Relationships and Sexual Health

Faking orgasm may be more about emotional regulation than deception. Researchers found that women who struggle to accept or understand their emotions, or who use sex to manage anxiety or avoid conflict, are more likely to fake orgasms.

A new study provides causal evidence that ghosting inflicts emotional harm comparable to direct rejection. But ghosted individuals experienced more lingering attachment and uncertainty, suggesting this silent breakup strategy may prolong distress and complicate recovery.

Psychologists have discovered that sexual desire plays a key role in long-term partner preferences. When desire increases, women’s interest in physical attractiveness rises to match men's, reducing long-standing sex differences in what people look for in committed relationships.

A new study found that couples' oxytocin levels tend to align after sex, suggesting a possible hormonal basis for post-intimacy bonding. The research tracked hormone patterns in real-life couples during and after sexual activity in their home environments.

Parents who offer advice or meddle in their grown child’s love life might unknowingly reshape their own relationship with that child. A new study highlights how family communication patterns and emotional tone influence whether that involvement helps or harms.

A new nine-year study from China supports a central idea in attachment theory: early maternal sensitivity helps shape secure attachment. Researchers found that children with more responsive mothers developed stronger expectations of caregiver support by age 10.

Researchers found that individuals in consensually nonmonogamous relationships reported better sexual communication with their partners compared to monogamous participants, but levels of sexual satisfaction and relationship happiness were equally high across both groups, highlighting shared benefits of open sexual dialogue.

Women’s creativity got a boost from thinking about committed relationships—but only to a point. A new study suggests that sexual arousal linked to highly desirable long-term partners may short-circuit creative thinking, highlighting a strange cost of romantic attraction.

A new study finds that while higher income doesn’t make single life more satisfying, it does predict greater desire for a romantic partner and increases the odds of starting a relationship—suggesting money might influence when people feel ready to date.

How much do looks really matter when hiring someone or evaluating a coworker? A new study finds that people claim to prioritize charm and liveliness over physical beauty — but researchers suspect those answers may not reflect actual behavior.

Despite the popularity of full lips on social media, new research finds that people tend to favor more natural proportions. Lips with exaggerated volume were rated as unattractive, while balanced upper-to-lower lip ratios remained the most aesthetically preferred.

Researchers found that for some young adults, breakups elicit brain responses similar to trauma. Participants who viewed breakup-related images, including those of their ex, showed increased activation in regions associated with emotional pain and threat detection.

Researchers examined how ten aspects of friendship relate to well-being among single adults. The results suggest that feeling satisfied with and capable of managing friendships may be more closely tied to life satisfaction and companionship than network size or frequency...

Think pressure to find a partner will help your search? Think again. New psychology research suggests motivations based on avoiding shame or meeting others' expectations are ineffective. Genuinely valuing connection is what actually predicts finding a relationship down the line.

New research shows that women are more likely to accept offers from men with attractive faces and positive social interest in economic games, highlighting how appearance and perceived friendliness can influence fairness judgments in social decision-making.