The sex that seriously damages your health

Today, the instant gratification that sex can bring overrides the emotional connection and this is a situation which, according to mental health experts, is quite complex and often problematic.

The hookup culture has become significantly established in the modern lifestyle and in people’s relationships.

This culture accepts and encourages casual sexual intercourseincluding one-night stands and other related activities, not necessarily involving emotional intimacy, bonding or a monogamous, committed relationship.

WHAT IS HOOKUP CULTURE

Non-committal sex is gradually becoming more and more entrenched in mass culture.

These activities can include a wide range of sexual behaviors, such as kissing, oral sex, and penetrative intercourse. However, these encounters are often made without any expectation or desire for a romantic relationship.

Brief, non-committal sexual encounters between individuals who are not and do not seek to be partners have become entrenched in the sociocultural milieu of adolescents and young adults throughout the Western world.

Over the past 60 years, the prioritization of traditional forms of courtship and the pursuit of romantic relationships has shifted toward more casual “hookups.”

Flirting dates have declined (but certainly not disappeared), while sexual behavior outside of traditional committed relationships is becoming more common and socially acceptable.

The rise of casual sex has been described by evolutionary biologist Justin Garcia as a “cultural revolution” which began in the 1920s.

Historians D’Emilio and Freedman set the stage for exploring the world of casual sex, including college, as far back as the early 1800s, and explain the phenomenon by emphasizing how it was shaped gradually, passing through historical and cultural forces. .

The sexual revolution of the 1960s brought about a relaxation of sexual mores, which made sex disconnected from relationships, making non-marital sex increasingly socially acceptable.

ANOTHER MAN, ANOTHER WOMAN

Both men and women engage in ephemeral love affairs. The researchers, however, argue that men and women have separate sexual scripts, ways in which cultural influences can affect their sexual behavior.

Society naturally judges the sexual behaviors of men and women in a completely different way.

For men, (ephemeral) sex is often characterized as “the center of male identity”. Instead, women are seen as “sex objects” and are “sexually passive compared to men.”

Societies admire and glorify men who have casual sex, but women are criticized and considered “cheap” and “dirty”. For this reason, according to social patriarchal narrativea woman’s sexual script focuses more on finding some type of commitment or relationship.

Furthermore, according to the same narrative, women pursue relationships to “protect their reputation”, but men have more sexual freedom without the fear of being labeled.

Women are called “sluts” because societies have historically defined ephemeral, casual sex, and more generally erotic pleasure, as inappropriate behavior for femininity.

At the same time, men who have sex and even a lot of sex with different partners are considered successful and “players”.

HOOKUP CULTURE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES

A number of studies have examined the feelings which begets in people the hookup culture, documenting the negative feelings some may feel after casual sex.

A large online study of 1,468 undergraduate students found that after casual sex: 27.1% felt awkward, 24.7% reported emotional difficulties, 20.8% experienced difficulty around feelings related to respect, and 10% reported difficulties with having a steady partner (Lewis et al., 2011).

In another recent study conducted on a sample of 200 undergraduate students in Canada, 78% of women and 72% of men who had casual sex reported that afterwards they regretted it. (Fisher et al., 2012).

Qualitative descriptions of relationships reveal relative gender differences in feelings after casual sex, with women exhibiting more negative reactions than men (Paul & Hayes, 2002).

According to most research, such sexual intercourse can often lead to guilt and negative feelings.

In a study of 169 sexually experienced men and women interviewed in singles bars, when the statement appeared: “I feel guilty or would feel guilty about having sex with someone I just met”32% of men and 72% of women agreed (Herold & Mewhinney, 1993).

Such sexual liaisons can cause emotional and psychological trauma, sexual abuse, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Despite these risks, a study of 71 college students (39 women and 32 men) found that almost half of the participants were not concerned about sexually transmitted diseases after a casual relationship (Downing-Matibag & Geisinger, 2009).

According to another study, it seems that not all sexual contacts of this type are necessarily desirable or consensual. People occasionally consent to a sexual act, but do not necessarily want to have sex (Peterson & Muehlenhard, 2007). Here it comes too the distinction between desire and consent, a distinction that, unfortunately, is often not communicated or respected, resulting in pressure to proceed romantically. A highly problematic and traumatic situation.

Alcohol use has also been linked to such sexual intercourse. In a study of men and women who had engaged in casual intercourse involving vaginal, anal, or oral sex, participants reported their levels of intoxication: 35% were highly intoxicated, 27% were mildly intoxicated, 27% were sober and 9% were extremely intoxicated (Fisher, Worth, Garcia, & Meredith, 2012).

CONCLUSIONS

The casual sexexplored from various disciplines and theoretical perspectives, is counted as one biopsychosocial phenomenon, a concept developed by Dr. George Engel at the end of the 20th century as a reaction against the dominant biomedical model of the time, which focused exclusively on biological factors.

In this model: Biological aspects refer to the physiological processes of the body, including genetic predisposition. Psychological aspects address factors such as mood, personality, behavior and responses to stress, recognizing that mental state can affect and be affected by physical health. Social aspects consider social and environmental influences on health, such as socioeconomic status, culture, family, social support, and access to health care.

When it comes to hookup culture, the evidence shows that both pleasure as well as reproductive motives can influence sexual patterns.

The findings so far show that the majority of men and women have some motivation to engage in this type of sexual intercourse, but often desire a more romantic relationship. It is a perspective that takes into account changing social scenarios, new patterns of human development, the cultural, social and biological location of relationships and bonds. (Fisher, 1992; Gray & Garcia, 2013).

By definition, hookups provide the allure of sex without the consequences. Despite their increasing social acceptance, scientific research shows that emotionless sexual connections can create more bonds than many might first imagine.

Characteristics of hookup culture:

• It creates superficial connections as it prioritizes physical attraction over emotional compatibility.
• Frequent casual meetings have an emotional price. They can lead to emotional exhaustion, emptiness and feelings of loneliness.
• Pursuing these kinds of connections often distracts from the pursuit of love, which provides instant gratification but often leaves a deeper void.

This culture is underpinned by three pillars: dating apps, social media, and societal change towards intimacy. While fleeting thrills and short-term encounters can be pleasurable, the phenomenon raises concerns about their impact on the pursuit of joy and positive emotions.