Women and Men’s Perspectives on the Factors Related to Women’s Dyadic Sexual Desire, and on the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Sexuality is a basic human need, which is expressed in the context of intimate personal relations. However, in studies of women’s sexuality, men’s attitudes are often overlooked. Health care providers can benefit from the examination of how both women and men perceive women’s sexual desire and what are the most acceptable avenues for treatment for women’s hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). This research aimed to explore differences between women and men on the factors affecting women’s sexual desire and the appropriate avenues for treatment. Data were collected using an online questionnaire from 233 heterosexual adults who had a dyadic, steady intimate relationship over most of the previous year. A theory-based questionnaire of 28 items was developed to explore the factors associated with women’s sexual desire. One quarter (7/28) of the items affecting women’s sexual desire were ranked significantly differently between women and men. Among women, interpersonal issues and physical attraction, and among men, physical attraction and daily hassles were the significant predictors of women’s sexual desire. Women more than men endorsed psychological help such as a sex therapist or psychologist as a more appropriate treatment for HSDD, while both men and women viewed the internet as a reasonable way to gain treatment information. Both women and men viewed gynecologists as a more acceptable source of treatment than a family doctor. Religious authorities were the least likely source of treatment advice for both women and men. The results support a multi-dimensional model of women’s sexual desire and suggest that psychological interventions to treat HSDD may be preferred by women more than men.

Influencers on Social Media as References: Understanding the Importance of Parasocial Relationships

Audiences’ purchase intentions are vital to the success of influencers on social media. This research examined how interpersonal attraction enhances parasocial relationships (PSRs) between influencers and audiences on social media, and how such parasocial relationships, in turn, affect audiences’ continuance intention. Interpersonal attraction contains three dimensions: task attraction, social attraction, and physical attraction. The results indicated that the three dimensions of interpersonal attraction significantly affected PSRs. The results also showed that informational influence and perceived credibility strengthened the relationship between PSRs and purchase intentions. Moreover, online comments positively moderated the effect of PSRs on informational influence and perceived credibility. The implications and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

Avoiding cross-sex friendships: The separability of people with and without cross-sex friends

Prior studies on individual differences in the preference for cross-sex friendships found that this preference was not normally distributed but was instead bimodal. In one group of people, the preferences for higher or lower proportions of cross-sex friendships appear to be normally distributed, whereas in a second and unexpectedly large group of people, the preference for cross-sex friends is exactly zero. If the people in the second group with no cross-sex friends at all actively avoid forming cross-sex friendships, then these individuals may be expected to differ systematically and meaningfully from individuals who report having at least one cross-sex friend. The present study tests this hypothesis. The Big Five, homophobia, physical attraction to the opposite sex, and demographic variables from a data set of 491 adult participants were used as potential predictors of group membership. Results showed that most predictors except the Big Five contributed to supporting the separability of the two groups. Findings are discussed with regard to the differentiation between close and general friends and the potential influence of cultural factors.

The Mediating Effect of Life Satisfaction on Relation between Perceived Physical Attractiveness and Health-Promoting Lifestyle in Korean Adults

Physical attraction, perceived in terms of satisfaction with body image and interpersonal relationships, can be an essential factor in an individual’s emotional and social well-being. However, empirical studies that link physical attraction to health are limited. This study explores the mediating effect of life satisfaction on the relation between perceived physical attractiveness and lifestyle of health, making an effort to reach an optimal state in physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual domains in Korean adults. Four hundred fifty-nine adults in a community setting participated in this cross-sectional study. The results showed positive associations among physical attractiveness, life satisfaction, and health-promoting lifestyle after adjusting for age, gender, marital status, education, and job status. Life satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between perceived physical attractiveness and a higher lifestyle of health (z = 2.80, p = 0.005). For health promotion and disease prevention, positive psychology can be a suitable strategy. Physical attractiveness and life satisfaction can be important keys to maintain health-promoting lifestyle behavior.

Pheromones -Psychosexual Stimulants

In the quest of understanding the phenomenon of sexual attraction and sex appeal between opposite sex, there are various elements that are responsible like Physical attraction, Smell, body Odor, Voice Pitch and Facial Features. The Physical attraction may be the oldest way of understanding sex appeal, however new studies are uncovering various other unexpected factors like smell, voice pitch, and facial expressions as an important aspect of sexual arousal. The role of smell influence on sexual attraction and other behavioral aspect is crucial because humans can smell around 10,000 different aromas knowingly, however there are array of insensible aromas that we are not aware off which we are smelling day in and day out. They are responsible for behavior. The effects of pheromones on psychosexual behavior on human have been studied to great extent however there is limited understanding on exact role of pheromone communication and its mechanism. Pheromones are commonly used in perfumery as fixative. However, the usage of pheromones would mean more effective as real sexual fascination, execution of this tactic will have paradigm shift in perfumery industry which is a great approach to move from monarchy of art to scientific acquaintance. This review is an attempt of compiling the findings from key researches related to use of Pheromones in humans and few animals. We have further discussed the role of pheromones, their molecular aspects and impact on behavioral and physiological aspects. Our study indicates that pheromones are strong psycho-sexual stimulant in animals and humans, commercially many attempts have been made to prove their significance. There is tremendous scope to explore the potential of Pheromones in reenergizing human sexual life which is greatly impacted due to stress, fatigue and age factor.

