Is Sex Better When It’s Spontaneous?

March 14, 2023 by Olivia Adams

Hollywood sex scenes tend to glamorize spontaneous sex. You’ve undoubtedly seen this time and again in the movies and on TV: flirtatious tension starts brewing and then we cut to...

The Features of the Most Popular Sex Toys Might Surprise You

March 1, 2023 by Emily Mendelson

The size of the sex toy market is predicted to reach $62.3 billion by 2030. In light of this, it’s surprising that so little research has explored what might be driving...

Are AI Chatbots the Future of Sex and Relationship Advice?

February 9, 2023 by Olivia Adams

AI is getting smarter. It can produce text that’s virtually indistinguishable from a human, and it has a massive knowledge base. So what will it mean for the future? What...

How Using OnlyFans Affects People’s Sex Lives and Relationships

February 2, 2023 by Emily Mendelson

OnlyFans is a digital patronage platform with over two million independent sex workers and a user base of 170 million registered accounts. Given the speed at which OnlyFans use gained...

How Race, Politics, and Family Affect Support for LGBTQ+ Issues

January 25, 2023 by Olivia Adams

The Pew Research Center recently published data covering Americans’ views on gender identity and issues affecting transgender people, with special attention to differences based on age, political affiliation, and other...

Happy New Year! Science-Backed Resolutions for Better Sex in 2023

January 2, 2023 by Justin Lehmiller

The start of each new year is a common time for people to make resolutions for self-improvement. And it may very well be that more people than usual are making...

7 Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2022

December 29, 2022 by Olivia Adams

2022 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. So here’s a quick recap of some of the many interesting things we learned about...

11 Years of Great Sex: It’s the Eleventh Blogiversary of Sex and Psychology!

December 21, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Believe it or not, Sex and Psychology turns 11 years old this week! When I first started blogging at the end of 2011, I had no idea where this journey would take me,...

Why is “Holiday Sex” so Popular?

December 14, 2022 by Emily Mendelson

What’s the most popular day of the year to conceive a child? According to the data, it’s Christmas Eve (at least in the United States). The third most popular? New Year’s Eve....

Holiday Shopping Ideas For The Sexy People In Your Life

December 7, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

If you haven’t started your holiday shopping yet, now’s the time! With supply chain issues and shipping delays piling up, it’s a good idea to get started a little earlier...

Porn Literacy With a Side of CBT: Trying Out the “How to Watch Porn” Course

November 30, 2022 by Olivia Adams

Consider this — what if you could take a class in which your homework was to watch porn every week?  This is what Lustery, an online porn platform that focuses...

Seven Reasons to be Thankful for Sex Today (and Every Other Day of the Year)

November 23, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

To all of my readers celebrating Thanksgiving today, don’t forget to be thankful for sex! Research suggests that sex is good for us in a lot of ways, both physically...

Say “No” to No Nut November: The Health Benefits of Masturbation

November 9, 2022 by Emily Mendelson

It’s “No Nut November” once again. While this annual abstinence challenge seems to pick up some new participants each year, you may want to think twice before giving up masturbation...

Why Affirming Bisexual and Pansexual Identities is Important

November 2, 2022 by Olivia Adams

“I’m not even sure bisexuality exists. I think it’s just a layover on the way to Gaytown.”  “You know, I think it’s great. He’s open to all sexual experiences. He’s...

I Played OnlyBans, An Interactive Game About Online Sex Work. Here’s What I Learned

October 26, 2022 by Emily Mendelson

The need to stay home and, for many, the need to find alternative means of income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a substantial rise in the...

Meet the New Managing Editors: Emily Mendelson

October 12, 2022 by Olivia Adams

Sex and Psychology is expanding! I’m pleased to introduce the latest additions to the team this week and next, who will help continue our mission of bringing you science-based sex...

Announcing the Tenth Annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference!

October 5, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

I am pleased to announce the tenth annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference! It will be held next February prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology....

Gen Z is Missing Out on the Benefits of Sex

September 21, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Generally speaking, sexual activity is good for our mental health. Sex (however you like to do it) has the potential to enhance our psychological well-being, as well as the connection...

Study Abroad With Me in Amsterdam and Berlin for a Course on Sex and Culture

September 5, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

I’m excited to announce a unique study abroad program in conjunction with the Sexual Health Alliance. We are offering study abroad courses in both Amsterdam and Berlin focused on sex...

Wearable Oral Sex Undies Can Provide Protection, Comfort, And Fun

August 25, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

 **Note: This post is sponsored by Lorals In recent years, oral sex has become one of the most common sexual behaviors that people engage in. In fact, aside from intercourse,...

Happy K-Day! Celebrating the History of Women’s Sexuality Research

August 20, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-nine years ago this week (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey’s classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. This...

What You Need To Know About Monkeypox

August 11, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Monkeypox has recently become one of the dominant topics of conversations in the sexual health community and in the media more broadly. Case counts are increasing quickly and vaccines are...

Tips For ‘Cheat-Proofing’ Your Relationship

July 18, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people say that their ideal relationship would be monogamous. Despite this, however, a lot of people seem to have a really hard time maintaining monogamy. So if monogamy is...

The Truth About the 5 Love Languages, and How to Show Love

July 11, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

The “love language” concept has become increasingly popular as a way of explaining differences in how people prefer to show and receive love. However, despite its enormous popularity, there still...

Views on Sexual Morality in the United States in 2022

July 4, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

According to Gallup’s 2022 Moral Issues Survey, American adults’ views on sexual morality have become more liberal since the turn of the century. In fact, for some of the issues on this...

Sex and Psychology is Hiring!

June 20, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

[September 14, 2022 Update: Applications are closed because this position has been filled. However, please keep an eye out for future postings!]  Sex and Psychology was founded with the goal...

Everything You Think You Know About Stonewall…Is Probably False

June 15, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s June, and that means it’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month. At this time of year, we often hear a lot about Stonewall and the night of June 27, 1969. The stories...

This Week in the History of Sex: Homosexual Necrophilia in the Mallard Duck

June 6, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Twenty-seven years ago this week, something unusual took place in the Netherlands: an observational study of the world’s first known case of homosexual necrophilia in the mallard duck. Yes, you...

How Marijuana Affects Our Sex Lives

May 30, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Research finds that nearly half of American adults (46%) have used marijuana in some way at least once before. People use it for all kinds of purposes, from pain relief...

How Advances in Sex Toy Technology Can Enhance Men’s Sexual Performance

May 23, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

**Note: This post is sponsored by The Handy More than 4 in 10 men report having experienced at least one sexual difficulty in the past year. Experiencing difficulties during sex...

What’s the Most Effective Way to Reduce Abortion? Better Sex Ed and No-Cost Contraception

May 16, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

The leak of a draft decision from the Supreme Court to reverse Roe v. Wade has reinvigorated public discourse on abortion in a way I haven’t previously seen in my...

A New Way of Thinking About Sexual Orientation

May 9, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual fantasy, pornography use, and in-person sexual behavior each tell us something unique about our sexuality, which means we can’t just assume that sexual interests in one context, transcend other...

Masturbation May and the Science of Self-Pleasure

May 2, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s May, and that means it’s Masturbation Month yet again! So let’s talk about self-pleasure. The origins of Masturbation Month date back to 1995, when US Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders...

In the Mood for Food: Sexual Fantasies About Food

April 25, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s a famous scene in the film 9 and 1/2 Weeks in which Mickey Rourke erotically feeds Kim Basinger a variety of foods including Jell-O, cherries, and tomatoes in front...

Marijuana Use is Linked to More Sex and Better Orgasms

April 18, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

April 20th is popularly known as 4/20 Day. It’s an unofficial (for now!) holiday that celebrates all things marijuana. This is going to be a hot topic of conversation this...

Sexual Compatibility Takes Work To Maintain

April 11, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

One reason some partners have sex early on in a relationship is because they want to know whether they’re sexually compatible. Sex is an important part of most (but not...

Can Your Sex Drive Be Too High?

April 4, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

I’ve heard from many readers over the years who think they have a sex drive that is “too high.” So when does a high sex drive become a problem? It’s...

Why Bridgerton and Historical Sex Turn Us On

March 28, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

The new season of Bridgerton is out and it already has people hot and bothered. The first season was famous for its steamy sex scenes, which helped it to become...

How Many Calories Do You Burn During Sex?

March 21, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

At a broad level, exercise is defined as any activity requiring physical effort that either helps you maintain or enhance your overall health. Through this lens, sex certainly counts as...

The Number of Americans Identifying as LGBTQ Has Doubled in a Decade

March 14, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

I have been studying and writing about sexual orientation and sexual identity for the better part of the last two decades. One of the most interesting things I have seen...

The 7 Biggest Relationship Dealbreakers

March 9, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Decades of psychological research on attraction has revealed which traits people tend to desire in a romantic partner. Intelligence, honesty, and sense of humor pretty reliably come in toward the...

The Relationship Status of LGBTQ Americans

February 28, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Same-sex marriage has been legal throughout the United States since 2015. So what percentage of the LGBT population is currently married now that marriage is no longer restricted based on...

10 Things You Should Know About Condoms for National Condom Month

February 21, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

The American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) recognizes February as National Condom Month. Condom awareness and education are always important, but it seems especially timely right now given that rates of...

How Would You Feel If Someone Said “I Love You” On The First Date?

February 14, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people seem to believe in the idea of “love at first sight.” For example, in studies of people who are currently in relationships, as many as 1...

Falling in Love with a Friend is More Common Than You Think

February 7, 2022 by Katie Adams

In the famous movie When Harry Met Sally, there’s a scene where Harry claims that “men and women can’t be friends because the sex part always gets in the way.”...

The State of Sex Education in America in 2022

January 31, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Teens across the United States have wildly inconsistent experiences with sex education. As of January 2022, there are 21 states that do not require sex ed, and even in those...

Why We Struggle With Sexual Initiation, and How to Fix It

January 24, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual initiation is something that seems challenging to navigate for many people. Over the years, I’ve heard from a lot of readers who want tips on initiation, with some saying...

Genital Fit: The Conversation We Should Be Having About Genital Size

January 17, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm in which an argument takes place over whether a woman has a “big vagina” or her ex-partner has a “small penis.” While this...

Pro-Tips From a Sex Podcaster

January 12, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

In my previous post, I offered a guide on how to start a podcast. Today, I’ll be sharing some of the pro-tips I’ve learned from running the Sex and Psychology...

How To Start A (Sex) Podcast

January 10, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Since launching the Sex and Psychology Podcast, I’ve received a number of queries from folks who are interested in starting their own shows. Podcasts can be a fantastic educational tool...

Happy New Year! Science-Backed Resolutions For Better Sex In 2022

January 3, 2022 by Justin Lehmiller

Each time a new year rolls around, a lot of us start making resolutions for self-improvement. I suspect more people than usual might be making New Year’s resolutions right now...

8 Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2021

December 30, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

2021 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most interesting things we learned about sex...

The Year in Sex: The 10 Most-Read Articles on Sex and Psychology in 2021

December 27, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

2021 was an interesting year to say the least! Our lives and behaviors continued to be altered in a number of ways by the pandemic—one of which was that many...

Holiday Horniness, Explained

December 24, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Unlike many animal species, humans don’t really have a mating season. We can have sex any time of year. However, there do appear to be some peaks and valleys in...

The Psychology of Hentai Porn

December 20, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

What was the most popular porn search term of 2021? According to Pornhub’s latest report, it was hentai. This term has been near the top of the list for a...

10 Years of Great Sex: It’s the Tenth Blogiversary of Sex and Psychology!

December 15, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Believe it or not, Sex and Psychology turns 10 years old this week! When I first started blogging at the end of 2011, I had no idea where this journey would take me,...

Lessons From A 107-Year-Old Sex Therapist

December 13, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex therapist Dr. Shirley Zussman passed away on December 4, 2021 at the age of 107. She had a remarkably long career in the field, having earned her doctorate in...

Have You Ever Fantasized About Someone You Hate?

December 8, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When you fantasize about sex, who do you usually think about? I’ve previously written about the various characters who appear in our fantasies and, most commonly, people mention current partners,...

The World’s First Sex Toy For Persons With Disabilities is Here

December 6, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex toys can be a great addition to just about anyone’s sex life because they can add an element of novelty, while also introducing you to new sensations. Sex toys...

Holiday Shopping Ideas For The Sexy People In Your Life

November 29, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

If you haven’t started your holiday shopping yet, now’s the time! With supply chain issues and shipping delays piling up, it’s a good idea to get started a little earlier...

Seven Reasons to be Thankful for Sex Today (and Every Other Day of the Year)

November 25, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

To all of my readers celebrating Thanksgiving today, don’t forget to be thankful for sex! Research suggests that sex is good for us in a lot of ways, both physically and...

Who is Hookup Culture Helping, and Who is It Hurting?

November 22, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

College hookup culture serves the interests of some, but not others. So who is it helping, and who is it hurting? To explore this question, I interviewed Dr. Lisa Wade...

Sexy Sounds: The Songs People Hear in Their Sexual Fantasies

November 15, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual fantasies can be a multi-sensory experience. They’re not just about what we can see—but also what we can feel, smell, taste, and hear. In this post, we’re going to...

The 10 Most Common Places We Fantasize About Having Sex

November 10, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When you have a sexual fantasy, where does it take place? For some people, the setting doesn’t matter at all, whereas for others, the setting is crucial to establishing a...

Sexual Uniforms: The Costumes That Turn People On

November 8, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When you fantasize about sex, do you ever imagine your partner(s) wearing a specific uniform? If so, you’re not alone. In the survey of 4,175 Americans I conducted for my...

Is Infidelity Predictable?

November 3, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Infidelity is common. Saying exactly how many people have ever cheated is a little dicey, though, because the numbers vary a lot depending on how you ask the question (e.g.,...

How Many People Are Into Double Penetration?

November 1, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked the following question: “How many people are into DP [double penetration]?” Double penetration is a popular theme in the world of porn and often appears in threesome...

Exposure to Sunlight May Boost Testosterone and Passion

October 27, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

If you’re a long-time reader of the blog, you’ve probably seen articles I’ve posted about seasonal variations in sexual behavior. According to the research, one of the biggest peaks occurs...

How Many People Subscribe to the “Three-Date Rule?”

October 25, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

How many in-person dates would you want to have with a new partner before having sex with that person? We often hear about the so-called “three-date rule,” or the idea...

Sex and Travel: Why Trips Often Turn Us On

October 20, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

A friend of mine told me about a recent discussion he had with friends where everyone talked about having had a similar experience: whenever they were away on a trip,...

How Does ADHD Affect Orgasm?

October 18, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader recently asked the following question: “I often have a hard time orgasming. I have heard that having trouble orgasming can be related to having ADHD. To be clear, the orgasmic...

Study: Orgasms are a Natural Nasal Decongestant

October 13, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

While writing an article on the health effects of sex and masturbation a while back, I came across a paper titled “Ejaculation as a Potential Treatment of Nasal Congestion in...

The All-New Sex and Psychology Website is Here!

October 11, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

I launched Sex and Psychology nearly ten years ago. The site—and its purpose—have grown considerably since then. Initially, this was a fun side project I did while I was a...

Why is Modern Marriage So Hard?

October 6, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Is marriage harder now than it was in the past? Are we expecting too much from our spouses today? I recently interviewed Dr. Eli Finkel for the Sex and Psychology...

1 in 10 Americans Say They’ve Had an Orgasm While Exercising

October 4, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When people think about orgasms, they usually think about sex and masturbation. Orgasms arise from sexual stimulation, right? That’s certainly the most common route to orgasm for most people, but...

How The Pandemic Has Affected Interest In Threesomes And Sex Parties

September 29, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our sexual interests and behaviors in many ways, which I’ve covered extensively on the blog (see here for a recap). But something that hasn’t really been explored...

Why Noisy Sex Is Often Better Sex

September 27, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

What does it sound like when you have sex? Is there any dirty talk? What about panting, moaning, and/or grunting? While people vary in their personal preferences for erotic sounds...

When Disgust Becomes a Sexual Turn-On

September 22, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

“I felt disgusted, but also very satisfied.”  I just heard this line on an NPR podcast that had absolutely nothing to do with sex—but it really got me thinking because...

What To Do When You And Your Partner Want Different Amounts Of Sex

September 20, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

In long-term relationships, partners’ sex drives are bound to get out of sync from time to time. That’s normal and not a cause for concern unless it becomes a persistent...

The Price of Sex in Amsterdam

September 13, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the topics that we explore extensively in my sex and culture course in Amsterdam is sex work. As part of this course, I give my students the opportunity...

Why Dutch Teens Have Better Sexual Health Than American Teens

September 6, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

In my study abroad course on sex and culture in the Netherlands, one of the things we have been discussing is cross-cultural differences in sexual health and sex education. Teens’ sexual...

Sex Work and Mental Health In Cultures Where Prostitution Is Legal

September 1, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Today in my study abroad course on sex and culture in the Netherlands, we’re focusing on sex work, particularly the link between sex work and mental health. Many studies have...

I’m Teaching About Sex and Culture in Amsterdam for the Next Two Weeks!

August 30, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Greetings from Amsterdam! Today is the first day of a class I’m teaching on sex and culture in the Netherlands through the Sexual Health Alliance. Amsterdam is an awesome city—and...

What I Learned From a Decade of Studying Friends With Benefits

August 25, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

The very first sex study that I ever published appeared in the Journal of Sex Research in 2011, and it explored similarities and differences in how men and women approach friends with...

4 Ways Men Say Couple’s Vibrators Improved Their Sex Lives

August 23, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When vibrators are mentioned in pop culture, they’re usually discussed as masturbation aides—something people (particularly women) use to pleasure themselves. You don’t typically see people whipping them out during couple’s...

Celebrating 68 Years of Women’s Sex Research

August 18, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-eight years ago this week (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey’s classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. This...

5 Things Science Has Taught Us About BDSM

August 16, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

BDSM (which stands for bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism) is one of the most popular sexual fantasies and a significant number of people report having engaged in BDSM acts before. Interest in BDSM appears...

Are Our Brains ‘Wired’ For Monogamy Or Non-Monogamy?

August 11, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Why does monogamy work for some people but not for others? Research suggests that it might have something to do with the way our brains are ‘wired.’ Consider a study...

The Stimulating History of Sex Toys

August 9, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

What is the oldest sex toy in existence? Why were butt plugs once marketed as a cure for asthma? Why is it still illegal to sell sex toys in some...

Sex with a Sleeping Person: The Psychology of Somnophilia

August 4, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Somnophilia refers to a sexual interest in which someone is turned on by the idea of having sex with a person who is sleeping—or being asleep and receiving sexual attention...

Performative Kissing: When and Why People Make Out in Public

August 2, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When a couple starts kissing intensely in public, it tends to capture your attention—you can’t pull your eyes away. And when you see this, it’s possible to experience a wide...

