Dimensions of Sexual Power: She Said, He Said

This opening plenary session will begin with a few comments about the conference theme, The Power of Sex.  This will be followed by a fuller examination of power dynamics within sexual relationships.  In recent decades, increasing attention has been placed on coercive aspects of sexuality and conflict within sexual relationships.  Much of the work in this area has been identified by the authors as deriving from a feminist perspective, and a social constructionist perspective that views power as resulting from structural imbalances has come to dominate work in this area.  The plenary will include a review of the historical development of this perspective, an assessment of conceptual weaknesses of this approach, and the presentation of a more broadly constructed social-psychological model of sexual power. CBW will explore the personality dimensions of power.  DLW will examine the interactional nature of power.  Both speakers will address the ways in which men and women may define, experience, and express power differently. The session will close with a consideration of implications for future research and clinical work with couples.