Sex 20 times a week? New study identifies four types of romantic lover
Australian research is ‘first to empirically show that we don’t all love the same’, lead author says
- Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
New research has identified four types of romantic lover, including one that has sex up to 20 times a week.
The research, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, categorised lovers as mild romantic, moderate romantic, intense romantic, and libidinous romantic.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email
Mild: About one in five – 20.02% – fell into this cluster, characterised by “the lowest intensity, lowest obsessive thinking, lowest commitment, and lowest frequency of sex”. This group also had the lowest proportion of people who thought their partner was “definitely” in love with them – just 25.31% – and the lowest proportion having sex, at 82.72%.
Moderate: About four in 10 – 40.91% – landed in this category, which Bode described as “fairly stock-standard” – or in the words of the journal article, “entirely unremarkable”. Those in this category were more likely to be male, and less likely to have children. This group had “relatively low intensity, relatively low obsessive thinking, relatively high commitment, and relatively moderate frequency of sex”.
Intense: This category described about one in three – 29.42% – of survey respondents, who Bode described as “crazy in-love” types. They were characterised by “the highest intensity, highest obsessive thinking, highest commitment, and relatively high frequency of sex”. About six in 10 people in this group were female.
Libidinous: About one in 10 – 9.64% – were libidinous romantic lovers, who had sex an average of 10 times a week and up to 20 times. They were characterised as “relatively high intensity, relatively high obsessive thinking, relatively high commitment, and exceptionally high frequency of sex”. This group were slightly more likely to be male, and had the highest proportion of people in a committed relationship but not living together.
Continue reading...-
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Faces Four New Sex Abuse Lawsuits, Filed in One Day
The suits cite the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, which opened a look-back window for alleged assaults and is expiring soon.The New York Times - 6h -
Bodies of four hostages identified after latest Hamas-Israel exchange
Yahoo News - 1d -
Israel frees dozens more Palestinians after four hostages identified
Yahoo News - 1d -
2/20: CBS Evening News
Woman uproots life to take job as federal worker, then fired in mass layoffs weeks later; Supporters gather to pray for Pope Francis outside hospitalCBS News - Feb. 21 -
New study confirms parents do in fact play favorites
Research from Brigham Young University reveals that parental favoritism is real, with factors like gender, birth order and temperament playing a role. The study also found parents tend to favor ...CBS News - Feb. 21 -
What does it take to be middle class in 2025? New study explains
Are you earning enough to be among the middle class in your state?The Hill - 2d -
RFK Jr. Announces New HHS Guidance Recognizing Only Two Sexes
The new guidance follows President Trump’s demand that the Health and Human Services Department align with his executive order barring transgender athletes from women’s sports.The New York Times - Feb. 19 -
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 20: Tari Eason remains a do-it-all monster and an all-leagues must-add
Players you need to pick up for Week 20CBS Sports - 6h -
At least four killed after new bridge collapses in South Korea
Yahoo News - 3d
More from The Guardian
-
European leaders rush to back Zelenskyy after fiery meeting with Trump at White House – live
Press conference between US and Ukraine leaders cancelled and no minerals deal signed after angry scenes in White House; European leaders stand behind Zelenskyy. Ukraine ‘gambling with world war ...The Guardian - 34m -
Diplomacy dies on live TV as Trump and Vance gang up to bully Ukraine leader
US president said his horrific blow-up would make ‘great television’ – the White House has never seen anything like it. Don’t let a billionaire’s algorithm control what you read. Download our ...The Guardian - 6h -
‘Dummies for Putin’: Democrats defend Zelenskyy after ‘shameful’ Trump meeting
Ukrainian leader abruptly left White House after being publicly berated by US president in Russia ceasefire talks. US politics live – latest updates Democratic lawmakers rushed to defend ...The Guardian - 6h -
Trump administration retreats in fight against Russian cyber threats
Recent incidents indicate US is no longer characterizing Russia as a cybersecurity threat, marking a radical departure: ‘Putin is on the inside now’. Don’t let a billionaire’s algorithm control ...The Guardian - 9h -
Israel proposes Gaza plan that gives it tighter military control than before war
Plan for IDF-protected ‘humanitarian hubs’ to selectively issue aid casts doubt on Israeli intent to withdraw. The Israeli military has presented the UN and aid organisations with a plan for ...The Guardian - 8h
More in World
-
Trump Administration Live Updates: Trump and Vance Berate Zelensky, Exposing Break Between Wartime Allies
The New York Times - 20m -
Military delegates lose sway at China’s signature political gathering
Xi Jinping’s purges have cast shadow over Beijing’s rubber stamp legislatureFinancial Times - 25m -
Millions of Muslims in Indonesia mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan
Muslims in Indonesia are shopping for sweets and new clothes and taking part in traditional festivities as millions mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan, set to begin SaturdayABC News - 34m -
European leaders rush to back Zelenskyy after fiery meeting with Trump at White House – live
Press conference between US and Ukraine leaders cancelled and no minerals deal signed after angry scenes in White House; European leaders stand behind Zelenskyy. Ukraine ‘gambling with world war ...The Guardian - 34m -
Documents seized by FBI in Mar-a-Lago raid returned to Trump, White House says – live
Classified papers seized in 2022 were returned, a spokesperson told favorable reporters picked by White House aboard Air Force One. US aid cuts have forced the UN children’s agency Unicef to ...The Guardian - 38m