When Sex Toy Misuse Sends People to the Emergency Room

July 28, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

You all know that I’m an advocate for sex toys. The data are clear that most people who use them report benefits and overwhelmingly positive effects. For example, sex toys are an...

4 Secrets of Successful Relationships

July 26, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

How do you make a relationship work for the long haul? Research has identified several key factors, many of which have to do with the relationship mindset we hold.  I...

Sleeping Beauty Syndrome: Fantasies About Sex With a Sleeping Person

July 21, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Some people are turned on by the idea of having sex with a partner who is sleeping—or being asleep and receiving sexual attention from someone else. This sexual interest is...

How To Have Good Casual Sex

July 19, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

What are the keys to having good casual sex? This question is at the forefront of Dr. Zhana Vrangalova’s program of research. I recently interviewed Zhana for the Sex and...

How COVID-19 Changed the Sex Work Industry

July 14, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people’s sex lives in a number of ways, which I’ve written about extensively on the blog (see here for a video recap of some of...

Changes in Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality in the Past 20 Years

July 7, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

According to Gallup’s 2021 Moral Issues Survey, Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to become more liberal overall. In fact, for some of the issues on this survey, Gallup recorded the...

Using Less (Not More) Porn is Linked to More Sexual Problems

July 7, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Many people view pornography as a public health hazard, arguing that it’s inherently bad for our sex lives, relationships, and mental health. Embedded in a lot of arguments about the...

LGBTQ Identification has Increased 41% Among US Teenagers

July 5, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

The number of American adults identifying as LGBTQ+ is growing. As I reported earlier this year, LGBTQ+ identification in national polls has increased by about 60% from 2012 to 2020, going...

The Importance of Being Good, Giving, and Game in Bed

June 30, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

How do you keep passion alive in a long-term relationship and sustain sexual satisfaction over time? This question is at the forefront of Dr. Amy Muise’s program of research. I...

How Similar or Different are the Sex Lives of Gay and Straight Men?

June 28, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Do the sex lives of men in relationships differ based on their sexual orientation? This question is difficult to answer because there’s not a lot of research out there on...

Happy Birthday, Dr. Kinsey! Celebrating the History of Sex Research

June 23, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

“We are the recorders and reporters of facts—not the judges of the behaviors we describe.” – Alfred Kinsey Today (June 23) marks the birthday of Dr. Alfred Kinsey, one of...

Sex Secrets: What We Hide from Our Partners and Why

June 21, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When people describe the traits they want in a partner, honesty usually comes in near the top of the list. However, despite the fact that we say we want partners who will...

What You Do After Sex Matters

June 16, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

What do you do after sex? Some people like to spoon or cuddle, others like to sleep, and yet others like to grab something to eat or drink. But does...

The Psychological Impact of Virtual Reality Porn Versus 2D Porn

June 14, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Virtual reality (VR) pornography is a small but growing market in the adult industry. As the cost of this technology comes down in price and becomes more accessible to a...

7 Things To Know About Bisexuality For LGBT Pride Month

June 9, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Bisexuality is one of the most misunderstood sexual orientations. So for LGBT Pride Month, let’s take a look at some of the key things scientists have discovered about bisexuality that...

Does Listening to Sexy Music Get Us in the Mood for Sex?

June 7, 2021 by Katie Adams

Guest post by Katie Adams “I’ve been really tryin’, baby / Tryin’ to hold back this feeling for so long / And if you feel  like I feel, baby /...

7 Reasons People Stay Friends with Their Exes

June 2, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

After a breakup, some ex-partners avoid each other entirely. However, others continue to be in each other’s lives by remaining friends. So what motivates people to stay friends after a...

6 Reasons People Want Consensually Nonmonogamous Relationships

May 31, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Consensual nonmonogamy is a relationship style in which all partners openly agree to the possibility of having more than one sexual and/or romantic relationship at a time. These relationships are...

Porndemic? Here’s What Really Happened With Porn Use During the Pandemic

May 26, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, much was said and written about sex and masturbation in the popular media. The implication of many stories was that people were going...

Would You Feel Jealous if Your Partner Got a Sex Robot?

May 24, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

I get asked about the future of sex a lot, and one of the topics that often comes up is how robots are going to change our intimate lives and...

How Gay Men and Lesbians Respond to Offers of Casual Sex

May 19, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of research has examined how men and women respond to proposals for casual sex; however, the bulk of this research has focused on people who are heterosexual. This...

Is It Acceptable to Have Sex on the First Date? Here’s What Americans Say

May 17, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

In recent years, Americans’ sexual attitudes have become more liberal. For example, public opinion polls have found that the number of American adults who think that things like sex outside...

What Will Sex and Relationships Look Like After COVID-19?

May 12, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the questions I’m asked most often by journalists these days is what sex and relationships will look like after the pandemic. As a result, I’ve spent quite a...

How People Look Back On Their Very First Sexual Experience

May 10, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

How do you look back on your first sexual experience? For some people, it’s remembered positively, whereas for others, it is a source of regret and shame because they feel...

1 in 6 Single Americans Report a Desire to Try Polyamory

May 5, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Google trends have shown an uptick in searches related to polyamory in recent years, which suggests growing interest in the idea of consensual non-monogamy (or at least growing curiosity about...

How Virginity Became a Stigmatized Status in the U.S.

May 3, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

It wasn’t that long ago that virginity was a highly coveted trait in a romantic partner. Sexual inexperience was valued, whereas being sexually experienced was often considered a dealbreaker, especially...

Why Establishing Sexual Compatibility Isn’t A One-Time Thing

April 28, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

One reason that many couples have sex early on in a relationship—and well before the prospect of marriage might ever come to mind—is because they want to know whether they’re...

Even Doctors Don’t Agree on What Counts as Having Sex

April 26, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When people are surveyed about which behaviors count as “having sex,” it’s nearly impossible to find 100% agreement on anything. For example, studies of college students find that, while most...

We Don’t Learn From Our Regrets: Sexual Regret Doesn’t Change Future Behavior

April 21, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When asked to describe a memorable regret, the things people mention most often involve love, sex, and romance [1]. For example, common regrets include lost opportunities (like “the one that...

How Marijuana Affects Sex

April 19, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

April 20th is known by many as 4/20 Day and it’s an unofficial holiday that celebrates all things marijuana (to read up on the history of 4/20 Day, check out...

The Way Our Sex Fantasies Change with Age Might Reflect Changes in Personality

April 14, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

People tend to think of personality as a relatively stable characteristic of the self that doesn’t usually change much over the course of our lives. However, this way of thinking...

Does Time Speed Up or Slow Down When You’re On a Hot Date?

April 12, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Our perception of time is inconsistent—and a lot of different factors can affect whether time feels like it’s flying by versus standing still. For example, watching water boil on a...

The Difference Between a Sexual Fantasy and a Sexual Desire

April 7, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader recently asked the following question:“My wife and I have been discussing fantasies. She believes fantasies are something that may turn you on but you don’t want to actually...

How Common are Pregnancy Fetishes?

April 5, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

In the last couple of years, I seem to have become the go-to person for journalists and sex therapists who want to know how common a given sexual fantasy is....

The Dark Side of Sexual Attraction: People are Often Drawn to Antisocial Personalities

March 31, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

When I look at studies examining what people say they want in a romantic partner, people tend to report a lot of positive traits. For example, kindness, honesty, and dependability...

What is Rebound Sex, and is It a Good Idea?

March 29, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Rebound sex is generally defined as sexual activity that someone seeks out in order get over an ex or move on after a breakup [1]. In other words, rebound sex...

Are People Who Have Cheated Before Bound To Do It Again?

March 24, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

“Once a cheater, always a cheater” is how the saying goes. But is this true? Is history bound to repeat itself when it comes to infidelity?According to the research, people...

The Difference Between a ‘Hopeless Romantic’ and a ‘Hopeful Romantic’

March 22, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

What does it mean to be a “hopeless romantic?” You can find countless media articles talking about people’s opinions on this, but from a scientific perspective, what it really refers...

Is BDSM Always About Sex?

March 17, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Most of the time that you see BDSM discussed or mentioned in the popular media, it is referenced as a sexual activity. In other words, it’s largely seen as something...

This is How Many Tinder Matches It Takes to Get an IRL Date

March 15, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the things people find appealing about the idea of online dating is that you can potentially meet a much larger number of people online than you can in...

The True Story of How I Became a Sex Educator and Researcher

March 10, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Our professional biographies tend to serve as a “highlight reel”—they only say the great things we’ve accomplished and don’t reveal the struggles, challenges, and uncertainties that went into building a...

Why Men Get Erections in Their Sleep and Often Wake Up with ‘Morning Wood’

March 8, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex educator, I’ve been asked many times over the years why men often wake up with erections (or “morning wood,” as they’re known colloquially). In this post, I’ll...

The Complex Link Between Depression and Sex

March 3, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

It is well known that depression—and certain drug treatments for depression, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—can lower sexual interest, desire, and activity levels. However, it turns out that...

The Number of Americans Identifying as LGBT is Growing

March 1, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

I’ve been studying and writing about sexual orientation and sexual identity for the better part of the last two decades, and one of the most interesting things I’ve seen in...

How Your Cat Could Make You Kinkier

February 24, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Earlier this week, I wrote an article about how infectious organisms transmitted through sex can potentially alter the sexual behavior patterns of the host. By encouraging the host to engage...

Could STIs Manipulate Us Into Having More Sex To Increase Disease Spread?

February 22, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Most of us like to think of ourselves as having free will. We engage in behaviors—sexually and otherwise—because we choose to do so, right? But what if this wasn't entirely...

How Many People Have Ever Had Rough Sex, and Who’s Most Likely To Do It?

February 17, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

In my previous post, I discussed results from a recent study exploring how young adults define “rough sex” and their enjoyment of this activity. Today, I’m going to be discussing...

What Does It Mean to Have ‘Rough Sex?’

February 15, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Rough sex is one of the most popular sexual fantasies. In fact, when I surveyed 4,175 Americans about their fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want, I found...

10 Things You Should Know About Condoms for National Condom Month

February 10, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

The American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) recognizes February as National Condom Month. Condom awareness and education is always important, but it seems especially timely right now given that rates of...

The State of Sex Education in the United States in 2021 (Infographic)

February 4, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Teens across the United States have wildly inconsistent experiences with sex education. Currently, 20 states do not require sex ed, and even in those states that mandate it, the information...

Online Dating Use Has Nearly Tripled in the US in Less Than a Decade

February 3, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

The way we meet our romantic partners has evolved several times throughout history, with online dating being the latest frontier. However, it’s interesting to note that, despite its increasing popularity,...

Who Has More Sex Dreams: Singles or People in Relationships?

February 1, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people report having dreams about sex at least occasionally. In fact, research has found that the vast majority of both men (93%) and women (86%) say they have had...

6 Tips For Dealing With Sexual Difficulties

January 27, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex educator, I receive questions almost every day from people who are facing some type of difficulty in their sex life and don’t know what to do about...

Condom Use Decreased During the Pandemic—And This Might Be Why

January 25, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

We know that there have been multiple changes in sexual behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, which I’ve blogged extensively about before (for a summary of some of the main findings,...

When Affairs Lead to Breakup, And When They Don’t

January 22, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Earlier this week, I wrote about a new study that explores what people who are having affairs do, say, and feel. The results of this research tell us that there...

Inside an Affair: What People Do, Say, and Feel When They Commit Infidelity

January 18, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s a lot of research out there on infidelity. Most of it has examined topics such as how many people have ever cheated and the main reasons people step out...

What Scientists Get Wrong About Relationships

January 11, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

I went to graduate school to study the psychology of romantic relationships. Relationships are one of the most significant and consequential things in our lives, with the quality of our...

Sex Question Friday: Can I Change My Sexual Fantasies?

January 8, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently received a long letter from a reader who asked, “Can I (or should I) try to change my sexual fantasies in order to reduce conflict in my marriage?”...

If Having Sex is Healthy, is Not Having Sex Unhealthy?

January 7, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader submitted the following question:“It is known that having sex has positive effects on both our mental and physical health. But what do we know about the consequences of...

How People in Open and Polyamorous Relationships are Navigating the Pandemic

January 6, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

I’ve written a lot about how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people’s sex lives and relationships; however, most of the research that has been conducted on this topic so far...

The State of Unclear Relationships: Ghosting, Icing, and Simmering

January 4, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

The rise of online dating has given us a new way to connect with other people—and to meet people we probably wouldn’t otherwise encounter in our everyday lives. It has...

Happy New Year! Science-Backed Resolutions For Better Sex In 2021

January 1, 2021 by Justin Lehmiller

Each time a new year rolls around, a lot of us start making resolutions for self-improvement. I suspect more people than usual may be making New Year’s resolutions right now...

Ten Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2020

December 30, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

2020 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most interesting things we learned about sex...

The Year in Sex: The 10 Most-Read Articles on Sex and Psychology in 2020

December 28, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

What. A. Year.2020 was unusual, to say the least. Our lives and behaviors were altered in a number of ways due to the pandemic—one of which was that many of...

The Psychology of Christmas Porn: Some People Think Santa is a Daddy

December 25, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Our sexual behaviors ebb and flow throughout the year—and so do our porn searches. It turns out that what people look for on adult sites is, in part, a function...

Santa Claus Porn is a Thing—And It’s Very Popular Right Now

December 25, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Porn searches are seasonal. According to Pornhub, the content that people look for seems to vary significantly over the course of the year in relation to different holidays and events....

Will COVID-19 Change Our Sex Lives Permanently?

December 21, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Throughout this pandemic, I’ve been interviewed by dozens of journalists about the impact COVID-19 has had on our intimate lives. One question that keeps coming up in these interviews is:...

9 Years of Great Sex: It’s the Ninth Blogiversary of Sex and Psychology!

December 18, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s hard for me to believe, but Sex and Psychology is officially nine years old! When I started blogging in 2011, I had no idea where this journey would take...

Infidelity is Often About Far More Than Just Sex

December 14, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s not uncommon for people in monogamous relationships to step out on their partners. Studies have reliably found that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 married individuals say...

Holiday Shopping Ideas For The Sexy People In Your Life

December 14, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

If you aren’t quite finished with your holiday shopping or (like me) haven’t even started yet, allow me to make your job a little easier this year. If you're in...

Human Cows: An Inside Look at a Growing Kink

December 9, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A question I often get asked in interviews about my book Tell Me What You Want is whether I learned about any new kinks in the process of studying more...

What Will “Cuffing Season” Look Like in the Time of COVID-19?

December 7, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Where I live, winter is almost here, and that means “cuffing season” is about to get underway. Just in case you aren’t familiar, cuffing season describes the tendency for people...

The Top 10 Most-Read Questions and Answers on Sex and Psychology

December 4, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

What do people want to know about sex?Here's are the ten most read question-and-answer features of all time on the blog. These questions (all submitted by readers of Sex and...

The U.S. Divorce Rate Has Reached a 50-Year Low

November 30, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people seem to be under the impression that divorce is on the rise—and that a larger and larger proportion of marriages dissolve each year. This is why...

Black Friday Sale at the Sex and Psychology Store!

November 27, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Can’t decide what to buy the sexy people in your life this holiday season? I have you covered. Check out the brand new Sex and Psychology Store, where you’ll find...

Seven Reasons to be Thankful for Sex Today (and Every Other Day of the Year)

November 26, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

To all of my readers celebrating Thanksgiving today, don't forget to be thankful for sex! Research suggests that sex is good for us in a lot of ways, both physically...

How People’s Porn Searches Change Around Thanksgiving

November 23, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Porn searches are seasonal.If you look at trends in porn searches throughout the year, you’ll see that they follow a predictable pattern of changes that reflect seasonal events and holidays....

Want to Write for Sex and Psychology? Submit Your Pitch!

November 20, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex and Psychology is about to celebrate its ninth anniversary! I’ve been blogging about the science of sex and relationships three times per week every week since the site launched,...

Why You Shouldn’t Give Up Masturbation During the Pandemic

November 18, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A few years back, a bunch of guys on the internet started challenging each other to go the whole month of November without ejaculating. It’s “No Nut November,” as they...

How Many People Have Ever Had a Threesome?

November 16, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Threesomes are one of the most popular sexual fantasies. But how many people have ever made the leap from fantasy to reality? And who’s most likely to have had a...

How COVID-19 is Changing Sex and Relationships (Video)

November 13, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

How have people's sex lives and relationships changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? Some of my colleagues and I at The Kinsey Institute conducted a study in order...

Why People Have Sex With Their Exes—And How It Makes Them Feel

November 11, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

When a couple decides to end a relationship, the result isn’t always a clean break. There’s often some degree of contact that continues and, sometimes, that includes sex. But who...

The Three Sex Positions Women are Most Likely to Orgasm in

November 6, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Women don’t always orgasm during vaginal intercourse, especially if clitoral stimulation isn’t part of the equation. In fact, in a nationally representative study of more than 1,000 women from the...

What Men Who Use Sex Toys Know That You Don’t

November 2, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

When it comes to sex toy use, there is a pretty sizeable gap between men and women. Studies have consistently found that women use sex toys during masturbation at much...

The Impact of COVID-19 on the LGBTQ+ Community

November 2, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a powerful impact on people’s sexual and romantic lives. At the Kinsey Institute, we conducted a study to explore how people’s intimate lives have fared...

Women’s Masturbation Habits May Be More Nuanced Than Men’s

October 30, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Some women masturbate right after having sex with their partner. Intuitively, some might assume that this necessarily means she was dissatisfied with the sex and compensating for an unfulfilling experience....

Spending Time Naked With Strangers—In a Safe Space—Can Improve Body Image

October 26, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Nudism (also known as naturism) is a practice—and sometimes a lifestyle—that centers around non-sexual public nudity. As someone who grew up in the United States, I learned very early on...

Women’s Experiences with Multiple Orgasms are Very Diverse

October 23, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Research reports on multiple orgasms in women date back nearly a century. Despite this, surprisingly little has been published on what women’s experiences with multiple orgasms are like. There’s also...

Why Romantic Partners Often Look Alike

October 19, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Have you ever noticed that some romantic partners have a strikingly similar facial structure? If so, you’re not alone.Research has found that we tend to be attracted to partners with...

Is It Possible For Someone To Not Have Sexual Fantasies?

October 16, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked the following question:“My wife claims she has no sexual fantasies. Is this possible?”Sexual fantasies are usually defined as waking mental images or pictures that one finds to...

Things You Probably Never Knew About Penises

October 14, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

What is the average amount of semen a man produces? Where does semen actually come from anyway? Why do men ejaculate in spurts instead of a stream? Why is semen...

How Many Women Fantasize About Cuckolding?

October 12, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Cuckolding is a sexual practice in which one is aroused by the idea of watching or listening to their partner have sex with someone else. I’ve written quite a bit...

