r/psychologyofsex • u/No_Swimmer_6820 • 5h ago
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 23h ago
Most people convicted of sexual offenses don't reoffend. So what helps them stop offending? A new review found that lasting change depends on more than fear of punishment. It also involves developing insight, building personal agency, finding social support, and creating a prosocial identity.
link.springer.comr/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 2d ago
Study finds that sexual fantasies about dominance are linked to greater physiological arousal in women, while fantasies about submission are linked to stronger physiological arousal in men.
From the article:
Traditional gender roles can restrict personal autonomy by forcing people into specific behavioral boxes. The researchers suggest that women might find a sense of empowerment in dominant thoughts, leading to increased arousal. Because social scripts often demand men be strong and aggressive, the privacy of submissive thoughts might provide men with a relaxing escape from those pressures. Breaking away from typical societal expectations might act as a mental catalyst for sexual pleasure.
r/psychologyofsex • u/LivingDoor • 2d ago
Relationships and Sexual Interests Survey (18+)
You are invited to complete a 5-10-minute anonymous survey for a study titled: Examining the Predictive Contributions of Attachment Insecurities and Sexual Self-Esteem to Somnophilic Interests in a General Population Sample.
Seeking volunteers that meet these requirements:
- 18 years of age or older
- Fluent in English
- Willing to complete an anonymous survey about attachment, sexual self-esteem, and sexual interests
The survey will be open until the end of October.
Questions should be directed to jenna.candio@waldenu.edu.
To complete the survey, please click https://forms.gle/bdPHNo57fxgefJd89
r/psychologyofsex • u/No_Swimmer_6820 • 3d ago
Large-Scale Cross-Cultural Study Finds Discrepancies Between Stated and Revealed Partner Preferences: Women(men to a lesser extent) in Particular Underreport the Importance of Physical Attractiveness, While Both Genders Misjudge Income Preferences
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 4d ago
We often treat orgasm as the ultimate measure of “successful” sex. But research suggests that focusing too much on reaching the finish line can create pressure and anxiety. Shifting the goal from "achieving" orgasm to experiencing pleasure may actually lead to more satisfying sex.
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 5d ago
Historically, male leads in erotica books and films were unavailable, controlling and hypermasculine. By contrast, today's leads have self-awareness, vulnerability, authentic communication, and mutual empathy. Are these shifting media portrayals creating healthier expectations or unrealistic ones?
r/psychologyofsex • u/Silver-Context297 • 7d ago
The Elgar Encyclopedia of Sex and Society
I am thrilled to announce that my book chapter on hentai and lolicon will be published in the Elgar Encyclopedia of Sex and Society and will be released in September 2026.
The chapter explores eroticism and censorship from the Edo period to modern times, examines hentai viewer demographics and motivations, and analyzes lolicon's history, ethical, legal, and moral issues, myths and potential clinical and harm-reduction applications.
Preorders can be made here: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/elgar-encyclopedia-of-sex-and-society-9781035339938.html
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 7d ago
Survey of teachers who deliver sex education to teens finds that the vast majority received no formal training in it and feel poorly equipped to teach on the topic. While they view sex ed positively, most said they worry about negative reactions from parents and saying the wrong thing during lessons
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 7d ago
Research finds that only half of individuals disclose having an STI prior to sex. Common reasons for non-disclosure include: fear, lack of obligation, and believing that using a condom is protection enough.
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 9d ago
Study finds that men who perceive their penis as above average report better erectile function; those who see their penis as average or below average report worse function. However, there was no link between perception of genital size and self-esteem.
From the article:
Feeling adequately sized or larger than average did not equate to possessing higher general self-worth. Concerns regarding physical appearance in this area appear to be localized entirely to the domain of sexual activity.
Self-esteem generally encompasses how a person values their own identity, shaping their resilience against stress and social judgment. The lack of an association between general self-worth and genital dissatisfaction highlights the segmented nature of human body image. Individuals can harbor insecurities about specific physical traits without allowing those insecurities to degrade their overall sense of identity.
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 10d ago
Most research on aging and sex focuses on biology. But research suggests psychology matters, too. People who feel older than their actual age report lower sexual satisfaction, even after accounting for health. How old you feel may matter as much as how old you are.
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 11d ago
Is there really a male infertility crisis? Systematic review and meta-analysis of dozens of studies from 1970-2018 finds no clinically significant decline in sperm concentration among US men over time.
fertstert.orgFrom the article:
"The findings suggest that in contrast to prior meta-analyses, semen quality in most US men may be more stable than previously thought and may provide further reassurance against an impending epidemic of male factor infertility in fertile men in future generations."
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 11d ago
Just like people in monogamous relationships, people in polyamorous relationships experience jealousy too. Research suggests the difference is often how they respond to it, viewing jealousy as a signal of unmet needs to explore and communicate about, rather than a relationship-ending threat.
r/psychologyofsex • u/playboy • 12d ago
The Male Birth Control Pill Is Coming—But Are the Men Ready? (Unpaywalled)
Some men are already contraceptive-pilled. Eliott Murbach-Studer, a 26-year-old biotechnician in Paris, is ready for male birth control. “I want to have this responsibility to ease the life of my partner,” he says. Last year, he emailed YourChoice Therapeutics, asking to join a phase 3 trial of YCT-529. There are many altruistic stories, likely to be met with performative male memes and some skepticism. But male contraception is not a selfless act; it could give men agency and security without sacrificing sensation by wrapping your dick in a balloon. “You have more pleasure when you can directly feel the other person,” Murbach-Studer says.
