Relationships and Sexual Health

A new study in Social Psychological and Personality Science suggests that attraction to high-status partners depends on both the kind of status someone displays and the relationship a person wants.

A recent study tested whether ChatGPT sees faces like humans do. The findings suggest its judgments of social traits often mirror ours, including the tendency to associate attractiveness with other positive qualities—a bias common in human social perception.

The connection between stress and low sexual desire is especially strong in women, a new study reveals. Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol were directly tied to lower libido in female participants.

Depictions of physical aggression in popular online pornography have substantially increased over the past quarter-century, new research finds.

New research suggests that the quality of childhood relationships with parents may be linked to the development of certain sexual interests in adulthood.

Could a region’s economic health influence how its residents present themselves online? A recent study analyzed thousands of edited photos to explore an unexpected link between digital beauty standards and socioeconomic conditions.

Breakups are rarely random. A new psychological framework shows that ending a romantic relationship often reflects a complex mix of attitudes, emotions, social expectations, and perceived control.

Aggression in pornography is often seen as a product of male desire. A new study challenges this idea, finding that many viewers, especially women, are drawn to scenes that mix dominance, pleasure, and pain.

Recent research suggests that women find men with lower body fat more attractive. While facial masculinity was linked to testosterone and age, the link between health and attractiveness was fully explained by adiposity, age, and hormone levels.

Does our gut feeling of disgust shape our views on sexuality? A new study suggests it reinforces a double standard, leading us to judge men and women differently.

Why does transactional sex persist? A new paper argues the answer isn't simple, proposing a unified framework that connects our evolutionary past with modern psychological drivers and economic forces.

The names women use for their anatomy are linked to their well-being. Playful terms were tied to negative body image, while certain informal language used during intimacy was associated with more positive sexual experiences.

Beyond color and length, what makes hair appear attractive? A new study systematically alters hair shine, alignment, and volume to see how these features shape our judgments of female appearance.

For some women, the path to orgasm does not involve sex. New research explores the surprising, and often misunderstood, experience of arousal and climax during physical exercise.

A popular social media filter subtly reshapes faces in ways that are surprisingly specific. New research quantifies these digital alterations and explores their connection to aesthetic procedures.