Sex as Self-Injury: People Who Intentionally Seek Harm Through Sex

October 9, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to deliberate, self-inflicted damage to the body that is intended to cause pain, but not to end one’s life. NSSI is not uncommon—in fact, some reports...

How Many People Have Had a New Sexual Partner During the Pandemic?

October 7, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we’ve been urged to keep our distance from other people in order to reduce transmission rates. These social distancing guidelines—combined with lockdowns, quarantines, and closures...

Announcing the Eighth Annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference!

October 5, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

I am pleased to announce the eighth annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference! It will be held next February prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology....

Sex Has Decreased During the Pandemic, in Part, Because Relationship Conflict has Increased

September 30, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In our Kinsey Institute study on how the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is affecting our intimate lives, we found that rates of sexual activity decreased during lockdown compared to prior year...

How the Pandemic Has Affected the Content of Our Sexual Fantasies

September 29, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In my last post, I wrote about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the frequency with which people say they fantasize about sex, as well as people’s reasons for having...

What’s in a Kiss? How People Describe Their Best and Worst Kisses Ever

September 28, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Kissing is among the most common sexual and romantic behaviors. Although it isn’t a universal activity across cultures (in fact, researchers haven't found evidence of kissing in a surprisingly large...

How Common are Fantasies About Eating (or Being Eaten by) Someone Else?

September 25, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked:“How common are vorarephilia fantasies?”For those who aren’t familiar, vorarephilia (also known as vore for short) refers to a sexual interest that revolves around consuming or being consumed...

The Psychology of Pup Play

September 23, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

“Pup play” is a form of sexual roleplay in which an adult human adopts the appearance and characteristics of a dog. This may include dressing up like a dog (wearing...

People Who Fall in Love Fast, Easily, and Often are More Attracted to Toxic Personalities

September 21, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Some people tend to fall in love fast, easily, and often [1]. This tendency is known as emophilia, formerly known as “emotional promiscuity.”Falling in love fast and often might sound...

The Fascinating Link Between Alien Abduction Reports and Sadomasochistic Fantasies

September 18, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A surprisingly large number of people report having had paranormal experiences. For example, in a 2013 HuffPost/YouGov poll of 1,000 American adults, 32% of respondents answered yes to the question: “Have you ever...

Is There a Link Between Porn Use and Relationship Satisfaction? Actually, No

September 16, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Popular media reports frequently tout the damage that pornography use does to relationships. Some articles have made pretty bold claims, such as “porn-free relationships are stronger,” “watching porn can diminish...

The Movie Sex Scenes People Fantasize About Recreating Most Often

September 14, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Popular media—films, television shows, and books—are common sources of sexual fantasy inspiration. In fact, in the study of 4,175 Americans’ sexual fantasies I conducted for my book Tell Me What...

Who You Meet Matters More Than What You Want: The Economics of Love

September 11, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people struggle when it comes to finding long-term relationship happiness. So what can we do about this? As economist Rebekka Grun argues in the TEDx talk below,...

How Older Adults Define Sex—And How Their Views Change Over Time

September 9, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Research has found that different people define sex in radically different ways.Most research to date has focused on heterosexual, college-age adults and their views of sex, which reveals that penetrative...

Your “Soulmate” is the Person Who Motivates You to Work on Your Relationship

September 7, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Public opinion polls reveal that a majority of Americans believe in the concept of a “soulmate.” For instance, according to a YouGov poll of 2,984 adults conducted earlier this year,...

3 Theories Behind Why We Kiss

September 4, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Kissing is one of the most common sexual and romantic behaviors in many cultures around the world; however, kissing is far from a universal activity. In fact, researchers haven't found...

Are Diamonds Really Forever? How Engagement Ring Cost is Linked to Marriage Length

August 31, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

How much “should” you spend on engagement and wedding rings? If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably heard that 2-3 months’ salary is the rule of thumb; however, that’s a...

Sex News Roundup: What’s Going on In Sex Research Today?

August 28, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

What’s going on in the world of sex and relationship research right now? Here’s a brief recap of the latest and greatest happenings. In this edition, we’ll review a new...

How Many People Have Used Sex Toys During the Pandemic?

August 26, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

According to numerous media reports, sex toy retailers around the world reported a surge in sales since the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic began, especially during the period when lockdowns were widespread.Of...

Why Women Hook-Up—And How They Feel About Their Hookups

August 24, 2020 by Katie Adams

When I was an undergraduate student, the weekends usually meant parties. And Sunday brunches often consisted of friends dishing on any hookups that occurred at those parties. Looking back on...

Talk Dirty To Me: The Psychology of Dirty Talk

August 21, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader sent the following question:How many people are into dirty talk? What turns people on about it?There’s a lot of research out there on sexual communication, but surprisingly little...

Celebrating 67 Years of Women’s Sex Research!

August 19, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-seven years ago this week (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. This...

We Usually Have More Sex in the Summer–But Will We During the Pandemic?

August 17, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Our sexual behavior patterns change with the seasons. Historically, there has been a reliable peak in sexual activity during the summer months. But is our usual summer peak going to...

Most People Have Noticed a Change in Their Sexual Fantasies During the Pandemic

August 10, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

As someone who studies the science of sexual fantasies, something I’ve been curious about is whether this pandemic has affected our fantasies in any way. This situation has touched a...

3 Reasons People Engage in Sexual Sadism and Masochism

August 7, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Sadism and masochism involve deriving pleasure from the experience of giving and receiving pain, respectively. This can take a number of forms, from spanking to whipping to flogging and beyond...

What Your Personality Might Say About Your Likelihood of Being Cheated On

August 5, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of research has looked at the traits and characteristics of the people most likely to cheat on their romantic partners. But what about people who get cheated on?...

Disasters Like the COVID-19 Pandemic are a “Relationship Accelerator”

August 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the world of dating and relationships? According to sex therapist Esther Perel, disasters like this are a “relationship accelerator.” What exactly does she mean...

Relationship Red Flags: 5 Signs That a Relationship Isn’t Off to a Good Start

July 31, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A question I often get asked is “what are the red flags I should watch out for in a new relationship?” While it can be hard to know early on...

The Psychological Origins of BDSM: 8 Things That Draw People to Kink

July 27, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism (BDSM) is one of the most popular sexual fantasies and a significant number of people report having engaged in BDSM acts before.So why is it such...

How Many People Have Ever Received an Unsolicited Dick Pic, and How They Felt About It

July 24, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Survey studies have found that many men report having sent unsolicited photos of their penises (“dick pics”) to other people before—but how many people say they’ve ever received such a...

The Types of People Most—and Least—Likely to “Ghost” a Relationship Partner

July 22, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

There are lots of ways to end a romantic relationship, but some people choose to “ghost” their former partner. Ghosting is defined as “ending a romantic relationship by cutting off...

Who’s Having More Sex During the Pandemic? It Depends on Your Politics

July 20, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Some of my colleagues and I at The Kinsey Institute started a study in mid-March to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, and social distancing on people’s intimate...

How We See Ourselves in Our Sexual Fantasies, and What It Means

July 17, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

When you fantasize about sex, do you appear in your own fantasies? If so, do you appear as you do in real life, or do you change yourself in some...

How the Big Five Personality Traits Predict Your Sexual Fantasies (Video)

July 15, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Our sexual fantasies appear to reflect, at least in part, our personality traits and characteristics. I studied the sexual fantasies of 4,175 Americans from all 50 states for my book...

What’s the Difference Between a Kink and a Fetish?

July 10, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked the following question:“I hear the terms kink and fetish being used in a pretty interchangeable way most of the time. However, I feel like they are two...

1 in 3 Young Men Report Not Having Sex in the Last Year—But Not Because of Porn

July 8, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual inactivity is on the rise among young adults. In the last two decades, the number of people—especially men—reporting that they haven’t had sex in the past year has risen...

Men and Women Have Skewed Ideas about What a “Normal” Vulva Looks Like

July 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Female genital cosmetic surgery is on the rise. While these procedures are still relatively uncommon compared to breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures, they are increasing at a fast rate....

How Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality Have (and Haven’t) Changed in the Last 20 Years

July 2, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

According to Gallup's 2020 Moral Issues Survey, Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to become more liberal overall. In fact, for many of the issues on this survey, Gallup recorded...

Want More Pleasure in Your Sex Life? There’s an Online Course for That

June 29, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

One topic that is conspicuously absent in most sexuality education courses is pleasure [1]. Most of us only ever learn about the potential risks associated with sex and how to...

5 Practical Steps You Can Take to “Cheat-Proof” Your Relationship

June 29, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Infidelity is common. Studies have reliably found that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 married adults report having had sex outside of their relationship at some point. For...

How Sex Toys Can Help Men Improve Their Sexual Performance

June 26, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex toys have never been more popular than they are right now. Sales have been steadily increasing for years, but they really surged during lockdown and quarantine.Despite their growing popularity,...

How Does Having a ‘Friend With Benefits’ Usually Work Out?

June 24, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

When I first got into sex research, I started studying friends with benefits (FWBs). I had been teaching college courses on human sexuality for a few years at that point...

Happy Birthday, Dr. Kinsey! Celebrating the History of Sex Research

June 22, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Tomorrow (June 23) marks the birthday of Dr. Alfred Kinsey, one of the most famous figures in the world of sex research. Kinsey was born in 1894 and died in...

Participants Needed for Studies on Threesomes, Public Nudity, BDSM, and More!

June 17, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A few years back, I launched the Sex Studies page on Sex and Psychology with the goal of helping to connect sex researchers with potential participants, and it has been...

Unwanted Sex and Nonconsensual Sex are Not the Same Thing

June 15, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In recent years, I have noticed an increasing trend in both public and academic discourse on sex to conflate unwanted sexual activity with nonconsensual sexual activity. For example, in many...

Take Control of Your Sexual Health with an STD Check

June 12, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant public health concern, with cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia recently reaching a record high in the United States. There is much work...

4 Theories on the Psychology of Prejudice

June 8, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

I have received several questions from readers recently on the psychology of prejudice. Where does it come from? Why are racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of bias so common?...

Fighting Inequality and Injustice: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

June 5, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Events over the last several weeks have got me thinking more about what I can do to make a difference when it comes to fighting against entrenched forms of inequality...

Sex in the Sea is Fascinating: The Kinky Sex Lives of Aquatic Creatures

June 5, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Mating practices vary widely across different species—and they often occur in very unexpected ways. This is especially true when we look at how deep sea creatures mate.For example, lobsters engage...

The Appeal of the DILF: Why Men Who Have Children are Sexy

June 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In the wake of Kobe Bryant’s death earlier this year, an ESPN news anchor shared a heartfelt story about Bryant’s love of being a father. The emotional tribute instantly went...

Privilege, Injustice, and Inequality: The Conversation We Need To Be Having Right Now

June 2, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Most of you only know me as a sex educator and researcher, but I actually started my career teaching college courses on the psychology of prejudice—and I ended up teaching...

Why Sexually Satisfied People Are More Likely To Cheat

June 1, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Cheating and infidelity are common. Studies reliably find that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 married couples in the US reported having stepped out on their partner at...

Do More Attractive People Have More Sexual Partners?

May 29, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked the following question:“Do more attractive people have more sexual partners?”According to the research I’ve seen, there does seem to be a link between physical attractiveness and number...

Racial Preferences in Online Dating, Explained

May 27, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

“No Blacks.” “No Asians.” It’s not uncommon to see phrases like these on sex and dating apps, in which people categorically exclude entire racial groups from consideration.Many have referred to...

Are Men Who Pay For Sex More Sexist?

May 25, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A common refrain in many anti-prostitution arguments is that sex work is inherently exploitative and that it perpetuates gender inequality. Built into these arguments is an assumption that men who...

What People Get Wrong About Polyamory (Video)

May 22, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Interest in polyamory—and consensual non-monogamy more broadly—is on the rise. Google searches related to polyamory are increasing, apps for polyamorous dating are springing up, and popular media depictions of polyamorous...

Researchers Have Found the COVID-19 Coronavirus Present in Semen

May 18, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Two months ago, I published a blog post titled “Can the Coronavirus be Transmitted Through Sex?” At the time, I wrote that “there haven’t been any scientific studies as of...

Twelve Things Science Has Taught Us About Masturbation

May 18, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

May is Masturbation Month, so let’s talk about self-pleasure! In this post, we’ll explore twelve things scientists have learned from the study of masturbation, including who does it, why, how,...

I’m a Straight Man Who Fantasizes About Other Men: Is That Normal?

May 15, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader submitted the following question:“I am a straight and happily married man, but lately I have had fantasies about other men. Some of them are just about me and...

The Science of Masturbation

May 13, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s May, and that means it’s Masturbation Month! With many of us living under lockdown and quarantine orders at the moment, now seems like the perfect time to talk about...

How People’s Porn Viewing Habits Have Changed During Quarantine

May 11, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Much has been said and written about how pornography use has changed during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, including on this blog (see here). However, almost all of the information we...

Five Things Science Has Taught Us About Asexuality

May 8, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Research has found that around 1% of the population is asexual, a term usually defined as either a lack of sexual attraction or a lack of desire for partnered sexual...

Have You Reached Out to or Heard From an Ex During the Pandemic? You’re Not Alone

May 6, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Anecdotally, I’ve heard from a lot of people who have said that they reached out to (or heard from) an ex-partner since the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic began. But just how...

Rates of Consensual and Nonconsensual Nonmonogamy Among Heterosexual, Gay, and Bisexual Adults

May 1, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

I was recently invited to write a book chapter on nonmonogamy in LGBTQ+ relationships, and one of the things I wanted to do in it was compare the prevalence of...

Podcasts on the Science of Sex to Get You Through the Lockdown

April 29, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

During this time of lockdowns and quarantines, I know that many of you are looking for ways to pass the time, so allow me to suggest some entertaining and educational...

Fact Check: Does Pubic Hair Grooming Increase the Risk of Getting an STI?

April 29, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise, and many people are curious about the reasons why. While the cause is obviously multifactorial, some have suggested that at least part...

5 Common Myths About Sexually Transmitted Infections

April 27, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

April is STD Awareness Month, so let’s take a little time to set the record straight on some popular myths about sexually transmitted infections and diseases. In this post, we’ll...

I’m a Cisgender Woman and My Husband Watches Trans Porn: Does That Mean He’s Not Into Me?

April 24, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader submitted the following question:“I recently discovered that my husband is attracted to transsexuals (MTF - non op). This is the only type of porn that he looks at....

The State of Sex Research Today, According to 4 Sex Scientists

April 22, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

What’s going on in the world of sex research today? What are some of the biggest controversies and challenges? I recently sat down with a few of my colleagues to...

5 Secrets to Increase Your Sexual Satisfaction: Tips From a Sex Therapist

April 13, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

As a practicing sex therapist, I often see two partners legitimately trying to bridge a satisfaction gap between each other, but they can’t seem to get the moves just right....

Lockdown Reading Recommendations for People Who Like to Read About Sex

April 10, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

I know that many of you are bored and horny right now during this lockdown and quarantine period, so allow me to recommend some of my favorite sex books! If...

How Do You Help a Partner Who is Depressed? Advice From a Sex Therapist

April 8, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in the United States. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health, 1 in 14 Americans experienced an...

What are the Most Effective Pick-Up Lines? Here’s What the Science Says

April 6, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

For decades, researchers have been studying the effectiveness of different kinds of pick-up lines in order to better understand the psychology of attraction. What they’ve found is that certain types...

Why The Pandemic is Making Some People Horny–But Turning Others Off

April 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

There are a lot of conflicting media reports out right now about how the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is affecting people’s sex drives. Some are saying that all of the stress...

The History of the Clitoris (Video)

April 1, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

The clitoris is an organ that has been wildly misunderstood and mischaracterized for most of human history. The last three decades have dramatically changed the way that scientists think and...

Women Who Buy Sex: Why They Do It, And What Their Experiences Are Like

March 30, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Most research on people who patronize sex workers has focused on men. In some ways, this isn’t surprising because men are much more likely to report having paid for sex...

How Natural Fluctuations in Women’s Hormones Affect Their Relationships

March 23, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

For women who aren’t using any kind of hormonal contraception, their bodies undergo a series of natural fluctuations in hormone levels across the menstrual cycle. Studies have found that these...

Sex and Relationship Survival Tips During a Lockdown

March 20, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Many of us are finding ourselves spending a lot more time at home due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, especially those of us in lockdown areas. For people who live...

Will There Really Be a Coronavirus Baby Boom? Here’s What the Science Says

March 18, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In the last few weeks, I’ve seen a ton of headlines predicting a massive baby boom stemming from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic—and some people are making very bold claims. Case...

The Paradox of Online Dating: Too Many Options Makes It Harder to Invest in a Relationship

March 18, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In any relationship, you’re bound to discover that your partner has one or two (or maybe ten or twenty) quirks that eventually come to annoy you. In these situations, it's...

Can the Coronavirus be Transmitted Through Sex?

March 16, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has prompted a lot of questions, including many questions about exactly how this virus spreads. One that I’ve been hearing a lot about lately is whether...

The Top 10 Most-Read Questions and Answers on Sex and Psychology

March 13, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

What do people want to know about sex?Here are the ten most read question-and-answer articles of all time on the blog. These questions (all submitted by readers of Sex and...

How Coronavirus is Affecting the World of Porn

March 13, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

There is no escape from coronavirus news. It’s all anyone can talk about on my social media feeds and everywhere I go. It’s permeating every aspect of our lives, including...

How Many People Have Fantasized About Forcing Sex On Others?

March 11, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In my last post, I wrote about people who fantasize about having sex ‘forced’ on them. Today, we’re going to talk about the flip side of these fantasies: people who...

Fantasies About Being ‘Forced’ To Have Sex Are Common—Here’s Why

March 9, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Have you ever fantasized about being ‘forced’ to have sex? If so, you’re not alone. Fantasies about being taken against one’s will (sometimes known as ‘forced sex fantasies,’ ‘rape fantasies,’...

Seeking Participants For Sex Studies!

March 6, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A few years ago, I launched the Sex Studies page on Sex and Psychology, with the goal of helping to connect sex researchers with prospective participants. I’m pleased to say...

Are Condoms Going Out of Style? Six Theories on Why Condom Use is Decreasing

March 4, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

People today are less likely to report using condoms than they were in the past. For example, among teens, the number who reported using a condom the last time they...

When Orgasms Aren’t Pleasurable: Understanding ‘Bad’ Orgasms

March 2, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

When you hear the word orgasm, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?Odds are, you probably thought about pleasure because most of us tend to equate orgasms with positive...

Bisexual Versus Pansexual: What’s the Difference?

February 28, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the difference between being bisexual versus being pansexual. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what these terms really...

