Final answer:
Western attitudes towards sexual behavior were heavily influenced by Christianity, viewing sexual behavior with suspicion. Attitudes have evolved with various influences, and there are significant cross-national differences. The future attitudes may reflect more liberal youth views while maintaining some traditional values.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the question regarding Western attitudes toward sexual behavior is that for nearly two thousand years, they were molded primarily by Christianity, and the dominant view was that all sexual behavior was suspect. This view aligns with option A, suggesting that sexual behavior has often been viewed with suspicion within Western society, heavily influenced by Christian doctrine. Over time, these attitudes have evolved due to various influences such as the family, education system, peers, media, and religion. Cross-national research on sexual attitudes has revealed significant differences between societies. For instance, Scandinavian countries are generally more tolerant of premarital sex than the United States, while non-Western societies like China, Iran, and India place a high value on chastity in a potential mate.
Looking at sexual attitudes through history, we see that negative perceptions about sexuality persisted for centuries, with the usa carrying restrictive views as compared to other industrialized nations. However, the future of a society's sexual attitudes may be gauged by the expressed values and beliefs of its youth, which indicate a shift towards more liberal understanding and practices of sexuality, while still upholding certain traditional values such as monogamy.