{"id":355062,"date":"2019-01-07T16:50:43","date_gmt":"2019-01-07T21:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=355062"},"modified":"2023-02-12T20:02:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T01:02:43","slug":"cut-to-the-chase-can-sex-help-start-a-relationship-355062","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/cut-to-the-chase-can-sex-help-start-a-relationship-355062\/","title":{"rendered":"Cut to the chase: Can sex help start a relationship?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A budding relationship or just a one-night stand? The difference may not be immediately obvious, least of all to those directly involved. However, sex helps initiate romantic relationships between potential partners, a new study finds.<\/a><\/p>\n

A team of psychologists from the Israeli-based Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya<\/a> and the 人妻少妇专区\u2019s Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology<\/a> conclude that sexual desire may play a major role not only in attracting potential partners to each other, but also in encouraging the formation of an attachment between them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSex may set the stage for deepening the emotional connection between strangers,\u201d says the study\u2019s lead author\u00a0Gurit Birnbaum<\/a>, a social psychologist and associate professor of psychology at the IDC Herzliya. \u201cThis holds true for both men and women. Sex motivates human beings to connect, regardless of gender.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study was limited to heterosexual relationships. According to Birnbaum, some believe that men\u00a0are more likely than\u00a0women\u00a0to initiate relationships when sexually aroused, but when one focuses on more subtle relationship-initiating strategies, such as providing help, this pattern does not hold true: in fact, both men and women try to connect with potential partners when sexually aroused.<\/p>\n

In four interrelated studies, participants were introduced to a new acquaintance of the opposite sex in a face-to-face encounter. The researchers demonstrate that sexual desire triggers behaviors that can promote emotional bonding during these encounters.<\/p>\n

\u201cSex motivates human beings to connect, regardless of gender.\u201d<\/div>\n

\u201cAlthough sexual urges and emotional attachments are distinct feelings, evolutionary and social processes likely have rendered humans particularly prone to becoming romantically attached to partners to whom they are sexually attracted,\u201d says co-author Harry Reis<\/a>, a professor of psychology and Dean\u2019s Professor in Arts, Sciences & Engineering at the 人妻少妇专区.<\/p>\n

In the first study, the researchers looked at whether sexual desire for a new acquaintance would be associated with non-verbal cues signaling relationship interest. These so-called immediacy behaviors are displayed in the synchronization of movements, close physical proximity, and frequent eye contact with a study insider who worked with the scientists. The study participants, all of whom identified as single in addition to heterosexual, were recruited at a university in central Israel.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n