Which statement best reflects attitudes toward sex before marriage?

• A. Sex between people who are engaged to be married
• B. Sex between people who are not committed to each other
• C. Men having sex with multiple partners more than women having sex with multiple partners
• D. Men's sex outside of marriage more than women's sex outside of marriage

Answer: (B)

Attitudes toward sex before marriage center on whether sex is acceptable outside of a committed relationship. The best statement captures the essence by describing sex that occurs when the partners are not committed to each other, which is precisely what premarital sex refers to. This framing focuses on the acceptability of sexual activity in the absence of long-term commitment, which is the core idea behind attitudes toward sex before marriage. The other options either imply some level of commitment (such as being engaged) or discuss patterns of behavior or gender differences rather than the acceptability of sex outside commitment.