British psychologist Stuart Brody tested a study group using the #1 personal fear out there (that would be public speaking), and showed that having sex led to significantly lower stress levels. Only full penetration had these benefits, however - other forms of sex did no good at all.
As the BBC notes:
"He said: "A growing body of research shows that it is specifically intercourse, and not other sexual behaviours, whether alone or with a partner, that is associated with a broad range of psychological and physiological benefits.
"And greater frequency of intercourse is associated with greater benefits."
See also the New Scientist article. Ahhh, science.
Endorphin management is highly under rated.
Is there a way to get all that on a t-shirt?
I wonder what on earth gave someone the idea of conducting this particular study?
And I wonder if the effect is specific to "public speaking" for some reason...or does it apply to all situations involving stress?
#3,
I operate on the theory that all stress needs this sort of attention.
Works for me.
Talk about redundant science.
Scientists prove gravity makes things fall.
Physicists demonstrate the sun is emitting light.
Some things are just so obvious that it is a waste of paper even reporting it.
And another thing, "A growing body of research"
You mean there's a whole field dedicated to this?
Can psychology really be this nerdy?
Dan, of course there's a whole field related to this.... and thank goodness! Where else would we get people like hottie Dr. Robin Milhausen of Sex, Toys & Chocolate, hmm?
Folks who don't know that... uh, you sure you want to be throwing the word "nerdy" around so casually? :-)
Seriously, it's the nature of science to test all propositions. In this case, while it was commonly known that sex relaxed people, it wasn't commonly realized that oral sex didn't bring the same benefits. Nor was I aware of the length of time for which such activities proved effective.
That's the kind of thing science does. It's slow, and sometimes involves testing the "obvious," but it works. And sometimes the obvious, isn't. Then things get really interesting.
Personelly, I'm just sorry I never thought of this back in the day, when I could have entered it in a science fair....
Joe. I'm sitting here at my desk trying to think up a good hypothesis for why oral sex doesn't bring the same benefits.
I'm working on it OK?
Right. How about this:
Oxytocin - The trust and cuddle hormone.
Dan, I don't know either but I'd say you're probably close.
Let us know when you have formulated the appropriate null hypothesis and begun testing! >;->