social influence in sexual behaviour

Social control of sexual behaviour
Societies differ remarkably in what they consider socially desirable and undesirable in terms of sexual behaviour and consequently differ in what they attempt to prevent or promote. There appear, however, to be four basic sexual controls in the majority of human societies. First, to control endless competition, some form of marriage is necessary. This not only removes both partners from the competitive arena of courtship and assures each of a sexual partner, but it allows them to devote more time and energy to other necessary and useful tasks of life. Despite the beliefs of earlier writers, marriage is not necessary for the care of the young; this can be accomplished in other ways.
Second, control of forced sexual relationships is necessary to prevent anger, feuding, and other disruptive retribution.
Third, all societies exert control over whom one is eligible to marry or have as a sexual partner. Endogamy, holding the choice within one's group, increases group solidarity but tends to isolate the group and limit its political strength. Exogamy, forcing the individual tomarry outside the group, dilutes group loyalty but increases group size and power through new external liaisons. Some combination ofendogamy and exogamy is found in most societies. All have incest prohibitions. These are not based on genetic knowledge. Indeed, many incest taboos involve persons not genetically related (father–stepdaughter, for example). The prime reason for incest prohibitionseems to be the necessity for preventing society from becoming snarled in its own web: every person has a complex set of duties, rights, obligations, and statuses with regard to other people, and these would become intolerably complicated or even contradictory if incest were freely permitted
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