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 read that sentence correctly. Kees Moeliker, the curator of the Natural History Museum of Rotterdam, looked out the window after hearing a loud bang, where...
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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...
Potpourri, Sex Tips
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...
Potpourri
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...
Interviews, Potpourri
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...
Interviews, Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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,...
Potpourri, Uncategorized
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...
Interviews, Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri, Sex Tips
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...
Potpourri, Sex Ed
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...
Potpourri, Sex Ed
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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....
Potpourri
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,...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri, Sex Ed
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Fantasies, Potpourri
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!...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri, Sex Ed
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,...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri, Videos
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri, Sex Ed
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...
Potpourri, Videos
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...
Potpourri, Sex Ed
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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....
Potpourri, Videos
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri, Sex Ed
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri, Videos
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
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,...
Potpourri
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...
Potpourri
January 18, 2017 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 that nearly 92 billion videos were viewed on...
Gender, Potpourri
December 30, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller
As 2016 comes to a close, 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...
Potpourri
December 28, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller
Sometimes, science makes us laugh before it makes us think--and this is precisely why the Ig Nobel awards were founded back in 1991. The goal of these awards is to...
Potpourri
December 25, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller
A lot of people decorate with mistletoe around the Christmas holiday. Many hang it from the ceiling or over a door and offer kisses to those who stand under it....
Potpourri
December 14, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller
Sex and Psychology is officially five years old! When I first started this blog in 2011, I had no idea what kind of response it would receive, but I couldn't...
Potpourri
December 12, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller
We've arrived at that point in the year when a lot of folks start searching frantically for the perfect holiday gift for a significant other. All too often, many of...
Potpourri
August 3, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller
If you’re anything like me, your newsfeed has probably been dominanted with articles about the popular gaming app Pokémon GO for the past few weeks. Most of the stories to...
Potpourri
May 13, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller
For your reading pleasure this weekend, I've compiled a list of ten fun and interesting sex facts that you can share with your friends. Enjoy!1. Nocturnal orgasms aren’t just a...
Potpourri
April 26, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller
History is full of examples of governmental and religious authorities going to great lengths to regulate people’s sex lives. Of course, these efforts continue in the modern world--however, sex today...
Books & Films, Potpourri
December 13, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller
As 2015 comes to a close, let's take a look back at this year's most read articles on Sex and Psychology. The ten posts that follow represent an incredibly diverse...
Potpourri
November 29, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller
Sex and Psychology is officially four years old! When I first started this blog in 2011, I had no idea what kind of response it would receive, but I couldn't...
Potpourri
November 23, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller
The holiday shopping season is rapidly coming to a close, but a lot of folks aren't quite finished and some haven't even started yet. If you're in need of shopping...
Potpourri
November 17, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller
For those of you celebrating Thanksgiving this week, don't forget to be thankful for sex! Scientists have discovered that sex is linked a wide range of benefits for both body...
Potpourri
September 21, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller
Despite major concerns about the effectiveness and side effect profile of flibanserin (also known as "Addyi"), the drug so many have misleadingly referred to as "female Viagra," it is coming...
Potpourri, Videos
June 22, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller
During the last few decades, sex toys have undergone a major transformation. Manufacturers have gone from producing toys with extremely utilitarian designs to those that pay a lot of attention...
Potpourri
May 7, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller
The fun and always fascinating world of teledildonics (i.e., computerized sex toys) continues to yield lots of new, exciting, and entertaining developments. One of the latest is a sex toy...
Potpourri
May 1, 2015 by Justin Lehmiller
If you have ever been to a sex shop (or browsed one online), you have probably noticed that vibrators come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors. In addition, you...
Potpourri
December 18, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller
Sex and Psychology is officially three years old! When I first started this blog, I never dreamed that it would reach this level of popularity. I guess I did not...
Potpourri
December 18, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller
For my final post of the year, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the most read articles on Sex and Psychology in 2014 to...
Potpourri
December 11, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller
It’s that time of year when people start hunting for the perfect holiday gift for their significant other. Despite all of the effort and thought that goes into this process,...
Potpourri
November 25, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller
The 2014 holiday shopping season is officially underway and I know that many of you will soon be racking your brains as you try to come up with gift ideas...
Potpourri
November 21, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller
This Thanksgiving, when you think about all of the things you are thankful for, don't forget about sex! Research has found that sex is linked to numerous benefits for both...
Potpourri
October 2, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller
Two of the biggest songs on the charts right now feature lyrics that celebrate the sex appeal of curvy women: Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass and Nikki Minaj's Anaconda...
Potpourri
July 2, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller
Over the last few years, we have increasingly incorporated technology into our sex lives. For instance, people are using cameras and computers to create their own amateur porn and share...
Potpourri
May 23, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller
Think you know everything there is to know about the topic of orgasm? For today’s post, I’ve compiled a list of 15 of the most fun and interesting scientific facts...
Potpourri
May 4, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller
A few years back, I posted an article about the most unusual (and amusing) study of animal sex I have ever read, which concerned the world’s first known case of...
Potpourri, Videos
January 13, 2014 by Justin Lehmiller
The hottest trend in sex toys right now is teledildonics. If this word is new to your vocabulary, it refers to electronic sex toys that can be controlled by computers...
