Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
DOI 10.1007/s10508-007-9175-2
ORIGINAL PAPER
Received: 20 December 2005 / Revised: 18 July 2006 / Accepted: 24 September 2006 / Published online: 3 July 2007
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007
Introduction
Why people have sex is an extremely important, but
surprisingly little studied topic. One reason for its relative
neglect is that scientists might simply assume that the
answers are obvious: to experience sexual pleasure, to
relieve sexual tension, or to reproduce. Previous research
already tells us that the answers cannot be as few or
psychologically simple. Leigh (1989), for example, documented seven reasons for sex: pure pleasure, to express
emotional closeness, to reproduce, because a partner wants
it, to please a partner, to make a conquest, and to relieve
sexual tension. The most comprehensive existing taxonomy,
framed from a theoretical perspective of dispositional sexual
motives, documented eight reasons: to feel valued by a
partner, expressing value for a partner, obtaining relief from
stress, nurturing ones partner, enhancing feelings of personal power, experiencing a partners power, experiencing
pleasure, and procreating (Hill & Preston, 1996).
Several theoretical perspectives suggest that reasons for
engaging in sexual intercourse might be even more
numerous and complex than even this previous research
suggests. With the exception of to make a conquest, most
of the documented reasons for having sex above implicitly
assume the context of an ongoing romantic relationship or
long-term mateship. Sexual strategies theory (Buss &
Schmitt, 1993) and strategic pluralism theory (Gangestad &
Simpson, 2000), however, propose that humans have a
menu of mating strategies, including long-term, short-term,
and extra-pair mating. Thus, there might be reasons for
having sex with a casual sex partner or extra-pair partner,
123
478
123
479
123
480
Measures
Reasons for sexual intercourse Motivators for engaging
in sexual intercourse were measured using the 237 item
YSEX? questionnaire that was developed in Study 1.
123
Item analyses
Most and least frequently endorsed reasons for having
sex There were nine themes that appeared to characterize
the most frequently endorsed reasons for having intercourse: (1) pure attraction to the other person in general;
(2) experiencing physical pleasure; (3) expression of love;
(4) having sex because of feeling desired by the other; (5)
having sex to escalate the depth of the relationship; (6)
curiosity or seeking new experiences; (7) marking a special
occasion for celebration; (8) mere opportunity; and (9) sex
just happening due to seemingly uncontrollable circumstances.
Table 1 shows the 50 reasons for having sex receiving
the highest endorsements for men and women separately.
The most frequently endorsed reason why both men and
women reported engaging in sexual intercourse was because they were attracted to the person. As can be seen in
Table 1, out of a pool of 237 items, 8 of the top 10, and 20
of the top 25 reasons given for engaging in sexual intercourse were similar for men and women.
Table 2 presents the 50 most infrequently endorsed
reasons for having sexual intercourse out of the possible
237 reasons. The least frequently endorsed reasons for
having intercourse could be categorized into five broad
themes. One theme involved wanting to harm another
person, either a partner (e.g., I was mad at my partner, so I
had sex with someone else), a rival (e.g., I wanted to
hurt an enemy) or a stranger (e.g., I wanted to give
someone else a sexually transmitted disease (e.g., herpes,
AIDS). A second theme involved attaining resources such
as a job, a promotion, money, drugs, or gifts. A third
common theme revolved around enhancing social status
(e.g., I wanted to be popular; I wanted to have more sex
than my friends). A fourth theme centered on having sex
as a means to a seemingly unrelated end, such as getting rid
of a headache or menstrual cramps, and a fifth theme
involved having sex out of duty or pressure.
481
Women
M
Item
SD
Men
M
SD
1.
4.03 1.16
2.
3.96 1.28
3.
It feels good
3.84 1.21
4.
3.57 1.39
5.
3.46 1.26
6.
3.43 1.28
7.
I was horny
3.38 1.25
8.
Its fun
3.26 1.31
9.
