Sexual Motivation

Movies, television, magazines, and novels are saturated with sexual activity. The advertising business uses sex to sell anything and everything. This intense interest in sex reflects the importance of sexual motivation. Sexual desire is influenced by a network of biological and social factors.

Hormones secreted by the ovaries in females and the testes in males can influence sexual motivation. The hypothalamus and the pituitary regulate these hormonal secretions. The influence of hormones on sexual desire varies in the animal kingdom. In many species, females are receptive just before ovulation. Hormones also influence sexual desire in males. For instance, if a male rat's testes are removed, the lack of testosterone results in a lack of sexual desire. Testosterone injections can revive sexual desire in such castrated animals.

Moving up the scale to primates, hormones have less and less influence over sexual behavior. Their influence on the sex drive in humans is modest. Androgen levels, the principal class of gonadal hormones in males, seem related to sexual motivation in both sexes. High levels of testosterone in female and male subjects correlate with higher rates of sexual activity. This does not prove that hormonal surges cause sexual desire. Some evidence suggests that sexual arousal may cause hormonal surges rather than vica versa; there are some doubts that hormonal swings have an impact on sexual desire in humans.

A pheromone is a chemical secreted by one animal that affects the behavior of another. This chemical is usually detected through sense of smell. It influences various aspects in lower animals, including sexuality. Do pheromones influence human behavior? It's possible, but not the way most people think. There is no convincing evidence that pheromones exert any impact on sex drive in humans or other higher primates. Pheromones may cause an interesting phenomenon when women live together; their menstrual cycles gradually tend to become more synchronized. Thus, humans may respond to pheromones, but the response is not necessarily related to sex drive.

Human sexual motivation seems to operate in accordance to incentive. A new partner can revive dwindling sexual interest. In males of many species, there is a preference for variety in sexual partners. Sociobiologists believe that this pattern is attributable to evolutionary forces that have molded social behaviors. Surveys indicate that men engage in premarital and extramarital sex with a larger number of partners than women do. However, these gender differences in sexual activity are shrinking. Humans are selective in attraction to a sexual partner. Their selectivity is influenced greatly by learning. This explains why people differ in what they find attractive. Sexual interest maybe influenced by potential partner's personality, values, and of course, affection.

Gender differences exist that typically motivate sexual activity. In comparison to women, men appear to be motivated more by the desire for physical gratification. In contrast, women are more likely to be motivated by their desire to express love and emotional commitment. According to evolutionary theories, females enhance their chances of passing on their genes not by seeking larger or stronger partners, but by seeking male partners that possess more material resources that can be invested in children. Men, on the other hand seek female partners with good breeding potential. Men are thought to look for youth, attractiveness, good health, and other characteristics presumed to be associated with higher fertility. These differences between men and women were found across cultures. As a group women placed a higher value on status, ambition and financial prospects. Men consistently showed more interest in potential partners' youthfulness and attractiveness.

A potential partner is not the only external stimulus that can awaken sexual interest. Erotic reading material, photographs and films can stimulate sexual desire. Women are more likely than men to report they dislike erotic material. Erotic materials generally are scripted to appeal to males and often portray women in degrading roles. However, when physiological responses to stimuli are measured in lab studies, men and women are both responsive. The balance of evidence suggest that exposure to erotic material elevates the likelihood of overt sexual activity for a few hours after exposure.

Putting it all into perspective, hormones exert considerable influence over sexual motivation in many animals. Although, some correlations exist between hormonal fluctuations and sexual activity in humans it is still questionable if hormonal swings have much impact on human sexual desire. In a similar manner, pheromones are an important part of sexual desire in lower animals but limited to humans. In mating preferences, gender differences are critical. Men and women largely differ in their attractions. Most people will respond to a variety of erotic materials that may influence sexual desire for a limited time after exposure.