Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered that these are the four main factors why people want to have sex.
Physical reasons such as to reduce stress ("It seemed like good exercise"), feel pleasure ("It's exciting"), improve or expand experiences ("I was curious about sex"), and the physical desirability of their partner ("The person was a good dancer").
Goal-based reasons, including utilitarian or practical considerations ("I wanted to have a baby"), social status ("I wanted to be popular") and revenge ("I wanted to give someone else a sexually transmitted disease").
Emotional reasons such as love and commitment ("I wanted to feel connected") and expression ("I wanted to say 'thank you'").
Insecurity-based reasons, including self-esteem ("I wanted the attention"), a feeling of duty or pressure ("My partner kept insisting") and to guard a mate ("I wanted to keep my partner from straying").
Some of those reasons like "I wanted to give someone else a sexually transmitted disease" are quite frightening. The study found that there are "hundreds of varied and complex motivations" for wanting to engage in sexual activitiy that range from the "spiritual to the vengeful." People are complex and so their reasons for wanting sex are also complex. That really shouldn't surprise anyone but it is interesting that these researchers are trying to organize and understand it.