3.14 1.55
3.11 1.35
2.96 1.44
2.85 1.41
2.84 1.09
2.79 1.31
2.71 1.30
2.67 1.44
2.66 1.46
2.62 1.47
2.56 1.39
2.45 1.25
2.45 1.37
2.43 1.27
2.35 1.15
2.34 1.27
2.32 1.32
2.29 1.19
2.27 1.29
2.25 1.26
2.24 1.18
2.23 1.14
2.22 1.25
2.22 1.16
2.20 1.17
2.17 1.26
35. I wanted to celebrate a birthday or anniversary or special 2.06 1.05 I was curious about my sexual abilities
occasion
2.17 1.09
2.16 1.22
2.16 1.36
2.15 1.27
2.15 1.26
1.90
2.15 1.26
2.11 1.23
2.11 1.08
2.10 1.07
2.06 1.31
123
482
Table 1 continued
Item
Women
Item
SD
1.86
1.06
46.
47.
48.
1.84
1.19
49.
I was drunk
1.83
.98
50.
1.82
1.10
Men
M
SD
2.02
1.22
2.01
1.14
2.01
1.28
2.00
1.21
1.94
1.08
Note: Absolute range, 15. n = 894908 for women; n = 460480 for men
Table 2 The 50 most infrequent reasons why men and women have sex
Item
Women
M
Item
SD
Men
M
SD
1.
1.08 .43
2.
1.09 .46
3.
4.
1.10 .44
1.10 .44
5.
1.10 .45
6.
1.10 .45
7.
1.11 .47
8.
1.04 .28 I was afraid to say no due to the possibility of physical 1.12 .54
harm
9.
1.12 .50
1.12 .56
1.12 .53
1.12 .55
1.12 .49
1.12 .46
1.13 .56
1.13 .52
1.13 .49
1.14 .54
1.14 .51
1.06 .31 I wanted to break up a rivals relationship by having sex 1.14 .54
with his/her partner
1.14 .55
1.15 .52
123
483
Table 2 continued
Item
Women
M
Item
SD
Men
M
SD
23. I wanted to break up a rivals relationship by having sex with his/ 1.06 .29 I wanted to get back at my partner for having
her partner
cheated on me
1.16 .55
1.16 .55
1.16 .56
1.16 .60
1.17 .57
1.17 .59
1.17 .58
1.18 .61
32. I was afraid to say no due to the possibility of physical harm 1.07 .35 It was a favor to someone
1.18 .59
1.18 .54
1.18 .63
1.18 .58
1.19 .52
1.19 .63
1.19 .62
1.19 .60
1.20 .53
40. The person had too much to drink and I was able to take
advantage of them
1.20 .57
1.20 .61
42. The person was famous and I wanted to be able to say I had sex 1.10 .44 I thought it would help trap a new partner
with him/her
1.20 .62
1.21 .59
1.22 .74
1.22 .63
1.22 .66
1.22 .65
1.22 .62
1.23 .61
1.21 .61
Note: Absolute range, 15. n = 893907 for women; n = 461478 for men
Factor analysis
Because items differed in their variances, all factor analyses were conducted on z-score transformations standardized on the combined sample of men and women. Principal
components analyses were conducted on the 237 items
separately by gender. We used direct oblimin with Kaiser
normalization for the analyses because we expected the
factors for having sex to be related. After inspection of the
scree plot, we examined three, four, and five factor solutions. A four factor solution yielded the most consistent
pattern of loadings for both men and women. The four
123
484
Table 3 Top 50 largest gender differences in why men and women have sex
Item
Women
M
Men
SD
SD
1.
1.29
.74
1.89
1.09
10.62*
.64
2.
1.16
.65
1.69
1.14
9.23*
.57
3.
1.15
.57
1.50
.81
8.11*
.50
4.
1.59
1.00
1.25
.67
7.54*
.40
5.
2.08
1.31
2.67
1.44
7.38*
.43
6.
1.34
.76
1.74
1.07
7.38*
.43
7.
2.39
1.37
2.96
1.44
6.99*
.40
8.
Its fun
3.05
1.49
3.57
1.39
6.47*
.36
9.
2.15
1.35
2.62
1.47
5.82*
.33
10.
2.65
1.46
3.14
1.55
5.75*
.33
11.
12.
1.87
1.22
1.09
.62
2.24
1.47
1.18
.87
5.55*
5.46*
.33
.33
13.
1.88
1.11
2.25
1.26
5.38*
.31
14.
1.07
.33
1.25
.69
5.34*
.33
15.
1.06
.33
1.20
.53
5.33*
.32
16.
1.17
.58
1.40
.88
5.28*
.31
17.
1.79
1.14
2.15
1.27
5.16*
.30
18.
1.82
1.10
2.17
1.26
5.14*
.30
19.
