We live in a culture that is obsessed with sex. You may well just think of it as something that you naturally want – but what are the underlying reasons that make people crave sex so badly? A review in Sexuality & Culture revealed that people are now citing more reasons than ever for choosing to engage in sexual activity. From pleasure to procreation, insecurity to inquisitiveness, today’s reasons for having sex are far more complex than the previously prescribed ‘big three’ of: to make a baby, to feel good and to show love.
There is no doubt that as creatures of evolution, our brains are hardwired to naturally want to have sex. However, it seems that we have now developed a much more complex thought process on why we want it. Sexual behaviours have taken on many different psychological, social, cultural and religious meanings, so what is it that motivates you to have sex?
What is your top reason for having sex?
Researchers at UT-Austin analysed more than 1,500 undergraduate college students and looked into their sexual attitudes and experiences. They could then be broken down into four specific categories of why people have sex.
The first was for physical reasons; these included for pleasure, stress, relief, exercise, sexual curiosity and attraction. The second was for goal-based reasons; these including making a baby, increasing social status or to seek revenge. The third was emotional reasons; to show love, commitment or gratitude. And the fourth was insecurity reasons; to boost your confidence or self-esteem, to keep a partner from seeking sex with others or feeling a sense of duty or pressure.
The difference between the genders
There was a marked difference in the reasons men and women had sex. Men were generally more likely to seek sex because they liked the feeling. Women were more interested in enhancing the relationship, even if they were also able to derive pleasure from it.
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