Learn how to find your sexy talk style, overcome inhibitions, use your voice to build arousal, and discover what your partner wants to hear.

At a broad level, exercise is defined as any activity requiring physical effort that either helps you maintain or enhance your overall health. Through this lens, sex certainly counts as a form of exercise! Sex definitely involves some degree of physical effort and there is a large amount of scientific evidence that sex is good...

Decades of psychological research on attraction has revealed which traits people tend to desire in a romantic partner. Intelligence, honesty, and sense of humor pretty reliably come in toward the top of the list. This research has given us a pretty good sense of what people say they want—but what about the things they don’t...

A lot of people seem to believe in the idea of “love at first sight.” For example, in studies of people who are currently in relationships, as many as 1 in 3 report that they fell in love with their partner the first time they met. So what would you do if you were out...

Casual hookups are rare. The real risks are closer to home.

Sexual initiation is something that seems challenging to navigate for many people. Over the years, I’ve heard from a lot of readers who want tips on initiation, with some saying they want to initiate more, and others saying they want their partner to initiate more. The struggle is real—and it’s something I’ve seen emerge in...

What causes attachment anxiety in relationships? Learn how anxious attachment develops, affects communication, and how to build greater security.

Research suggests that our mindset around aging may be one of the most important factors in maintaining a satisfying sex life over time.

Young adults who hold open, favorable views toward specific sexual practices tend to experience higher levels of sexual pleasure, satisfaction, self-esteem, and confidence, suggesting that embracing diverse sexual expression acts as a protective factor for overall well-being.

Why do some people pull away when relationships get too close? Learn how avoidant attachment develops and how to build deeper, healthier connections.

While some people are delaying when they start having sex, being a late bloomer doesn’t make you sexually doomed. Some therapists offer hope and suggestions.

There’s an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm in which an argument takes place over whether a woman has a “big vagina” or her ex-partner has a “small penis.” While this scene is fictional, it mirrors a lot of real-life talk about genital size: when sex between two people doesn’t feel great, it sometimes gets chalked...

Join us in Philadelphia this February for the next annual SPSP Sexuality Preconference and learn about the latest sex research!

Since launching the Sex and Psychology Podcast, I’ve received a number of queries from folks who are interested in starting their own shows. Podcasts can be a fantastic educational tool for folks in the sexuality space, but the process of starting out can be daunting. There are a LOT of things to take into account,...

Research challenges the idea that porn users build up a tolerance over time that leads them to seek out increasingly violent content.

Sexual health is more than STI prevention. Why sexual pleasure matters, plus 5 ways to make sex more enjoyable.

One in three men and nearly half of women haven't masturbated in the last 90 days according to Playboy's Gen Z Sex Survey.

In this episode, we explore five questions that come up in sex therapy over and over again and tips for maintaining hotter and healthier relationships.

Research finds that contraception misinformation is rampant on social media—and it may be influencing the birth control methods people choose.

Barrier protection isn’t exactly new. So what’s with guys pushing back on condoms so much?

Your mindset can shape your sex life. Learn how to get out of your head, identify your sexual brakes and accelerators, and be more present during sex.

A new brain imaging study indicates that puberty and pregnancy are associated with widespread gray matter reductions in the female brain. In contrast, the menopausal transition coincides with a surprising pause in typical age-related brain changes.

What was the most popular porn search term of 2021? According to Pornhub’s latest report, it was hentai. This term has been near the top of the list for a few years and seems to be on the rise. So what is hentai, and why do so many people seem to be drawn to it?...

When you fantasize about sex, who do you usually think about? I’ve previously written about the various characters who appear in our fantasies and, most commonly, people mention current partners, exes, and close friends. It’s also common for people to have fantasized about non-specific individuals (vague, unidentifiable people) and their celebrity crushes, but by and...

Sexual fantasies can be a multi-sensory experience. They’re not just about what we can see—but also what we can feel, smell, taste, and hear. In this post, we’re going to take a look at the role of music in sexual fantasies. How many people have a “soundtrack” to their sexy thoughts? And what are they...

Research suggests that a surprisingly large number of men have faked an orgasm before. So what are their main reasons for faking it? And what leads them to stop faking orgasm?

When you have a sexual fantasy, where does it take place? For some people, the setting doesn’t matter at all, whereas for others, the setting is crucial to establishing a certain mood or feeling. So where are the most common places people fantasize about getting it on? In the survey of 4,175 Americans I conducted...

Relationships with major age gaps are becoming more common, but they do not come without some distinct challenges. A recent study identified some of the major problem areas.

From ancient sex toys to sexual panics, Dr. Kate Lister is on the show to unpack the surprising and often strange history of sex.

Not all orgasms feel the same. Research finds that when people feel pressured to climax or engage in unwanted sex, their orgasms are often less pleasurable.

A recent study reveals that engaging in multiple romantic or sexual relationships—whether consensually or through infidelity—does not compromise sexual health. In fact, non-monogamous individuals reported similar, or even slightly better, sexual functioning than strictly monogamous people.

Why do we romanticize the past? Historian Kate Lister explores nostalgia, sex, courtship, and what shows like Bridgerton get right—and wrong—about history.

Physical affection-sharing (e.g., holding hands) is associated with better relational well-being. But does similarity/dissimilarity in couple members' comfort with affection-sharing also predict rela....

When you fantasize about sex, do you ever imagine your partner(s) wearing a specific uniform? If so, you’re not alone. In the survey of 4,175 Americans I conducted for my book Tell Me What You Want, one of the questions I asked was whether people had ever fantasized about having sex with someone in uniform—and,...

Infidelity is common. Saying exactly how many people have ever cheated is a little dicey, though, because the numbers vary a lot depending on how you ask the question (e.g., sexual vs. emotional infidelity, online vs. in-person infidelity, etc.). However, if you look specifically at sexual infidelity in marital relationships, the number is pretty reliably...

If you’re a long-time reader of the blog, you’ve probably seen articles I’ve posted about seasonal variations in sexual behavior. According to the research, one of the biggest peaks occurs during the summer months. For example, people report having more partners during the warmest months and, at the same time, rates of sexually transmitted infections...

It's hard to be intimate with someone we see as childish.

Do your ADHD symptoms worsen before your period? Research suggests that menstrual cycle hormones can affect ADHD symptoms, mood, and even medication response.

Why are neurodivergent people often into kink? Learn how autism and ADHD influence BDSM, from sensory needs and communication to consent and pleasure.

Join us in Philadelphia this February for the next annual SPSP Sexuality Preconference and learn about the latest sex research!

How many in-person dates would you want to have with a new partner before having sex with that person? We often hear about the so-called “three-date rule,” or the idea that the third date is the “right” time to start having sex. However, is this really a “rule” that most people follow? In a recent...

A friend of mine told me about a recent discussion he had with friends where everyone talked about having had a similar experience: whenever they were away on a trip, they noticed feeling much hornier than they usually do at home. My friend asked why this was the case, so I figured I’d write a...

A reader recently asked the following question: “I often have a hard time orgasming. I have heard that having trouble orgasming can be related to having ADHD. To be clear, the orgasmic potential is there, it’s just that I get so distracted that I sometimes cannot actually come. I would be super interested to see what the research...