The person had too much to drink and I was able to take advantage of them
1.09
.40
1.27
.69
5.12*
.32
20.
1.13
.50
1.33
.78
5.12*
.31
21.
1.80
.97
2.10
1.07
5.07*
.29
22.
It feels good
3.59
1.39
3.96
1.28
4.98*
.28
23.
1.62
.87
1.89
1.07
4.81*
.28
24.
1.23
.65
1.45
.89
4.75*
.28
25.
1.07
.35
1.20
.61
4.43*
.26
26.
27.
1.75
1.81
1.15
1.12
2.06
2.11
1.31
1.23
4.40*
4.38*
.25
.26
28.
1.06
.32
1.18
.54
4.38*
.27
29.
1.14
.51
1.29
.66
4.37*
.25
30.
I was bored
1.41
.74
1.62
.93
4.33*
.25
31.
1.87
1.14
2.16
1.22
4.32*
.25
32.
1.67
.93
1.91
.99
4.30*
.25
33.
1.12
.45
1.26
.68
4.20*
.24
34.
Someone dared me
1.06
.33
1.18
.58
4.18*
.25
35.
1.10
.43
1.24
.65
4.14*
.25
36.
1.61
.92
1.86
1.13
4.14*
.24
37.
1.12
.45
1.27
.72
4.12*
.25
38.
2.79
1.32
3.11
1.35
4.11*
.24
39.
1.10
.43
1.24
.64
4.10*
.26
40.
The person was famous and I wanted to be able to say I had sex with him/her
1.10
.44
1.26
.79
4.07*
.25
41.
1.11
.42
1.24
.65
4.07*
.24
42.
43.
1.14
1.07
.53
.38
1.30
1.19
.76
.61
4.07*
4.05*
.24
.24
44.
I wanted adventure/excitement
2.17
1.22
2.45
1.25
4.04*
.23
45.
1.23
.66
1.42
.90
4.03*
.24
46.
1.45
.79
1.66
.99
4.02*
.23
47.
I wanted to be popular
1.07
.37
1.19
.62
3.96*
.24
123
485
Table 3 continued
Item
Women
Men
SD
.40
M
1.22
3.92*
.24
SD
48.
1.09
.66
49.
1.06
.32
1.18
.61
3.86*
.25
50.
I was horny
3.11
1.26
3.38
1.25
3.82*
.22
Note: Absolute range, 15. * p .001. n = 871908 for women; n = 453480 for men
factors accounted for 42% and 35% of the total item variance in men and women, respectively. We labeled these
factors Physical Reasons, Goal Attainment Reasons, Emotional Reasons, and Insecurity Reasons.
Next, to examine whether the general pattern of factors
were comparable for men and women, we conducted a
coefficient of comparability (Nunnally, 1978), which is a
test of the correlation among the factors derived from one
population and the factors derived from a second population. Correlations among factors derived separately among
men and women for the factors Physical Reasons, Goal
Attainment Reasons, Emotional Reasons, and Insecurity
Table 4 Factor analysis of the 237 item YSEX? Questionnaire in combined sample of men and women
Item
Item Description
Factor
Physical
200
.74
217
.74
123
151
.71
.71
51
.70
220
.70
32
I was horny.
.68
54
Its fun.
.67
103
.67
21
It feels good.
.66
19
.66
113
.65
153
.64
.64
106
.63
221
.61
52
.61
99
.60
83
15
.59
.59
41
.58
218
.56
Goal Attainment
Emotional
Insecurity
123
486
Table 4 continued
Item Item Description
Factor
Physical Goal
Attainment
Emotional Insecurity
222
.55
219
.53
203
.53
212
.53
211
.53
85
.52
225
196
.52
.52
193
.52
104
.52
126
Im addicted to sex.
.52
92
.51
59
.51
207
.48
107
I wanted to see what it would be like to have sex with another person.
.47
224
.47
.34
.35
204
.46
67
.46
201
.45
60
.45
42
.44
46
110
18
210
.43
134
.42
.31
.30
.43
195
.42
58
.42
157
.40
227
.40
209
.40
It just happened.
.39
118
I wanted to see whether sex with a different partner would feel different or better.
.39
.39
44
.38
37
.38
197
109
.38
.37
216
.37
130
I was drunk.
