Sexual Economics: A Model of Heterosexual Behavior by Dr. Kathleen Vohs

Summary

Kathleen Voss, a social psychologist from the University of Minnesota, explores the concept of sexual economics in her lecture. She argues that sex is a valuable resource controlled by women, while men attempt to trade resources (such as money, affection, or commitment) in exchange for access to sex. Through historical examples, research findings, and experiments, Voss demonstrates how women have more negotiating power in sexual relationships. The lecture delves into the dynamics of sex, desire, and resource exchange, shedding light on how these factors shape human behavior in heterosexual relationships.

Takeaways

• 😀 The lecture introduces the concept of sexual economics, which views sex as a resource controlled by women, with men willing to trade resources to obtain sexual access.
• 😀 Sexual economics theory posits that women own sex and control when, how, and why it occurs, while men trade resources (monetary, emotional, or relationship-based) to gain sexual access.
• 😀 High demand for sex and low costs for men favor women in sexual negotiations, as women typically have more negotiating power in relationships.
• 😀 A key finding in the lecture is that women are seen as 'gatekeepers' of sex, deciding when it happens in relationships, as seen in studies of dating behaviors.
• 😀 A study found that men generally want sex more frequently than women, which gives women more power in sexual negotiations, according to the principle of least interest.
• 😀 The theory is supported by various studies and disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, and psychology, showing that sexual access is traded for resources in various forms.
• 😀 Historical examples (like penal colonies) and modern marketing tactics (like advertising) suggest that women have historically been seen as the 'sellers' of sex, while men are the 'buyers'.
• 😀 Women are more likely to dress provocatively in environments with a higher ratio of women to men, reflecting competition for sexual attention, a concept explored in relation to sexual economics.
• 😀 The lecture also discusses how men and women react to sexual imagery, with women more likely to appreciate sexual ads when reminded of resource transfers from men to women, rather than seeing them as purely sexual.
• 😀 Experimentation with sexual ads reveals that women can be conditioned to view sexual imagery more favorably when it is framed as a gift or resource transfer, highlighting the importance of relational context in sexual economics.

Q & A

What is the core idea of sexual economics as described in the lecture?

The core idea of sexual economics is that female sexuality is seen as a valuable resource, and men are willing to trade various resources (such as money, affection, commitment, etc.) to gain sexual access to women. Women, in turn, hold more negotiating power in sexual relationships.

What does the concept of 'The Gatekeepers of sex' refer to?

The concept refers to the idea that women have more control over when, how, and with whom sex occurs. This is based on the finding that women generally have more power in sexual negotiations, as men are often more eager for sex.

How do men and women differ in their perceptions of when sex should occur in a relationship?

According to the study referenced, men typically believe that sex should occur earlier in a relationship than women do. However, women's preferences on when sex should take place are more aligned with when it actually happens in relationships, highlighting their role as 'Gatekeepers.'

What is the 'principle of least interest' and how does it relate to sexual economics?

The principle of least interest suggests that in any negotiation, the party less invested in the outcome has more power. In the context of sexual economics, since men generally want sex more than women, women have more power in negotiating for other resources (e.g., commitment, affection) before sex takes place.

What does the research suggest about the frequency of sexual desire between men and women?

The research indicated that men generally have a higher frequency of sexual desire compared to women across various indicators, such as sexual fantasies, desired number of sexual partners, and frequency of masturbation.

How does the number of men and women in a local environment affect women’s behavior and the concept of sexual economics?

In environments with more men than women, women tend to dress more conservatively (longer skirts), as they don't need to compete as much. Conversely, in environments with more women than men, women tend to dress more sexually to compete for male attention.

What were the findings of the study on what irritates men and women in dating relationships?

Women reported being irritated when men make promises of a relationship before sex, only to disappear afterward. Men, on the other hand, reported frustration when they invest significant resources (gifts, time) into courting a woman, but the relationship doesn't turn sexual.

What was the goal of the first experiment involving sexual ads and watches?

The goal was to determine if women could be made to view sexual ads more favorably if they were reminded of the resource transfer from men to women. The study found that when women saw a sexual ad with a reminder that the product was a gift from men to women, they were more likely to like the ad.

How did the second experiment differ from the first, and what were its objectives?

The second experiment shifted the focus from monetary gifts to emotional and relational resources. It also aimed to measure the emotional reactions of women to sexual imagery and determine whether framing the imagery with a resource transfer (e.g., loyalty) would affect their mood and perceptions of the ad.

What is the significance of the findings from the two experiments conducted in the lab?

The experiments revealed that women are more likely to appreciate sexual imagery when it is framed as part of a resource exchange, such as gifts or emotional loyalty. This finding challenges the assumption that women inherently dislike sexual imagery, showing that context and framing play a significant role in how women respond to such content.