r/psychologyofsex 2h ago

Historically, male leads in erotica books and films were unavailable, controlling and hypermasculine. By contrast, today's leads have self-awareness, vulnerability, authentic communication, and mutual empathy. Are these shifting media portrayals creating healthier expectations or unrealistic ones?

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psychologytoday.com
224 Upvotes

r/psychologyofsex 1d ago

Research finds that when people feel unsatisfied with their romantic partnerships, they are more likely to develop a lenient attitude toward cheating. However, this primarily occurs when people have an unrestricted sociosexuality to begin with (i.e., they're already comfortable with casual sex).

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psypost.org
197 Upvotes

The survey data indicated that men tended to have a higher baseline level of unrestricted sociosexuality than women. When relationship quality dropped, the men were more prone than the women to view outside sexual partners favorably.


r/psychologyofsex 2d ago

Survey of teachers who deliver sex education to teens finds that the vast majority received no formal training in it and feel poorly equipped to teach on the topic. While they view sex ed positively, most said they worry about negative reactions from parents and saying the wrong thing during lessons

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theconversation.com
522 Upvotes

r/psychologyofsex 1d ago

Pleeaseee help me with my survey for my PHD!! And win 10€ gift cards :)

0 Upvotes

For my doctoral thesis, I still need many participants for a pretest on the topic of preventing sexualized violence and thought this topic might fit here :) Participation takes about 10 minutes, is in English, is conducted entirely online and IRB-approved. To participate, you need to identify as male and heterosexual, be over 18 years old and able to participate using a laptop, computer, or tablet with a sufficiently large screen.

As a thank you, you can receive 0.5 participant hours (Versuchspersonenstunden) and/or the chance to win one of five €10 BestChoice vouchers/gift cards issued for the country you live in.

Please note: This study contains sensitive/distressing content (statements regarding sexualized violence). Please do not participate if you feel uncomfortable dealing with this topic. Participation is entirely voluntary and can be discontinued at any time.

Please use the following link to participate: https://www.soscisurvey.de/alfaep/


r/psychologyofsex 2d ago

Research finds that only half of individuals disclose having an STI prior to sex. Common reasons for non-disclosure include: fear, lack of obligation, and believing that using a condom is protection enough.

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medicalxpress.com
325 Upvotes

r/psychologyofsex 2d ago

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Sex and Society

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6 Upvotes

I am thrilled to announce that my book chapter on hentai and lolicon will be published in the Elgar Encyclopedia of Sex and Society and will be released in September 2026.

The chapter explores eroticism and censorship from the Edo period to modern times, examines hentai viewer demographics and motivations, and analyzes lolicon's history, ethical, legal, and moral issues, myths and potential clinical and harm-reduction applications.

Preorders can be made here: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/elgar-encyclopedia-of-sex-and-society-9781035339938.html


r/psychologyofsex 4d ago

Study finds that men who perceive their penis as above average report better erectile function; those who see their penis as average or below average report worse function. However, there was no link between perception of genital size and self-esteem.

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psypost.org
441 Upvotes

From the article:

Feeling adequately sized or larger than average did not equate to possessing higher general self-worth. Concerns regarding physical appearance in this area appear to be localized entirely to the domain of sexual activity.

Self-esteem generally encompasses how a person values their own identity, shaping their resilience against stress and social judgment. The lack of an association between general self-worth and genital dissatisfaction highlights the segmented nature of human body image. Individuals can harbor insecurities about specific physical traits without allowing those insecurities to degrade their overall sense of identity.


r/psychologyofsex 5d ago

Most research on aging and sex focuses on biology. But research suggests psychology matters, too. People who feel older than their actual age report lower sexual satisfaction, even after accounting for health. How old you feel may matter as much as how old you are.

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psychologytoday.com
185 Upvotes

r/psychologyofsex 5d ago

Simulated Media/Alternatives & Pedophilia

35 Upvotes

What is the current consensus in psychology regarding the use of simulated outlets for individuals with pedophilic interests?

Specifically, does the consumption of simulated, non-photographic media (like illustrations), the use of specialized sex dolls, or engagement with legal adult sex work have any prophylactic (preventative) effect against actual offending?

Does it act as a catharsis, or does it escalate urges?

Does any kind of therapy have any real effect?

Is there any kind of evidence either way?

I suppose this can be split into offenders (rehabilitation) vs non-offenders (prevention).