.37
102
.36
96
.36
192
.36
228
.35
205
.34
114
.34
105
.34
123
.31
.32
.32
.36
.37
.33
.31
.32
.36
.33
487
Table 4 continued
Item Item Description
Factor
Physical Goal
Attainment
131
.33
87
It became a habit.
.33
125
.32
100
I wanted to see what it would be like to have sex while stoned (e.g., on marijuana or
some other drug).
.32
I was bored.
.32
95
.32
215
.32
12
.31
13
31
11
124
115
I was seduced.
155
.88
154
.85
156
.85
181
.84
169
147
I wanted to give someone else a sexually transmitted disease (e.g., herpes, AIDS).
I wanted to punish myself.
.83
.74
129
.73
213
.71
148
.70
178
.68
173
.67
177
.66
167
.65
170
.64
141
Because of a bet.
.63
133
.62
Emotional Insecurity
.33
137
.60
78
.59
168
.59
56
199
I wanted to be popular.
The person had a lot of money.
.58
.58
214
I felt jealous.
.56
158
.55
143
.55
198
.54
127
.54
119
.54
226
The person had too much to drink and I was able to take advantage of them.
.53
112
.53
128
.51
161
.51
191
.50
145
.49
123
488
Table 4 continued
Item
Item Description
Factor
Physical
Goal Attainment
150
.47
160
.46
57
.45
23
The person was famous and I wanted to be able to say I had sex with him/her.
.45
.46
55
202
174
.43
63
.42
49
.41
5
208
.40
.40
50
.40
Emotional
.44
.33
.44
144
.40
28
.40
39
152
29
.38
146
.37
108
.36
182
.35
27
.35
69
I was slumming.
.35
206
.34
176
.34
231
162
I wanted to reproduce.
I wanted to test my compatibility with a new partner.
.34
.33
171
.33
138
.33
190
.31
101
.30
97
82
186
.39
.32
.39
35
30
229
117
.63
16
.62
90
.62
14
166
.62
.61
74
.59
183
.55
.64
184
.52
71
.52
123
Insecurity
489
Table 4 continued
Item
Item Description
Factor
Physical
.32
Goal Attainment
Emotional
Insecurity
135
188
.51
185
.48
164
.47
189
.47
187
.46
235
142
163
.43
72
.41
223
6
234
.38
159
.36
79
.36
10
93
136
I felt insecure.
.67
48
.67
53
.66
47
.65
80
.63
61
.59
132
.59
26
.57
25
139
.57
.54
233
.53
73
I wanted to be nice.
.53
43
88
121
.51
84
I felt guilty.
.50
91
I was afraid my partner would have an affair if I didnt have sex with him/her.
232
17
.49
65
.48
77
.46
172
.46
34
.45
122
68
33
140
.44
22
.44
180
.43
111
.43
.51
.45
.32
.39
.44
.39
.38
.37
.51
.31
.51
.50
.44
.49
.45
.34
.44
.45
.45
123
490
Table 4 continued
Item
Item Description
Factor
Physical
Goal Attainment
Emotional
Insecurity
86
It was the only way my partner would spend time with me.
.42
62
.41
24
.41
66
.41
175
98
237
.40
64
.40
81
.40
70
I felt rebellious.
.39
4
149
236
38
.41
.36
.40
.39
.39
.37
.31
.38
.37
.34
.37
179
.37
165
.37
45
.36
76
.36
36
.34
94
.34
89
I had no self-control.
.34
40
.33
194
.30
230
75
120
20
123
491
Factor
Stress
Reduction
134
.67
46
.60
67
.59
I was bored.
.57
12
.55
131
.55
104
126
.54
.54
110
It would allow me to get sex out of my system so that I could focus on .53
other things.
100
I wanted to see what it would be like to have sex while stoned (e.g., on
marijuana or some other drug).
.51
130
I was drunk.
.50
196
I am a sex addict.
.49
105
.43
192
2
.43
.42
60
.39
125
.39
59
.39
109
.34
205
.33
218
.33
157
.33
85
Pleasure Physical
Desirability
.31
.30
21
It feels good.
.75
15
.73
19
.70
32
I was horny.
.64
18
.62
54
123
Its fun.
I wanted the pure pleasure.
