A lot of psychology researchers are giant prudes. In previous studies of bedding strangers, some have suggested that pretty much all casual sex is detrimental to your psychological well-being. As a new study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science notes, they'll rattle off negatives like "less enjoyment and nurturance than romantic sex, frequent regret, unwanted emotional attachment, substance use, and social stigma."
But research that has attempted to measure the overall effects of one-night stands and "fuck buddies" on psychological health hasn't been totally decisive. "Past findings on the main effects of casual sex on well-being range from negative to positive with a preponderance of nonsignificant results," the new study, led by sex researcher Zhana Vrangalova, notes. In other words, the inconsistencies might mean that the true effect is context- and personality-dependent.
In social science parlance, the personality trait that measures degrees of interest in casual sex is termed "sociosexuality." "Sociosexual orientation is a relatively stable tendency toward or away from casual sex, determined by a combination of heritable factors, sociocultural learning, and past experiences, and reflected in three key components: motivation for, attitudes toward, and past experience with casual sex," the authors write.
Other research has shown there are positive psychological benefits when someone acts authentically, or in accordance with their personality. The authors argue that there would be no reason to believe that this effect wouldn't extend to casual sex. If you are "sociosexually unrestricted," or you desire casual sex, you might derive psychological benefits from feeling like you're acting authentically while having it. If you're "sociosexually restricted," it might work the opposite way. READ MORE
