Sexual Behavior in Modern Societies: An Interdisciplinary Analysis

Abstract

Humans, and other mammals, require specific interactions between two adults in order to procreate. The importance of these encounters for the genes has turned sex into an exceedingly varied and complicated form of behavior. Human sexual behavior is largely guided and motivated by feelings, and has a considerable impact on both individual well-being and the fabric of society. It is therefore important to assess how this aspect of life functions in industrialized societies. The present analysis uses the perspective of evolutionary biology but is based on research in sexuality, anthropology, animal behavior, positive psychology, and gender differences. Given that society should aim for maximizing the well-being of its members, the present situation does not appear to be optimal. The social environment of modern societies is likely to cause an increase in the prevalence of sex-related suffering and a reduction in the harvest of positive feelings. A relevant question is whether the situation regarding sex should be referred to as a ‘disease of modernity.’.