.61
.53
151
.47
.45
220
.89
217
.85
203
.76
219
.75
200
212
.70
221
.66
.35
Experience
Seeking
.35
.44
.31
.73
201
.55
113
.54
225
.53
215
.53
123
492
Table 5 continued
Item Item Description
Factor
Stress
Reduction
Pleasure Physical
Desirability
Experience
Seeking
103
222
.53
.52
228
.36
195
.33
42
.73
92
.70
52
106
.67
.64
197
.62
107
I wanted to see what it would be like to have sex with another person.
.58
51
153
.37
.51
.49
41
.48
95
.47
193
.41
83
.40
99
.37
58
118
.35
.30
.34
Note: Factor loadings < .30 have been suppressed. Items bolded were included in the composite scoring
123
493
Table 6 Subfactor analyses of goal attainment reasons for engaging in sexual intercourse
Item Item Description
Factor
Resources Social Status Revenge Utilitarian
155
.61
147
.60
154
.57
78
.57
156
.57
169
I wanted to give someone else a sexually transmitted disease (e.g., herpes, AIDS). .53
129
.49
.48
158
.46
27
.45
174
231
.45
.43
181
.40
133
.35
49
.34
.33
.37
.33
.33
.34
.31
128
56
I wanted to be popular.
.79
145
.57
29
.54
39
.48
112
.48
23
The person was famous and I wanted to be able to say I had sex with him/her.
.47
198
.47
50
.41
.33
.33
127
.40
5
150
.38
.38
226
The person had too much to drink and I was able to take advantage of them.
.34
69
I was slumming.
.33
57
.33
144
.77
119
.71
55
.64
177
.60
28
148
138
137
63
170
178
141
213
Because of a bet.
I wanted to gain access to that persons friends.
.40
.36
.59
.57
.56
.54
.30
.35
.52
.51
.44
.34
.34
161
.72
176
.69
146
.61
206
.60
123
494
Table 6 continued
Item
Item Description
Factor
Resources
Social Status
Revenge
Utilitarian
173
.59
160
.58
108
.57
208
.55
182
.54
162
.52
167
.50
190
.41
171
.37
143
.33
192
168
.33
.32
101
.31
214
I felt jealous.
199
Note: Factor loadings < .30 have been suppressed. Items bolded were included in the composite scoring
Item Description
Factor
Love & Commitment
74
.80
117
.78
90
.76
14
.73
16
.73
71
.72
.67
166
.64
72
.59
Expression
229
.58
163
79
.50
.40
159
.36
188
.88
185
.85
187
.83
189
.83
184
.73
183
.71
235
.56
164
.32
Note: Factor loadings < .30 have been suppressed. Items bolded were included in the composite scoring
123
.44
495
Factor
Self-Esteem Boost Duty/
Pressure
65
180
.74
172
.73
139
.70
179
.67
Mate Guarding
.86
237
.64
43
194
.59
.58
70
I felt rebellious.
.54
66
.50
233
.47
36
.43
40
.42
76
.41
136
I felt insecure.
.41
45
.40
64
.40
34
.35
86
It was the only way my partner would spend time with me.
.33
81
.30
47
.75
132
53
.74
.73
25
.70
48
.69
77
.65
22
.63
17
.51
24
.51
121
.50
84
I felt guilty.
.49
80
.47
73
I wanted to be nice.
.45
94
.32
89
I had no self-control.
.32
122
175
.83
.81
.38
.37
140
.79
111
.74
165
.73
91
I was afraid my partner would have an affair if I didnt have sex with him/her.
