Men's and Women's Reports of Pretending Orgasm

Abstract

Research shows that many women pretend or “fake” orgasm, but little is known about whether men pretend orgasm. The purpose of this study was to investigate (a) whether, how, and why men pretend orgasm and (b) what men's and women's reports of pretending orgasm reveal about their sexual scripts and the functions of orgasms within these scripts. Participants were 180 male and 101 female college students; 85% of the men and 68% of the women had experienced penile–vaginal intercourse (PVI). Participants completed a qualitative questionnaire anonymously. Both men (25%) and women (50%) reported pretending orgasm (28% and 67%, respectively, for PVI-experienced participants). Most pretended during PVI, but some pretended during oral sex, manual stimulation, and phone sex. Frequently reported reasons were that orgasm was unlikely, they wanted sex to end, and they wanted to avoid negative consequences (e.g., hurting their partner's feelings) and to obtain positive consequences (e.g., pleasing their partner). Results suggest a sexual script in which women should orgasm before men, and men are responsible for women's orgasms.

This article is based on Sheena K. Shippee's Senior Honors Thesis, done under the supervision of Charlene L. Muehlenhard.

Notes

Note. Table entries are the ns and percentages of participants giving each response. These data are based on the entire sample; unless specified otherwise, n = 180 men and n = 101 women. Percentages were calculated separately for men and for women. PVI = penile–vaginal intercourse; GSP = genital stimulation by a partner.

^a No one checked Native American or American Indian.

^b n = 179 men and 101 women; one man did not answer this section. The wording used here is the wording used on the questionnaire.

^c We considered participants to have received genital stimulation from a partner (GSP) if they checked yes to penile–vaginal intercourse, receiving oral sex, or having someone stimulate your genitals.

Note. n = 180 men and n = 101 women. Percentages for women's initial reports do not add to 100% because of rounding.

^a Numbers and percentages of participants' initial reports based on which response option they checked, χ²(2, N = 281) = 36.47, p < .001.

^b Our classifications based on their narratives; we reclassified 12 men and 6 women from something similar to pretended and 3 women from pretended to did not pretend. The gender difference in prevalence of pretending was significant, χ²(1, N = 281) = 18.70, p < .001; phi = −.26.

Note. Table entries are the numbers and percentages of men and women who had pretended orgasm. GSP = genital stimulation by a partner (PVI, oral sex, or other GSP). PVI = penile–vaginal intercourse.

^a Percentages are based on the entire sample of 180 men and 101 women.

^b Percentages are based on the six men and six women who reported no history of GSP.

^c Percentages are based on the 174 men and 95 women who reported PVI, oral sex, or other GSP, χ²(1, N = 269) = 20.72, p < .001; phi = −.28.

^d Percentages are based on the 21 men and 26 women who reported having experienced oral sex or other GSP but not PVI, χ²(1, N = 47) = 0.86, p = .44 (from Fisher's exact test); phi = −.14.

^e Percentages are based on the 153 men and 69 women who reported having experienced PVI, χ²(1, N = 222) = 29.44, p < .001; phi = −.36.

Note. Table entries are numbers and percentages of pretenders and nonpretenders reporting various sexual experiences, by gender, among participants who had experienced genital stimulation by a partner (PVI, receiving oral sex, or receiving other genital stimulation by a partner). One man's sexual history data were missing. Asterisks indicate significant differences in sexual history between the pretenders and nonpretenders of the same gender, based on chi-square analyses or Fisher's exact test. PVI = penile–vaginal intercourse.

^a n = 45.

^b n = 129.

^c n = 51.

^d n = 44.

^e Because chi-square may not have been valid, p was derived from Fisher's exact test.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note. The table entries show, of those who pretended (n = 96), the numbers and percentages of men and women who described their experience in various ways. Percentages sometimes do not add to 100% because of rounding.

^a n = 45.

^b n = 51.

^c Because chi-square may not have been valid, p was derived from Fisher's exact test.

^d This category was not included in the statistical analysis.

Note. The table shows, of those who pretended, the numbers and percentages of men and women who reported having pretended in various ways. For all comparisons, n = 96 and df = 1. Percentages do not add to 100% because most participants reported more than one of these methods of acting out an orgasm, and some reported pretending using methods other than acting out an orgasm (see Table 7).

^a n = 45.

^b n = 51.

^c Because chi–square may not have been valid, p was derived from Fisher's exact test.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note. The table shows, of those who pretended, the numbers and percentages of men and women who reported having pretended in various ways. For all comparisons, n = 96 and df = 1. Percentages do not add to 100% because some participants reported having pretended in more than one of these ways, and some reported having pretended in other ways.

^a n = 45.

^b n = 51.

^c Because chi-square may not have been valid, p was derived from Fisher's exact test.

**p < .01.

Note. This table shows, of those who pretended, the numbers and percentages of men and women who reported having pretended for various reasons. For all comparisons, n = 96 and df = 1.

^a n = 45.

^b n = 51.

^c Because chi-square may not have been valid, p was derived from Fisher's exact test.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.