How to Share Your Sexual Interests with Your Partner? There’s an App for that

February 26, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people don’t feel comfortable sharing their sexual wants and needs with their partners. For example, when I surveyed more than 4,000 Americans about their sexual fantasies for...

The State of Sex Education in the United States in 2020 (Infographic)

February 24, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Teens across the United States have wildly inconsistent experiences with sex education. More than 20 states do not even require that sex education be taught at all, and even in...

How Do You Become a Sex Researcher?

February 21, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

‘How do I become a sex researcher?’ I get this question a lot from students who want to know what degree they should pursue in order to enter the field....

The Keys to a Pleasure-Filled Sex Life: Advice From a Sex Therapist

February 19, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

We aren’t experiencing as much sexual pleasure as we used to. So what can we do to fix that?Dr. Nan Wise, a cognitive neuroscientist and certified sex therapist, has the...

Men are More Likely to Agree to a Hookup When Their Phone’s Battery Level is Low

February 17, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

We’ve long known that scarcity plays an important role in sexual attraction. For example, in a classic study, research assistants approached people at a bar at different points during the...

How People’s Porn Searches Change on Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Porn searches are seasonal. When we look at trends in people’s porn searches throughout the year, they follow a predictable pattern of changes that reflect seasonal events and holidays. For...

Does Your First Sexual Experience Shape Later Sexual Preferences?

February 12, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A female reader recently asked the following question:“One of my first experiences in the bedroom was anal. This was about 3 years ago and it was a rather good experience....

Take Control of Your Sexual Health and Pleasure with Wearable Dental Dams

February 7, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Oral sex is one of the most common sexual activities in the United States today. In fact, a majority of American adults under age 50 say they have both given and received...

Do People Who Watch Porn Seek More Extreme Content Over Time?

February 5, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people seem to be under the impression that, if you watch enough porn, your brain will build up a tolerance to it. The result is that you...

From Superheroes to Porn Stars to Politicians, Who Appears in Our Sexual Fantasies?

February 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Almost everyone has sexual fantasies, and most of us have them often. We fantasize about a wide range of activities, from group sex to BDSM to doing something that is...

I Fantasize About Getting Shrunken Down and Eaten by Another Man: What Does It Mean?

January 31, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader recently wrote to ask me a question about their biggest sexual fantasy. He said:“I have always had a sexual fantasy about getting shrunken down and eaten by a...

Doing Your Kegel Exercises Just Got A Lot More Fun

January 24, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles through Kegel exercises is a well-established way of giving your sex life a boost. Indeed, study after study has found that these exercises offer a...

Can Abstaining From Masturbation Increase Testosterone?

January 24, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

“Across the alt-right movement, leaders are telling young men not to masturbate, “ says clinical psychologist Dr. David Ley in a recent interview. Why is that? In part, because some...

Catch Me On The Dr. Phil Show!

January 22, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

On the heels of appearing in the new Netflix series Sex, Explained, I also appeared in an episode of Dr. Phil’s television program! Talk about getting the new year off to...

Medical Marijuana Laws are Linked to Increases in Sexual Activity and Birth Rates

January 21, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

How does marijuana affect people’s sex lives? According to scientific research, it seems to be an aphrodisiac for a lot of people. For example, a 2017 study published in the Journal of Sexual...

More Evidence That Many ‘Unusual’ Sexual Interests Aren’t So Unusual After All

January 20, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Psychologists and psychiatrists typically use the term paraphilia to refer to unusual or uncommon sexual interests or activities. Hundreds of desires have been described as paraphilias over the years, although there are currently...

How Sex Toys Can Help Bring Your Fantasies to Life

January 17, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

There is a big gap between fantasy and reality. When I surveyed more than 4,000 adults about their sexual fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want, I found...

All of the Unusual Things People Got Stuck Inside Their Genitals Last Year

January 17, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Each year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission updates its database on “consumer product-related injuries” that occur in the United States. It’s a public health tool that tracks emergency room...

Consent is Not a Defense: The Legal Ruling that Criminalized Consensual BDSM in Britain

January 13, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

In the late 1980s, British police launched a massive investigation into men who were participating in sadomasochistic acts with other men in the United Kingdom. Known as Operation Spanner, the...

Sex News Roundup: Do People Really Have a Type When It Comes to Relationships?

January 10, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

What’s going on in the world of sex and relationship research right now? Here’s a brief recap of the latest and greatest happenings. In this edition, we’ll review a new...

The Way People View Married Life Versus Single Life is Shifting

January 8, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Living single as an adult has long been stigmatized, with singles being viewed as “incomplete” due to their lack of a relationship [1]. Not only that, but singles are often...

Watch Me on the New Netflix Series Sex, Explained!

January 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

I’ve been sitting on some very exciting news for the last few months: I’m featured in the first episode of a new series from Netflix and Vox titled Sex, Explained!...

Why Rough Sex is Arousing to So Many People

January 3, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Rough sex is one of the most popular sexual fantasies. While it’s a common fantasy theme across genders, it is especially common among women. As I discuss in my book...

Happy New Year! Science-Backed Resolutions For Better Sex In 2020

January 1, 2020 by Justin Lehmiller

Each time a new year begins, a lot of people make resolutions for self-improvement. Some of us resolve to lose weight or to get in better shape, others vow to...

Nine Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2019

December 30, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

2019 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most interesting things we learned about sex...

The Year in Sex: The 10 Most-Read Articles on Sex and Psychology in 2019

December 27, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

As 2019 winds down, let's look back at this year's ten most read articles on Sex and Psychology. The following posts represent a very diverse range of content and, combined,...

What Was Popular In Porn In 2019?

December 23, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Pornhub just released their 2019 year-in-review of users’ viewing habits and, as usual, the results were fascinating. They reported an average of 115 million site visitors per day this year,...

8 Years of Great Sex: It’s the Eighth Blogiversary of Sex and Psychology!

December 20, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Believe it or not, Sex and Psychology is officially eight years old! When I started blogging in 2011, I had no idea where this journey would take me, but it...

The Season of Sex: Sexual Activity Increases in December. Here’s Why

December 18, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex is seasonal, to some degree. Researchers have found that our sexual activity patterns ebb and flow throughout the year, and there’s an interesting change taking place right now. Sex...

Do Something Good For Your Relationship This Holiday Season: Share Your Sexual Fantasies

December 16, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people are hard at work right now trying to find the perfect holiday gift for a significant other. Allow me to make your job a little easier...

Pornography is Dangerous for Teens? Chill Out, The Kids are Going to be (Mostly) Alright

December 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Americans have become increasingly fond of calling pornography a “public health crisis.” Those who claim this frequently cite adolescents’ “rampant access to pornography” as a central concern. Parents are encouraged...

Blinded by Desire: How Motivation to Establish a Relationship Affects Sexual Risk-Taking

December 11, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

We all like to imagine that our decision making is clear and logical and that we’re weighing the pros and cons before we act. The truth, however, is that we’re...

Meet This Week’s Amazing Sex and Psychology Guest Bloggers!

December 9, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I am currently on vacation and traveling through Asia, with stops in Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines! It’s an exciting trip and I’m sure I’ll have a lot to share...

The History of the Billion-Dollar Sperm Banking Industry

December 6, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I listen to a lot of podcasts, and NPR’s Planet Money is one of my favorites. Generally speaking, their episodes don’t have much to do with sex or sexuality; however,...

Want to Write for Sex and Psychology? Here’s Your Chance

December 4, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex and Psychology is about to celebrate it’s eighth anniversary! To date, every single post on the site has been written by me. In fact, I’ve blogged three times per...

How Civilization Has Changed Sex and the Future of Sex: A Conversation with Dr. Christopher Ryan

December 2, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently interviewed Dr. Christopher Ryan (author of Sex at Dawn) about his latest book, Civilized to Death: The Price of Progress. Ryan argues that while we like to think...

Black Friday Sale at the Sex and Psychology Store!

November 29, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Can’t decide what to buy the sexy people in your life this holiday season? I have you covered. Check out the all new Sex and Psychology Store! You’ll find everything...

Seven Reasons to be Thankful for Sex Today (and Every Other Day of the Year)

November 28, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

To all of my readers celebrating Thanksgiving today, don't forget to be thankful for sex! Research suggests that sex is good for us in a lot of ways, both physically...

Civilized Sex: Has Civilization Changed Sex for Better or for Worse?

November 25, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s a tendency to believe that civilization is our greatest human accomplishment and to think that every advance we’ve made—whether scientific, medical, or otherwise—has made things better because it has...

This is the Most Unique Podcast About Sex Fantasies You’ll Ever Hear

November 22, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

My book Tell Me What You Want is based on the largest survey of sexual fantasies ever conducted in the United States. I surveyed more than 4,000 Americans from across...

The Psychology of “Cuffing Season”

November 20, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Winter is coming, and that means “cuffing season” is about to get underway. Cuffing season is a term that, to the best of my knowledge, popped up about 10 years...

People Say That 1 in Every 5 Dreams They Have is About Sex

November 18, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people report dreaming about sex from time to time. For example, one study found that 93% of men and 86% of women said they’d had sex dreams before. But...

Most People Have Fantasized About Being In An Open Relationship

November 15, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Have you ever fantasized about what it would be like to be in a sexually open relationship? If so, you’re not the only one. It turns out that being involved...

The Psychology of Unsolicited Dick Pics: How Many Men Have Sent Them, and Why?

November 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the most popular posts I’ve ever written on the blog was about why so many men send unsolicited dick pics to women. At the time, there wasn’t really...

The New Documentary About Dr. Ruth is Definitely Worth Watching

November 11, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I grew up in the 1980s, so I couldn’t help but know who Dr. Ruth was. Her popularity exploded and she was absolutely everywhere. I heard her on the radio....

Child Sexual Abuse is Preventable, Not Inevitable

November 8, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Is child sexual abuse inevitable? A lot of people seem to be under the impression that it’s only a matter of time before someone who is attracted to children acts...

Seeking Participants For Sex Studies!

November 6, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

If you're reading this post, odds are that you love learning about the latest sex research. But have you ever wanted to go beyond reading about it and take part...

Why You Shouldn’t Buy Into the Whole “No Nut November” Thing

November 4, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Every November, a bunch of guys on the internet challenge each other to go a whole month without ejaculating. It’s “No Nut November,” as they call it. Men do this...

Sexual Arousal Puts Us In a Risk-Taking State of Mind

November 1, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Why do people engage in risky sexual behaviors? This is, of course, a complex question and there are obviously many contributing factors. For example, some people take sexual risks because...

How Many Young Adults Have Ever Faked an Orgasm, and Why They Did It

October 30, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

It is a widely known fact that people sometimes pretend to orgasm during sex. But just how many have ever done it? Why do they do it? And how do...

How People’s Porn Searches Change on Halloween

October 28, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Our sexual interests are seasonal. For example, if you look at trends in porn searches throughout the year, you’ll see that they follow a predictable pattern of changes that reflect...

Vampires and Werewolves and Mermaids, Oh My! How Many People Fantasize About Sex with Mythical Creatures?

October 25, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

With Halloween just around the corner, people will soon start dressing up as all kinds of mythical creatures, from werewolves to vampires to mermaids and beyond. Most people who dress...

One Person’s Sexual Problem is Another Person’s Erotic Desire

October 23, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

What counts as a sexual “problem?” It depends who you ask. For example, consider the phenomenon often referred to as “premature ejaculation” among men. What I’m talking about here are...

How the Sexual Effects of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Molly Compare

October 21, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy/MDMA/Molly are among the most popular substances people use to enhance their sexual experiences. But when it comes to their effects, how similar or different are these...

How Couples Can Sustain a Strong Sexual Connection for a Lifetime

October 18, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex educator and researcher, one of the most common questions I get asked (besides “am I normal?”) is how a couple can stay sexually connected and passionate for...

What You Think You Know About the Male Refractory Period is Probably Wrong

October 16, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The refractory period is usually defined as a phase following orgasm during which additional orgasms are impossible. Sexual arousal is often said to be very difficult during this time as...

Nine Things You Should Know About Casual Sex

October 14, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Casual sex is common, and studies suggest that most people will have it at one point or another. However, despite its prevalence, casual sex is widely misunderstood. Here are nine...

What Does It Mean To Be Sex Positive?

October 9, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

What does it mean to be sex positive? This is one of those terms that different people define in different ways; however, at the core of most definitions is the...

Older Women Who Date Younger Men Are More Satisfied

October 7, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Relationships in which a woman is significantly older than her male partner have always attracted a lot of attention and scrutiny. Case in point: remember what big news it was...

In Nature, Sexual Deception is Everywhere You Look

October 2, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A few weeks ago, I posted an article about the beautiful—but sexually deceitful—orchid. Some orchids have evolved to mimic the appearance and scent of female bees in order to lure...

The Erotic Equation and Why We’re Drawn to People Who Play Hard to Get

September 30, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In Jack Morin’s classic book The Erotic Mind, he describes the “erotic equation” as follows: Attraction + Obstacles = ExcitementWhat this equation means is basically that if we’re attracted to...

Porn Ed: What Happens When Porn Replaces Sex Education?

September 27, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Adolescents today have greater access to a wider range of pornography than any previous generation. So how is it affecting them? This question is the crux of a new episode...

How Porn Changes The Way Teens Think About Sex, And Why We Need Porn Literacy

September 27, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How does pornography affect the way that teens think about and approach sex? Is there a link between pornography and sexual violence, as many in the media have claimed? Also...

Do People With ADHD Have a Harder Time With Monogamy?

September 25, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Do people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a more difficult time being monogamous? Are they more inclined to be in sexually open relationships? Sex therapist Ari Tuckman just published...

Announcing the 7th Annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference!

September 23, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I am pleased to announce the seventh annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference! It will be held next February prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology....

The HPV Vaccine is Underutilized–And How We Can Change That

September 18, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and it’s responsible for a number of negative health effects. In addition to genital warts, it has the potential...

Why I Deleted My Academia.edu Account and Why You Should, Too

September 16, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The traditional model of academic publishing restricts access to research by putting it in the hands of private companies. As a result, I’ve had to work hard to make my...

Study Abroad With Me in Amsterdam for a Course on Sex and Culture

September 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I’m excited to announce a unique study abroad opportunity in conjunction with the Sexual Health Alliance. We are offering a one-week study abroad program in Amsterdam focused on sex and...

The Science of Sperm: How This Microscopic Organism Travels Great Distances

September 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sperm and other microscopic organisms don’t have an easy time traveling from Point A to Point B. When an organism is that small, traveling just one inch is actually an...

ADHD After Dark: How ADHD Affects People’s Sex and Love Lives

September 11, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How does attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affect people in adult life? Specifically, what are the implications for people’s sexual and romantic relationships? For the answers to these questions, I spoke...

Science Fiction Sex Fantasies: Why Some People are Turned on by Impossible Scenarios

September 9, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A large number of people have sexual fantasies that are impossible to act out because they feature elements of science fiction. As some evidence of this, I surveyed more than...

Sex and Disability: Intellectual Disabilities and the Right to Sexuality

September 6, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In many countries, including the United States, persons with intellectual disabilities are deemed unable to provide sexual consent. The argument behind this is usually that these individuals cannot understand the...

No Strings Attached? Many Friends with Benefits are Actually Looking for Love

September 4, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

When people become friends with benefits (FWBs), what is it that they truly want from that arrangement? Are they just in it for the “benefits” (that is, sex)? Or are...

Being a Little Narcissistic Could Mean Having a Better Sex Life

September 2, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Narcissism is a frequently maligned personality trait that involves being self-centered, entitled, and holding grandiose views of oneself. Sex researchers have long been interested in how narcissism plays out in...

Participants Needed For Sex Studies!

August 28, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

If you're reading this, odds are that you love learning about the latest sex research. But have you ever wanted to go beyond just reading about it and perhaps take...

Why Sex Should Be About Having Fun Instead of Achieving Goals

August 26, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people approach sex in a goal-oriented fashion, thinking that there are certain things they need to do or “achieve” every time. High on this list is the...

Just 5 Mammals Have a Menstrual Cycle. So Why Does It Exist?

August 23, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The menstrual cycle is a rare phenomenon in nature. In fact, it turns out that human beings are just one of a handful of species on Earth in which females...

Study: 1 in 8 Young Adults Say Watching Porn is a Form of Cheating

August 21, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

When it comes to infidelity, which behaviors count and which ones don’t? It turns out that different people answer this question in very different ways.. That said, there are some...

Celebrating 66 Years of Women’s Sex Research This Week

August 19, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-six years ago this week (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. As...

People Who Use More Emojis Have More Sex

August 16, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

What does your use of emojis say about your sex and dating life? According to a new study published in the journal PLoS ONE, a lot, actually. In fact, frequent...

The Flower That Tricks Insects Into Having Sex With It

August 16, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I keep two plants in my home at all times. One is some leafy thing I bought years ago—I’m not really sure what it is, but it refuses to die...

The Ten Most-Read Questions and Answers on Sex and Psychology

August 15, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Here's an updated list of the ten most read question-and-answer features of all time on the blog. These questions (all submitted by readers of Sex and Psychology) span a very...

We May Be Able to Eradicate HIV Without Ever Finding a Cure For It

August 9, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

We are getting closer and closer to eradicating HIV, a sexually transmitted infection that has contributed to the deaths of at least 32 million people worldwide since the early 1980s....

Changes in Americans’ Sexual Behavior Since the 1990s

August 7, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How have Americans’ sexual behaviors changed over the past quarter of a century? A recent study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior offers some insight. In this study, researchers...

Where Do Our Sexual Attractions Come From?

August 5, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Why are we sexually attracted to some people, but not others? Where do our attractions come from in the first place? As a social psychologist who has studied issues of...

How We Can Use Science To Close the Orgasm Gap

August 2, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The orgasm gap refers to the well-documented research finding that heterosexual men tend to have more consistent experiences with orgasm than heterosexual women. Specifically, men are not only more likely...

Should You Ever Keep a Relationship Secret?

July 31, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Keeping a relationship secret is exciting, right? That's what movies and television shows might lead you to believe. Couples who sneak around together are usually depicted as full of passion...

How Many People Have Experimented With BDSM Before?

July 29, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

BDSM has long been deemed a paraphilia—meaning an unusual sexual interest—by psychologists and psychiatrists. The classification of BDSM as a paraphilia implies that it’s likely to be a pretty rare...

What is HPV and How Can You Protect Yourself From It?

July 26, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. More than one hundred strains of HPV exist and, while most of them don’t cause problems,...

Who’s Into Polyamory? A Demographic Comparison of Polyamorists and Monogamists

July 24, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Polyamory is a concept that different people define in different ways, but common to most definitions is the capacity to develop more than one emotionally close relationship at the same...

Do People’s Sexual Fantasies Differ Depending on Their Race or Ethnicity?

July 22, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I surveyed 4,175 Americans about their sexual fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want. Since this book came out, one of the more common questions I’ve been asked...

