In sexuality , seduction means enticing someone else into sexual intercourse or other sexual activity . Strategies of seduction include conversation and sexual scripts , paralingual features , non-verbal communication , and short-term behavioural strategies.
116-447: The word seduction stems from Latin and means, literally, 'leading astray'. As a result, the term may have a negative connotation . Seen negatively, seduction involves temptation and enticement , often sexual in nature, to coerce someone into a behavioural choice they would not have made if they were not in a state of sexual arousal . Seen positively, seduction is synonymous for the act of charming someone—male or female—by an appeal to
232-411: A genital ulcer ; even if they do not, they increase the risk of both acquiring and passing on HIV up to ten-fold. Hepatitis B can also be transmitted through sexual contact. Globally, there are about 257 million chronic carriers of hepatitis B. HIV is one of the world's leading infectious killers; in 2010, approximately 30 million people were estimated to have died because of it since the beginning of
348-460: A stroke can also largely impact on the ability to engage in sexual intercourse. Although disability-related pain, including as a result of cancer , and mobility impairment can hamper sexual intercourse, in many cases, the most significant impediments to sexual intercourse for individuals with a disability are psychological. In particular, people who have a disability can find sexual intercourse daunting due to issues involving their self-concept as
464-412: A Biosocial theory of heterosexual relationships which encompasses several stages of seduction. This includes five stages of natural progression: Within these stages, both individuals are interacting in a game which is never explicit, this is because if either individual were to be rejected this would damage their self-esteem . Therefore, when seducing, the overarching aims and goals are never vocalised to
580-426: A boy who is 1 to 3 years older than they are. Between 1988 and 2002, the percentage of people in the U.S. who had sexual intercourse between the ages of 15 and 19 fell from 60 to 46 percent for never-married males, and from 51 to 46 percent for never-married females. In humans, sexual intercourse and sexual activity in general have been reported as having health benefits as varied as increased immunity by increasing
696-445: A female partaking in a short-term affair, incorporating the use of seduction, with another male as a revenge tactic for her husband's previous affair, which aims to increase commitment of her intended long-term mate. These hypotheses indicate the benefits for females of developing and expanding on their seduction skills within sexual relationships. 'Strategies are defined as evolved solutions to adaptive problems'. Men and women differ in
812-504: A form of safe sex and contraception. Condoms are widely recommended for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). According to reports by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO), correct and consistent use of latex condoms reduces the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission by approximately 85–99% relative to risk when unprotected. Condoms are rarely used for oral sex and there
928-519: A form of seduction, and can be used as a short-term and long-term mating strategy among both sexes. Moreover, there are associated costs and benefits to poaching. Schmitt and Buss (2001) investigated the potential costs and benefits across sexes in relation to human mate poaching. Costs for engaging in poaching behaviours include unwanted pregnancy, transmitted infection and diseases, and insecurity about provisions (shelter, food, and financial security) and/or resource depletion, violence and aggression from
1044-604: A lack of "dialogue around this population's human right to consensual sexual expression, undertreatment of menstrual disorders, and legal and systemic barriers". Women with intellectual disability may lack sexual health care and sex education. They may not recognize sexual abuse. Consensual sexual intercourse is not always an option for some. Those with intellectual disability may have limited knowledge and access to contraception, screening for sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer. Sexual intercourse may be for reproductive, relational, or recreational purposes. It often plays
1160-504: A long-term relationship. Alternatively, according to this hypothesis females are also able to get rid of an unwanted husband through mate expulsion using short-term strategies, such as by seducing another man into a short-term sexual relationship. Females may also be more equipped at deterring male partners from future infidelity , demonstrated by the 'Mate Manipulation Hypothesis'. This hypothesis suggests that females are able to use revenge to deter future infidelity . This can be achieved by
1276-517: A man's penis into another person's rectum, but may also mean the use of sex toys or fingers to penetrate the anus, or oral sex on the anus ( anilingus ), or pegging . Oral sex consists of all the sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth and throat to stimulate genitalia or anus. It is sometimes performed to the exclusion of all other forms of sexual activity, and may include the ingestion or absorption of semen (during fellatio ) or vaginal fluids (during cunnilingus ). Fingering involves
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#17328019076401392-439: A mate include courting or having relatives select mates for socioeconomic reasons. Ultimately, both males and females have reported preferring seduction above all other strategies, such as the use of power or aggression , for making a potential partner agree to sexual intercourse. Seduction is related to human mate poaching . Human mate poaching refers to when either a male or female purposefully entices another individual who
1508-446: A mixture of different meanings. These could include the contrast of a word or phrase with its primary, literal meaning (known as a denotation ), with what that word or phrase specifically denotes. The connotation essentially relates to how anything may be associated with a word or phrase; for example, an implied value, judgement or feelings. In logic and semantics , connotation is roughly synonymous with intension . Connotation
1624-497: A neurotransmitter. This behavior is characterized by a fixation on sexual intercourse and disinhibition. It was proposed that this 'addictive behavior' be classified in DSM-5 as an impulsive–compulsive behavioral disorder. Addiction to sexual intercourse is thought to be genetically linked. Those having an addiction to sexual intercourse have a higher response to visual sexual cues in the brain. Those seeking treatment will typically see
1740-421: A partner for a short term encounter. From an evolutionary perspective, these would have been particularly beneficial to our ancestral males who wanted to increase their reproductive success , through seducing many women and therefore increasing their chance of passing on their genes. These particular traits may be used as a tactic for increasing success in mating. The dark triad traits are seen more in males where
