ABSTRACT
Sexuality is a universal human experience and yet the purposes and goals people have for it differ widely. One’s great grandparents may have thought of sex largely in terms of reproduction, whereas the importance of sex in relationships became more prominent in mid-20th century America. During the 1970s and 80s an increasing number of people expected pleasure as their primary interest in having sex. All of these, the Reproductive, Relationship, and Recreational purposes of sex are important to listen for in counseling. Of course other motives can be present as well, such as money, revenge, duty, power, approval, popularity, fear, or security.
