7 Psychological Facts About S*XUALITY
Sexuality is on of the most essentially beautiful things most of us will deal with during our lifetime. But sexuality is not just a way to father children or have fun. If you have sex regularly, you will benefit from many other effects. You will usually be happier and can even hope to live longer. Unfortunately, most people still avoid talking about this intimate topic. Yet human sexual behavior is extremely complex and interesting. If you want to know what particular psychological backgrounds influence our sex life, you've come to the right place.
1. Sexuality has a huge impact on our self-esteem.
People don't have sex just for pleasure or to have children. One of the driving factors that makes us want to have sex also influences us after the act in our daily lives. In a study published in 2007, researchers found that many of the respondents said they had improved self-esteem after sex. The attention we receive from our partner makes us feel more important and attractive. Also, knowing that the sexual partner feels more confident after sex was important to many study participants and shows that there are definitely altruistic reasons to have sex. Unfortunately, it's also a double-edged sword: the self-esteem of people who have less sex than they'd like often suffers.
2. Some people are predisposed to have more sex.
Not all of us have the same desire for sex. The number of sexual partners we have during our lives can depend on how each of our brains are wired. At one university, study participants were shown various images. Some of these images were sexually arousing. Meanwhile, the subjects' brain waves were measured and documented. When asked about sexual activity afterwards, a clear pattern emerged. The brains of the study participants with more sexual partners showed higher activity when they viewed the provocative images. Of course, environment also plays a role, but a certain predisposition to how many partners we will have during our lifetime is inherent in each of us.
3. Men want their partner (or partners) to climax.
"Men only ever think about themselves during sex," is a preconception that is widely held. Many of us who have or have had a male partner can probably report the opposite. One study confirmed that men pay very special attention to their partner's reactions while they are having sex. Not only do they desire to climax themselves, but they want their partner to climax as well. If they receive too few or no reactions to their efforts, they often feel insecure or become suspicious. So good communication with your partner is very important and promotes a fulfilling sex life.
4. In relationships, men often feel pressured to have sex early.
The media constantly suggest to us that young men in particular think of nothing else. Yet that's not the case at all. In fact, a survey found that 56 percent of men were relieved when their partner wanted to wait a little longer with sex in a new relationship. Men also often feel pressured to go further with sex than they would actually like. Especially young men in the age group between 15 and 21 years stated that they were under pressure to have sex as early as possible due to the commonly held male image. People in serious relationships, especially young people, should take more time to consider what they really want. The desire to wait to have sex is not as uncommon as people think.
5. Female hormone levels have an impact on attraction for women as well as men.
The hormonal cycle of women occurs over the course of a month and is highly complex. In addition to regulating ovulation and menstruation, the daily changing hormonal composition has many other effects. Several studies found that ovulation is a true aphrodisiac for men interested in women. For example, study participants found the faces of women who were ovulating more attractive, and they also found the body odor during ovulation pleasant. Women's sensations are also altered by ovulation. In the middle of their cycle, women are more attracted to masculine features. By interfering with this complex system, e.g. by using a hormonal contraceptive, the perception of attractiveness for women also changes. Masculine men with high testosterone levels are less attractive to women when they take the pill than when they do not. Other studies showed that women who take the pill are less likely to leave their partners and are generally more satisfied in their relationships. On the other hand, they find their partners less sexually attractive and feel less sexually satisfied. So if things suddenly go wrong at home, it may also be due to the way contraception is currently used.
6. In a long relationship, sex can become work.
Many people have heard or experienced that sexual desire decreases in long relationships. This has also been confirmed by several studies. However, this does not have to be a death blow to the relationship as long as the couple puts work into being together sexually. If things don't quite work out with your partner in bed the way you're used to or would like, you shouldn't despair. Instead, you should have open and honest conversations about your own wishes and needs, but also be open to your partner's suggestions yourself. Not everything always goes smoothly in life, including sexuality.
7. People who have little sex spend more time on their jobs.
When things aren't going well for sexual fulfillment, many throw themselves into their jobs to compensate. Among 32,000 respondents, 36 percent of men and 35 percent of women said they spend more time at work when they have sex less than once a week. It's a vicious cycle: the less sex you have, the more you work. The more you work, the more stressed you are. The more stressed you are, the less sex you have.
Today’s Conclusion
Sexuality is a way to get closer to other people. Couples can enjoy their relationship during sex. In addition, it offers other positive effects that a fulfilling sex life brings. Not only our body is affected, but also our psyche. That's it for today.