1856-505: A physician for pharmacological management and therapy. One form of hypersexuality is Kleine–Levin syndrome . It is manifested by hypersomnia and hypersexuality and remains relatively rare. Sexual activity can directly cause death , particularly due to coronary circulation complications, which is sometimes called coital death, coital sudden death or coital coronary. However, coital deaths are significantly rare. People, especially those who get little or no physical exercise, have
1972-605: A primary form of sexual activity. Researchers commonly use sexual intercourse to denote penile–vaginal intercourse while using specific words, such as anal sex or oral sex , for other sexual behaviors. Scholars Richard M. Lerner and Laurence Steinberg state that researchers also "rarely disclose" how they conceptualize sex "or even whether they resolved potential discrepancies" in conceptualizations of sex. Lerner and Steinberg attribute researchers' focus on penile–vaginal sex to "the larger culture's preoccupation with this form of sexual activity", and have expressed concern that
2088-402: A prominent feature in accessing the desirable potential mate. The purpose of this communication is to reduce the interpersonal distance between the desired individuals. Physiological features such as pupil dilation are a salient cue, expressing attraction. Leading on from this, eye contact is a very notable sign of attraction. Although there are cross cultural differences in whether eye contact
2204-462: A receptive partner during anal intercourse. The study said that fewer women reported engaging in anal sex than other partnered sexual behaviors. It was estimated that 10% to 14% of women aged 18 to 39 years old practiced anal sex in the past 90 days, and that most of the women who engage in anal sex said they practiced it once a month or a few times a year. The prevalence of sexual intercourse has been compared cross-culturally. In 2003, Michael Bozon of
2320-461: A role in personal decisions about sexual intercourse or other sexual activity, such as decisions about virginity , or legal and public policy matters. Religious views on sexuality vary significantly between different religions and sects of the same religion, though there are common themes, such as prohibition of adultery. Reproductive sexual intercourse between non-human animals is more often called copulation , and sperm may be introduced into
2436-416: A sexual being, or a partner's discomfort or perceived discomfort. Temporary difficulties can arise with alcohol and sex , as alcohol can initially increase interest through disinhibition but decrease capacity with greater intake; however, disinhibition can vary depending on the culture. People with mental disabilities also are subject to challenges in participating in sexual intercourse. This can include
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#17328019076402552-468: A slightly increased risk of triggering a heart attack or sudden cardiac death when they engage in sexual intercourse or any vigorous physical exercise that is engaged in on a sporadic basis. Regular exercise reduces, but does not eliminate, the increased risk. Sexual intercourse, when involving a male participant, often ends when the male has ejaculated, and thus the partner might not have time to reach orgasm . In addition, premature ejaculation (PE)
2668-429: A strong role in human bonding . In many societies, it is normal for couples to have sexual intercourse while using some method of birth control, sharing pleasure and strengthening their emotional bond through sexual activity even though they are deliberately avoiding pregnancy. In humans and bonobos , the female undergoes relatively concealed ovulation so that male and female partners commonly do not know whether she
2784-522: A surgery. Obstacles that those with disabilities face with regard to engaging in sexual intercourse include pain, depression , fatigue, negative body image , stiffness, functional impairment, anxiety, reduced libido , hormonal imbalance, and drug treatment or side effects. Sexual functioning has been regularly identified as a neglected area of the quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis . For those that must take opioids for pain control, sexual intercourse can become more difficult. Having
2900-416: A variety of safe sex methods that are practiced by heterosexual and same-sex couples, including non-penetrative sex acts, and heterosexual couples may use oral or anal sex (or both) as a means of birth control. However, pregnancy can still occur with anal sex or other forms of sexual activity if the penis is near the vagina (such as during intercrural sex or other genital-genital rubbing ) and its sperm
3016-1071: Is delayed ejaculation , which can be caused as an unwanted side effect of antidepressant medications such as fluvoxamine ; however, all SSRIs have ejaculation-delaying effects, and fluvoxamine has the least ejaculation-delaying effects. Sexual intercourse often remains possible after major medical treatment of the reproductive organs and structures. This is especially true for women. Even after extensive gynecological surgical procedures (such as hysterectomy , oophorectomy , salpingectomy , dilation and curettage , hymenotomy , Bartholin gland surgery, abscess removal, vestibulectomy , labia minora reduction, cervical conization , surgical and radiological cancer treatments and chemotherapy), sexual intercourse can continue. Reconstructive surgery remains an option for women who have experienced benign and malignant conditions. Men and women who have underwent extensive surgery should consult their medical team to understand how their treatment or surgery affects sex and how long they should wait before having sexual intercourse after
3132-424: Is ejaculated through the penis into the vagina. The sperm passes through the vaginal vault , cervix and into the uterus , and then into the fallopian tubes . Millions of sperm are ejaculated to increase the chances of fertilization (see sperm competition ), but only one is sufficient to fertilize an egg or ovum . When a fertile ovum from the female is present in the fallopian tubes, the male gamete fertilizes
3248-483: Is "the most prevalent sexual behavior among men and women of all ages and ethnicities". Clint E. Bruess et al. stated that it "is the most frequently studied behavior" and is "often the focus of sexuality education programming for youth." Weiten et al. said that it "is the most widely endorsed and practiced sexual act in our society." Regarding oral or anal intercourse, the CDC stated in 2009, "Studies indicate that oral sex
3364-444: Is a form of assisted reproductive technology , which are methods used to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means. For artificial insemination, sperm donors may donate their sperm through a sperm bank , and the insemination is performed with the express intention of attempting to impregnate the female; to this extent, its purpose is the medical equivalent of sexual intercourse. ICI insemination, which involves
