Jealousy in relationships is common and universal, with deep evolutionary origins. Research shows it can affect relationships in complicated and surprising ways.
Our psychiatric inpatient care system is insufficient and often detructive. But the inpatient population is not a wealthy, vocal, or well-organized pressure group. In our current cultural moment, without a strong voice in the Halls of Power, you may well end up wandering aimlessly down the corridors of an ill-staffed and ill-equipped hospital ward, talking to yourself.
We frequently think about sex when we’re not having it. But when we’re actually having sex, our thoughts often wander, undermining our sexual functioning and enjoyment.
What makes two people pick one another from among the myriad available candidates? Psychology studies have long been trying to answer this question, and with considerable success.
Remember the first time you had sex? How pleasurable was it for you? How anxious were you? How guilty did you feel? The answer depends in great part on your gender.
We love to read about it, watch it on TV, in the movies, and on the Internet. We even enjoy having it. But talk to our partners about sex, the sex that we are—or about to be—having? Not so much.
Sexual satisfaction is an easy concept to grasp, but not to study. Despite recent advances, we are still far away from a thorough understanding of the causes and implications of this important component of a happy life.
A host of studies in recent years have shown convincingly that the traditional view of women as passive and uncompetitive is wrong. Women, it turns out, are engaged in a competition of their own, aggressively jockeying for position in a battle to secure a suitable mate.
New studies show that women achieve orgasm less frequently in hook up sex as compared to sex in a relationship. But that may not mean the sex is not worth having. In understanding both hook up and relationship sex, the question of motive looms large.
Our happiness and health are not individual characteristics that reside within ourselves but social properties, defined and shaped by our social rank, judgments, and comparisons.
It is well accepted, with regard to varied goals and pursuits, that preparation improves performance and facilitates succes. And yet when it comes to sexual intercourse, adequate preparation is often neglected. Such neglect may come at a price.
Can viewing heterosexual sex from an economic perspective that sees women as sellers and men as buyers deepen our understanding of our sexual behavior?
In addition to accurate thinking, discussed earlier, learning the basic principles of effective behavior and emotion management can lead to better mental health.
The presence of others affects our behavior, but not always in the same way. The presence of others may inhibit helping behavior. At other times, however, it may enable and sustain heroic efforts.
For those who believe in the unique power of the scientific method to referee competing claims, figure out actual truths about how the world works, and guide successful adaptations, the recent election was a moment to celebrate.
