Why Women Have Sex

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Authors: Cindy M. Meston,David M. Buss

BOOK: Why Women Have Sex
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Why Women Have Sex

Why Women Have Sex

_____________________________________________________

 

 

Understanding Sexual Motivations—
from Adventure to Revenge

(and Everything in Between)

 

CINDY M. MESTON, PH.D.
AND
DAVID M. BUSS, PH.D.

 

 

 

TIMES BOOKS
Henry Holt and Company   •   New York

 

 

 

 

 

 

Times Books
Henry Holt and Company, LLC
Publishers since 1866
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10010
www.henryholt.com

 

Henry Holt
®
is a registered trademark
of Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

 

Copyright © 2009 by Cindy M. Meston and David M. Buss
All rights reserved.

Lyric from “Wake Up Little Susie” copyright © 1957 by House of
Bryant Publications. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Lyric from “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)”
copyright © 1976 by EMI April Music Inc. Used by permission of EMI
Music Publishing. All rights reserved.
Distributed in Canada by H. B. Fenn and Company Ltd.

 

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

 

 

Meston, Cindy M.

Why women have sex : understanding sexual motivations—from adventure to revenge (and everything in between) / Cindy M. Meston and David M. Buss.

         p. cm.

ISBN-13: 978-0-8050-8834-2

  1. Women—Sexual behavior. 2. Women—Psychology. 3. Sex (Psychology) I. Buss, David M. II. Title.

HQ29.M472 2009

 

 

  306.7082—dc22

2009008389

 

Henry Holt books are available for special promotions
and premiums. For details contact: Director, Special Markets.

 

First Edition 2009
Designed by Victoria Hartman

 

Printed in the United States of America
1   3   5   7   9   10   8   6   4   2

 

 

 

 

To all of the women in our study
who bravely shared
their sexual experiences with us

 

 
CONTENTS
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction:
Inside the Sexual Mind

 

 

1.
   

What Turns Women On?
Scent, Body, Face, Voice, Movement, Personality, and—Yes—Humor

 

 

2.
   

The Pleasure of It
Sexual Gratification and Orgasm

 

 

3.
   

The Thing Called Love
An Emotional and Spiritual Connection

 

 

4.
   

The Thrill of Conquest
From Capturing a Mate to Poaching One

 

 

5.
   

Green-Eyed Desire
From Guarding a Mate to Trading Up

 

 

6.
   

A Sense of Duty
When Responsibility or Guilt Calls

 

 

7.
   

A Sense of Adventure
When Curiosity, Variety—and Mate Evaluation—Beckon

 

 

8.
   

Barter and Trade
The Value of Sex—Literally and Figuratively

 

 

9.
   

The Ego Boost
Body Image, Attention, Power, and Submission

 

 

10.
   

The Dark Side
Sexual Deception, Punishment, and Abuse

 

 

11.
   

Sexual Medicine
The Health Rewards of a Sex Life

 

 

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