.63
38
.60
61
.58
26
.43
62
.40
Note: Factor loadings < .30 have been suppressed. Items bolded were included in the composite scoring
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496
Table 9 Internal consistency of the 142 item YSEX? Factor and subfactor items
Factor
Subfactor
Physical
Number of Items
Combined
N = 11901288
Men
N = 355393
Women
N = 835895
45
.94
.94
.94
Stress Reduction
12
.83
.84
.82
Pleasure
.81
.80
.81
Physical Desirability
10
.80
.80
.79
Experience Seeking
15
.86
.87
.86
47
.93
.95
.91
Resources
15
.83
.89
.73
Social Status
11
.82
.87
.72
Revenge
10
.76
.83
.70
Utilitarian
11
.76
.77
.74
19
12
.87
.82
.89
.85
.86
.81
Expression
.77
.80
.76
31
.91
.93
.90
Self-Esteem Boost
.75
.79
.71
Duty/Pressure
13
.87
.82
.86
Mate Guarding
.79
.83
.77
Goal Attainment
Emotional
Insecurity
123
497
Subfactor
Women
Physical
Men
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
1.79
.51
1.98
.58
5.69*
.35
Stress Reduction
1.46
.48
1.64
.59
5.24*
.34
Pleasure
2.66
.75
2.85
.74
4.21*
.26
Physical Desirability
1.50
.50
1.74
.61
6.93*
.43
Experience Seeking
1.77
.59
1.93
.66
4.31*
.26
Goal Attainment
1.23
.26
1.36
.45
5.56*
.35
Resources
1.16
.24
1.27
.45
5.00*
.31
Social Status
1.13
.26
1.31
.53
6.60*
.43
Revenge
1.25
.31
1.35
.48
4.04*
.25
Utilitarian
1.39
.41
1.53
.50
4.65*
.31
1.86
2.06
.51
.58
1.93
2.12
.62
.69
1.98
1.63
.12
.09
Expression
1.51
.54
1.59
.66
2.16
.13
1.40
.41
1.50
.54
3.48*
.21
Self-Esteem Boost
1.42
.41
1.50
.55
2.71*
.17
Emotional
Insecurity
Duty/Pressure
1.33
.45
1.45
.57
3.62*
.23
Mate Guarding
1.45
.51
1.57
.65
3.16*
.21
Table 11 Correlations between YSEX? Composites and Big Five personality domains
Item
Men
E
Physical Total
Women
A
.04
.02
.04
.04
.03
.05
.18**
.18**
.08*
Stress Reduction
.03
.03
.04
.06
.04
.03
.15**
.16**
.10**
.03
.02
Pleasure
.04
.00
.03
.04
.05
.09**
.19**
.11**
.07
.02
.00
Physical Desirability
.06
.03
.01
.02
.02
.02
.11**
.07*
.05
Experience Seeking
.02
.02
.06
.07
.07
.02
.16**
.16**
.08*
.06
.03
.03
.07
.08
.09
.01
.13**
.13**
.08*
.01
Resources
.03
.03
.07
.08
.09
.01
.09*
.09*
.02
.05
Social Status
.05
.04
.04
.07
.15**
.02
.12**
.12**
.03
.06
Revenge
.00
.04
.08
.07
.09
.03
.13**
.11**
.08*
.02
Utilitarian
.04
.03
.06
.08
.02
.00
.12**
.10**
.11**
.02
.07
.07
.11*
.14**
.03
.02
.04
.01
.01
.00
.13**
.13**
.05
.04
.09**
.10**
.00
.01
.04
.02
.07
.07
.03
.02
.09**
.05
.06
.02
.06
.03
.09
.07
.03
.05
.17**
.13**
.16**
.04
Self-Esteem Boost
.07
.01
.06
.08
.00
.02
.16**
.14**
.15**
.01
Duty/Pressure
.05
.09
.11*
.07
.09
.05
.14**
.11**
.14**
.06
Mate Guarding
.06
.03
.05
.04
.03
.03
.13**
.09*
.14**
.01
Emotional Total
Love and Commitment
Expression
Insecurity Total
.12*
.16**
Note: * p .05, ** p .001. Labels are extraversion (E), agreeableness (A), conscientiousness (C), neuroticism (N), and openness to experience
123
498
Men
.17*
Women
.33**
Stress Reduction
.25**
.31**
Pleasure
.13*
.34**
Physical Desirability
.19**
.27**
Experience Seeking
.08
.25**
Goal Attainment
.23**
.21**
Resources
.23**
.13**
Social Status
.21**
.14**
Revenge
.26**
.24**
Utilitarian
.14**
.20**
Insecurity
Self-Esteem Boost
.13**
.18**
.21**
.22**
Duty/Pressure
.14**
.20**
Mate Guarding
.10
.14**
Emotional
.00
.09**
.02
.07
Expression
.02
.11**
* p .05, ** p .001
123
499
proposed. At a minimum, it provides a preliminary taxonomy on which future researchers can build.
Research instruments of reasons for having sex
The current study provided two research instruments that
could be used by future investigators.2 The first was the
original research instrument containing all 237 reasons for
having sex, as used in this study. This will be optimal for
researchers who wish to capture all of the breadth and detail
contained in the individual items. It also provides a useful
starting point for researchers who wish to build upon the
present taxonomy to develop an even more comprehensive
taxonomy of sexual motives.
