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Carnal Voices: Internal Conversations in Sexual Self-Development

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Abstract

In sociology, internal conversation is a sparsely investigated component of the composition of selfhood. And yet, there is general consensus, within the discipline, that internal conversations are of great import in the understanding of selves. This, paired with the ubiquity of internal conversations, calls for a wider breadth of scholarship. Founded in dialogical self theory, the current study examines sexual internal conversations, derived from the narratives of research participants, regarding the development of their sexual selves. Analysis of the inner dialogues reveals how individuals use internal conversations in sexual situations and, ultimately, the utility internal conversations have in the process of sexual self-development. In the sociological study of selfhood, internal conversation is shown to add a significant layer to the understanding of sexual selves.

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Funding

This study was not funded by research grants through funding agencies or research support from any organizations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Iowa State University, Ames, USA

    David W. Wahl

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  1. David W. Wahl
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Sole researcher and author.

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Correspondence to David W. Wahl.

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The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.

Data Availability

All data supports the claims of this study and has been collected and stored in a manner consistent with IRB regulations.

Ethical Approval

Iowa State University IRB approval # 20–279-00.

Consent to Participate

All potential research participants were given an IRB approved informed consent form to read. Upon agreement with the consent form, and with signed or recorded verbal consent, the individuals were interviewed with the rights to leave the study at any time and have their interviews deleted.

Consent for Publication

All research participants were informed, via the informed consent form, that the study they were participating in was done with the intent to publish. All participants agreed to have any portion of their interview published as part of this study. This study has not been published previously and is not currently under consideration elsewhere.

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Wahl, D.W. Carnal Voices: Internal Conversations in Sexual Self-Development. Sexuality & Culture 26, 1274–1297 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-09942-0

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