Two Hidden Ways to Sustain Romance and Intimacy..... New research finds two overlooked sources of long-term vitality and connection

 
The 18th Century Zen poet and teacher Hakuin wrote “Not knowing how near the truth is, we seek it far away.” That can

5 Tips for Avoiding Regrets About Love..... Study of 700 people uncovered key advice for avoiding relationship regrets

Regrets about love are ubiquitous in literature, theater, and music (the evidence: almost every country and western song you have ever heard).
But very little

Music Enhances Beer's Flavor Cheers!

Hearing your favorite song at a bar doesn't just improve the ambience of your 21-and-up social endeavor. A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that the music we listen to while drinking significantly influences the

Why Are Women Cheating More?.... Female infidelity may one day rival male cheating.

 
Lately, the media is filled with stories of cheating husbands. But a bigger story is in the rising numbers of female infidelity. Every day, more women are having sex with men other than their husband. Younger women, under 25, and women over the age of 60 are cheating more than

Do cheating wives REALLY deserve lashes and death?...... Iranian woman Sakineh, sentenced to death for infidelity.

 
In a horrific story, Iranian wife Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was sentenced in 2006 to 99 lashes for infidelity. Even though the court and evidence did not support conviction, and she was actually found innocent upon a lack of evidence, the judge used a

Death to Cheating Wives?......Take Two Why do women have to die for infidelity?

 


In the United States, we are insulated from the tragic events that go on in other parts of the world. When we think about sexuality, we often

Common Sense about the Effects of Pornography..... Are concerns about pornography based in fact or fear?

 
“Dr. Ley, enough with the research! Let’s talk about common sense!” These were the surprising words I recently heard from eminent journalist Katie Couric, during an appearance on her

Naked Therapy Believe it or not, this Naked Therapist has things to teach psychology..

Sarah White is the pseudonym of a woman who operates an online service, called “The Naked Therapist.” (Link is NSFW!!!) Via web camera, Sarah provides one-on-one interaction with men around the world, talking with them about their problems and issues. But, distinct from any other therapist or coach I know of, Sarah disrobes during the session, and allows her clients to also disrobe, and even

Sex Addiction is About Morality,...Not Sex Sex/porn addicts don’t have more sex than others, but feel more shame.

For decades, the idea that sex and porn are like drugs has permeated the world of pop psychology. Despite a great deal of evidence that sex

Practical Advice for Parents Dealing With Bedwetting..... Helping parents to remove shame from dirty laundry

Wet sheets, stinky mattresses, dirty underwear, hidden under the bed. As a young psychologist, I was surprised by how

GOP Declares War on Modern Sexuality...... Why conservatives declare porn a public health crisis

According to today’s reports, the ongoing GOP convention has endorsed a declaration that “internet pornography is a public health crisis…destroying the life of millions.” In this, the

How Common Are Sex-Related Injuries?..... Does getting hurt from sex REALLY indicate a problem?

The modern anti-masturbation movement is predominantly heterosexual, White, and often strongly religious males. They oppose masturbation on the

So Many Ways to Cheat....... Are some types of infidelity more painful than others?

In the minds of most people, cheating is cheating. One person breaks the trust of his or her significant other by secretly engaging in sex outside the relationship, and that’s all there is to it. However, there are countless ways to cheat, and some can

Myths About Low Sexual Desire.... The truth about couples, and how to reignite the flame

Sex is the purest form of

Fast Forces of Attraction..... Attraction is a symphony in which many different instruments—wit, voice, charisma, class, and body language—play a part.

When you're attracted to someone, your whole body switches on. It's like hearing the first bars of your favorite song. And though it might feel like magic, it isn't random. It's just too complex for us to discern the harmony. Attraction is

Sex: The Love Limit...... Can you max out on sex's body benefits?

Regular sex (and its primary side effect, orgasm) brings serious health benefits: It can cure insomnia, relieve pain, and reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, depression, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, bladder problems, and more, research suggests. Its power stems mostly from its aerobic element and stress-relieving effects. "You can't be worrying about

Why Do We Have Sex?.... We have sex more for connection than for procreation or pleasure.

Why do you sleep at night? This is seemingly a simple question. But in fact it is a most difficult question, as of yet unanswered by science. Many seemingly simple questions are

Do I Have to Know Who I Am to Find True Love?..... In love relationships, the search for truth can lead us astray.

 
The flames and smoke climbed out of every window
And disappeared with everything that you held dear
But you shed not a single tear
For the things that you didn't need
'Cause you knew you were finally free—Death Cab for Cutie, “Your Heart Is an Empty Room"

Glen and Vicky had

The Threat of Intimacy in Our Daily Lives..... Bringing relationship sanity to the everyday world

Carl was describing his two-sided anxiety about a recent work project.  “All week long, I was

Making Sense of First Love..... The long-term effects of first-love

And I ain't down here for your money
I ain't down here for your love
I ain't down here for your love or money
I'm down here for your soul
—Nick Cave, "Deanna" 

"From the moment I met Jane I

Sex as Relationship Builder or Deal Breaker..... What irrelationship looks like in a sex life

Sex. Possibly the most highly charged of all highly charged topics, and more often than ever, the topic of conversation and of research, sexual dissatisfaction is

The 3 Things You Should Never Say to Your Partner Everyone's entitled to their feelings, whether we agree with them or not.

These three remarks—whether delivered with good intentions or not—are virtually guaranteed to antagonize your partner. The likely reaction to such ill-chosen expressions will

Why Do Men Find Women’s Legs So Alluring?......And what exactly does it mean to be a “leg man”?

Researchers have spent far less time studying men’s attraction to women’s legs than the typical man on the street devotes to gazing at them . . . and maybe finding himself

Love Is Not Constant or Consistent .....Change is the only thing you can count on.

 
Love is not constant. It waxes and wanes like the moon. Having an argument or feeling bugged by your partner’s demands or desires doesn’t mean that