ABSTRACT
We investigated the extent to which contemporary dating practices are characterized by traditional sexual scripts, such as the double standard, and emerging scripts of female sexual desire and male sexual integrity. One hundred sixty-two upper-division college students responded to measures about dating under two instructional conditions, one describing their dating experiences and the second their dating preferences. Both traditional and emerging scripts portrayed participants experiences and preferences, with the expression of sexual desire perceived as positive for both sexes. However, according to respondents, sex does not dominate their dating relationships. Men were not as likely as women to perceive the traditional double standard to be normative. Findings are discussed in terms of current norms for heterosexual dating as they pertain to psychoeducational programming on college campuses, as well as to psychotherapy with college students.