3480-399: Is already in an established relationship into sexual relations with them. This is akin to the definition of seduction in the introduction. This is a psychological mechanism which had unconscious and conscious manifestations, that in relation to evolutionary psychology has been adaptive to our ancestors in the past and has continued to be functional in modern society. Human mate poaching is
3596-428: Is also aimed at persuading someone to develop a short-term or long-term sexual relationship with them. Males declare that they adopt the strategy of seduction statistically more frequently than females. From an evolutionary perspective, this has been linked with females' higher parental investment and the lack of guarantee of male parental investment, although evolutionary science cannot draw a causal relationship between
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3712-456: Is also known as vaginal intercourse or vaginal sex . Sexual penetration has been known by humans since the dawn of time, and has been an instinctive form of sexual behaviour and psychology among humans. Other forms of penetrative sexual intercourse include anal sex (penetration of the anus by the penis), oral sex (penetration of the mouth by the penis or oral penetration of the female genitalia ), fingering (sexual penetration by
3828-509: Is also not clear if timed intercourse has an effect on a person's level of stress or their quality of life. Studies have shown no significant difference between different sex positions and pregnancy rate, as long as it results in ejaculation into the vagina. When a sperm donor has sexual intercourse with a woman who is not his partner and for the sole purpose of impregnating the woman, this may be known as natural insemination , as opposed to artificial insemination . Artificial insemination
3944-532: Is at lower ages than that of women; this group includes south European and Latin cultures (Portugal, Greece and Romania are noted) and such from Latin America (Brazil, Chile , and the Dominican Republic ). The study considered many Asian societies to also fall into this group, although matching data was only available from Thailand . In the third group, age of men and women at sexual initiation
4060-600: Is because "although an estimated 15 percent to 20 percent of men experience difficulty controlling rapid ejaculation, most do not consider it a problem requiring help, and many women have difficulty expressing their sexual needs". The American Urological Association (AUA) estimates that premature ejaculation could affect 21 percent of men in the United States. For those whose impotence is caused by medical conditions, prescription drugs such as Viagra , Cialis , and Levitra are available. However, doctors caution against
4176-411: Is common, and women often require a substantially longer duration of stimulation with a sexual partner than men do before reaching an orgasm. Scholars, such as Weiten et al., state that "many couples are locked into the idea that orgasms should be achieved only through intercourse [penile-vaginal sex]," that "the word foreplay suggests that any other form of sexual stimulation is merely preparation for
4292-502: Is commonly practiced by sexually active male-female and same-gender couples of various ages, including adolescents." Oral sex is significantly more common than anal sex. The 2010 NSSHB study reported that vaginal intercourse was practiced more than insertive anal intercourse among men, but that 13% to 15% of men aged 25 to 49 practiced insertive anal intercourse. Receptive anal intercourse was infrequent among men, with approximately 7% of men aged 14 to 94 years old having said that they were
4408-420: Is deposited near the vagina's entrance and travels along the vagina's lubricating fluids; the risk of pregnancy can also occur without the penis being near the vagina because sperm may be transported to the vaginal opening by the vagina coming in contact with fingers or other non-genital body parts that have come in contact with semen. Safe sex is a relevant harm reduction philosophy and condoms are used as
4524-512: Is especially the case for men with a lower emotional and composite marital satisfaction. Other studies report that the lack of sexual intercourse does not significantly result in divorce, though it is commonly one of the various contributors to it. According to the 2010 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), men whose most recent sexual encounter was with a relationship partner reported greater arousal, greater pleasure, fewer problems with erectile function, orgasm, and less pain during
4640-685: Is fertile at any given moment. One possible reason for this distinct biological feature may be formation of strong emotional bonds between sexual partners important for social interactions and, in the case of humans, long-term partnership rather than immediate sexual reproduction. Sexual dissatisfaction due to the lack of sexual intercourse is associated with increased risk of divorce and relationship dissolution, especially for men. Some research, however, indicates that general dissatisfaction with marriage for men results if their wives flirted with, erotically kissed or became romantically or sexually involved with another man ( infidelity ), and that this
4756-602: Is involuntary tensing of the pelvic floor musculature, making coitus, or any form of penetration of the vagina, distressing, painful and sometimes impossible for women. It is a conditioned reflex of the pubococcygeus muscle, and is sometimes referred to as the PC muscle. Vaginismus can be hard to overcome because if a woman expects to experience pain during sexual intercourse, this can cause a muscle spasm, which results in painful sexual intercourse. Treatment of vaginismus often includes both psychological and behavioral techniques, including
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4872-530: Is its denotation . A connotation is frequently described as either positive or negative, with regard to its pleasing or displeasing emotional connection. For example, a stubborn person may be described as being either strong-willed or pig-headed ; although these have the same literal meaning ( stubborn ), strong-willed connotes admiration for the level of someone's will (a positive connotation), while pig-headed connotes frustration in dealing with someone (a negative connotation). "Connotation" branches into
4988-422: Is known under different ancient Latin names for a variety of sexual activities, but usually denotes penile–vaginal penetration. This is often called vaginal intercourse or vaginal sex. Vaginal sex, and less often vaginal intercourse , may also denote any vaginal sexual activity, particularly if penetrative , including sexual activity between lesbian couples . Copulation , by contrast, more often denotes
5104-568: Is less risky than vaginal or anal intercourse. Many times, STIs initially do not cause symptoms, increasing the risk of unknowingly passing the infection on to a sex partner or others. There are 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections every year in the U.S., and, in 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 448 million people aged 15–49 were infected per year with curable STIs (such as syphilis , gonorrhea and chlamydia ). Some STIs can cause
