lso gave support to similar findings of Sprecher and Regan. Both females and males were more likely to experience their first intercourse experience with a steady dating partner. However, this was more often the case for females than males ( Darling et. al. 104). Even though the focus of this study was on non- virgins and their first sexual experience, they still found that women participated with someone whom they felt was the right one. Whether it was a steady partner, lover, or fiance, the women had the sense of closeness, love, and stability. These findings really support the gender differences associated with losing or keeping one’s virginity. The aspect of communication was also mentioned in these findings. The acquisition of good communication skills is critical, so that partners can better communicate their needs, desires, and feelings regarding intimate relationships ( Darling et al. 116).Another study conducted between two researchers, analyzed the factors surrounding the virginity of admant virgins, potential nonvirgins, and nonvirgins. Using research analysis, it was found that peer experience with premarital intercourse was the most important predictor of virginity status, followed in importance by dating commitment and religiosity (Herold & Goodwin 97). In other words, they found that a person’s peers are the most influential factors in their decisions about sex. Friends and associates, who have already experienced sex and tell their virgin friends of their findings, are seemingly enticing the chaste to want to explore for themselves. This is an example of anticipatory socialization. Herold and Goodwin also found that admant virgins (virgins who didn’t plan on having sex until marriage), had more moral and religious reasons as to why they were waiting for marriage. However, potential nonvirgins gave the response of waiting to meet the right person, as their number one reason for holding out. These finding...