How Your Political Views Shape Who You’re Attracted To

July 19, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Generally speaking, people tend to select romantic partners who hold similar political views. For example, consider a recent study in which researchers looked at party registration patterns of heterosexual married...

When Women Get Blamed For Men’s Infidelity

July 17, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Three Women is a bestselling new book on sexual desire written by journalist Lisa Taddeo. It offers a deep dive into the sex lives and relationships of three American women...

The Most Fantasized About Male and Female Celebrities

July 15, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Who’s your celebrity crush? I surveyed more than 4,000 American adults about their sexual fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want and, among other things, I asked them...

Women Who Sleep With Other Men While Their Husbands Watch: The Psychology of Cuckolding

July 10, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Three Women is a fascinating new book on sexual desire written by journalist Lisa Taddeo. It takes a deep dive into the sex lives and relationships of three American women...

How Does Marijuana Affect Men’s Sexual Health and Performance?

July 8, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How does marijuana affect men in the bedroom? Dozens of scientific studies have been published on the topic, and here’s what we’ve learned so far. Marijuana affects the subjective experience...

Relationships: The Importance of Being Growth-Oriented

July 5, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people end relationships before ever truly giving them a chance, and it's because many of us take the "shopping list" approach to love. In other words, some...

What Counts as “Pornography?” It Depends Who You Ask

July 3, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex researcher, I’ve read a lot of studies on the subject of pornography. One thing that’s been pretty consistent across most of them is that what counts as...

How Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality are Changing

July 1, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

According to the results of Gallup's 2019 Moral Issues Survey, Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to become more liberal overall. In fact, for many of the issues Americans were...

We Can Predict Whether Men—But Not Women—Have Cheated Based on Their Face Alone

June 28, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

People can predict with modest accuracy whether a man (but not a woman) has cheated before based solely on the appearance of his face, according to a recent study published...

How Long Does It Take Women And Men To Reach Orgasm?

June 26, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Much has been said and written in the popular media about the length of time it typically takes men and women to reach orgasm; however, most of this information is...

People Have More Sex in the Summer. Here’s Why

June 24, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex is seasonal. Our patterns of sexual activity ebb and flow throughout the year, and right now we’re entering peak territory because it’s officially summer. Research from a variety of...

Sexual Orientation Statistics For LGBT Pride Month

June 21, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

What percentage of Americans today identify as LGBT? And does this percentage differ across age groups? Also, how many Americans currently support same-sex marriage? And just how much does support...

Seven Things You Should Know About Bisexuality For LGBT Pride Month

June 19, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Bisexuality continues to be a widely misunderstood sexual orientation. Given that this is LGBT Pride Month, I thought it would be useful to put together an article that explores some...

The Psychology of Sadism: Why Some People Are Turned On By Others’ Pain

June 17, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual sadists are people who derive arousal from inflicting pain on others. This could be physical pain, such as hitting someone else, or it could be psychological pain, such as...

How A Male Contraceptive Pill Could Work (Video)

June 14, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientists have been working on developing a birth control pill for men for years. One prominent line of research has focused on using hormones to block production of sperm; however,...

Four Things You Can Do To Keep Passion Alive And Boost Sexual Satisfaction

June 12, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How does sexual satisfaction change over time in a relationship? The good news is that scientists have found that it increases. The bad news is that this increase only occurs...

Gonorrhea Can Potentially Be Spread Through Kissing

June 10, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Gonorrhea is a relatively common sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be passed along through oral, vaginal, and anal sex. It was once thought that these were the only sexual...

The Keys To A Happier, Healthier Sex Life (Video)

June 7, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

What are the keys to a leading a happy and healthy sex life? And how do you unlock your authentic sexual self? Dr. Emily Nagoski addresses these questions in the...

What Kinds of Porn Do Men and Women Watch Most Often?

June 5, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

There are lots of articles out there describing the most-viewed porn categories on Pornhub and other popular adult sites—however, that’s not what this article is. While big data insights from...

Ten Myths About Sexual Orientation Debunked By Science

June 3, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

June is LGBT Pride Month, so I'll be running several posts on LGBTQ+ issues on the blog over the next few weeks. To get us started, let's begin by debunking...

What the Kink Community Can Teach Us About Consent and Communication

May 31, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A few days ago, I received several messages from friends saying they heard a segment on NPR about kink that mentioned me. Naturally, I was curious to give it a...

How Do You “Come Out” as a Sex Therapist, Educator, or Researcher?

May 29, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Whenever someone asks what I do for a living, I have a decision to make: do I “out” myself as a sex scientist, or do I give a generic answer...

Why Tinder is Frustrating for Everyone

May 27, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The internet is rife with articles describing people’s frustration with online dating apps like Tinder. It’s interesting when you think about it because these apps were designed to make dating...

Why We Need To Rethink Casual Sex

May 24, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The way we think about casual sex is all wrong, as Dr. Terri Conley argues in the TEDx talk below. Conely walks us through some of the key findings from...

Penis Enlargement Surgery Is Risky–And There’s Little Evidence That It Works

May 22, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Penis size is a common body concern among men. While most guys report being satisfied with the size of their genitals, a sizable minority say they’re unhappy. For example, in...

This Sex Position Increases The Odds Of Simultaneous Orgasm For Men And Women

May 20, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex researcher, I’ve learned a lot about what it is that people fantasize about when it comes sex. In many of the fantasies I’ve heard, something I’ve noticed...

Smell Is Our Least Appreciated Sense: How Smell Affects Our Sex Lives and Health

May 17, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

You just might be taking your sense of smell for granted, argues Dr. Rachel Herz in the TEDx video below. In this talk, Herz describes how little appreciation we have...

Men And Women Have Different Sexual Regrets

May 15, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

When asked to describe a memorable regret, the things people mention most often involve love, sex, and romance. Common regrets include lost opportunities (like “the one that got away”), cheating...

Is Kink a Sexual Orientation?

May 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

What does it say about you if you’re into kinky or BDSM sex? Is it a serious leisure activity, or is it an innate aspect of your sexuality? Could the...

Why We Still Don’t Have Birth Control For Men (Besides Condoms and Vasectomies)

May 10, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

When it comes to men’s options for birth control, they really only have two choices: wear a condom or get a vasectomy. While the number of options available to women...

Living Together Before Marriage is Still Illegal in Two States

May 8, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Cohabitation, or the act of living together with a partner outside of marriage, used to be a rarity. However, it has become quite common in the modern world. Many now...

The Number of Americans Identifying as Bisexual has Tripled in the Last Decade

May 6, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The percentage of Americans who identify as LGBT is on the rise. Data from Gallup and other national surveys suggest that, as attitudes toward sexual minorities have become more positive,...

The Truth About the “Oral Sex Gap”

May 3, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

According to countless popular media articles, there is a massive disparity between heterosexual men and women when it comes to giving oral sex. Some of these articles suggest that, in...

Women Who Use Marijuana Before Sex Report Better Orgasms

May 1, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How does marijuana affect women’s sexual functioning? A recent study published in the journal Sexual Medicine sought to find out. Researchers anonymously surveyed hundreds of women visiting an obstetrics and...

Why Sex Education Can’t Wait: Sex Before Age 13 is More Common Than You Think

April 29, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In the United States, the average age of first sexual intercourse is 17 for men, according to data from the CDC. The number is roughly the same for women, and...

The Truth About How Porn Affects Us

April 26, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In the popular media, pornography has seemingly become the default source of blame for any and all sexual problems. Why are we in a “sex recession?” Porn. Why do we...

How Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Change as We Get Older

April 24, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex and aging is a topic that has been underexplored in sexuality research, given that the bulk of sex studies to date have focused on college students. However, we’ve learned...

Being Similar To Your Partner Doesn’t Guarantee Greater Happiness

April 22, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Finding a compatible partner is one of the cornerstones of a happy and healthy relationship. But how do you determine who you’re compatible with? Intuitively, you might think the answer...

When Sex Is More Than Just Sex

April 19, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

For humans, sex isn’t just about gratifying some carnal, animalistic urge. Rather, the physical act of sex can serve a lot of different psychological purposes. This helps to explain why...

One in Five People Report Having Been in a Sexually Open Relationship

April 17, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How many people have ever been involved in a consensual non-monogamous (CNM) relationship before? The results of two recent studies involving nationally representative samples (one from the United States and...

Should Men Be Circumcised In Order To Help Reduce STIs?

April 15, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Some physicians argue that male circumcision should be a routine procedure because it can help fight the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Not only does circumcision reduce men’s odds...

What We Can Learn About Consent From The BDSM Community

April 12, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual consent is all about having solid communication with your partner(s). However, many of us aren’t very good communicators in general when it comes to sex and, further, many of...

The History of Obscene Telephone Calls

April 10, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

People have been making obscene telephone calls for almost as long as the telephone has been in existence. In recent years, however, they have begun to change form, as digital...

The Sexual Fantasies of People With Non-Binary Gender Identities

April 8, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I have written quite a bit about similarities and differences in the sexual fantasies of self-identified men and women (see here for a summary). Of course, however, not everyone identifies...

How To Talk To Your Kids About Sex

April 5, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex educator and researcher, one of the more common questions I get asked is when and how to talk to your kids about sex. Case in point: a...

Why Spooning After Sex Might Be Good For Your Love Life

April 3, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

What do you do after sex? Some people like to spoon or cuddle, others go to sleep, and yet others get up to grab something to eat or drink. But...

Children of Lesbian Parents are More Likely to Identify as Gay or Bisexual

April 1, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The idea that gay parents are more likely to have gay children has long been thought to be a myth among sexual orientation researchers. For example, a review of the...

Desire Needs Space: A Sex Therapist on Keeping Passion Alive (Video)

March 29, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Maintaining sexual desire is a challenge that many long-term couples face. So how do you keep the passion alive? As sex and relationship therapist Esther Perel argues, one of the...

7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Orgasms

March 27, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The science of orgasm is a fascinating subject. In this post, we’ll take a look at seven of the most interesting things scientists have discovered about orgasms. What to learn...

The Fascinating Psychology Behind the Popularity of MILF Porn

March 25, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In the book A Billion Wicked Thoughts, neuroscientists Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam analyzed the contents of over a billion searches on some of the most popular porn sites. They...

The Most Problematic Belief About Relationships

March 22, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

People have a lot of wrong ideas about how relationships work, and these romantic myths and misconceptions can interfere with our ability to find happiness.

5 Things Americans’ Google Searches Have Taught Us About Sex

March 20, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In the last few years, Google Trends has become a favored research tools of sex scientists. Because not everyone is willing to participate in sex studies for various reasons, Google...

The State of Sex Education in the United States in 2019 (Infographic)

March 18, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In the United States today, adolescents' experiences with sex education are anything but consistent. Believe it or not, less than half of all states even require that sex education be...

Why Different Sexual Orientations Exist (Video)

March 15, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes sense that males of a given species tend to be attracted to females and vice versa because this will encourage frequent reproduction and survival...

The 7 Most Common Sex Fantasies–And How Many People Have Ever Had Them

March 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Which sexual fantasies have you had? I surveyed 4,175 Americans about the content of their sex fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want and found seven major themes...

When Is The Right Time To Start Having Sex?

March 8, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

When you start seeing someone new, when’s the right time to begin having sex with that person? According to a non-scientific survey of OK Cupid users, people are all over...

How You Can Tell Whether a Sex “Expert” Is Legitimate

March 6, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Gizmodo recently published an exposé on Daniel Sendler, someone who presented himself as a sex expert to the popular media and succeeded in getting a lot of publicity for himself...

Consensual Violence: Sex, Sports, and the Politics of Injury (Featured Book Series)

March 6, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In the last year, I have been approached to consult on a number of legal cases that center around disputes over whether a given sex act constituted consensual BDSM or...

Why A Lot Of Gay Men Are Attracted To Straight Men

February 27, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Pornhub’s annual year-in-review always offers tantalizing insights into what it is that turns people on—and last year’s review was no exception. I recently wrote about some of the top search...

10 Things You Should Know About Condoms for #NationalCondomMonth

February 25, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) recognizes February as National Condom Month. For my part in helping to increase awareness of and education about condoms, I’ve put together the following...

The Man Who Said a Vasectomy Made Him Gay

February 22, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

I spend a lot of time reading scientific journal articles as part of my job and, every now and then, I come across a paper that makes me say “WTF?”...

Does Sex Affect Athletic Performance?

February 20, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Whenever a major sporting competition is about to occur, it’s common to see news articles about athletes who say they will be abstaining from sex until the event is over....

How Being “In The Moment” Can Enhance Your Sex Life

February 18, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Difficulties with sexual desire and arousal are common among women and men alike. Unfortunately, medications don’t always fix these problems, in part, because many of these issues have psychological causes,...

The Biggest Misconception About Sex

February 15, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

There are a LOT of things that people get wrong when it comes to sex and relationships. As someone who studies these topics for a living, I’ve noticed that some...

The Science of Love (Video)

February 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and many people have love on the brain. So let’s talk about the science of love! I’ve put together a video compiling five things...

The Science Of Love (VIDEO)

February 13, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

“Though we often associate love with the heart, the true magic can be seen inside the brain.”This fascinating video by ASAP Science explores the neurobiology behind love. It turns out...

How Vasectomies Affect Men’s (And Women’s) Sex Lives

February 11, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Vasectomies are one of the most underutilized forms of birth control, in part, because a lot of men are worried about the procedure having a number of negative effects on...

Exercise Can Help Prevent and Treat Erectile Dysfunction

February 8, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Erectile dysfunction or ED is one of the most common sexual difficulties experienced by men. As with most sexual difficulties, there are numerous potential causes, including some that are biological,...

Feederism: Why Some People Are Turned On By Erotic Eating And Weight Gain

February 6, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Feederism has been described as "a fat fetish focused on erotic eating, feeding, and gaining weight" [1]. There are two types of people who exist within this fetish culture: feeders...

Can Pedophilies Change?

February 4, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The mental health community has long been interested in developing treatments for persons who are attracted to prepubescent children with the goal of preventing sexual offenses. In fact, if you...

3 Sex Fantasies That Are More Common Than You Think

February 1, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Paraphilia is the term psychiatrists and psychologists use to refer to any type of unusual or “non-normative” sexual interest. The number of sexual fantasies that have been deemed paraphilic has...

9 Out of the Top 10 Traits Men and Women Want In a Romantic Partner are the Same

January 30, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

When it comes to what men and women want in a romantic partner, they’re stereotyped as wanting drastically different things. However, research suggests that they actually have a lot in...

How Long People Want Sex To Last Versus How Long Sex Actually Lasts

January 28, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

How long do you want to spend on sex? And how long do you actually spend on sex when you have it? Research suggests that there’s often a discrepancy in...

How To Talk To Your Partner About Your Sexual Fantasies

January 25, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

There's a lot we can potentially gain from talking to our partners about our sexual fantasies. Among other things, this has the potential to increase our sexual and relationship satisfaction...

How Many Americans Have Paid For Sex Before?

January 23, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Purchasing sex used to be a very common behavior among American men. For example, Alfred Kinsey’s famous studies of human sexual behavior from the 1940s and 50s found that 69%...

Why Is Porn Inspired By Video Games So Popular?

January 21, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

It seems as though every time a video game becomes a major hit, porn inspired by that game becomes a big thing. For example, when the PokémonGo craze hit in...

How Can I Tell If My Partner Is Cheating?

January 18, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Readers of the blog often send me their questions about sex and relationships, and one that I’ve heard several times recently concerns infidelity and whether there are any reliable indicators...

Are We Really in a “Sex Recession?”

January 16, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

A recent study suggests that Americans are having less sex today than they were a quarter-century ago. These findings have received a lot of attention—I covered them on the blog...

Nonconsensual Condom Removal: How Common is “Stealthing?”

January 14, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

In 2017, we added a new word to our sexual vocabulary: stealthing. A paper published in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law defined it as “nonconsensual condom removal during...

The Problem With The “Born This Way” Argument (Video)

January 11, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual orientation is something that many people consider to be an innate characteristic—it’s something you’re born with. This idea is popular within the LGBTQ community, and it’s something that has...

Can Medications and Drugs Be Transferred Through Semen?

January 9, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Readers of the blog frequently send me questions about sex, and I’ve noticed that some of them seem to pop up more often than others. One that I find myself...

Sexual Fantasies About Body Fluids: How Many People Have Them?

January 7, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

The human body produces a number of different fluids—and those fluids represent a sexual turn-on for some people. From semen and sweat to blood and breast milk, almost any body...

What Was Popular In Porn In 2018?

January 2, 2019 by Justin Lehmiller

Pornhub recently released their 2018 year-in-review of users’ viewing habits and the results were fascinating. Among other things, they reported an average of 92 million site visitors per day in...

Happy New Year! Here Are 9 Resolutions For Better Sex In 2019

December 31, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Every time a new year comes around, people start making resolutions for self-improvement. For example, some of us resolve to lose weight or to get in shape, others vow to...

The Most Common Reasons For Becoming a Sex Worker in a Country Where Sex Work is Legal

December 30, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There are a lot of stereotypes about female sex workers, and one is that no woman would ever choose this profession voluntarily. Some people see sex work as inherently victimizing,...

The Year in Sex: The 10 Most-Read Articles on Sex and Psychology in 2018

December 28, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

As 2018 winds down, let's take a look back at this year's ten most read articles on Sex and Psychology. The following posts represent an incredibly diverse range of content...

Eight Things Science Taught Us About Sex In 2018

December 26, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

2018 has been memorable for a lot of reasons—including what science taught us about sex. Here’s a quick recap of some of the most interesting things we learned about sex...

Christmas Kissing: How Mistletoe Became a Kissing Cue

December 24, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people decorate with mistletoe around Christmas, hanging it from the ceiling or over a door. Mistletoe is more than just a holiday decoration, though—it’s also a cue...

7 Years of Great Sex: It’s the Seventh Blogiversary of Sex and Psychology!

December 21, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

It's hard for me to believe this, but Sex and Psychology is now seven years old! When I began blogging in 2011, I had no idea where this journey would...

Believe It or Not, Nude Psychotherapy Used To Be A Thing—And Even The APA President Supported It

December 17, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine shared an article with me that offered a historical review of the “nude psychotherapy” movement in psychology. Wait—what? As I began to...

Holiday Shopping Ideas For The Sexy People In Your Life

December 14, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

If you aren’t quite finished with your holiday shopping or (like me) haven’t even started yet, allow me to make your job a little easier this year. If you're in...

Forbidden Fruit: How Many of Us Have Fantasized About Our Partner’s Best Friend? Or Their Sibling?

December 14, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

In studying the sex fantasies of more than 4,000 Americans for my book Tell Me What You Want, I discovered that there’s one person who’s more likely to appear in...

Romantic Red: Does Dressing In Red Really Make You More Sexually Attractive?

