Talking Apes

How natural selection reprogrammed the brain for language

Is Sex Addiction a Real Thing?

Sex addiction is a controversial topic among healthcare professionals, but labeling high sex drive as “excessive” stems from negative sexual attitudes that pervade society.

How a Sexual Growth Mindset Can Improve Your Relationship

People are happier when they believe relationships take effort. This kind of sexual growth mindset also makes people less sensitive to sexual rejection.

How to Get a Partner to Understand You

“Hot topics” in a relationship can be difficult to discuss, but new research shows that open and honest communication is the best approach to resolving a conflict.

How Close Do You Really Need to Get to Your Partner?

Research shows that closeness makes for satisfying relationships, but there are also limits on how close partners actually want to be.

The Real Reason Why Men Have More Orgasms Than Women

New research shows that both men and women believe it’s more important for a man to orgasm during sex than a woman.

What Partners Need to Know About Each Other's Sexual Goals

New research finds that people are pretty good at intuiting their partner’s reasons for having sex, but that still doesn’t make them happier in their relationship.

Half of His Pleasure Is Pleasing Her

According to cultural scripts, men are supposed to “give” their lovers an orgasm during sex, but many have little understanding of how female climax works.

Friends with Benefits Is About More Than Casual Sex

A friends-with-benefits relationship is more than just a casual fling but short of a long-term commitment, and the rules of engagement vary widely from couple to couple.

The Psychology of Vaccine Hesitancy

Political ideology helps explain COVID vaccine hesitancy, but it’s subtler than just a division between conservative and liberal worldviews.

Why So Many Couples Are Having Less Sex

As America ages, it’s no surprise that sexual frequency is declining. But even young adults are having less sex than before.

What Matters Most When Meeting Someone New

People consider both the things they want (deal makers) and don’t want (deal breakers) in a potential mate, but they give more weight to positive than negative traits.

How Someone's Personality Can Keep Them from Having a Relationship

A simple personality test can determine whether you’re single and whether you’re happy that way or not.

Does Getting Married Actually Make People Happier?

Married people are generally happier than singles. New research explores whether they're happy because they’re married, or married because they’re happy.

If You Want an Orgasm, Stimulate This

Researchers have identified the center for a sexual climax, but it isn’t located where you think.

How Charisma Can Make People Sexually Desirable

Charismatic people make great leaders, but new research shows they make great lovers as well. And the good news is that charismatic behaviors can be learned.

Why Some Transpersons Decide to Detransition

Gender-affirming medical procedures have helped many people lead productive lives, but some come to regret their transition.

What Couples Can Do When Marriage Stops Being Fun

A decline in relationship satisfaction is inevitable in almost all marriages, but successful couples learn how to find opportunities for positive interactions.

Why Crushes Are So Common, and Healthy, at All Ages

New research shows that crushes are quite common among adults in committed relationship, but it also finds these to be little cause for concern.

What Partners Can Do When One Isn’t in the Mood

A satisfying relationship requires open communication about intimate preferences, but many couples find it difficult to talk about sex. Here's how to bridge the gap.

Why We Love Our Partners Even if We Sometimes Hate Them

It’s normal for people to hold both positive and negative attitudes about their spouse, and the resulting cognitive dissonance can be a strong motivation for change.

How Stresses Outside the Home Impact Your Marriage

When we're under a lot of stress, we often blame our partner for things that really aren't their fault. Being mindful of this can make our marriage stronger.

Why 3 Core Myths About Marriage Are Wrong

New research challenges commonly accepted assumptions about the dynamics of happy and unhappy relationships.

How Couples Achieve the Opposite of Jealousy

Couples in open marriages feel happiness for their partner’s other romances, which they call “compersion,” but that doesn’t mean they can’t also experience jealousy.