5220-410: Is likely that exploitative strategies will not be used when seducing a long-term partner. The traits associated within the dark triad (Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism) are not useful for long term mating strategies because they are negatively correlated with agreeableness , empathy and reciprocation, which are traits promoting a healthy relationship. Kenrick and Trost (1987) have formulated
5336-637: Is often based on penile–vaginal intercourse is because heterosexual couples may engage in anal or oral sex as a way of being sexually active while maintaining that they are virgins since they have not engaged in the reproductive act of coitus. Some gay men consider frot or oral sex as a way of maintaining their virginities, with penile-anal penetration used as sexual intercourse and for virginity loss, while other gay men may consider frot or oral sex as their main forms of sexual activity. Lesbians may categorize oral sex or fingering as sexual intercourse and subsequently an act of virginity loss, or tribadism as
5452-402: Is often contrasted with denotation , which is more or less synonymous with extension . Alternatively, the connotation of the word may be thought of as the set of all its possible referents (as opposed to merely the actual ones). A word's denotation is the collection of things it refers to; its connotation is what it implies about the things it is used to refer to (a second level of meanings
5568-492: Is often extra-marital; the study considered the Indian subcontinent to also fall into this group, though data was only available from Nepal . In the second group, the data indicated families encouraged daughters to delay marriage, and to abstain from sexual activity before that time. However, sons are encouraged to gain experience with older women or prostitutes before marriage. Age of men at sexual initiation in these societies
5684-418: Is one of the main reasons for using euphemisms . Semiotic closure, as defined by Terry Eagleton , concerns "a sealed world of ideological stability, which repels the disruptive, decentered forces of language in the name of an imaginary unity. Signs are ranked by a certain covert violence into rigidly hierarchical order. . . . The process of forging ‘representations’ always involves this arbitrary closing of
5800-409: Is possible at any time of the menstrual cycle for women. Sex pheromones facilitate copulatory reflexes in various organisms, but, in humans , the detection of pheromones is impaired and they have only residual effects. Non-primate females put themselves in the crucial lordosis position and remain motionless, but these motor copulatory reflexes are no longer functional in women. During coitus,
5916-453: Is possible that individuals who engage in oral sex, but do not consider it as 'sex', may not associate the acts with the potential health risks they can bring." In other cases, condom use is a factor, with some men stating that sexual activity involving the protection of a condom is not "real sex" or "the real thing". This view is common among men in Africa, where sexual activity involving
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#17328019076406032-451: Is significantly less research on behaviors with regard to condom use for anal and oral sex. The most effective way to avoid sexually transmitted infections is to abstain from sexual intercourse, especially vaginal, anal, and oral sexual intercourse. Decisions and options concerning birth control can be affected by cultural reasons, such as religion, gender roles or folklore . In the predominantly Catholic countries Ireland, Italy, and
6148-450: Is termed connotative). The connotation of dog is (something like) four-legged canine carnivore. So, saying, "You are a dog" would connote that you were ugly or aggressive rather than literally denoting you as a canine. It is often useful to avoid words with strong connotations (especially pejorative or disparaging ones) when striving to achieve a neutral point of view . A desire for more positive connotations, or fewer negative ones,
6264-550: Is used or not, in Western cultures, the duration of eye contact and the exchange between two individuals is important in the first stages of the biosocial model. Another non-verbal cue in the process of seduction are facial expressions. Smiling is considered another prominent feature in seduction, as it signifies willingness to engage in a social interaction, and in the case of seduction, to participate in creating an intimate bond. These non-verbal behaviours become synchronised between
6380-453: Is very difficult" and that this is "because most sexually active individuals practice oral sex in addition to other forms of sex, such as vaginal or anal sex, when transmission occurs, it is difficult to determine whether it occurred as a result of oral sex or other more risky sexual activities". They added that "several co-factors may increase the risk of HIV transmission through oral sex"; this includes ulcers, bleeding gums , genital sores, and
6496-468: Is what the rose represents. The denotation is a brown cross. The connotation is a symbol of religion, according to the media connotation. However, to be more specific this is a symbol of Christianity. Sexual intercourse Sexual intercourse (also coitus or copulation ) is a sexual activity typically involving the insertion and thrusting of the male penis inside the female vagina for sexual pleasure , reproduction , or both. This
6612-503: The Irish mob and Jewish mob . They often use attractive women from their gang in order to bribe, get money from, or damage the careers of male politicians , police officers , or government agents , as well as members of the general public . Connotation A connotation is a commonly understood cultural or emotional association that any given word or phrase carries, in addition to its explicit or literal meaning , which
6728-420: The dark triad , however predominantly in males. Short-term strategies are those used by an individual to obtain a mate for a short term sexual encounter. The dark triad is made up of three personality traits, psychopathy , narcissism and Machiavellianism and was proposed by Paulhus and Williams (2002). The three traits are exploitative in nature and are used for sexually coercive behaviours , useful in
6844-837: The mating process, especially for non-human animals; it can mean a variety of sexual activities between opposite-sex or same-sex pairings , but generally means the sexually reproductive act of transferring sperm from a male to a female or sexual procreation between a man and a woman. Although sex and having sex also most commonly denote penile–vaginal intercourse, sex can be significantly broad in its meaning and may cover any penetrative or non-penetrative sexual activity between two or more people. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that non-English languages and cultures use different words for sexual activity, "with slightly different meanings". Various vulgarisms , slang , and euphemisms are used for sexual intercourse or other sexual activity, such as fuck , screw , shag , and