December 12, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Over the last decade, scientists have published a series of studies claiming that the color red is a sexual signal and that wearing it makes you more attractive to the...

The Best Present You Can Give Your Partner This Holiday Season? Touch

December 10, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s that time of year when many of us begin to search frantically for the perfect holiday gift for a significant other. Despite all of the time, effort, and money...

We’ve Just Entered The Season of Sex: People Have More Sex in December

December 7, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Research suggests that, on average, people tend to have more sex in the summer than they do in the winter; however, December is the exception to the winter sex slump....

People Think Sex Is Riskier Than It Really Is

December 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There's a scene in the movie Mean Girls in which high school health teacher Coach Carr gives his students a lesson in sex education. It pretty much consists of him...

Are Men And Women Really That Different When It Comes To Sex? Join Me For a Course on the Mars/Venus Debate

November 30, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The idea that men and women are polar opposites when it comes to sex is a popular one, immortalized in bestselling books like Men are From Mars, Women are From...

How Many People Want To Have Sex With A Robot?

November 28, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I’ve seen a lot of articles lately about sex robots and how they’re supposedly going to revolutionize our sex lives. A lot of these articles make the assumption that there’s...

Sharing and Acting on Group Sex Fantasies: Gender and Sexual Orientation Differences

November 23, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I surveyed more than 4,000 Americans about their sexual fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want and I found that group sex was one of the most common...

Seven Reasons To Give Thanks For Sex Today

November 22, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

For all of my readers celebrating Thanksgiving today, don't forget to give thanks for sex! Why? Research suggests that sex is good for us in many ways, both physically and...

People’s Orgasm Faces Look Surprisingly Different Across Cultures

November 21, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

When I was training to become a social psychologist, I learned that many emotions and facial expressions seem to be universal across cultures. Recently, however, researchers have begun to debate...

Sex With An Ex: Is It A Terrible Idea?

November 19, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

“Welcome to the wonderful world of ex sex. It’s hot, it’s naughty…oh yeah, and it’s a really stupid idea.” – Cosmopolitan Magazine When a couple decides to end their relationship,...

Why You Should Take Your Time When Putting On A Condom

November 16, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Condoms are one of the best tools we have available for reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and preventing unintended pregnancies. Unfortunately, however, they don’t provide quite as...

Why Being a “Details Person” Just Might Make You a Better in Bed

November 14, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Many psychologists believe that our personalities consist of five underlying traits: openness to experience (your willingness to try new things), conscientiousness (how detail oriented and organized you are), extraversion (how...

The HPV Vaccine May Soon Be Readily Available To Americans Up To Age 45

November 12, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

A few years ago, I decided to get the HPV vaccine. This vaccine didn’t hit the market until I was well into adulthood, so I didn’t have a chance to...

So You Want To Be A Science Blogger? Here’s What You Need To Know

November 9, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I’ve been running the Sex and Psychology blog for nearly 7 (!) years at this point. When I started, I didn’t know a whole lot about blogging. I gradually picked...

Some Doctors Are Smearing C-Section Babies With Bacteria To Boost Their Health

November 7, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

A few years ago, I came across some research reporting that the way a child is born appears to have consequences for their health. How so? Scientists believe that the...

10 Facts About Cheating And Infidelity, According To Science

November 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Infidelity has long been a topic of interest to scientists who study sex and relationships. Over the years, they’ve uncovered a number of fascinating things about how common cheating is,...

Similarities and Differences in Men’s and Women’s Sex Fantasies

November 2, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

How are men’s and women’s sexual fantasies similar? And how are they different? I surveyed 4,175 Americans about their sex fantasies as part of my book Tell Me What You...

5 Important Things Science Has Taught Us About Sexual Attraction

October 31, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What is it that attracts us to other people? Can you fall in love at first sight? Can computer algorithms successfully predict who will make a good match? Read on...

“Casual Sex” Isn’t All That Casual

October 29, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

We tend to think of casual sex as, well, a pretty casual affair, meaning it’s just about the sex and nothing else. This view of casual sex is pervasive, even...

Halloween Sex Offender Panic Is Here Again—But It’s Still Not Making Us Safer

October 26, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Each October, the media runs story after story warning parents about the dangers that sex offenders pose to children on Halloween. All of the panic stoked by these claims has...

How (And Why) I Became A Sex Researcher

October 24, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

As someone who studies the science of sex for a living, I’m often asked what it is that drew me to this field. How and why did I decide to...

Sexless Marriages: How Common Are They, And How Do People Cope With Them?

October 22, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Nationally representative U.S. survey data reveal that approximately 1 in 7 adults today are living in a sexless marriage, meaning they report engaging in little to no sexual activity [1,...

Future Doctors Score a “D” in Sexual Health Knowledge Because Sex Ed Barely Exists in Medical School

October 19, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The state of sex education is poor for American adolescents—but you probably already knew that. However, what you may not have realized is that the state of sex education for...

Men Who Have More Sex Have a Lower Risk of Heart Attacks

October 15, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientists have found that sex seems to be good for us in many ways. For example, sexual activity has stress-relieving properties: when couples in a good quality relationship have sex...

Seven Fascinating Facts About Sexual Fantasies

October 10, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I surveyed 4,175 Americans from all 50 states about their sexual fantasies for my book Tell Me What You Want. Participants were asked to describe their favorite sexual fantasy of...

Video: The Science of Being Transgender

October 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people are cisgender, meaning that their gender identity corresponds with their birth sex; however, some people are transgender, meaning their gender identity and birth sex are different. Increasingly, scientists...

First-Born Kids are Most Likely To Get a “Birds and Bees” Talk From Their Parents

October 1, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Parents have the potential to play an important role in their children’s sex education. Indeed, many of you reading this probably received a version of the “birds and bees” talk...

“Unusual” Sexual Fantasies Are A Lot More Common Than You Might Think

October 1, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Psychologists and psychiatrists use the term paraphilia to refer to unusual sexual interests. In other words, a paraphilia represents a desire for an uncommon sexual object or activity. Hundreds of...

Monogamous, Monogamish, or Polyamorous? Join Me For a Course on Figuring Out Which Type of Relationship is Right For You

September 28, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Relationships can take a lot of different forms, from monogamous to “monogamish” to polyamorous. Each approach has its own unique set of advantages and challenges. So how do you figure...

10 More of Your Burning Questions About Sex, Answered (VIDEO)

September 26, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I’m answering more of YOUR questions about sex today. In the video below, I’ll review ten questions submitted by readers of Sex and Psychology and explore what science can tell...

Video: 10 Questions About Sex

September 26, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Today, I’m answering YOUR questions about sex. I’ve put together a brief video in which I review ten questions submitted by readers of Sex and Psychology and explore what science...

How Does Consent Work In An Orgy?

September 24, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s a big assumption built into the way most people talk about sexual consent, which is that sex is exclusively a two-person activity. While it’s true that sex most often...

Orgasms Trigger Migraine Headaches in Some, But Cure Them in Others

September 19, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

We’ve long known that there’s a link between sex and headaches. In fact, we can trace this all the way back to Hippocrates, who is thought to be the first...

My Favorite Story About the History of the Vibrator Isn’t True

September 17, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

About a decade ago, I came across a book entitled The Technology of Orgasm by Rachel Maines. It quickly became one of my favorites on the history of sex because...

How Booze and Weed Affect Us During Sex

September 14, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Alcohol and marijuana are among the most popular substances people use to enhance their sexual experiences. But when it comes to their effects, how similar or different are these drugs?...

From Oysters to Chocolate to Ginseng: Aphrodisiacs that Do and Don’t Work, According to Science

September 14, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

People have been searching for tools to enhance their sex lives for centuries. Historically, and even today, they have looked to various herbs and foods in the hope of finding...

Announcing the 6th Annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference!

September 12, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I am pleased to announce the sixth annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference! It will be held next February prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology....

4 Uncommon Sexual Fantasies And What They Mean

September 10, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I have been studying the science of sex for the last ten years. During that time, I’ve learned a lot about what turns people on, from the vanilla to the...

Video: The Science of Love With Dr. Art Aron

September 7, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Why should scientists study love? Because, as social psychologist Dr. Art Aron explains in the video below, it's central to our health and happiness. Dr. Aron talks not only about...

4 Things I’ll Miss About Academia—And 4 Things I Won’t

September 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I made a major career move this summer. After working ten years as a college professor, I decided it was time for something new: I left academia to become a...

When are Married Couples Most Likely to Cheat? The Link Between Infidelity and Relationship Length

September 3, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I shared an article on Twitter the other day about the prevalence of infidelity, which prompted a response from my pal Dan Savage about how cheating is associated with the...

Are You a “Grower” or a “Shower?”: Average Penis Length Changes From Flaccid to Erect

August 31, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Some men’s penises seem to grow more than others when they change from a flaccid to erect state. In colloquial terms, men who experience a larger increase in length are...

A Safe-Sex Guide For LGBTQIA Persons

August 29, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Many sex education programs in the United States fail to meet the needs of sexual and gender minority students. This is especially true for programs that have an abstinence-only focus....

Postcoital Dysphoria: When You Inexplicably Become Sad After Consensual, Satisfying Sex

August 27, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

How do you feel after sex? If you’re like most people, you’re probably pretty happy. After all, “it feels good” and “it’s fun” are among the most common reasons men...

The Stereotypes Gay Men and Lesbians Hold About Bisexual Persons

August 22, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual orientation is all too commonly viewed as an either/or proposition, meaning you’re either gay or you’re straight, and nothing in between. This view is widely held, even by many...

Celebrate 65 Years of Women’s Sex Research Today

August 18, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-five years ago today (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. As many...

What Your Sexual Fantasies Say About Your Personality

August 17, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Our sexual fantasies appear to reflect, at least in part, our personality traits and characteristics. In studying the sex fantasies of more than 4,000 Americans for my book Tell Me...

How To Get Over Your Ex, According To Science

August 15, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

It can be challenging to get over a breakup. Many people find that they can’t stop thinking about their ex and that this has negative implications for their mental health,...

What Actually Happens to Your Brain and Body During Sex? (Video)

August 15, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Why does sex tend to feel good? In order to answer this question, we need to step back and look at what our brains and bodies are doing during sexual...

Why Do Men Report Having More Sex Partners Than Women?

August 8, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the most reliable findings across studies of human sexual behavior is that heterosexual men report substantially more lifetime sexual partners on average compared to heterosexual women. In theory,...

Can Food Put Us In The Mood? How Hunger State Influences Responses to Romantic Imagery

August 6, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Food and romance are intimately intertwined in modern dating rituals. Indeed, restaurants are one of the most popular places people visit when they go on a date. Neuroscience research suggests...

Video: The Science of “Blue Balls” and “Blue Vulva”

August 3, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The term "blue balls" is frequently used to describe "a dull, aching sensation that occurs during sexual arousal before or without ejaculation." You may or may not realize this, but...

Join Me in NYC on August 8 For a Course on Getting the Sex Life and Relationship You Want

August 1, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Are you getting what you want when it comes to sex? Odds are, probably not. Most of us have sexual fantasies that we wish were part of our sexual reality;...

If You Could Have Sex Every Day, Would You Be Happier?

July 27, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Studies suggests that most married adults have sex somewhere between a few times per month and a few times per week (side note: sexual frequency in relationships is similar for...

Why Are Some People Sexually Attracted To Animals?

July 25, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

People who are sexually attracted to animals are often referred to as "zoophiles" in the psychological literature. Zoophilia is something that has long been considered a paraphilia, meaning an uncommon...

Your Personality Traits Can Predict Your Sexual Behaviors, Attitudes, and Sexual Health

July 20, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Your sex life is, to some extent, a function of your personality. Sex scientists have accumulated a large body of research revealing linkages between what are known as the "Big...

Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality are the Most Liberal on Record

July 18, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

According to the results of Gallup's 2018 Moral Issues Survey, Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to become more liberal. For the majority of issues Americans were surveyed about, Gallup...

How To Maintain A Great Sex Life As You Get Older

July 16, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

When people think about sex and aging, they have a tendency to focus on all of the things that might interfere with sexual satisfaction as we get older, such as...

Why We Need More Research On Sex And Aging

July 16, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex and aging is a topic I've wanted to include more coverage of on the blog for a long time; however, when you run a research-based blog, it's hard to...

Where Do Our Sex Fantasies Come From?

July 11, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What’s the source of your favorite sex fantasy? Did it emerge from a previous sexual experience? Is it from something you saw in porn or in the popular media? Or...

Why Do We Fantasize About Sex? There Are More Reasons Than You Think

July 11, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Why do we have sexual fantasies? For many of you, the first thought that probably comes to mind is to enhance sexual arousal or to experience pleasure. However, that’s just...

The Deeper Psychological Meaning Behind Your Sexual Fantasies

July 9, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

When we hear or read about other people’s sexual fantasies, we have a tendency to focus our attention on the specific act they describe, such as a threesome or bondage,...

What I Learned By Asking 4,000 Americans About Their Biggest Sex Fantasies

July 6, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

My new book, Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life, will land in bookstores next week (July...

The 7 Most Common Sexual Fantasies

July 4, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What's your favorite sexual fantasy of all time? I asked 4,175 Americans to tell me their biggest sexual desire as part of a recent survey I conducted and the results...

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Pegging

July 2, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Anal activities have become increasingly popular in porn—and in people’s sex lives, too. For example, changes in Pornhub search trends reveal that queries for anal sex have increased by more...

7 Things That Predict Higher (Or Lower) Sexual Satisfaction

June 29, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex scientists have found that people’s sexual satisfaction seems to depend on a wide range of factors, from how often they’re having sex to the types of sexual activities they’re...

Female Hyenas Have an 8-Inch Clitoris–And It Makes For Tricky Mating

June 27, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I've been reading and hearing a lot about spotted hyenas in the media lately. They caught my attention because, well, hyenas don't usually show up in my newsfeed very often...

Does Sex Affect Athletic Performance? Here’s What The Latest Research Says

June 25, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Many athletes abstain from sex before major sporting competitions because they (and sometimes their coaches) are worried that getting it on might have a negative impact on their performance. For...

Tell Me What You Want: An Unprecedented Look At Our Sexual Fantasies–And What They Say About Us

June 22, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I am thrilled to announce that my new book, Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life, will...

More Evidence That Sex Could Be Good For Your Brain

June 20, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Research on both humans and animals increasingly suggests that being sexually active just might benefit the brain. Here's an overview of the evidence that has accumulated so far:A 2010 study...

There’s Just One Problem With Suppressing Sexual Thoughts—It Doesn’t Work

June 18, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Let’s say you have a sexual fantasy about something—or someone—you’re not “supposed” to do, perhaps because it conflicts with the teachings of your religion. When a thought about this pops...

5 Things You Should Know About Bisexuality For LGBT Pride Month

June 13, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Bisexuality continues to be a widely misunderstood sexual orientation. Given that this is LGBT Pride Month, I thought it would be useful to put together an article that explores some...

How Your Sense Of Smell Shapes Your Sexual Experiences

June 11, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s hardly a new revelation that our sense of smell plays an important role in our sexual and romantic lives. I mean, after all, the multi-billion dollar perfume, cologne, and...

Americans’ Support for Same-Sex Marriage is at an All-Time High

June 8, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic change in support for same-sex marriage in the United States. Consider this: in 2007, the Pew Research Center conducted a national...

What Does (And Doesn’t) Impact Men’s Sperm Health

June 6, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s not uncommon for guys to experience fertility problems—even guys who are in the prime of their lives. Just consider that some health organizations claim that as many as 1...

Three Observations About Sex And Culture In Europe

June 6, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently finished teaching a study abroad course on Sexuality and Culture in the Netherlands. After the course was over, I did some personal travel around Europe, with stops in...

10 Myths About Sexual Orientation Debunked By Science

June 1, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

In recognition of June being LGBT Pride Month, I'll be running several LGBT-themed posts on the blog over the next few weeks. To start us off, let's debunk some of...

Why Our Sexual Identities and Sexual Behaviors Don’t Always Line Up

May 30, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What percentage of the population is gay or bisexual? This is a surprisingly difficult question to answer because depending on the definition of sexual orientation you use—sexual identity, sexual attraction,...

The Truth About Unwanted Sexual Arousal (VIDEO)

May 23, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientists who study sexual arousal have found that when they show participants a pornographic video, many people (especially women) show signs of genital arousal while simultaneously reporting that they do...

What Forced Sex Fantasies Mean In the #MeToo Era

May 21, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

In the real world, forcing someone to have sex is something that is widely regarded as a repugnant act. By contrast, in our sexual fantasies, the prospect of being forced...

What I Learned From An Afternoon With Two 77-Year-Old Sex Workers

May 18, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

As part of the study abroad course I’m teaching on Sex and Culture in the Netherlands, I booked us a tour of Amsterdam’s Red Light District with the famous Fokken...

Do Sex Workers Have Better Mental Health In Cultures Where Prostitution Is Legal?

May 17, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Today in my study abroad course on sex and culture in the Netherlands, we're focusing on sex work, especially the link between prostitution and mental health. Many studies have been...

In the Netherlands, Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Are More Mixed Than You Might Think

May 16, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The Netherlands is often seen as a utopia for people who are attracted to the same sex—and this view is perfectly understandable when you look at how homosexuality has historically...

I’m Studying Sex in the Netherlands For the Next Two Weeks!

May 7, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Greetings from Amsterdam! For the second year in a row, I’m teaching a study abroad course on Sexuality and Culture in the Netherlands. Today is the first full day of...

10 Scientific Sex Terms You Probably Didn’t Know

May 4, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientific research papers are often indecipherable to the average reader. This is due, in part, to the fact that scientists use a lot of jargon—they have a special vocabulary that...

Fact Check: Are There Really Racial Differences In Penis Size?

May 2, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The question of whether there are racial differences in penis size is one that has been notoriously difficult to answer with any degree of scientific certainty. The problem has been...

The Link Between Homophobia and Insomnia and Why It Matters For LGB Health

April 30, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexual minority individuals—that is, people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, or who otherwise report same-sex attraction or behavior—are at increased risk for developing a number of physical health...

Is Erectile Dysfunction Really on the Rise in Young Men?

April 27, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

In the popular media, it’s easy to find claims of a rising “epidemic” of erectile dysfunction in young men. For example, this article argues that the rate of ED in...

When It Comes To Sex, “Average” and “Normal” Don’t Mean the Same Thing

April 25, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

People email me with questions about their sex lives all the time. More often than not, these questions boil down to the same theme: "Am I normal?"A lot of folks...

Better Sex Through Mindfulness: An Interview With Dr. Lori Brotto (VIDEO)

April 23, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Difficulties with sexual desire and arousal are common, especially among women—and they’re notoriously difficult to treat with medications alone. However, the good news is that these problems are responsive to...

How the Practice of BDSM is Linked to Relationship Satisfaction

April 20, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

People who are into bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism (or BDSM for short) experience a lot of stigma. For one thing, they are often seen as psychologically disturbed,...