The second instrument contained the highest loading
markers for the 13 subfactors, which can be summed with
unit weighting to yield 13 scores. This 142 item instrument
will be most useful for researchers who wish to include an
assessment of the major motives for sex as part of their
research design within the context of a broader empirical
study. It also may prove useful as an assessment instrument
for sex therapists who seek an assay of their clients current
psychological state regarding sexual motivation.
Gender differences in reasons for having sex
The current research provided the most comprehensive
examination to date of gender differences in expressed
reasons for engaging in sexual intercourse. When examining
the most frequently cited reasons for having sex, men and
women were remarkably similar in that 20 of the top 25
reasons given were identical for men and women. This
broad-based similarity provides an important background
context for interpreting gender differences. When examining endorsement frequency of reasons for having sex,
however, substantial gender differences emerged such that
men reported substantially higher frequencies than did women for the majority of individual items and subfactors.
Men, significantly more than women, endorsed reasons
centering on the physical appearance and physical desirability of a partner, such as The person had a desirable
body, The persons physical appearance turned me on,
and The person had an attractive face. These findings
support the evolution-based hypothesis that men tend to be
more sexual aroused by visual sexual cues than are women,
since physical appearance provides a wealth of cues to a
womans fertility and reproductive capacity (Buss, 1989b,
2003; Symons, 1979). Using functional magnetic resonance
imaging, Hamann, Herman, Nolan, and Wallen (2004)
2
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500
123
501
123
502
much more frequently endorsed by individuals who experience clinically low levels of sexual desire than by college
students. Examining such patterns in different populations
is an important direction for future research. A fourth
limitation is that the study was conducted within a single
culture; future research could fruitfully conduct parallel
studies in diverse cultures.
In summary, human sexuality is motivated by a complex
and multifaceted psychology. Efforts to reduce sexual
motivation to a small number of variables are doomed to
fail (Hill & Preston, 1996). The taxonomy presented in the
current study opens up several new avenues for important
123
503
Appendix
YSEX?
People have sex (i.e., sexual intercourse) for many different reasons. Below is a list of some of
these reasons. Please indicate how frequently each of the following reasons led you to have
sex in the past. For example, if about half of the time you engaged in sexual intercourse you
did so because you were bored, then you would circle 3 beside question 4. If you have not
had sex in the past, use the following scale to indicate what the likelihood that each of the
following reasons would lead you to have sex.
I have had sex in the past because
1
None of my sexual
experiences
Item #
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
2
A few of my sexual
experiences
3
Some of my sexual
experiences
4
Many of my
sexual experiences
Rating
Item Description
I was frustrated and needed relief.
I wanted to release anxiety/stress.
I wanted to release tension.
I was bored.
It seemed like good exercise.
I thought it would relax me.
Im addicted to sex.
It would allow me to get sex out of my system so that I could
focus on other things.
I am a sex addict.
I thought it would make me feel healthy.
I hadn't had sex for a while.
I wanted to satisfy a compulsion.
It feels good.
I wanted to experience the physical pleasure.
I was horny.
Its fun.
I wanted the pure pleasure.
I wanted to achieve an orgasm.
Its exciting, adventurous.
I was in the heat of the moment.
The person had an attractive face.
The person had a desirable body.
The person had beautiful eyes.
The person smelled nice.
The persons physical appearance turned me on.
I saw the person naked and could not resist.
The person was a good dancer.
The person was too physically attractive to resist.
The person wore revealing clothes.
The person was too hot (sexy) to resist.
I was curious about sex.
I was curious about my sexual abilities.
5
All of my sexual
experiences
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
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33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
123
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
110.
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
505
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
123
506
134.
135.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
SCORING SYSTEM
Factor
Subfactor
Physical Reasons
Stress Reduction
Pleasure
Physical Desirability
Experience Seeking
Goal Attainment
Resources
Social Status
Revenge
Utilitarian
Emotional
Love and Commitment
Expression
Insecurity
Self-Esteem Boost
Duty/Pressure
Mate Guarding
45-225
12-60
8-40
10-50
15-75
46-230
15-75
11-55
10-50
10-50
20-100
13-65
7-35
31-155
9-45
13-65
9-45
Note: Subfactor scores are computed by adding the scores of the individual items that comprise
the subfactor. Factor scores are computed by adding the scores of the items that comprise each of
the subfactors under that specific factor.
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