Sexual Hangups and Biology

Do you suppose that the cause of atleast a few of our sexual hangups is because we DON'T do it like animals?

What I mean by this is that humans no longer rely on hormonal cues (in general) in order to initiate sexual interaction, we rely on visual and verbal cues. We no longer sniff each other's butts, and we tend not to be as familiar with our bodies, and especially the bodies of those around us and the cycles they go through. Culturally, especially, because we don't tend to prize honestly or "shamelessness", the cues we do get from other people are often mixed, muddled, and confused altogether.

So what do you think? Do you think we would have fewer sexual hangups if we were more shameless, honest in our signalling, and perhaps better in tune with our own physiology? less

Sexual hangups are probably more about religious influences (which in turn influence culture) than it is biology. Do I think there would be fewer sexual hangups if people were more honest and direct? Absolutely.

By the way, you know this full well I'm sure, but humans differ from most other mammals in one very important detail. Most other mammals go through estrus - meaning the females are reproductively viable during only certain periods of the year. Some mammals don't have either estrus or menstruation (rabbits, for instance, hence the cliche of breeding like rabbits.) Human females, of course, have menstrual cycles that allow them to be reproductively viable throughout the year.

I bring this up because most other animals *have* to be in tune with the opposite sex's physiology, because they only get a chance to mate during a short period of time during each year. Humans don't *need* to be as in tune because they have, on average, 13 times each year where they can mate. Like I posited before, I feel religious influences are probably more important, but there is still a good reason why we don't need to sniff each others' butts like dogs do. less

You are probably right, but I have had the experience that when I am with a man who smells "unacceptable" (not body odor), I have more sexual problems with him.

And by unacceptable I mean.. like a smell that I can't outright smell. It's beyond my ken to explain. >_> less

Women's olfactory systems are more keenly developed than men's, so I don't doubt that what you say is true. Of course, with the amount of bathing and covering up of odors with deodorants and colognes that is so prevalent in today's cultures, the more developed female olfactory system would seem to be a bit of a evolutionary relic.

For that matter, the less developed olfactory system in human males might suggest that there would be some other manner in which men could discern which females are more desirable mates - hence our prediliction for visual cues. less

I have read a number articles stating that women, and sometimes men, can sense "genetic superiority" (in the form of immunity or heterozygosity) in protential mates (Gangestad and Thornhill 1998, Havlicek et al 2005, Havlicek and Roberts 2009, Wedekind and Furi 1997, Roberts and Roiser 2010, and the list goes on). But not in all cases! I think biology plays a bigger role in human sexual interaction than one might think, but it gets so bogged down, as you say, with deodorants etc. less

More shameless? I think the last thing humans need is to be MORE shameless! I really don't relate much with the question. My partner and I have only been with each other for the past 5 years so we really don't have any sexual hangups. And hell no I don't want to sniff or be sniffed! Personally, I'd prefer my partner saying wow! You are so beautiful, I want you now! Rather than him sniff my rear and get turned on... no thanks! We are not animals, but most people I know act like it anyway. Maybe we should just stop trying so hard and stop WANTING to sleep with everything that walks and then maybe we wouldn't have this 'hang up' issue? I don't know, but I hardly think being more shameless is the answer. I do think people should be more forward and I must admit, I've never been into those 'games' people play. The cat and mouse thing, the make you guess thing I never really caught on with how to play. Guess it's a good thing I ended up with my partner because neither of us are good with those things.

As for being horny everytime you see a person and thinking of sexual things with even strangers... that's just beyond me. less

More shameless? I think the last thing humans need is to be MORE shameless! I really don't relate much with the question. My partner and I have only been with each other for the past 5 years so we really don't have any sexual hangups. And hell no I don't want to sniff or be sniffed! Personally, I'd prefer my partner saying wow! You are so beautiful, I want you now! Rather than him sniff my rear and get turned on... no thanks! We are not animals, but most people I know act like it anyway. Maybe we should just stop trying so hard and stop WANTING to sleep with everything that walks and then maybe we wouldn't have this 'hang up' issue? I don't know, but I hardly think being more shameless is the answer. I do think people should be more forward and I must admit, I've never been into those 'games' people play. The cat and mouse thing, the make you guess thing I never really caught on with how to play. Guess it's a good thing I ended up with my partner because neither of us are good with those things.

As for being horny everytime you see a person and thinking of sexual things with even strangers... that's just beyond me. less