How Many Gay Men Say They Are Bisexual When They’re Coming Out?

April 16, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

In an episode of the classic television series Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw discovers that a guy she's seeing has dated both men and women. Uncomfortable with the thought...

Swingers And Polyamorists May Have More Satisfying Sex Lives Than Monogamists

April 16, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s a common assumption that monogamous relationships are superior to consensually non-monogamous relationships in virtually all ways. In fact, studies have found that monogamous relationships are thought to be better...

The Most Common Reasons For Sex And How They Differ Based On Gender And Age

April 13, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

How many different reasons are there to have sex? At least 237, according to one study. However, that study was primarily based on young college students, which begs the question...

When People Cheat, Who Do They Do It With? Is It Usually A Friend Or A Stranger?

April 11, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s a lot of research out there looking at how many people have cheated, their reasons for cheating, and what “counts” as cheating; however, surprisingly little work has looked at...

Changes In Americans’ Attitudes Toward And Experiences With Infidelity In The Last Two Decades

April 9, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Are Americans today more or less likely to cheat on their spouses than they were in the past? And how have their attitudes toward infidelity changed—have they become more or...

Sexlessness: How Many Americans Didn’t Have Sex Last Year?

April 6, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people have sex at least once in their lives. For example, in a longitudinal study of over 20,000 American adolescents who were surveyed repeatedly over a 15-year period, just...

Why Cars Are One Of The Most Popular Places To Have Sex

April 4, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

People fantasize about having sex in a wide range of settings, but cars are one of the most popular. As some evidence of this, I surveyed more than four thousand...

How Is Porn Use Linked To Relationship Satisfaction? It’s Complicated

April 2, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s easy to find articles in the popular media talking about how porn ruins relationships. Many scientific studies have made this claim, too. However, there’s a problematic assumption embedded in...

The 4 Main Reasons People Stop Having Kids

March 30, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Why do people who start a family decide it’s time to stop having children? A new set of studies published in the journal Marriage and Family Review identifies 4 primary...

The G-Spot Isn’t What You Think It Is

March 28, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Few aspects of genital anatomy have sparked as much scientific debate as the so-called G-spot (also known as the Grafenberg spot). Some researchers have argued that it is a distinct...

Shades of Gay: Is There a Real Difference Between a Kinsey 5 and a Kinsey 6?

March 26, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

People tend to think about sexual orientation in terms of a small number of distinct categories—most commonly, straight, bisexual, and gay. Those who subscribe to this view expect that everyone...

A Sex Therapist On Overcoming Male Sexual Performance Anxiety (Video)

March 21, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the most popular stereotypes of male sexuality is that men want sex all of the time because they're just "wired" that way. In other words, sex is seen...

The 15 Factors That Motivate People To Procreate

March 19, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Having children obviously takes a lot of work—and a lot of money. It really is an enormous sacrifice in so many ways. So why do so many of us do...

How Many Men Admit To Sexual Assault When Hooked Up To A Lie Detector?

March 16, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

When comparing the number of women who say they’ve been sexually assaulted to the number of men who admit to perpetrating sexual assault, the numbers are highly discrepant. In fact,...

Kissing Cousins: How Does Incest Affect The Health Of Offspring?

March 14, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Incest, usually defined as sex between close blood relatives, is one of the most pervasive sexual taboos across cultures. Many different theories have been advanced to explain this taboo, but...

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Cuckolding

March 12, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Some people are turned on by thought of watching their partner have sex with someone else. This fantasy goes by many names, but it is often referred to as cuckolding...

What the Most Sexually Satisfied Couples are Doing in (and Out of) Bed

March 9, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What keeps passion alive in a long-term relationship? According to a recent study of nearly 40,000 adults (all of whom were heterosexual and currently in romantic relationships), there were five...

Four Fascinating Things I Learned About Sex At A Sex Research Conference

March 7, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently returned from the Sexuality Pre-Conference, held just prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology in Atlanta, Georgia. I had the chance to...

Why Are Women More Likely To Regret Casual Sex Than Men?

March 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

 Several studies have found that women are more likely to have regrets about their previous experiences with casual sex than men. While men can certainly have regrets about casual sex,...

Our Reasons For Cheating Depend On Our Personality, Gender, and Attachment Style

March 2, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

A recent study published in the Journal of Sex Research identified eight distinct motivations people can have for cheating (read all about those motives here). Beyond simply demonstrating the factors...

How Do Monogamous And Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships Compare? (Video)

February 28, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Studies have found that people overwhelmingly rate monogamous relationships as superior to consensually non-monogamous relationships on virtually every dimension you can think of [1]. For example, monogamy is seen as...

From Friends With Benefits To Threesomes, How Single Americans Feel About Sex (Infographic)

February 26, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

How many single adults in the United States have had a friends with benefits relationship? How many are open to the idea of having a threesome? And what do they...

Is Watching Porn a Form of Infidelity?

February 23, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What “counts” as cheating on a romantic partner? It depends who you ask. Research finds that people define infidelity in very different ways. However, there are some things that people...

Pink And Blue Weren’t Always Gendered Colors

February 21, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Pink and blue are colors that are commonly associated with gender in many Western cultures. Specifically, pink is widely considered to be a “girl color,” whereas blue is widely thought...

The Trump Administration Doubles Down On Abstinence-Only Sex Education

February 19, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The Trump administration recently released its proposed budget for 2019 and, just like last year, it seeks to ensure that sex education in the United States remains focused on abstinence....

These Are The 8 Main Reasons People Cheat

February 16, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Research consistently finds that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 married persons in the United States has committed infidelity [1]. Rates of infidelity in dating relationships are even...

5 Fascinating Facts About Love

February 14, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

With Valentine’s Day upon us, many folks have love on the brain—so let’s talk about the science of love! In the video below, I've compiled five of the most fascinating...

More Children Are Born–But Not Conceived–On Valentine’s Day

February 12, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people would probably assume that Valentine’s Day is linked to an increase in pregnancies. I mean, given the nature of this holiday and the emphasis on celebrating sex and...

10 Things You Should Know About Oral Sex

February 9, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

How many people have had oral sex? Do men and women have similar feelings about this activity? Does oral sex "count" as sex? In this post, we'll take a look...

Why Do People In Happy Relationships Cheat?

February 7, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There's a common tendency to assume that when someone in a relationship cheats, they're doing it because the relationship is broken; however, this isn't necessarily true. People who are perfectly...

Can You Build Up A Tolerance To Porn?

February 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There’s a widespread belief that, if you watch enough porn, your brain will build up a tolerance to it, meaning that you will require more and more extreme stuff in...

What You Should Know About Condoms For #NationalCondomMonth

February 2, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) has declared February to be National Condom Month. For my part in helping to increase awareness and education about condoms this February, I created...

Sapiosexuality: When Intelligence Is A Sexual Turn-On

January 31, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

In popular culture, a sapiosexual or sapiophile is someone who thinks that high intelligence is sexually attractive. It’s not just that these individuals think it would be desirable to have...

Obtaining Sexual Consent Isn’t Just The Right Thing To Do–It’s Also Really Sexy

January 29, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

There's been a lot of talk about the issue of sexual consent in response to the #MeToo movement. Much of this talk has focused on getting men to understand that...

Do Men And Women Find Giving And Receiving Oral Sex Equally Pleasurable?

January 26, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked:“What percentage of men and women actually enjoy giving or receiving oral sex?”Good question! Let me start by saying that oral sex has become an incredibly common sexual...

Upper Body Strength Plays A Big Role In Men’s Physical Attractiveness

January 24, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What do heterosexual women find attractive about the male body? A new study suggests that signs of muscularity and upper body strength are particularly important, while height and weight seem...

Porn Use Is Linked To Lower Sexual Satisfaction In Men—But Only If They’re Religious

January 22, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Several studies have found that pornography use is associated with lower levels of sexual satisfaction (see here and here and here for a few examples). On the basis of this...

What Percentage of the Population is Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual? (Infographic)

January 19, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

How many people are lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB)? For one answer, check out the infographic below, which summarizes recent data from Britain's National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles....

Can You Really Fall In Love At First Sight?

January 17, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people claim to have had experiences with the phenomenon of “love at first sight.” But is it really possible to fall in love with someone instantaneously? Believe...

What Was Popular In Porn In 2017?

January 15, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Pornhub recently released their annual year-in-review of users’ viewing habits and, as usual, the results were fascinating. Among other things, they reported an average of 81 million site visitors per...

The State of Sex Education in the United States in 2018 (Infographic)

January 12, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Students' experiences with sex education are anything but consistent in the United States. Consider this: less than half of the states even require that it be taught at all! Moreover,...

Our Sexual Fantasies Tell Us Something Important About Who We Are

January 10, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Two people can have sex fantasies about the same activity, but the way that specific activity plays out isn’t necessarily going to be the same from one person to the...

Straight Men’s Same-Sex Friendships Are Surprisingly Intimate

January 8, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the most common stereotypes about straight men’s same-sex friendships is that they’re lacking in emotional depth. Their friendships are seen as revolving around shared activities like watching football...

We’ve Reached Peak Online Dating Season

January 5, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The busiest time of year for online dating is the nearly two-month stretch that runs from the day after Christmas through Valentine’s Day. It reaches its peak on the Sunday...

We’re In Peak Online Dating Season. Here’s Why

January 4, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

The busiest time of year for online dating is the nearly two-month stretch that runs from the day after Christmas through Valentine’s Day. It reaches its peak on the Sunday...

Monogamy Can’t Be Assumed—It Needs To Be Negotiated And Defined

January 3, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

What does it mean to be in a monogamous relationship? It depends who you ask. In the modern world, it has become increasingly difficult to define “monogamy” in any kind...

Happy New Year! Here Are 8 Resolutions For Better Sex In 2018

January 1, 2018 by Justin Lehmiller

Every time a new year comes around, a lot of us start making resolutions for self-improvement. For example, some people resolve to lose weight or get in shape, others vow...

The Year in Sex: The 10 Most-Read Articles on Sex and Psychology in 2017

December 29, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

As 2017 winds down, let's take a look back at this year's ten most read articles on Sex and Psychology. The following posts represent an incredibly diverse range of content...

Why Do We Kiss Under Mistletoe?

December 25, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Many of us decorate with mistletoe around the Christmas holiday. It's often hung from the ceiling or over a door, with kisses offered to those who stand under it. Have...

6 Years of Great Sex: It’s the Sixth Blogiversary of Sex and Psychology!

December 22, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

It's hard for me to believe this, but Sex and Psychology is six years old today! When I began blogging in 2011, I had no idea where this journey would...

Experiences With BDSM And Group Sex Among Friends With Benefits And Romantic Partners

December 20, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Do people engaged in casual, “no strings attached” sexual relationships engage in similar sexual activities compared to people in committed romantic relationships? There is some research to suggest that the...

Some People Get Sick Every Time They Orgasm. It’s Called Post-Orgasmic Illness Syndrome

December 18, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people think of orgasms as a positive experience—one they look forward to repeating time and again. However, this isn’t true for people who experience something known as post-orgasmic illness...

The Season of Sex: Sex Trends in December (Video)

December 15, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Generally speaking, people tend to have more sex in the summer months than they do in the winter months; however, December is the exception to this winter sex slump. In...

A Sex Therapist On Why You Shouldn’t Get Hung Up On Finding “The One” (Video)

December 15, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

When it comes to relationships, a lot of people are under the impression that there’s just one “right” person out there for them—a so-called “soul mate” or perfect partner. In...

Men Overestimate How Often Women Have Orgasms

December 13, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently blogged about a study that examined women’s experiences with orgasm during vaginal intercourse. The results revealed that question wording is crucial when it comes to understanding how often...

Your Sex Life At Home May Affect How Happy And Productive You Are At Work

December 11, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex has the potential to benefit us in numerous ways. Among other things, research suggests that it may be good for our physical health (it is a form of exercise...

The Best Present You Can Give Your Partner This Holiday Season? Touch

December 8, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

It’s that time of year when many of us start a frantic search for the perfect holiday gift for a significant other. Despite putting a lot time, effort, and money...

Shifting Standards Of Sex: Whether A Given Behavior “Counts” As Sex Depends On Who Does It

December 6, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

You might think that it would be easy to define a term like sex—but it’s not. It turns out that different people have very different definitions, and they make all...

How Often Do Women Orgasm During Sex? It Depends How You Ask The Question

December 4, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Several studies have looked at women’s experiences with orgasm during penile-vaginal intercourse. However, these studies have produced variable results, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about how often women...

What Is The Future Of HIV Treatment? #worldAIDSday

December 1, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Today is World AIDS Day, a global public health campaign that began 29 years ago in order to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and education. In support of this campaign, I'm sharing...

Who’s Most Likely To Have A Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationship?

November 29, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships are those in which all of the partners involved agree to have sexual and/or romantic relationships with other persons. This can take many forms, from swinging...

Taking Antibiotics After Unprotected Sex May Reduce STI Risk

November 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

New research finds that the antibiotic doxycycline reduces the odds of contracting some bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) if taken within 72 hours of condomless sex.The findings, presented earlier this...

What Your Eyes Reveal About Your Sexual Orientation

November 24, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex scientists have a lot of tools to choose from when it comes to measuring people’s sexual orientation. However, every tool poses a unique set of challenges.The most straightforward way...

7 Reasons To Give Thanks For Sex Today

November 23, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

For all of my readers celebrating Thanksgiving today, don't forget to give thanks for sex! Why? Research has found that sex is good for us in numerous ways, both physically...

The Psychology of Human Sexuality (2nd Edition) is Now in Print!

November 20, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

I've taught human sexuality courses in colleges and universities for more than a decade. Teaching a course on this subject obviously poses a number of unique challenges, but one of...

Kissing Is Not A Universal Sexual And Romantic Behavior Across Cultures

November 17, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Many sexuality researchers and educators have claimed that kissing is a universal or near universal sexual and romantic behavior. For example, several sexuality textbooks explicitly say that kissing isn't just...

Sexual Orientation and Mental Health: Are Bisexuals at Greater Risk for Depression and Anxiety?

November 15, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Psychologists have long known that gays and lesbians have an elevated risk of depression and anxiety compared to heterosexual individuals. This health disparity is thought to be due in large...

STD Rates Are Rising, But It’s Not Because of Tinder and Grindr

November 13, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In the modern world, we have a tendency to blame almost all of our problems on technology--and this is especially true when it comes to sexual problems. For example, I’ve...

Video: Are Romantic Matching Algorithms Possible?

November 10, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Eharmony and other popular online dating sites promise to help users find compatible romantic partners through the use of specialized matching algorithms. These services were founded on the idea that...

What A Decade Of Data From Pornhub Reveals About Our Sexual Interests

November 8, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

This year, Pornhub celebrated its tenth birthday. To commemorate the occasion, they released some fascinating data on trends in users’ viewing habits. Among other things, over 10 million videos have...

Marijuana Smokers Report Having More Sex Than Non-Smokers

November 6, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

What effect does marijuana have on sexual function? Surprisingly little research has addressed this question, and the few studies that exist have produced conflicting results. For example, while survey research...

Video: 7 Scientific Facts About Vaginas And Vulvas

October 30, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In the video below, I've compiled a list of seven interesting facts about vaginas and vulvas--all tastefully displayed against the backdrop of (mostly) fruits and flowers that bear a minor...

How Erotic Dreams Are Connected To Pornography Use And Sexual Behavior

October 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Most people have had dreams about sex before. However, there’s a lot of variability in the kinds of sex dreams that people have. So where does all of that variation...

Halloween Sex Offender Panic Is Here Again—But It’s Not Making Us Any Safer

October 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Each October, the media runs story after story warning parents about the dangers that sex offenders pose to children on Halloween. All of the panic stoked by these claims has...

Halloween Is One Of The Least Popular Days To Give Birth

October 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

The number of babies born each day naturally fluctuates throughout the year. However, researchers have found that certain days are linked to consistent increases or decreases in the birth rate....

How Are Rates Of STDs Changing In The US? (Infographic)

October 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major public health concern in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are estimated to be 110...

What Does (And Doesn’t) Predict Divorce, According To Science

October 23, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Social scientists have long been interested in the factors that predict divorce. Over the years, they’ve identified a number of things that seem to increase the odds of a couple...

Why Kegel Exercises Are Good For Both Women And Men

October 18, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Kegel exercises have been around for a long time. First described by Dr. Arnold Kegel back in the 1940s, they were originally developed as a way to help women experiencing...

What You Think You Know About Sexual Fetishes Is Probably Wrong

October 16, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

People can develop sexual fetishes for virtually anything. For example, some people are turned on by feeding others or watching them eat, others are turned on by drinking or coming...

Why More Men In Hollywood Aren’t Speaking Out About Sexual Harassment of Women—And How We Can Change That

October 13, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Dozens of allegations of sexual harassment and assault against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein have surfaced in the last two weeks (see here for a complete list). These allegations have prompted...

Yes, You Can Break Your Penis. And This Is The Most Common Way It Happens

October 13, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

While erections are sometimes referred to as “boners,” the truth of the matter is that there aren't actually any bones in the human penis. Some animals do have penile bones,...

Infographic: Women’s Experiences With Orgasm During Vaginal Intercourse

October 11, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

How often do women orgasm during penile-vaginal intercourse? And just how important is clitoral stimulation when it comes to a woman's likelihood of experiencing orgasm during sex? A new paper...

7 Facts About The Penis (VIDEO)

October 6, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

The penis is a fascinating piece of human anatomy; however, it turns out that most of us don't actually know all that much about it. So, in the video below,...

Do We Want Partners Who Are Older Or Younger Than Us? Here’s What The Research Says

October 4, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Study after study has found that men and women have different age preferences when it comes to choosing both sexual and romantic partners. On average, men seem to prefer partners...

Where Do Fetishes Come From? (VIDEO)

September 29, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Fetishes are sexual desires that hinge upon specific objects (like boots or panties), non-sexual body parts (like feet or armpits), or bodily fluids (like urine or breast milk). Though many...

Porn Isn’t The Reason Millennials Are Having Less Sex

September 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Compared to generations past, millennials are having less sex. And the post-millennials—or iGen, as social psychologist Jean Twenge has dubbed them—are doing it even less. Much has been said and...

How Sexual Satisfaction Changes in Long-Term Relationships

September 25, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Does sexual satisfaction change over the course of a long-term romantic relationship and, is so, how? On the one hand, you might think that satisfaction increases as partners learn how...

Ten Fascinating Facts About Orgasm (Video)

September 22, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Think you know everything there is to know about orgasms? Test your knowledge by watching the video below, which highlights ten of the most fun and interesting scientific facts about...

Women’s Preferred “Shapes” and Styles of Genital Touch (Infographic)

September 20, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

What kinds of genital touch do women find to be most pleasurable? A lot of research has explored this question; however, most of it has suffered from major limitations. For...

Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater? Here’s What the Science Says

September 18, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Is it a bad idea to get romantically involved with someone you know has committed infidelity in the past? Common sense tells us that "once a cheater, always a cheater."...

The Ethics of Sexual Orientation Research: When Is Sexuality Too Risky To Study?

September 15, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A new paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggesting that computers have better “gaydar” than humans made quite a media splash this week. Specifically,...

How Sexual and Non-Sexual Communication Differ

September 15, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Communicating early and often about sex is one of the keys to a successful long-term romantic relationship. Indeed, research has consistently found that the more sexual communication couples engage in,...

Announcing the 5th Annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference!

September 13, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

I am pleased to announce the fifth annual SPSP Sexuality Pre-Conference! It will be held next March, just prior to the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social...

Till Porn Do Us Part: Why You Should Be Skeptical of the New Study Claiming Porn Kills Love

September 6, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A new study published in the Journal of Sex Research reports that when married people start using porn, their odds of getting divorced double. In other words, the results would...

What the Dutch Can Teach Us About Sex Education

September 4, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

This past summer, I taught a study abroad course on sex and culture in the Netherlands. We covered a lot of ground in this class, including an in-depth look at...

The HPV Vaccine is Still Woefully Underutilized—Here’s How We Can Change That

September 4, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. In addition to genital warts, it has the potential to cause a wide range of cancers, including cancers of...

Who Has a Higher Sex Drive: Women or Men?

August 30, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

My social media feed has been blowing up lately with links to article headlines like this one from HuffPost, “Women Want More Sex Than Their Partner Does, According To New...

Americans’ Attitudes Toward and Experiences with Sex Toys and Sexual Media (Infographic)

August 30, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

To date, most national sex surveys in America have focused on people's attitudes toward and experiences with a relatively narrow range of sexual behaviors, namely: vaginal intercourse, oral sex, anal...

When Your Sex Drives Get Out Of Sync: Dealing With A Sexual Desire Discrepancy

August 28, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Over the years, I’ve received countless emails from readers saying things along the lines of, “He says I don't want it enough. I think he wants it too much. What...

Is It A Bad Idea To Have Sex For Your Health?

August 23, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

I received an email from a reader the other day who read an article chastising a lot of popular magazines and websites for pushing the narrative that we should be...

“Common Sense” Isn’t A Substitute For Scientific Research

August 23, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

I spend a lot of time talking, writing, and tweeting about the latest scientific research on sex and relationships. Over the years, I've had more than a few people respond...

Do Gay and Bisexual Men on PrEP Take More Sexual Risks?

August 19, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (also known as PrEP for short) is an increasingly popular method of HIV prevention among persons at the highest risk of infection. It involves taking one pill per...

Celebrate 64 Years of Female Sex Research This Weekend

August 18, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Sixty-four years ago this Sunday (August 20, 1953), the media first reported on some of the major findings from Alfred Kinsey's classic book Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. As...

How Many Americans Have Tried BDSM? (Infographic)

August 16, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

The immense popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey has prompted a lot of curiosity about BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism). Among other things, people have begun to...

Sex Is Good For Our Mental Health

August 14, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex stands to benefit us in many ways. For example, research has found that being sexually active appears to be good for our physical health—not only does having sex burn...

This Is How Many American Adults Have Never Had Sex

August 14, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Like most sex researchers, I tend to study people who have sex--and, over the years, we've developed a large scientific literature about them. But what about the people who, for...

A Look at the South Korean Sex Industry (Video)

August 11, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

What is “normal” or “typical” when it comes to sex isn’t the same from one culture to the next. In fact, there’s incredible variation in sexual attitudes and practices throughout...

Does Everybody Have a Gay Gene?

August 9, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Where does our sexual orientation come from? That's a question that we don't yet fully understand. However, a growing body of research suggests that it may be determined, at least...

What You Think You Know About Men’s Sexuality Is Probably Wrong

August 7, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

One of the most popular stereotypes of male sexuality is that guys want sex ALL the time. They're always in the mood because they're constantly thinking about it. After all,...

Women’s Most and Least Common Reasons for Having Sex

August 4, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

There are a lot of different things that can motivate people to have sex. In fact, one study identified 237 distinct reasons for getting it on! But do our reasons...

Faking Orgasms: Why Do So Many People Do It? And Is It A Good Or Bad Thing?

July 31, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

If I asked you to imagine someone faking an orgasm, odds are that you'd probably picture a woman. It has long been assumed that fake orgasms are unique to women,...

How Many Americans Have Had A “Social” Sexual Experience? (Infographic)

July 31, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

When we engage in sexual activity, it's usually with just one other person. Sometimes, however, people engage in “social” sexual experiences in which multiple people are involved in some way....

How Many People Have “Unusual” Sexual Desires?

July 26, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Psychologists and psychiatrists use the term paraphilia to refer to an unusual sexual interest. More specifically, paraphilias are recurrent desires for uncommon sexual objects or activities. Although hundreds of desires...

5 Ways Women Can Orgasm That Don’t Involve Sexual Activity

July 24, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Women don’t need to have sex in order to reach orgasm. In fact, they don’t necessarily even need any genital stimulation at all. Here are five ways women can experience...

Is It Possible to “Undo” a Circumcision? Here’s What We Know About Foreskin Restoration

July 21, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked the following question:"If you've been circumcised, is there any way to get your foreskin back?"Some circumcised men lament the removal of their foreskin, wishing to be "uncircumcised."...

Does Circumcision Affect Men’s Odds of Having Premature Ejaculation?

July 19, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked the following question:“Are circumcised men less likely to have premature ejaculation?”People have long been curious about what effects circumcision (or removal of the penile foreskin) has on...

Are Sex Researchers More Sexually Active Than Everyone Else?

July 19, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

When you study sex for a living, people have a tendency to think that you really love sex—and that you must be having it all the time, too! In other...

Disability Desires: People Who are Aroused by the Idea of Becoming Physically Disabled

July 14, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Paraphilia is the term psychologists and psychiatrists use to refer to any unusual sexual interest. It’s important to note that an unusual interest is not necessarily harmful and it's not...

5 Fascinating Things Americans’ Google Searches Have Taught Us About Sex

July 14, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Google Trends has quickly become one of the favorite research tools of sex scientists. Why? In part, because not everyone is willing to participate in sex studies and, among those...

People Are More Willing To Have Sex With Bisexuals Than Have Relationships With Them

July 12, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Bisexual people, both male and female, tend to be stereotyped negatively. For example, they are often seen as sexually confused, secretly gay, highly promiscuous, and incapable of monogamy. These negative...

The Season of Sex: Why Sexual Activity Peaks in the Summer

July 10, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In the animal kingdom, there are some species that only mate seasonally. They do it just a few times per year, coinciding with their fertile periods. Humans, by contrast, are...

Three Sexual Fantasies That Are More Common Than You Think

July 7, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Paraphilia is a very general term used by psychologists to refer to any kind of unusual sexual interest. The number of desires that have been deemed paraphilic has grown substantially...

Americans’ Support for Same-Sex Marriage is at an All-Time High—Even Among Republicans

July 5, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic change in support for same-sex marriage in the United States. Consider this: in 2007, the Pew Research Center conducted a national...

What “Counts” As Sex To Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Adults?

July 3, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Research has found that there’s a lot of variability when it comes to what people define as “sex.” Perhaps not surprisingly, this means there’s a lot of variability when it...

The Orgasm Gap in Porn is Bigger Than We Realized

July 3, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Porn has been criticized for a lot of reasons, but one of the most common complaints lodged against it is that it isn’t realistic, especially in the way it depicts...

What No One Ever Told You About People Who Are Single (Video)

June 28, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Even though the marriage rate in the United States recently hit an all-time low, most Americans still view the institution positively and consider it to be the ideal relationship state....

Are You Asexual? Here’s How Scientists Measure Asexuality

June 26, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Sex scientists have become increasingly interested in the topic of asexuality in the last few years. For example, they’ve published studies on everything from the genital arousal patterns of asexual...

Yes, Botox For Your Butt Is A Thing—But, No, It Doesn’t Cost $25,000

June 23, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

For the last two days, articles about “anal Botox” have been blowing up my Facebook and Twitter feeds, with most of the headlines (like this one from Cosmo) saying something...

Sex Question Friday: Why Do Men Have Nipples?

June 23, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader submitted the following question:"Why do men have nipples? Do they have some purpose I don't know about?"Thanks for this great question! I've been asked about this many times...

The US Government is Poised to Move Backwards on Sex Education

June 21, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In the final budget proposal submitted by the Obama administration last year, funding for abstinence-only sex education was put on the chopping block. They proposed eliminating abstinence-only programs entirely and,...

4 Things Science Has Taught Us About Polyamorous Relationships

June 19, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

During my teaching stint at Harvard a couple of years back, a few colleagues from out of state came to visit me on a lovely spring afternoon. I gave them...

Older Women Who Marry Younger Men: They’re Stigmatized, but Highly Satisfied

June 14, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Both before and after the recent election of French president Emmanuel Macron, his wife, Brigitte, found herself to be the target of constant attacks on social media. Why? Because she...

How Many American Adults Have Had a Same-Sex Experience?

June 14, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Since becoming an adult, how many Americans have ever had a sexual experience with someone of the same sex? And how has this number changed over time? According to a...

Genital Arousal and Sexual Desire Aren’t Necessarily the Same Thing

June 12, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Scientists who study sexual desire have long been wary of over-relying on self-report data because people don’t always tell the truth on surveys. Some people answer questions about what turns...

What Percentage of Americans Identify as LGBT?

June 9, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

What percentage of the United States population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT)? A large, nationally representative survey conducted by Gallup in 2017 put the overall number at...

How Many Americans Identify as LGBT?

June 9, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

How many people in the United States identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT)? A large, nationally representative survey conducted by Gallup last year put the overall number at...

The Way We Think About Teen Sexting is All Wrong (Video)

June 7, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Teen sexting is an issue that parents and politicians alike are increasingly worried about. The message they’ve been sending to teens has been pretty uniform: don’t do it. Of course,...

Americans’ Views on Sexual Morality are More Liberal Than Ever

June 5, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

According to the results of Gallup's 2017 Moral Issues Survey, Americans’ views on sexual morality continue to become more liberal. In fact, for a majority of the issues Americans were...

10 Sexual Orientation Myths Debunked By Science

June 2, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In recognition of June being LGBT Pride Month, I'll be running several LGBT-themed posts on the blog in the coming weeks. Let's kick things off today by debunking some of...

Why You Shouldn’t Rush When Putting on a Condom

May 29, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Condoms are one of the best tools we have for reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and preventing unintended pregnancies. Unfortunately, however, they don’t always provide as much...

5 Common Questions About Penis Size, Answered

May 26, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

As you might imagine, in my work as a sex educator, questions about penises--and especially about penis size--come up all the time. As such, I thought it might be helpful...

Sex Determination: More Complicated Than You Thought

May 26, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

How is sex determined? In humans, it’s a matter of genetics, and it begins the moment a sperm cell fertilizes an egg, thereby producing a certain combination of sex chromosomes....

Sex Laws in the Netherlands

May 24, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

I've been researching sex laws in the Netherlands as part of the study abroad course on sex and culture that I'm teaching. One of the ways sex laws in the...

What Sex Laws Look Like in the Netherlands

May 24, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

As part of the study abroad course I’m currently teaching on Sex and Culture in the Netherlands, I’ve done some research into what sex laws look like over here. As...

Why Teens Have Better Sexual Health in the Netherlands than the US

May 19, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

The next unit in my Amsterdam study abroad course focuses on sexual health and sex education. As a starting point, I shared some statistics with my students highlighting just how...

What Legalized Prostitution Looks Like in the Red Light District

May 17, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

What would it be like if prostitution were legal? If you're from the United States or any other part of the world where sex work is (largely) prohibited by law,...

Two Weeks of Learning About Sex and Culture in Amsterdam = Best Class Ever

May 15, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Hello from Amsterdam! Today is the first day of a class I’m teaching on Sexuality and Culture in the Netherlands. I’m confident I could not have picked a better place...

The Fascinating Evolution of Animal Genitalia (Video)

May 12, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Throughout the animal kingdom, genitals are very complex—way more complex than they are in humans. Take the male argonaut octopus, for example, which has a detachable penis that can swim...

10 Things You Should Know About Anal Sex

May 10, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex educator, one of the topics I get asked about most often is anal sex. Given how curious people seem to be about this activity, I thought it...

Is Masturbation Good For You? (Video)

May 9, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

May is Masturbation Month. We can trace the origin of this special month back to 1995, when US Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders said that masturbation is a part of human...

“Beer Goggles” Can Increase Straight People’s Attraction to the Same Sex

May 8, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Alcohol has the power to change not only the way we see ourselves, but also the way we see other people. Indeed, research has found that when we drink, we...

Does Peeing After Sex Prevent Urinary Tract Infections?

May 5, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader asked the following question:“Is it true that peeing right after sex can stop you from getting a UTI?” Thanks for this great question. Let’s take a look at...

The Lies We Tell Pregnant Women (Video)

May 3, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

As a sex educator, I’ve been asked many times whether it’s safe to have sex during pregnancy. I’ve answered this question before on the blog and, although the research is...

In an LTR, What (if Anything) Does it Mean if Your Partner Masturbates?

April 28, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In a long-term relationship, what does it mean when one or both partners masturbate on their own? A lot of people would be tempted to conclude that it's a sign...

Why We Crave Sexual Novelty–And What It Means For Our Sex Lives

April 28, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

When our interest in sex starts to wane, exposure to a new or novel partner has a way of bringing it back. This phenomenon--formally dubbed the Coolidge Effect--got its name...

The Unique Benefits of a Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationship

April 24, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In a consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationship, the partners involved agree that having more than one sexual and/or romantic partner at the same time is permissible. Although interest in CNM relationships...

Why Stealing Someone Else’s Partner is a Terrible Way to Start a Relationship

April 21, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Attempting to steal someone else’s spouse or lover--a phenomenon known scientifically as mate poaching--is a common theme in both TV shows and movies. It happens a lot in real life,...

How to be Successful at Online Dating, According to Science

April 19, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Americans are increasingly going online in order to find romantic and sexual partners. However, despite the popularity of online dating, most Americans have never tried it. That’s partially because there’s...

4 Things You Should Know About Vibrators

April 17, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Vibrators are one of the most popular sex toys in the world. They are ubiquitous in sex shops, not to mention on the internet—and you can get them in virtually...

What Young Women Believe About Their Own Sexual Pleasure (Video)

April 14, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

American sex education courses are seriously lacking when it comes to the subject of women's sexual anatomy and pleasure. Not only are terms like "vulva" and "clitoris" rarely uttered, but...

Why Americans Are Having Less Sex—And What It Means

April 12, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

I recently blogged about the results of a new study reporting that Americans today are having less sex than they were a quarter century ago. Specifically, this research suggests that...

Americans are Having Less Sex Today Than 25 Years Ago

April 10, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior offers a fascinating analysis of the way American adults' sex lives changed between the years 1989 and 2014. Specifically, it...

How Men and Women Feel About Having Their Nipples Stimulated

April 7, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Although the breasts and nipples have long been considered to be among the human body's biggest erogenous zones, surprisingly little research attention has been given to the role that these...

How Many Straight Men Watch Gay Porn? And How Many Gay Guys Watch Straight Porn?

April 5, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of people assume that men only watch porn that is consistent with their sexual identity—in other words, that straight guys only watch straight porn, while gay guys only...

More Sex Means More Money? Maybe Not

April 3, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

We’ve all seen headlines before that say things like “More Sex Means More Money.” These headlines try to present the results of scientific studies in very simple and straightforward terms:...

The Top 10 Questions on Sex and Psychology

March 31, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

For today's post, I have put together an updated list of the ten most read Q&As of all time on the blog. As you'll see, these questions (all submitted by...

How Long Does Sexual “Afterglow” Last?

March 29, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Afterglow refers to “the look of contentment on a person’s face after great sex,” at least according to the Urban Dictionary. In other words, the basic idea here is that...

To Circumcise Or Not To Circumcise? A Critical Look At The Research

March 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In the United States today, most male infants are circumcised. Many in the medical community strongly support this practice, pointing to research finding a link between circumcision and better health...

Erotic Lactation: Exploring Men’s Breast Milk Fetishes

March 20, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

People can develop fetishes for virtually anything. Most commonly, though, we're talking about a specific body part (like feet or toes) or an object associated with the body (like boots,...

Women’s Most (And Least) Common Reasons For Having Sex

March 20, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Both men and women report a wide range of reasons for having sex. In fact, one previous study identified as many as 237 distinct sexual motivations! But how do our...

Does Anal Sex “Count” As Sex?

March 16, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

What actually counts as “having sex?” Well, it depends who you ask. Different people have different definitions. A recent study published in the Journal of Sex Research highlights just how...

Video: Is There a Sex Difference in Intelligence?

March 10, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

The question of whether men and women differ when it comes to intelligence has long been a subject of scientific debate. For instance, some researchers have argued that men have...

Same-Sex Marriage May Be Good For Gay, Lesbian, And Bisexual Health

March 8, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Several studies have found that when laws permitting same-sex marriage are passed, the health outcomes of sexual minorities in the local area seem to improve. This holds true for indicators...

If You Knew Someone Who Was Being Cheated On, Would You Tell Them?

March 8, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

People who cheat usually try to keep it a secret; however, they aren't always successful.So, let's imagine for a moment that you find out someone you know has committed infidelity....

Why So Many College Students Have Risky Sex on Spring Break

March 6, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

My university, like many schools around the country, is on spring break this week. A lot of students are using this opportunity to not just take a breather from their...

Video: Why Parents Should Talk To Their Kids About Sex

March 1, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A lot of parents avoid talking to their kids about sex because they are afraid the experience will be awkward, embarrassing, or uncomfortable. However, parents aren't doing their kids any...

7 Things You Should Know About Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships

March 1, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships, the partners involved agree that having more than one sexual and/or romantic relationship at the same time is acceptable. There are a great many myths...

Infographic: Rates of Orgasm by Sexual Orientation and Gender

February 27, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Much has been said and written about the "orgasm gap," or the idea that men tend to have far more consistent experiences with orgasm than women. However, the vast majority...

How Do You Make A Long-Distance Relationship Work?

February 24, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

A reader submitted the following question:"I'm in a long-distance relationship and it's tough. Are there any tips or tricks to help keep a relationship alive when you can't physically be...

Infographic: Americans’ Attitudes Toward and Experiences With Online Dating

February 22, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

In just two decades, online dating has become a multi-billion dollar industry--and it hasn't come anywhere close to reaching its full potential yet. Believe it or not, despite how much...

Sex Research and Sun: Join us for the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Meeting in Puerto Rico!