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Beyond Sex Differences: Predictors of Negative Emotions Following Casual Sex

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Abstract

Recently, much attention has been focused on understanding casual sex, or hooking up, among college students. The current study uses an adaptationist approach to go beyond sex differences in casual sex behavior, examining predictors of emotional reactions and including a community sample (39 females, 84 males) in addition to a typical college sample (103 females, 62 males). If males and females possess different emotional mechanisms designed to evaluate the consequences of sexual behavior, we would expect sex differences in emotional reactions as well as in motivations for engaging in casual sex. Individual differences in motivation may influence whether emotional reactions to casual sex are positive or negative. Early environmental cues of relationship stability may also have an impact on emotional responses. Results indicate that in addition to sex differences, factors such as early environmental cues of relationship instability, individuals’ motivation for engaging in casual sex, and the number of their casual sex partners contribute to the positive or negative nature of their response to casual sex experiences. In addition, results from the community sample suggest that there may be life stage-specific effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA, 92373, USA

    Jessica A. Hehman & Catherine A. Salmon

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  1. Jessica A. Hehman
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  2. Catherine A. Salmon
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Correspondence to Jessica A. Hehman.

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Hehman, J.A., Salmon, C.A. Beyond Sex Differences: Predictors of Negative Emotions Following Casual Sex. Evolutionary Psychological Science 6, 97–108 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-019-00217-w

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