Scripting Theories

To articulate a sociological approach to human sexuality, William Simon and John Gagnon drew upon Kenneth Burke's dramatism and view that it is inappropriate and inaccurate to apply physical models to social phenomena. The “sexual script” concept (Gagnon & Simon 1973) summarizes their approach and their fullest articulation is known as “sexual scripting theory” (Simon & Gagnon 1986). The theory stresses three major areas of social life as significant for the production of sexuality: (1) cultural scenarios for sexuality, (2) interpersonal sexual scripting, and (3) intrapsychic sexual scripting. “Cultural scenarios” refers to definitions of and instructions for sex which can be found in social institutions and cultural materials. “Interpersonal scripting” refers to the social arrangement of actual sexual interactions. “Intrapsychic scripting” refers to the activity and content of the mind, like sexual thoughts, fantasies, beliefs, and emotions. Sexual scripting analysis is the examination of the separate roles and interrelationships of these three areas of social life as they help produce sexuality.