An Incomplete History

"Adolescents' Cues and Signals - Sex and Assault" by R Giarrusso ; P Johnson ; J Goodchilds ; G Zellman was presented at the Western Psychological Association Meeting Symposium, 'Acquaintance Rape and Adolescent Sexuality,' in San Diego, California, April 1979 and probably published/reproduced on print (I'm looking into that). According to the abstract:

"In 1978, 432 adolescents, ages 14-18, were interviewed in the Los Angeles area. The three major ethnic groups were equally represented, as were males and females. Attitudes toward the opposite sex, sexuality, sex roles, rape, power, and violence were measured along with behavioral expectations, perceptions, norms about dating, and sex differences in the acquisition of attitudes and expectations."

I managed to get a hold of a paper that discussed four parts (out of many) of the study. It was in Rape and Sexual Assault II. edited by Ann Burgess. New York: Garland Pub. 1988. Chapter 14, titled, "Adolescents and Their Perceptions of Sexual Interactions" is written by Goodchilds, Zellman, Johnson and Giarrusso. Unless otherwise noted, the rest of the info on this page is derived from that book.

Background of the Study


  • 1978
  • 432 adolescents in Los Angeles
  • 50% female, 50% male
  • 1/3 white, 1/3 black, 1/3 Hispanic
  • Broad range of education (most were still in school) and parent occupation
  • 37% 14-15, 39% 16, 33% 17-18.
  • 49% from father absent homes
  • 33% did not expect to complete or attend college
  • 61% reported to have had sexual intercourse
  • Recruited subjects through a youth employment branch office of the California state employment office.
  • Took one hour and compensated $5.
  • Written consent was taken from both the adolescent and their parent.
  • Interviewed by clinical psychology or social work graduate students
  • Interviewers were in their 20s
  • Interviewers were matched to adolescents by their sex and ethnicity

From pages 245-246 of Rape and Sexual Assault II.