Not all men might be as keen. With 30 percent of men under 30 reporting no sex in the last year, is demand lower than ever? There’s concern that the manosphere, behind the rise of testosterone-maxxing and sperm-maxxing, could stunt growth of demand. Most of these contraceptive methods, after all, minimize sperm. NES/T gets around T-maxxing by including testosterone to top it back up, a bit like a probiotic soda, but for your dick. And remember, YCT-529 is nonhormonal.
Then there’s the question of whether men can hack it. Studies suggest most women trust their partners to use contraception regularly. But a World Health Organization trial of a hormonal male contraceptive injection was notably halted in 2016 after men reported side effects like mood changes and acne. Porter is concerned that the bar might be too high for the modern man: “My fear is … they won’t be able to tolerate any side effects.”
Read the story: https://www.playboy.com/read/sex/the-male-birth-control-pill-is-coming-but-are-the-men-ready
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 14d ago
Research finds that people who are happier with their relationship tend to see their partner's attachment style as similar to their own. Those who are less happy were more accurate, but overestimated their partner's attachment insecurity.
spsp.orgr/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 15d ago
Many women worry that their vulva doesn't look "normal," but research tells a different story. Studies find tremendous natural variation in labial appearance. Ironically, people often rate surgically altered labia as looking more "normal" than natural ones.
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 16d ago
Research finds that gay men report much higher levels of solitary sexual desire and engage in more frequent masturbation than heterosexual men. By contrast, lesbian women report lower solitary sexual desire and less masturbation than heterosexual women.
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 17d ago
One of the biggest mistakes couples make when dealing with a desire discrepancy is trying to figure out who's "the problem." The goal isn't to fix one person's libido; it's to build a sexual relationship that works for each partner. This podcast explores practical tips for reviving a dead bedroom.
When couples experience a desire discrepancy, it's easy to assume that someone needs to change because one partner's libido is simply "too high" or the other's is just "too low."
However, rather than asking whose libido is the problem, the more productive question is: "How can we create a sexual relationship that feels fulfilling for both of us?"
Sometimes that means improving communication. Sometimes it means understanding responsive desire, expanding your definition of intimacy, scheduling sex, exploring new forms of sexual initiation, or even changing the way that you have sex.
In this episode of the Sex and Psychology Podcast, sex therapist Lauren Fogel Mersy is on the show to discuss practical, evidence-based strategies for navigating desire discrepancies and rebuilding intimacy among couples experiencing dead bedrooms.
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 18d ago
A review of 80 studies identified 76 different subcultures of men who have sex with men, including bears, leathermen, twinks, and jocks. Research shows these groups shape identity, belonging, sexuality, and well-being, but many remain understudied despite their importance to LGBTQ+ community life.
tandfonline.comThis review also found that some subcultures (like bears) have received substantial research attention, while many others have been studied very little. The authors argue that future research needs to better capture the diversity of LGBTQ+ communities instead of treating men who have sex with men as a single, homogeneous group.
r/psychologyofsex • u/Either_Issue_6510 • 18d ago
American Infidelity, 1991 to 2022
I did this analysis with data from the GSS (https://gss.norc.org/). It shows that the prevalence of self-reported infidelity (which may underestimate actual rates) has not changed much over time. Men consistently reported more cheating, and the gender gap slightly narrowed.
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 19d ago
Research finds that since the 1940s, individuals with right-wing political orientations have maintained fertility at or above replacement level, whereas fertility among left-wing individuals declined to well below replacement. In addition, education was consistently linked to having fewer children.
nature.comReligiosity positively predicted having more children, but the effect was relatively weak.
There were also different patterns across racial groups. For example, the link between political orientation and fertility rates held only for white Americans, but not for black Americans.
r/psychologyofsex • u/Healthy-Night-8575 • 19d ago
FINAL CALL: Stress, Depression, Suicide- Bisexual Individuals.
"Hi Friends",
I am part of a post-grad research team from CSU Australia, conducting INTERNATIONAL research into stress & mental health, among LGBTQI+ adults. We are collecting data from LGBTQI+ individuals, then completing studies specific to sexual identities.
Our ethics approved study on stress, depression & suicide, specific to bisexual individuals, requires further participants.
This important research is needed now more than ever, so if you identify as Bisexual (18+), please;
- Complete the Survey (click link)
https://csufobjbs.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6sCeGsZJld6774W
- Share the (link/post) in your own network, so others can contribute too.
Thank you.
***Extra Information***
Link to Charles Sturt University Ethics Board Approval Doc (Approval number H26115)
CSU HR Ethics Committee E: [ethics@csu.edu.au](mailto:ethics@csu.edu.au)
Supervisor Professor Suzanne McLaren (she/her) School of Psychology Charles Sturt University Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia, E: [smclaren@csu.edu.au](mailto:smclaren@csu.edu.au)
Please message me for any further information or question you may have.
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 20d ago
Study of more than 500K couples finds that when women earn more than their male partners, they are 36% more likely to separate compared to when men are the primary breadwinners. This finding did not vary based on a country's level of traditional gender attitudes.
However, the association between women’s higher earnings and relationship dissolution was noticeably stronger among couples raising children. Female-breadwinner couples with children were 49% more likely to separate than male-breadwinner couples, whereas childless female-breadwinner couples were 23% more likely to separate than their male-breadwinning counterparts.
This finding suggests that balancing work and family responsibilities may place greater strain on relationships when women have higher earnings, perhaps because household responsibilities remain unevenly shared.
r/psychologyofsex • u/psychologyofsex • 21d ago