Marital Partners' Traits, Psychological Processes in Marriage, and Marriage Characteristics as Predictors of Love in Marriage

This study was conducted to determine the predictors of marital love. Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love (1986) is used as a starting point. Accordingly, a theoretical model that consists of four groups of level 1 predictor variables and a group of level 2 variables is used. The dependent variables in the model include the three dimensions of love: Passion, Intimacy, and Commitment. The research was conducted among 884 married couples from different parts of Croatia. The results show that married women are less passionate and that marriage partners' passion in marriage is greater at the beginning of the marriage without children and when there is a mutual physical attraction between partners. Married women report less intimacy while greater marital intimacy was present in marriages where there is greater partner support. Unlike passion, the experience of intimacy does not vary at different marital stages. Women show less commitment and partners' commitment to marriage is greater when there is greater emotional stability of both partners, greater mutual physical attraction, and partner support. At the end of the paper, limitations on making firmer conclusions based only on the present study are emphasized.

URDU: عصر حاضر میں اسلام کے تصور ولایت کی اہمیت و ضرورت

According to Islamic Jurisprudence, one of the most important requirements for a sound marriage is the total agreement of the woman under the guardianship of her father or any other mahram relative. In case of none, the ruler or the judge assume to be a guardian or Wali of a woman. A guardian or Wali is responsible for the selection of the righteous person for the woman and assures the protection and welfare of her Rights and interests. He has the authority to reject and refuse the proposal if the suitor did not deem a sound and sincere match. A marriage without a guardian is considered unlawful, as there is no concept of love affairs and courtship without a guardian in Islam. The guardian evaluates the religious, social and economic compatibility of the couple, while on the other hand a woman selects the spouse on physical attraction and romantic notion which vanishes out soon as the real life starts causing potential problems in relationship. That why Islam lays down principle and law of wilayat for a lady to protect her interests and rights and consider to be a shield and safeguard for her welfare in future marital life.

Romance, companionship and masculinities in establishing relationships by Mexican Mormon men

The contradictory pressures that Mormon belief and practice create for men’s gender identity and sexuality give reason to reconsider the concept of ‘hegemonic masculinity’. Starting from Connell’s conceptualisation, this article analyses narratives by 25 Mexican Mormon men of establishing ‘romantic’ relationships. Participants were recruited through three different Mormon organisations in Mexico City. I explore emotional/affective notions constitutive of masculinity at play in their narratives and how they influenced the experiences and trajectories of their romantic relationships. I argue that relationships framed by hegemonic Mormon masculinity incorporate ‘traditional’ elements associated with long-lasting Judaeo-Christian normativity, such as (self-) control over physical attraction and marriage as the only context for it, simultaneously emphasising modern/post-modern forms of masculinity through ideas of love, companionship and emotional connection. The incorporation of these affective notions in the analysis can expand the concept of ‘hegemonic masculinity’, illuminating ways in which men adopt, negotiate or contest hegemonic patterns of masculinity.

Mating Decisions in the Absence of Physical Attraction

Objective Mates high in physical attractiveness are in short supply, which means that not all people are able to find mates who are sufficiently attractive. Threshold models of mate preferences suggest that when physical attractiveness minimums are not reached, other traits possessed by a potential partner may play a lesser role in mate choice. However, few studies have sought to understand mating decisions when those minimums are not met. Methods In this experiment (N = 186), participants rated images of (pre-rated) unattractive opposite-sex others for long-term and short-term relationships after learning dealbreaker or dealmaker information. Results While participants did not find targets highly desirable or physically attractive (as a stimulus check), men were more willing than women to have casual sex, and that men and women reported similar desirability ratings towards long-term partners. Learning dealbreakers was associated with less desire for the targets than dealmakers, but women’s lack of interest was insensitive to mating context, whereas men found the target especially undesirable in the long-term context. Additionally, men were willing to consider a long-term relationship with a physically unattractive partner who possessed dealmakers, but not one who possessed dealbreakers. Conclusions Our discussion focuses on men and women’s mating decisions when potential partners fail to meet minimum thresholds for physical attractiveness. Future research is needed to explore the magnitude of the effect of meeting or failing to meet one’s minimum thresholds for physical attractiveness.