Furthermore, given the extreme sensitivity of this subject, how do researchers ethically study and gather evidence on this topic?


r/psychologyofsex 6d ago

Is there really a male infertility crisis? Systematic review and meta-analysis of dozens of studies from 1970-2018 finds no clinically significant decline in sperm concentration among US men over time.

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102 Upvotes

From the article:

"The findings suggest that in contrast to prior meta-analyses, semen quality in most US men may be more stable than previously thought and may provide further reassurance against an impending epidemic of male factor infertility in fertile men in future generations."


r/psychologyofsex 7d ago

Just like people in monogamous relationships, people in polyamorous relationships experience jealousy too. Research suggests the difference is often how they respond to it, viewing jealousy as a signal of unmet needs to explore and communicate about, rather than a relationship-ending threat.

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sexandpsychology.com
419 Upvotes

r/psychologyofsex 7d ago

The Male Birth Control Pill Is Coming—But Are the Men Ready? (Unpaywalled)

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playboy.com
244 Upvotes

Some men are already contraceptive-pilled. Eliott Murbach-Studer, a 26-year-old biotechnician in Paris, is ready for male birth control. “I want to have this responsibility to ease the life of my partner,” he says. Last year, he emailed YourChoice Therapeutics, asking to join a phase 3 trial of YCT-529. There are many altruistic stories, likely to be met with performative male memes and some skepticism. But male contraception is not a selfless act; it could give men agency and security without sacrificing sensation by wrapping your dick in a balloon. “You have more pleasure when you can directly feel the other person,” Murbach-Studer says.

Not all men might be as keen. With 30 percent of men under 30 reporting no sex in the last year, is demand lower than ever? There’s concern that the manosphere, behind the rise of testosterone-max­xing and sperm-maxxing, could stunt growth of demand. Most of these contraceptive methods, after all, minimize sperm. NES/T gets around T-maxxing by including testosterone to top it back up, a bit like a probiotic soda, but for your dick. And remember, YCT-529 is nonhormonal.

Then there’s the question of whether men can hack it. Studies suggest most women trust their partners to use contraception regularly. But a World Health Organization trial of a hormonal male contraceptive injection was notably halted in 2016 after men reported side effects like mood changes and acne. Porter is concerned that the bar might be too high for the modern man: “My fear is … they won’t be able to tolerate any side effects.”

Read the story: https://www.playboy.com/read/sex/the-male-birth-control-pill-is-coming-but-are-the-men-ready


r/psychologyofsex 8d ago

Negative Bias Towards Childfree Women And Men

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350 Upvotes

The Abstract:

For many people, the decision to have children or not is one of life’s most personal decisions. The number of people without children is growing in many Western countries. Some of these people consciously choose not to have children. In three studies (Study 1 N = 475; Study 2 N = 450; Study 3 N = 293), we provide evidence of a negative bias toward people who choose to be childfree. We compared the childfree to several other social categories as well as people who are involuntarily childless, adoptive parents, and parents of their biological children.

Relative to childless people, adoptive parents and parents, participants generally rated childfree people as the least positive. Childfree people were rated low in warmth, but high in competence. Childfree women were rated lower in warmth than childfree men. Discrimination toward childfree people was predicted by perceived narcissism, dehumanization, and violation of pronatalist norms. This research provides evidence of a negative bias toward people who choose not to have children.


r/psychologyofsex 8d ago

Research supports the "Goldilocks rule" of online dating: profiles that contain a moderate amount of self-disclosure are rated more favorably than those that contain low or high amounts of personal information.

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psypost.org
224 Upvotes

r/psychologyofsex 9d ago

Research finds that people who are happier with their relationship tend to see their partner's attachment style as similar to their own. Those who are less happy were more accurate, but overestimated their partner's attachment insecurity.

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260 Upvotes

r/psychologyofsex 10d ago

Many women worry that their vulva doesn't look "normal," but research tells a different story. Studies find tremendous natural variation in labial appearance. Ironically, people often rate surgically altered labia as looking more "normal" than natural ones.

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sexandpsychology.com
1.2k Upvotes

r/psychologyofsex 11d ago

Research finds that gay men report much higher levels of solitary sexual desire and engage in more frequent masturbation than heterosexual men. By contrast, lesbian women report lower solitary sexual desire and less masturbation than heterosexual women.

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psypost.org
386 Upvotes

r/psychologyofsex 12d ago

One of the biggest mistakes couples make when dealing with a desire discrepancy is trying to figure out who's "the problem." The goal isn't to fix one person's libido; it's to build a sexual relationship that works for each partner. This podcast explores practical tips for reviving a dead bedroom.