6960-407: The woman on top position or the coital alignment technique , a technique combining the "riding high" variation of the missionary position with pressure-counterpressure movements performed by each partner in rhythm with sexual penetration, to maximize clitoral stimulation. Anal sex involves stimulation of the anus , anal cavity, sphincter valve or rectum ; it most commonly means the insertion of
7076-736: The "widespread, unquestioned equation of penile–vaginal intercourse with sex reflects a failure to examine systematically 'whether the respondent's understanding of the question [about sexual activity] matches what the researcher had in mind'". This focus can also relegate other forms of mutual sexual activity to foreplay or contribute to them not being regarded as "real sex", and limits the meaning of rape . It may also be that conceptually conflating sexual activity with vaginal intercourse and sexual function hinders and limits information about sexual behavior that non-heterosexual people may be engaging in, or information about heterosexuals who may be engaging in non–vaginal sexual activity. Studies regarding
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#17328019076407192-468: The 'main event'" and that "because women reach orgasm through intercourse less consistently than men," they are likelier than men to fake an orgasm to satisfy their sexual partners. In 1991, scholars from the Kinsey Institute stated, "The truth is that the time between penetration and ejaculation varies not only from man to man, but from one time to the next for the same man." They added that
7308-487: The French Institut national d'études démographiques conducted a cross-cultural study titled "At what age do women and men have their first sexual intercourse?" In the first group of the contemporary cultures he studied, which included sub-Saharan Africa (listing Mali , Senegal and Ethiopia ), the data indicated that the age of men at sexual initiation in these societies is at later ages than that of women, but
7424-793: The Philippines, fertility awareness and the rhythm method are emphasized while disapproval is expressed with regard to other contraceptive methods. Worldwide, sterilization is a more common birth control method, and use of the intrauterine device (IUD) is the most common and effective way of reversible contraception. Conception and contraception are additionally a life-and-death situation in developing countries , where one in three women give birth before age 20; however, 90% of unsafe abortions in these countries could be prevented by effective contraception use. The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB) indicated in 2010 that "1 of 4 acts of vaginal intercourse are condom-protected in
7540-497: The Philistines to shave his hair off during his slumber. Males and females both implement the strategy of seduction as a method of negotiating their sexual relationships . This can often involve manipulation of other individuals. This is primarily based on desire , normally physical, as well as attraction towards them. Popular phrases often used include; 'the language of love is universal'. These phrases help to demonstrate
7656-637: The U.S. (1 in 3 among singles)," that "condom use is higher among black and Hispanic Americans than among white Americans and those from other racial groups," and that "adults using a condom for intercourse were just as likely to rate the sexual extent positively in terms of arousal, pleasure and orgasm than when having intercourse without one". Penile–vaginal penetration is the most common form of sexual intercourse. Studies indicate that most heterosexual couples engage in vaginal intercourse nearly every sexual encounter. The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB) reported in 2010 that vaginal intercourse
7772-456: The ability to acquire more resources. For example, females are better able to access meats, goods or services in exchange for sexual intercourse or if she were to give birth to a child whose father has better genes than her husband. Females use these short-term matings to hone their mating and seduction skills and increase their protection. This is because males often provide increased protection against other males exploitation or from non-humans for
7888-665: The adaptive problem of finding a mate with the required characteristics needed at that time in their lives, e.g., plenty of resources, physical attractiveness, and showing signs of honest fertility. Therefore, our ancestors would have deployed this tactic (for enticing a suitable mate), which remains in our psychology. Some evolved poaching behaviours may not be suitable for current environmental problems. Leftover by-products from human evolution, such as preferences for fat and sugar, are not adaptive in western cultures at present, and thus similar poaching behaviours could still remain. Short-term strategies involved in seduction are associated with
8004-415: The adaptive problems that they face, and therefore deploy different strategies. Women strongly desire the resources and commitment that comes with paternal parental investment and therefore impose a longer period of time for courtship and use of seduction prior to engaging in a long-term sexual relationship. Women also spend time seeking and seducing men that are willing to invest and commit in the long run. It
8120-456: The appropriate length for sexual intercourse is the length of time it takes for both partners to be mutually satisfied, emphasizing that Kinsey "found that 75 percent of men ejaculated within two minutes of penetration. But he didn't ask if the men or their partners considered two minutes mutually satisfying" and "more recent research reports slightly longer times for intercourse". A 2008 survey of Canadian and American sex therapists stated that
8236-405: The average time for heterosexual intercourse (coitus) was 7 minutes and that 1 to 2 minutes was too short, 3 to 7 minutes was adequate and 7 to 13 minutes desirable, while 10 to 30 minutes was too long. Anorgasmia is regular difficulty reaching orgasm after ample sexual stimulation, causing personal distress. This is significantly more common in women than in men, which has been attributed to
8352-608: The body's production of antibodies and subsequent lower blood pressure , and decreased risk of prostate cancer . Sexual intimacy and orgasms increase levels of the hormone oxytocin (also known as "the love hormone"), which can help people bond and build trust. Oxytocin is believed to have a more significant impact on women than on men, which may be why women associate sexual attraction or sexual activity with romance and love more than men do. A long-term study of 3,500 people between ages 18 and 102 by clinical neuropsychologist David Weeks indicated that, based on impartial ratings of
8468-403: The crime of seduction as a felony committed "when a male person induced an unmarried female of previously chaste character to engage in an act of sexual intercourse on a promise of marriage." A father had the right to maintain an action for the seduction of his daughter (or the enticement of a son who left home), since this deprived him of services or earnings. In more modern times, Frank Sinatra
