The Economics of Sex: What Motivates Sexual Behavior in Men and Women

Economics of Sex: The Mating Market

Based on a research paper entitled Sexual Economics: Sex as Female Resource for Social Exchange in Heterosexual Interactions by Roy F. Baumeister from Florida State University’s Psychology Department and Kathleen D. Vohs a faculty member of the University of British Columbia’s Marketing Division, this insightful animated short which was produced by the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture explains the economic and social forces that motivate sexual intercourse in the modern society.

The animation compares an heterosexual society as a marketplace where sex is the currency. This explain the reasons why more and more people today aren’t getting married and why so many men aren’t willing to commit. According to the video, sex is an exchange where men and women alike are giving something of themselves to the other person.

Men naturally have a higher sex drive than women do. They initiate sex more often than what women do. Their whole motivation for having sex is to get the pleasure that comes from it. With women, their motivation for having sex is different. They do it to strengthen the commitment they have with the other person, to express and receive love and relationship security.

Women dream of finding someone they can spend the rest of their lives with. They want a man who is going to be there for them in their time of need. They want someone who is compassionate and understanding, yet willing to get down on one knee and propose when the time is right. But, it has to start somewhere, right?

Women have something that men want. This means that men are going to have to work hard to get the woman of their dreams to have sex with them. For some women, it might only take a few drinks. However, other women might want to date for a few months before having sex with a man. Then, there are those who want to wait until they are married before consummating the relationship. Every woman is different, just like every relationship is different.

Marriage is a major step toward something special that isn’t shared with just anyone. It’s a step toward a life together that starts with being intimate. Unfortunately, many men are simply interested in having sex, while women are interested in getting married. This leads to a split dating market. Because of this, many are heading online and engaging in relationships with someone who shares in their interests and desires.

Since there are so many women out there for men to choose from, the market value of sex isn’t as high as what it used to be. If more women were to refrain from having sex and make the men work for it, it could lead to fewer pre-marital partners, greater male investments, longer relationships, shorter co-habitations and more marriages.

This is especially evident on dating chatlines and phone sex services which offer men and women the chance to find someone who is interested in the same things they are. However, there is a big difference between how men and women greet the opposite sex. Women want to find that special someone that they can commit to for years to come, while men are often just looking for someone that they can go out, have a good time and connect on an intimate level with.