Casual sex seems to be everywhere, and love it or hate it, everyone has an opinion on it. More often than not, casual sex is vilified as bad for your physical, mental, and social health. But what does research really say about this topic? And are things really that simple? Perhaps not all casual sex encounters are equally harmful (or beneficial) and not all people are equally sensitive to these harmful (or beneficial) effects. In this session, Zhana Vrangalova, a sex researcher who studies hookups among young people, examines the scientific evidence linking engagement in casual sex to various health outcomes, and discusses different factors that this link may depend on.

1. Zhana Vrangalova, PhD
New York University
~CatalystCon East 2014~
Email: sv52@nyu.edu
Twitter: @ZhanaVrangalova
Website: http://zhanavrangalova.com/
Blog: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/strictly-casual

2. * Weight Loss
* Better Sleep
* Immunity
* Healthy Teeth
* Pee Control
* Pain Relief
* Happiness
* Stress Relief
* Letting Go
* Regular Periods
* Relaxation
* Confidence
* Cancer Prevention
* Slower Aging

6. N = 10,573 from 30 US colleges (Bersamin et al., 2013)
Sex w/ someone known for < 1 week in past month (11% Yes)

7. Casual
Sex
Mental
Health
Problems?
Third
variable

8.  When initial levels of wellbeing are taken
into consideration, new casual sex
experiences do NOT lead to decreases
in wellbeing

11. Not self-congruent
Sexual health
consequences
Social stigma
Unwanted
attachment
Negative
mental
health
outcomes
Ruins relationships
Casual
Sex
Not satisfying

13. 36% Had
CS
23%
Had CS
75% Had
CS
46% Had
CS

14. 14%
Had CS
26%
Had CS
57%
Had CS
81%
Had CS

16. Sociosexual
Orientation
Desire for
casual sex
Approval of
casual sex
Experience
with casual
sex
Restricted
(Low SOI)
Unrestricted
(High SOI)SOCIOSEXUALITY

26. Vasopressin

34.  N = 10,932 unmarried in serious relationship (Willoughby et al., 2014)

36. Not self-congruent
Sexual health
consequences
Social stigma
Unwanted
attachment
Negative
mental
health
outcomes
Ruins relationships
Casual
Sex
Not satisfying

38.  In everyday life, how often do you have
spontaneous fantasies about having sex with
someone you have just met?
Response Options:
1 – never 2 – very seldom
3 – about once every two or three months
4 – about once a month 5 – about once every two weeks
6 – about once a week 7 – several times per week
8 – nearly every day 9 – at least once a day

39.  Sex without love is OK.
 I can imagine myself being comfortable
and enjoying “casual” sex with different
partners.
Response options:
1 – Strongly Disagree to 9- Strongly Agree

40. •When a sexually attractive
stranger looks me straight in
the eye.
•When I see an attractive
partner‟s naked body really.
•If I am with a new partner.
•When having sex in a
different setting than usual.
I
become
easily
sexually
aroused:
Janssen et al., 2002;
Graham et al., 2006

41. •I feel I‟m being rushed.
•There is a risk of unwanted
pregnancy/STI.
•I have to put on a condom.
•I don‟t really trust a partner.
•Unless things are “just right”.
•I feel “shy” or self-conscious
during sex.
I am
unlikely/ It is
difficult to
become/st
ay sexually
aroused if:
Janssen et al., 2002;
Graham et al., 2006

42.  “During a typical sexual encounter, how
would you describe your ability to reach
orgasm?”
No orgasm past year:
25% women; 9% men
200+ orgasms per session:
The rare lucky gal

43. • I feel comfortable telling my partner how to touch
me.
• I wait for my partner to touch my genitals instead
of letting them know that's what I want. (R)
Saying
„Yes‟
• I refuse to have sex if I don't want to, even if my
partner insists.
• I find myself doing sexual things that I don‟t like.
(R)
Saying
„No‟
• I have sex without a condom if my partner insists,
even if I don't want to. (R)
• I refuse to have sex if my partner refuses to use a
condom.
Staying
safe
Hurlbert, 1991; Morokoff et al., 1997

44.  Even when I‟ve first met a person, if I
have sex with them, afterwards, these
thoughts cross my mind:
› I wonder what it would be like being married
to him/her?
› What would our wedding be like?
› Where would we go on our honeymoon?
› What would our kids look like?

46. Things your self-esteem might depend on:
 Others‟ approval
 Family support
 Virtue
 God‟s love
 Appearance
 Academic competence
 Competition
Crocker et al., 2003

48.  Sociosexuality desire
 Sociosexual attitudes
 Sexual excitation/inhibition
 Orgasmic capacity
 Sexual assertiveness
 Attachment susceptibility
 Social support
 Contingent self-esteem
 Prior casual sex experience

52.  For the fun and enjoyment
 Explore and learn about your sexuality
 It‟s an important experience to have
 For the thrill & excitement
 I was horny
 Attracted to the partner

53.  Getting wasted.
 Wanting to feel better about
yourself.
 To not anger/ disappoint your
partner.
 Peer pressure (explicit or implicit).
 Partner pressure (explicit or implicit).
 Just going along with it.
 To get a favor, material reward, or
revenge.
 Hoping it would lead to a long-term
relationship.

56.  Unrestricted men are
more likely to be jerks
› Sexist, double standard
› Manipulative, deceptive, e
xploitative
› Physically & verbally
aggressive
› Sexually coercive
› Low empathy

59.  Be aware infatuation is involuntary
 Fight it with reason as hard as you can
 Relationship checklist
 Curb your OCD needs to
› Contact them
› Talk about them non-stop
 Have a rotation
 Go easy on the staring into each other‟s
eyes post-coitus
 Practice makes perfect

60. 1. Do it for the right reasons
2. Don‟t get wasted
3. Adore your partner(s)
4. Avoid the jerks
5. Be safe
6. Communicate
7. Control your commitment