85 1.36
InstrumentalityInstrumentality
Communion
Item Average SD
Sex is the closest form of communication
between two people.
2.69 1.40
A sexual encounter between two people deeply
in love is the ultimate human interaction.
2.08 1.21
At its best, sex seems to be the merging of two
souls.
2.48 1.25
Sex is a very important part of life. 1.75 0.94
Sex is usually an intensive, almost overwhelming
experience.
2.31 0.93
Item Average SD
Sex is best when you let yourself go and focus on
your own pleasure.
3.05 0.99
Sex is primarily the taking of pleasure from
another person.
3.80 1.11
The main purpose of sex is to enjoy oneself. 3.07 1.32
Sex is primarily physical. 2.90 1.14
Sex is primarily a bodily function, like eating. 2.85 1.36
Communion
Avoidant Beliefs
Item Average SD
Being exposed as inferior or inadequate will be
intolerable.
2.23 1.27
I should avoid unpleasant situations at all cost. 2.16 1.33
I cannot tolerate unpleasant feelings. 1.66 1.27
Unpleasant feelings will escalate and get out of
control.
1.95 1.34
I should avoid situations in which I attract
attention, or be as inconspicuous as possible.
2.23 1.37
Any signs of tension in a relationship indicate
the relationship has gone bad; therefore,
I should cut it off.
0.83 1.23
If people get close to me, they will discover the
"real" me and reject me.
2.15 1.43
Avoidant Beliefs
Paranoid Beliefs
Item Avarage SD
If people act friendly, they may be trying to use
or exploit me.
2.01 1.16
Others will try to use me or manipulate me if I
don't watch out.
2.28 1.22
Other people have hidden motives. 2.48 1.10
Other people will deliberately try to demean
me.
1.81 1.30
If other people find out things about me, they
will use them against me.
2.47 1.21
People will take advantage of me if I give them
the chance.
2.29 1.27
I have to be on guard at all times. 2.09 1.26
Paranoid Beliefs
Men who are involuntary celibates
scored significantly higher on PBQSF
in general and also on scales
which are connected to avoidant
and paranoid personality disorders.
They are also more permissive
in their sexual attitudes and at
the same time are more focused
on instrumentality rather than
communion. We hypothesize that
dysfunctional beliefs might be one
of the most important sustaining
factors that prevent people from
getting sexual experience and
leaving involuntary celibacy.
Discussion
10 March 2019
Scientific Programme
Dear Kateřina,
Dr. Kateřina Bartošová
Masaryk university, Faculty of Education, Department of
psychology, CZ
katt.bartosova@gmail.com
Dr. Kateřina Bartošová
Masaryk university, Faculty of Education, Department of psychology, CZ
katt.bartosova@gmail.com