Potpourri
December 30, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
For my final post of the year, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the most read articles on The Psychology of Human Sexuality in...
Potpourri
December 23, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
The Psychology of Human Sexuality is now two years old, and it has continued to grow and change in ways I never anticipated. I initially planned to update the blog...
Potpourri
December 9, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
Can’t decide what to buy for all of those sexy people in your life this holiday season? Tired of giving lingerie and skimpy underwear year after year? Let me make...
Potpourri
December 9, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
As we head into the holiday season, many of you will be buying gifts for children. Some of you will undoubtedly question whether the toy you've selected is gender appropriate....
Potpourri
November 28, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
I know there is a lot to be thankful for today, but let’s not forget to be thankful for sex! Scientists have found that sex is linked to a wide...
Potpourri
August 30, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
This week, the Swiss city of Zurich unveiled a novel ideal for making sex work safer: drive-in sex garages. The way it works is that the city is turning over...
Potpourri
August 9, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
Results from The Psychology of Human Sexuality’s second Reader Survey are in! Today, we will be taking a look at your views on the subject of consensual non-monogamy (i.e., relationships...
Potpourri
July 19, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
These days, you can’t help but notice that people are using their smartphones almost everywhere they go. People are on their phones at the dinner table, in the movie theater,...
Potpourri
July 19, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
Welcome to the new home of the Sex and Psychology blog! The entire site has been completely redesigned to provide the visual appeal befitting of a sex blog, but also...
Potpourri
July 2, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
I founded The Psychology of Human Sexuality one and a half years ago in order to share the science of sex, love, and relationships in a way that is both...
Potpourri
May 23, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
"Nothing fascinates male human beings like guns and sex, so you must see the huge potential this has."Yesterday, I posted a story about the Origami condom, an innovation in condom...
Potpourri
May 22, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
"We have a product that is safe and effective, but underutilized. What if we could develop a condom that would provide all the benefit of our current versions, without the...
Potpourri, Sex Tips
March 29, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
Every so often, I come across a news story that makes me cringe…and then laugh a little. Lately, virtually all of those stories have centered around women placing highly unusual...
Potpourri
February 22, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
According to popular folklore, condoms were invented in the 18th century by the personal physician of King Charles II of England, who was supposedly named the “Earl of Condom.” However,...
Potpourri, Videos
February 15, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
Results of The Psychology of Human Sexuality’s first Reader Survey are in! Today, I will present the first round of results, focusing specifically on the associations between amount of Internet...
Potpourri
January 31, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
It’s a given that some amount of conflict will occur in any relationship. However, every couple deals with conflict in their own unique way, with some couples giving each other...
Potpourri
January 21, 2013 by Justin Lehmiller
“The penis is a very effective solution to a very basic biological problem.” – Diane KellyThere is amazing variation in penises throughout the animal kingdom. Some phalluses have multiple heads...
Potpourri, Videos
December 31, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
For my last post of the year, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the most read articles on The Psychology of Human Sexuality in...
Potpourri
December 22, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
The Psychology of Human Sexuality blog made its debut exactly one year ago today and has grown and changed in ways I could not even begin to imagine when it...
Potpourri
December 12, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
Can’t decide what to buy for all of those sexy people in your life this holiday season? Tired of giving lingerie and novelty underwear year after year? Let me make...
Potpourri
November 30, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
In this TED talk, author Mary Roach describes ten facts about orgasm. Although these facts are somewhat obscure and won’t necessarily impact your own sex life one way or another,...
Potpourri, Videos
November 22, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
I know you all are thankful for lots of things today, but let’s not forget to be thankful for sex! Research has found that sex offers numerous benefits, both physical...
Potpourri
November 14, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
What happens inside your brain and body during an orgasm? A whole lot. Orgasm in both men and women is a heck of a lot more than just a few...
Potpourri, Videos
October 22, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
The fascinating world of “teledildonics” (i.e., sex toys that can be controlled remotely via a computer or smartphone) continues to grow in ways that many of us never thought possible....
Potpourri
August 8, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
Believe it or not, human beings have been making sex toys since the Stone Age. Dildos, Ben Wa balls, and various other devices to aid in sexual pleasure have a...
Potpourri
July 25, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
For centuries, governments have gone to great lengths to regulate people’s sex lives. As just a couple of prime examples, bans on contraception, sex before marriage, and same-sex activity were...
Potpourri
June 27, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
As discussed in previous blog posts, a number of unusual sexual behaviors have been documented in human beings, from cutting a hole in one’s pants in order to masturbate easily...
Kink & BDSM, Potpourri
June 15, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
Over the past few years, I have asked students in my Human Sexuality course to tell me some of the most interesting pick-up lines they’ve ever heard. I have compiled...
Potpourri
May 23, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
I recently posted an article discussing how women tend to overestimate the effectiveness of condoms and birth control pills. Even though these contraceptive devices aren’t quite as effective as we...
Potpourri
May 7, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
Paraphilias are one of the most fascinating topics in the field of human sexuality. In case you are not familiar with the term paraphilia, it refers to any unusual form...
Kink & BDSM, Potpourri
March 7, 2012 by Justin Lehmiller
You may or may not realize this, but Amazon.com is quickly becoming the world’s largest online sex store, carrying a huge and incredibly diverse selection of sex-related products. For instance,...
Potpourri
