What term describes trait-like beliefs & behaviors about sex?

• A. Sociobiological orientation
• B. Psychosocial orientation
• C. Biopsychosocial orientation
• D. Sociosexual orientation

Answer: (D)

Sociosexual orientation describes trait-like beliefs and behaviors about sex. It captures a person’s general willingness to have sex outside a committed relationship, including attitudes toward casual sex, sexual desire, and actual past behavior, typically spanning a spectrum from restricted to unrestricted. This makes it the best fit for describing how people think about and engage in sex as a stable personal tendency, often measured by tools like the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory. The other terms point to broader lenses—sociobiological, psychosocial, or biopsychosocial explanations for sexual behavior—rather than the specific, trait-like dimension of openness to casual sex.