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Sexual behaviour as a natural laboratory for understanding individual differences

Egan, Vincent

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Authors

Vincent Egan



Abstract

As bonding primates, human sexuality is fundamental to existence and well-being as a species and for most individuals. Sexual behaviour can be diverse or prosaic, as are the antecedent and consequent pathways, indicating individual differences are an influence. Biological dynamics such as puberty, independence, sexual preference, and the move from mating to parenting effort also influence these processes. Key findings observed by Eysenck and Wilson – extroverts are sociosexual, those high in neuroticism have more sexual problems, persons high in psychoticism (i.e., low Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, or high psychopathy/Machiavellianism) have impersonal, loveless, or deviant sexual expression – remain axiomatic. Sexual offenders and risk takers have this dispositional foundation, but are also troubled by sexual preoccupation, use sex for mood management, and have disturbed attachments, all of which are reconviction and relapse risk indicators. Intelligence is also relevant to human sexuality. Arousal and desire can overwhelm even the highly intelligent, as indicated by the risks and bad choices made by mostly rational and prudent individuals. Research into sexual behaviour (however operationalised), personality, and intelligence (and the multiple theories, models, methods, and forms of analysis it requires) helps inculcate an interest in differential psychology and its many applications.

Citation

Egan, V. (2021). Sexual behaviour as a natural laboratory for understanding individual differences. Personality and Individual Differences, 169, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110036

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 31, 2020
Online Publication Date Apr 7, 2020
Publication Date 2021-02
Deposit Date May 6, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Personality and Individual Differences
Print ISSN 0191-8869
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 169
Article Number 110036
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110036
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4279463
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886920302257?dgcid=rss_sd_all

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