Posted on 09/09/2001 7:56:10 AM PDT by blam
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 08 2001
Why women have sex on the brain
BY NIGEL HAWKES
Scientific study has answered the question of why we fall in love in the most unromantic way possible
THE question that has perhaps most obsessed and mystified the poets, philosophers and thinkers — why do we fall in love? — has been answered in the most unromantic way possible: by the scientific study of the humble prairie vole.
Music was the food of love in Shakespeare’s book, but the truth, according to Professor Gareth Leng of the University of Edinburgh, lies in a “love potion” created in women’s brains after the act of sex, which helps her to form a bond with her partner.
Professor Leng, speaking to the British Association Science Festival in Glasgow yesterday, said that it is all in the chemistry because of evidence gleaned from the vole, which engages in enormous bouts of sexual intercourse, far in excess of that needed for reproduction.
“If you were to spend (many hours in) intense sexual activity with a partner, something fundamental might happen to your behaviour,” he said. “That’s often what you see in animals. Many animals bond for life. It’s not going to surprise anybody to think something fundamental is happening in the brain.”
Oxytocin, produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, is probably also involved in creating the bond between mother and child at birth and during breast-feeding. In prairie voles, a monogamous species, the effect is especially strong.
“If you put a male and female prairie vole into a cage, but don’t allow them to mate, they seem to form a kind of friendship. But if you inject oxytocin into the female’s brain, she will form this sexual bond.”
Professor Leng said: “We’re talking about 24 hours of constant copulation.” Translated to human behaviour, he said, this could mean that the more sex a couple have, the deeper their bond becomes, at least on the woman’s side.
“So how does a brain fall in love? My answer, perhaps, like yours, would be: a time, a place, a pair of eyes.”
Note for husbands, be there for your kids births, the NATURAL stuff is pretty powerful :-)
I consider my husband perfect: He's right-minded, loves rock, can dance after several drinks, can go to a movie without lamenting on the downfall of society, is good in the bedroom, makes a killer chili and beef stew, he's intelligent, actually likes my cat, tells hysterical jokes....
Is that like horny and frustrated or sumtin?
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No, it's like a hell of a lot more serious than you are treating it here.
Wow. Thanks. Just let me know when the ceremony is. I forget. Do I go to Oslo or Stockholm to pick it up?
Seriously, this only confirms a personal experience. Many years ago, I dated a beautiful (and rich; she was an oil heiress) blonde off and on for several years.
She told me of a previous relationship as a 17-year-old when she had gone away to Hawaii to Maui Community College. There, she began living with a 29-year-old surfer. It was a horrible mismatch, she said, and assured me that was over.
Well, I never really "broke up" with this woman, but I never "committed" to her either. I don't know whether I should be kicking myself with regret or thanking my lucky stars.
Bottom line is that at around age 30 (at which point she was whining about wanting to have a child; understandable sentiment), she apparently made quite an effort to look this same guy up. I was out of the picture by then.
Tracked him down in California and began living with him again. Supposedly they actually married. She became "with child" before long, but then left the surfer dude again, because of his "abuse," she told me, before she even delivered her little girl. To my knowledge the girl has never even met her father.
Did we marry the same man? LOL :)
Nope, I was wrong. Mine won't dance at all. But then he doesn't drink either. The up side is I always have a ready made designated driver.
Well, we are truly lucky to have them, 2 left feet and and all!
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When a man has been inside a woman's body, it isn't over regardless of what assurances you are given. There is too often a hold on her that isn't easy to break.
Amen!
I think it's more visceral than that. These chicks want fun mixed with just a dabble of misogynistic cruelty - I guess it's more thrilling that way. Plus, when they wake up the next morning, they don't want to be burdened with the thought of a 22 year committment to diapers, Montesorri school, little league, and the like. It's a lot easier just to snuff it out before it emerges.
If you want to delve really deeply into the psychology of it, there is also the very real possibility that they find the thought of murdering their unborn child somewhat titillating.
Oh, please. Do you ever discuss anything besides abortion? This is the reason why I dumped one guy.....4 dates and all he could talk about was abortion.
Look at some of the FReepers here. On one spectrum you have those that weep over Harry Potter. Talk about lame. Then you have StoneColdGOP, who is a conservative but is actually a fun guy. As a female, I can tell you who'd I rather hang out with.
This may be true about certain individuals, but I think it is very rare. You should give women a little bit more credit.
And it seems that's been going on for centuries. (I think they used to call it "romance"...)
Why Women Have Sex On The Brain
Do you need me to spell it out for you?
In real life, I never talk about it with anyone outside of my immediate family. As for fun, the scenario tends to work like this:
1) Get drunk. [preferably on vinous material that has received a rating of 90 or better by The Wine Spectator]Actually, to the best of my knowledge, 3) has never happened to me. 1) and 2) used to happen a lot in college & graduate school, but I just couldn't let go of the thought of 3). Nowadays, I try to be a gentleman, and if she's one of those chicks who demands a little degradation & misogyny, then, well, I just have to suffer the humiliation of rejection.
2) Fornicate. [Yippee! I scored!]
3) Murder of your unborn child in her womb. [Uh-oh, how am I gonna explain this on The Final Day of Judgement?]
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