8584-561: The current partner, who takes part in human mate guarding behaviours (behaviours used to protect their mate from other potential males or females). However, the associated benefits include emotional support that may not be received from a current partner, and access to 'good genes ', such as facial symmetry . The associated benefits also include increased sexual variety, access to physically attractive mates, and non-committal copulations. Evolutionarily speaking, we are descended from our reproductively-successful ancestors who managed to solve
8700-485: The deposit of (usually) raw semen in the vagina of a woman, is in effect a substitute for intercourse and is often contrasted with 'normal intercourse' in this context. Reproductive methods also extend to gay and lesbian couples. For gay male pairings, there is the option of surrogate pregnancy; for lesbian couples, there is donor insemination in addition to choosing surrogate pregnancy. Some women use artificial insemination to become single mothers by choice . There are
8816-415: The digital manipulation of the clitoris, rest of the vulva , vagina or anus for the purpose of sexual arousal and sexual stimulation; it may constitute the entire sexual encounter or it may be part of mutual masturbation, foreplay or other sexual activities. Natural human reproduction involves penile–vaginal penetration, during which semen , containing male gametes known as sperm cells or spermatozoa,
8932-410: The disease , and patients can enjoy healthy and productive lives. In cases where infection is suspected, early medical intervention is highly beneficial in all cases. The CDC stated "the risk of HIV transmission from an infected partner through oral sex is much less than the risk of HIV transmission from anal or vaginal sex," but that "measuring the exact risk of HIV transmission as a result of oral sex
9048-510: The disorder, estimates for the prevalence of premature ejaculation vary significantly more than for erectile dysfunction. For example, the Mayo Clinic states, "Estimates vary, but as many as 1 out of 3 men may be affected by [premature ejaculation] at some time." Further, "Masters and Johnson speculated that premature ejaculation is the most common sexual dysfunction, even though more men seek therapy for erectile difficulties" and that this
9164-529: The epidemic. Of the 2.7 million new HIV infections estimated to occur worldwide in 2010, 1.9 million (70%) were in Africa . The World Health Organization also stated that the "estimated 1.2 million Africans who died of HIV-related illnesses in 2010 comprised 69% of the global total of 1.8 million deaths attributable to the epidemic." It is diagnosed by blood tests , and while no cure has been found, it can be controlled by management through antiretroviral drugs for
9280-452: The expression of a gene transcription factor called ΔFosB (delta FosB) in the brain's reward center ; consequently excessively frequent engagement in sexual activity on a regular (daily) basis can lead to the overexpression of ΔFosB, inducing an addiction to sexual activity. Sexual addiction or hypersexuality is often considered an impulse control disorder or a behavioral addiction. It has been linked to atypical levels of dopamine,
9396-622: The extensively pervasive and ubiquitous strategy use within love and relationships amongst humans. Individuals employing such strategies often do so subconsciously and will merely report the feelings and thoughts that they subjectively experienced and are colloquially comparable to 'attraction' or 'love'. Research has indicated that seduction could substitute or equate to a form of collapsed or condensed courtship . Evolutionary psychology suggests that this form of sexual enticement can be used in order to cajole desired individuals to engage in sexual intercourse and ultimately reproduce. This behaviour
9512-550: The female is in estrus, and to engage in sex acts with same-sex partners . Like humans engaging in sexual activity primarily for pleasure, this behavior in these animals is also presumed to be for pleasure, and a contributing factor to strengthening their social bonds. Sexual intercourse may be called coitus , copulation , coition , or intercourse . Coitus is derived from the Latin word coitio or coire , meaning "a coming together or joining together" or "to go together", and
9628-431: The female's reproductive tract in non-vaginal ways among the animals, such as by cloacal copulation. For most non-human mammals , mating and copulation occur at the point of estrus (the most fertile period of time in the female's reproductive cycle), which increases the chances of successful impregnation . However, bonobos , dolphins and chimpanzees are known to engage in sexual intercourse regardless of whether
9744-472: The females they mate with and their offspring. However, this willingness to make the first move towards seduction and engage in a sexual relationship may be subtle. For example, females may simply stand close to their target. Improving attraction and seduction skills can also help a female with acquiring a better or more desirable male according to the 'Mate Switching Hypothesis'. This is because, females are able to assess their potential mate before committing to
9860-448: The fertile window, a practice that is sometimes called 'timed intercourse'. Timed intercourse using urine tests that predict ovulation may help improve the rate of pregnancy and live births for some couples trying to conceive such as those who have been trying for less than 12-months and who are under 40 years old, however, it is not clear from medical evidence if timed intercourse improves the rate of ultra-sound confirmed pregnancies and it
9976-411: The fictional character Don Juan . The emergence of the internet and technology has supported the availability and the existence of a seduction community , which is based on discourse about seduction. This is predominantly by " pickup artists " (PUA). Seduction is also used within marketing to increase compliance and willingness. Seduction is a popular motif in history and fiction, both as a warning of
10092-477: The fingers) and penetration by use of a dildo (especially a strap-on dildo ), and vibrators . These activities involve physical intimacy between two or more people and are usually used among humans solely for physical or emotional pleasure. They can contribute to human bonding . There are different views on what constitutes sexual intercourse or other sexual activity, which can impact on views of sexual health . Although sexual intercourse , particularly
10208-462: The first meeting. However, whilst seducing, the paralanguage will alter gradually. His voice will eventually become softer with lower pitch and modulated voice. These characteristics of the voice are akin to those adults use when speaking to children, in infant directed speech . This is vocal exhibition, which has been found mostly in males. The aim of modulating the voice is to attract the desired female and become intimate. English common law defined
