Faculty Publications

Fertility Cycle Patterns In Motives For Sexual Behavior

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Choosiness, Evolutionary, Fertility cycle, Menstrual cycle, Salivary estradiol, Sex motives

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

Volume

32

Issue

12

First Page

1659

Last Page

1673

Abstract

Three studies examined the relationship between fertility, as indexed by day in cycle or salivary estradiol levels, and reported motives for sexual intercourse. Data from university and community samples in both cross-sectional and repeated-measures designs showed that sex-for-intimacy motives are endorsed significantly less by women who are relatively more fertile or show higher salivary estrogen levels. Sex for enhancement, self-affirmation, and partner approval also declined, although the data were less consistent. The remaining motives (coping and power) showed no consistent patterns across fertility status. Results suggest that sexual motives are rooted partly in woman's biology and are discussed in terms of plausible evolutionary mechanisms that might promote female "choosiness" at midcycle. © 2006 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

Department

Department of Psychology

Original Publication Date

12-1-2006

DOI of published version

10.1177/0146167206292690

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