Sexual proclivity - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

twotimesadingo · 08-04-2003, 10:56 AM

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Is infidelity ‘natural’ for men?
Study sharpens debate on men, sex and gender roles

By Shankar Vedantam
THE WASHINGTON POST

Aug. 1 — A fierce debate about whether jealousy, lust and sexual attraction are hardwired in the brain or are the products of culture and upbringing has recently been ignited by the growing influence of a school of psychology that sees the hidden hand of evolution in everyday life.

FRESH SPARKS flew last month when a study of more than 16,000 people from every inhabited continent found that men everywhere — whether single, married or gay — want more sexual partners than women do.
“This study provides the largest and most comprehensive test yet conducted on whether the sexes differ in the desire for sexual variety,” wrote lead researcher David P. Schmitt, an evolutionary psychologist at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. “The results are strong and conclusive — the sexes differ, and these differences appear to be universal.”
The idea that male promiscuity is hardwired — and therefore “normal” — drew swift and furious criticism. Scholars who assert the primacy of culture in shaping human behavior charged Schmitt with choosing his facts, making his conclusions less about science than “wishful thinking.”
The debate won’t be settled soon, if ever. For the real arguments are about social mores, gender roles and sexual politics. The real question isn’t about evolution, but society’s view of appropriate behavior for men and women.
Ohio State University psychologist Terri Fisher said she knows the new study will be misused. Each year, when she teaches her college students about the research into sexual variety, the young men smile and nod and the young women look appalled.
“I bet a lot of males might leave class and talk to their girlfriends and say, ‘You know what I learned in class? It’s natural I don’t want to commit to you and that I feel attracted to other women — it’s because I am a man,’ ” Fisher said.

Found this article immensely interesting.

At a basic level, I agree with many of the points raised, and can't really fathom an argument against their viability.
Men and women are built different on a hormonal level. It only makes sense that one gender would be programmed as more sexually active then the other.
However, I also feel that the power of nature is subordinate to the influence of environment. I think it would be next to ridiculous that one would assume that biological impulses adopt a role of supremacy over socially generated characteristics. If this were true, the child of an alcoholic (which is said to be biologically addicted to alcohol) would be unable to resist following in his parent's footsteps.

Thoughts?

bigoldalphamale · 08-04-2003, 11:01 AM

reeeeeeediculous! reminds me though...i need some new pussy.

tenchi069 · 08-04-2003, 11:10 AM

I don't see any reason to leave the wonderful woman I am with. Does that mean I don't find other women attractive? Not at all. I'm in a relationship not dead. But that won't cause me to stray.

World's King · 08-04-2003, 11:12 AM

Makes sense to me.

dabossy2k · 08-04-2003, 11:20 AM

See now here is the thing; men do have a more of a sexual drive then women. Women are happy with one partner now Men seem to want more then one partner. Whether or not they act on this impulse is up to the person. I really don't think that the study is saying that men are going to cheat just because they are men. I think what it is saying is that Men are more prone to cheat just because they want sex from more then one partner. Whether they do or not is probably based on there environment. The people they are around the place they grew up in, that sort of stuff.

angela146 · 08-04-2003, 05:56 PM

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Originally posted by dabossy2k
See now here is the thing; men do have a more of a sexual drive then women.

Do you actually believe that?

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Women are happy with one partner now Men seem to want more then one partner.

No, women are happy with one *steady* partner and are perfectly happy to lie about having men on the side in order to keep him.

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Whether or not they act on this impulse is up to the person. I really don't think that the study is saying that men are going to cheat just because they are men. I think what it is saying is that Men are more prone to cheat just because they want sex from more then one partner. Whether they do or not is probably based on there environment. The people they are around the place they grew up in, that sort of stuff.

Good points. I think there are two factors in this:

Women in most cultures are taught to deny their sexual feelings. Some do it by not allowing them to develop (i.e. not masturbating when they are young) others do it by lying about it.

A few lucky ones have parents who let their girls grow up with a healthy attitude about sex. Some others develop it despite their parents attitudes.

Sorry if this sounds harsh but I really do have some strong feelings about this.

08-04-2003, 11:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
tenchi069 Lost Location: One step closer to the padded cell...	I don't see any reason to leave the wonderful woman I am with. Does that mean I don't find other women attractive? Not at all. I'm in a relationship not dead. But that won't cause me to stray. __________________ ERROR- PLBSAK Problem Lies Between Seat and Keyboard.

08-04-2003, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	Makes sense to me. __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

08-04-2003, 11:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
dabossy2k Insane Location: Cali	See now here is the thing; men do have a more of a sexual drive then women. Women are happy with one partner now Men seem to want more then one partner. Whether or not they act on this impulse is up to the person. I really don't think that the study is saying that men are going to cheat just because they are men. I think what it is saying is that Men are more prone to cheat just because they want sex from more then one partner. Whether they do or not is probably based on there environment. The people they are around the place they grew up in, that sort of stuff. __________________ Recovering nice guy

08-04-2003, 11:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
bigoldalphamale Loser	reeeeeeediculous! reminds me though...i need some new pussy.