10324-645: The lack of sex education with regard to women's bodies, especially in sex-negative cultures, such as clitoral stimulation usually being key for women to orgasm. The physical structure of coitus favors penile stimulation over clitoral stimulation; the location of the clitoris then usually necessitates manual or oral stimulation in order for the woman to achieve orgasm. Approximately 25% of women report difficulties with orgasm, 10% of women have never had an orgasm, and 40% or 40–50% have either complained about sexual dissatisfaction or experienced difficulty becoming sexually aroused at some point in their lives. Vaginismus
10440-473: The lack of a knowledgeable healthcare provider trained and experienced in counseling those with intellectual disabilities on sexual intercourse. Those with intellectual disabilities may have hesitations regarding the discussion of the topic of sex, a lack of sexual knowledge and limited opportunities for sex education. In addition there are other barriers such as a higher prevalence of sexual abuse and assault. These crimes often remain underreported. There remains
10556-727: The lack of certainty of resources to provide for her and her offspring. Additionally, there are other potential considerations of the implication of short-term strategies. Males cannot employ such strategies without there being willing females to engage in sexual intercourse within a short-term relationship with them. Therefore, benefits from engaging in multiple short-term mating must also exist for females. These matings enable females to practice and enhance their skills, specifically within attraction and seduction. This often occurs during extra-pair mating when females have sexual intercourse with males other than their husband. There are potential benefits for females to engage in these matings, including
10672-468: The marriage price: "And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins." The Book of Judges in the Old Testament describes Delilah seducing Samson who was given great strength by God, but ultimately lost his strength when she allowed
10788-621: The meaning of sexual intercourse sometimes come into conflict. While most consider penile–vaginal intercourse to be sex, whether anal or oral intercourse are considered sex is more debatable, with oral sex ranking lowest. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that "although there are only limited national data about how often adolescents engage in oral sex, some data suggest that many adolescents who engage in oral sex do not consider it to be 'sex'; therefore they may use oral sex as an option to experience sex while still, in their minds, remaining abstinent". Upton et al. stated, "It
10904-400: The other desired individual. This is sometimes referred to as paradoxical exhibition. The main goal of seduction whether it is active under conscious or unconscious mechanisms is to impress the desired partner and display positive characteristics that are likely to be attractive, and to repress undesirable characteristics. Within the interactive seduction game, non-verbal communication is
11020-569: The ovum, forming a new embryo . Pregnancy begins after the fertilized ovum is implanted in the lining of the uterus (the endometrium ). Pregnancy rates for sexual intercourse are highest during the menstrual cycle time from some five days before until approximately one day after ovulation (this is sometimes called the fertile window ). For optimal pregnancy chance, there are recommendations of vaginal intercourse every one or two days, or every two or three days. Some people who are trying to conceive may choose to time vaginal intercourse with
11136-447: The parental investment is lower. Having numerous copulations with many women increases the likelihood their genes will be passed on. Comparatively, a woman has to invest time and a lot of energy in carrying an infant and looking after him/her for many years subsequently. The triad of traits ancestrally would not have been adaptive for women, because females were and still are less likely or less willing to engage in casual sex , because of
11252-618: The partners orient their hips to allow the penis to move back and forth in the vagina to cause friction, typically without fully removing the penis. In this way, they stimulate themselves and each other, often continuing until orgasm in either or both partners is achieved. For human females, stimulation of the clitoris plays a significant role in sexual activity; 70–80% of women require direct clitoral stimulation to achieve orgasm, though indirect clitoral stimulation (for example, via vaginal intercourse) may also be sufficient (see orgasm in females ). Because of this, some couples may engage in
11368-698: The phrase "sleep together". The laws of some countries use the euphemism, carnal knowledge . Penetration of the vagina by the erect penis is additionally known as intromission , or by the Latin name immissio penis (Latin for "insertion of the penis"). The age of first sexual intercourse is called sexarche . Vaginal, anal and oral sex are recognized as sexual intercourse more often than other sexual behaviors. Sexual activity that does not involve penile-vaginal sex or other sexual penetration might be used to retain virginity (sometimes called technical virginity ) or labeled outercourse . One reason virginity loss
11484-445: The presence of other STIs. In 2005, the World Health Organization estimated that 123 million women become pregnant worldwide each year, and around 87 million of those pregnancies or 70.7% are unintentional. Approximately 46 million pregnancies per year reportedly end in induced abortion . Approximately 6 million U.S. women become pregnant per year. Out of known pregnancies, two-thirds result in live births and roughly 25% in abortions;
11600-403: The protection of a condom is often associated with emasculation because condoms prevent direct penile–to–skin genital contact. Sexual intercourse or other sexual activity can encompass various sexually stimulating factors ( physiological stimulation or psychological stimulation ), including different sex positions (such as the missionary position , the most common human sex position ) or
11716-564: The remainder end in miscarriage. However, many more women become pregnant and miscarry without even realizing it, instead mistaking the miscarriage for an unusually heavy menstruation . The U.S. teenage pregnancy rate fell by 27 percent between 1990 and 2000, from 116.3 pregnancies per 1,000 girls aged 15–19 to 84.5. This data includes live births, abortions, and fetal losses. Almost 1 million American teenage women, 10% of all women aged 15–19 and 19% of those who report having had intercourse, become pregnant each year. Sexual activity can increase
11832-464: The seduction process. Typically these three traits are deemed maladaptive for the individual and society. Nevertheless, these traits have been found to be adaptive in an exploitative strategy in short term mating. Dark triad traits are adaptive for an unrestricted sociosexuality and promiscuous behaviours. The three traits are associated with impulsivity , manipulative behaviours and lack of empathy . These personality traits would be useful in seducing