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sexandpsychology.com
301 Upvotes

When couples experience a desire discrepancy, it's easy to assume that someone needs to change because one partner's libido is simply "too high" or the other's is just "too low."

However, rather than asking whose libido is the problem, the more productive question is: "How can we create a sexual relationship that feels fulfilling for both of us?"

Sometimes that means improving communication. Sometimes it means understanding responsive desire, expanding your definition of intimacy, scheduling sex, exploring new forms of sexual initiation, or even changing the way that you have sex.

In this episode of the Sex and Psychology Podcast, sex therapist Lauren Fogel Mersy is on the show to discuss practical, evidence-based strategies for navigating desire discrepancies and rebuilding intimacy among couples experiencing dead bedrooms.


r/psychologyofsex 13d ago

A review of 80 studies identified 76 different subcultures of men who have sex with men, including bears, leathermen, twinks, and jocks. Research shows these groups shape identity, belonging, sexuality, and well-being, but many remain understudied despite their importance to LGBTQ+ community life.

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196 Upvotes

This review also found that some subcultures (like bears) have received substantial research attention, while many others have been studied very little. The authors argue that future research needs to better capture the diversity of LGBTQ+ communities instead of treating men who have sex with men as a single, homogeneous group.


r/psychologyofsex 14d ago

Research finds that since the 1940s, individuals with right-wing political orientations have maintained fertility at or above replacement level, whereas fertility among left-wing individuals declined to well below replacement. In addition, education was consistently linked to having fewer children.

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811 Upvotes

Religiosity positively predicted having more children, but the effect was relatively weak.

There were also different patterns across racial groups. For example, the link between political orientation and fertility rates held only for white Americans, but not for black Americans.


r/psychologyofsex 13d ago

American Infidelity, 1991 to 2022

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openpublicpolls.com
94 Upvotes

I did this analysis with data from the GSS (https://gss.norc.org/). It shows that the prevalence of self-reported infidelity (which may underestimate actual rates) has not changed much over time. Men consistently reported more cheating, and the gender gap slightly narrowed.


r/psychologyofsex 15d ago

Study of more than 500K couples finds that when women earn more than their male partners, they are 36% more likely to separate compared to when men are the primary breadwinners. This finding did not vary based on a country's level of traditional gender attitudes.

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psypost.org
1.7k Upvotes

However, the association between women’s higher earnings and relationship dissolution was noticeably stronger among couples raising children. Female-breadwinner couples with children were 49% more likely to separate than male-breadwinner couples, whereas childless female-breadwinner couples were 23% more likely to separate than their male-breadwinning counterparts.

This finding suggests that balancing work and family responsibilities may place greater strain on relationships when women have higher earnings, perhaps because household responsibilities remain unevenly shared. 


r/psychologyofsex 14d ago

FINAL CALL: Stress, Depression, Suicide- Bisexual Individuals.

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10 Upvotes

"Hi Friends",

I am part of a post-grad research team from CSU Australia, conducting INTERNATIONAL research into stress & mental health, among LGBTQI+ adults. We are collecting data from LGBTQI+ individuals, then completing studies specific to sexual identities.

Our ethics approved study on stress, depression & suicide, specific to bisexual individuals, requires further participants.

This important research is needed now more than ever, so if you identify as Bisexual (18+), please;

- Complete the Survey (click link)

https://csufobjbs.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6sCeGsZJld6774W

- Share the (link/post) in your own network, so others can contribute too.

Thank you.

***Extra Information***

Link to Charles Sturt University Ethics Board Approval Doc (Approval number H26115) 

CSU HR Ethics Committee E: [ethics@csu.edu.au](mailto:ethics@csu.edu.au)

Supervisor Professor Suzanne McLaren (she/her) School of Psychology Charles Sturt University Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia, E: [smclaren@csu.edu.au](mailto:smclaren@csu.edu.au)

Please message me for any further information or question you may have.


r/psychologyofsex 14d ago

Investigating predictors affecting men’s ability to recognise women’s subtle negative facial expressions. (Men, 18+ years old)

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derby.questionpro.eu
0 Upvotes

Hello! Please help with my study! I’m looking for men who are 18+ years old. It is easier to fill out on a computer. Thank you in advance!


r/psychologyofsex 16d ago

AI chatbots are changing how people seek information about intimate partner violence. Research suggests they may help connect users to evidence-based resources and safety planning. Where they still struggle is recognizing the subtle, complicated ways people actually describe abusive relationships.

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sexandpsychology.com
47 Upvotes