08.06.07 5:00 AM CDT
• Sex
• Rocky Rakovic
Two researchers at the University of Texas, Cindy Meston and David Buss, released a study in August’s Archives of Sexual Behavior categorizing and listing the reasons people have sex. Our intern Lynsey Gilchrist reiewed their work:
The researchers found a total of 237 reasons—everything from wanting to feel closer to God or have a baby to being dared or wanting a workout. As it turns out, "I have a headache" is for many people Not a reason to avoid sex, but a reason to start. "To get rid of a headache" came in at number 173 (having an orgasm releases seratonin, which gets rid of headaches).
Women’s reasons were more emotional but, perhaps contrary to popular opinion, men said they used sex to gain status more frequently than women. Men also said they had sex just because the opportunity was there more frequently than women. Luckily, animal instincts still trump all: both men and women ranked being attracted to their partner as their most important reason for having sex.
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Comments on this entry:
Among those 237 reasons, I often see 2+ that are actually the same thing said in 2+ different ways; for example: "My friends were having sex & I wanted to fit in," "I wanted to gain acceptance from friends" & "Everyone else was having sex." Others dismayed me, including: "I was physically forced to," "I was verbally coerced into it," "I was under the influence of drugs" & "I was drunk." People, those are examples of RAPE! In today's society, if a man has sex with a woman who is drunk, or has sex with her while HE is drunk, she can accuse him of rape. As a reader/listener of Marc Rudov (author of "The Man's No-Nonsense Guide to Women" & "Under the Clitoral Hood") I know that "boozers are losers"!
As for another reason, "I felt sorry for the person," I can't help but wonder how often THAT happens. If a man needs sympathy, I don't see how he can ever get sex unless he resorts to seeing a prostitute. A man who lacks confidence usually turns women OFF; when it comes to sex, "the hungry don't get fed."
I do because sex is of number one importance be me, nothing else really comes close except performing which is simply a way to channel the energy and celebrate sexual energy in a healthy musical and hopefully charmingly entertaining way. I also have been known to abstain for this very same reason as well if that makes any sense.
"I wanted to say goodbye and simultaneously pretend the end was not a reality"
Now, that's a good reason, at least till the last orgasm!