11948-450: The senses, often with the goal of reducing unfounded fears and leading to " sexual emancipation ". Some sides in contemporary academic debate state that the morality of seduction depends on the long-term impacts on the individuals concerned, rather than the act itself, and may not necessarily carry the negative connotations expressed in dictionary definitions. Famous seducers from history or legend include Lilith , Giacomo Casanova , and
12064-425: The signifying chain, constricting the free play of the signifier to a spuriously determinate meaning which can then be received by the subject as natural and inevitable". The denotation is a representation of a cartoon heart. The connotation is a symbol of love and affection. The denotation of this example is a red rose with a green stem . The connotation is that it is a symbol of passion and love – this
12180-600: The social consequences of engaging in the behaviour or becoming its victim, and as a salute to a powerful skill. In the Bible, Eve offers the forbidden fruit to Adam . Eve herself was verbally seduced by the serpent, believed in Christianity to be Satan ; later, Chapter 7 of Proverbs warns of the pitfalls of seduction. Sirens of Greek mythology lured sailors to their death by singing them to shipwreck; Cleopatra beguiled both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony , Dionysus
12296-440: The subjects' photographs, sex on a regular basis is associated with people looking significantly chronologically younger. However this does not imply causality. Vaginal intercourse for the first time increases vaginal immune activity. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are bacteria , viruses or parasites that are spread by sexual contact, especially vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse, or unprotected sex . Oral sex
12412-906: The term coitus, generally denotes penile–vaginal penetration and the possibility of creating offspring , it also commonly denotes penetrative oral sex and penile–anal sex, especially the latter. It usually encompasses sexual penetration, while non-penetrative sex has been labeled outercourse , but non-penetrative sex may also be considered sexual intercourse. Sex , often a shorthand for sexual intercourse , can mean any form of sexual activity. Because people can be at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections during these activities, safer sex practices are recommended by health professionals to reduce transmission risk. Various jurisdictions place restrictions on certain sexual acts, such as adultery , incest , sexual activity with minors , prostitution , rape , zoophilia , sodomy , premarital sex and extramarital sex . Religious beliefs also play
12528-462: The two factors. Females therefore need to be seduced more prior to engaging in sexual intercourse. Men more commonly wish to engage in more frequent short-term mating , which may require this strategy of seduction used to access the female for intercourse. However, this finding has been contradicted by non-verbal seduction results which indicate that females have more control within this area. Other potential strategies individuals employ to gain access to
12644-461: The two individuals which can then lead to the last two stages of the biosocial model. Paralingual features are those associated with the voice, such as pitch , tone and rhythm . These features of verbal communication change in different stages of the seduction process. Studies have shown that when initiating an interaction with a female, the seductive characteristics of the voice will begin with slightly higher pitch and increased articulation in
12760-446: The unnecessary use of these drugs because they are accompanied by serious risks such as increased chance of heart attack. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and antidepressant drug dapoxetine has been used to treat premature ejaculation. In clinical trials, those with PE who took dapoxetine experienced sexual intercourse three to four times longer before orgasm than without the drug. Another ejaculation-related disorder
12876-433: The use of sex toys . Foreplay may precede some sexual activities, often leading to sexual arousal of the partners and resulting in the erection of the penis or natural lubrication of the vagina . It is also common for people to be as sexually satisfied by being kissed, touched erotically , or held as they are during sexual intercourse. Non- primate females copulate only when in estrus , but sexual intercourse
12992-506: The use of vaginal dilators . Additionally, the use of Botox as a medical treatment for vaginismus has been tested and administered. Painful or uncomfortable sexual intercourse may also be categorized as dyspareunia . Approximately 40% of males reportedly have some form of erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence, at least occasionally. Premature ejaculation has been reported to be more common than erectile dysfunction, although some estimates suggest otherwise. Due to various meanings of
13108-535: Was charged in New Jersey in 1938 with seduction, having enticed a woman "of good repute to engage in sexual intercourse with him upon his promise of marriage. The charges were dropped when it was discovered that the woman was already married." Seduction is also associated with organized crime , particularly with the Italian-American Mafia , Russian mafia , Polish mob , and to a lesser extent,
13224-892: Was lower, with both men and women involved in sexual intercourse before any union formation; the study listed Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic as members of this group. Concerning United States data, tabulations by the National Center for Health Statistics report that the age of first sexual intercourse was 17.1 years for both males and females in 2010. The CDC stated that 45.5 percent of girls and 45.7 percent of boys had engaged in sexual activity by 19 in 2002; in 2011, reporting their research from 2006 to 2010, they stated that 43% of American unmarried teenage girls and 42% of American unmarried teenage boys have ever engaged in sexual intercourse. The CDC also reports that American girls will most likely lose their virginity to
13340-594: Was more closely matched; there were two sub-groups, however. In non-Latin, Catholic countries (Poland and Lithuania are mentioned), age at sexual initiation was higher, suggesting later marriage and reciprocal valuing of male and female virginity. The same pattern of late marriage and reciprocal valuing of virginity was reflected in Singapore and Sri Lanka . The study considered China and Vietnam to also fall into this group, though data were not available. In northern and eastern European countries, age at sexual initiation
13456-573: Was the Greek god of seduction and wine. Famous male seducers, their names synonymous with sexual allure, range from Genji to John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester and James Bond . In biblical times, because unmarried females who lost their virginity had also lost much of their value as marriage prospects, the Old Testament Book of Exodus specifies that the seducer must marry his victim or pay her father to compensate him for his loss of
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