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The Social Psychology of Sexual Interactions: 19 Things You Didn’t Know About Other People’s Sex Lives
In this compelling series, renowned human behavior experts Roy Baumeister and Dianne Tice unravel the mysteries surrounding one of humanity’s most talked about but least understood forms of social sex. Playing the objective role of alien scientists observing human beings from outer space, they find patterns, puzzles, and paradoxes in how we make sexual decisions. Drawing on social psychology and even economics, they find new insights into age-old questions, such as -Do men really want to have sex more than women? -Who is actually having lots of sex, and why? -How has the internet changed sexual behavior? -Why have so many societies tried to stifle female sexuality? In nineteen eye-opening lectures, Drs. Tice and Baumeister delve into fascinating facts and findings to analyze human sexuality as a form of social interaction. While their discussions are strongly based on data about how most normal people make sexual decisions, they also explore larger issues about our sexual nature and motivations. This masterful course will answer all the questions you were afraid to ask and help you better understand human sexuality from a scientific vantage.
Audio CD
Published August 18, 2022
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About the author
Roy F. Baumeister
82 books464 followersDr. Roy F. Baumeister is Social Psychology Area Director and Francis Eppes Eminent Scholar at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. He is a social psychologist who is known for his work on the self, social rejection, belongingness, sexuality, self-control, self-esteem, self-defeating behaviors, motivation, and aggression. And enduring theme of his work is "why people do stupid things." He has authored over 300 publications and has written or co-written over 20 books.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 30, 2025
Lectures that explored how human sexual behavior has evolved and how biology and culture shape it (differently for men and women).
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- Across history more women than men have reproduced, which means women have had greater selective influence on men — being generally choosier, while only men at the top of hierarchies reproduced widely.
- Sexual desire and behavior are partly innate, and natural selection favors both the quantity and quality of offspring, though raising many children requires large resources.
- Human sexuality shifts over time as cultural norms loosen and tighten in cycles, and women tend to show greater “erotic plasticity,” meaning their sexual behavior is more influenced by culture than men’s.
- Sex is often treated as a resource associated with women, exchanged for other forms of value such as commitment or status, which shapes social dynamics and even infidelity. Women themselves are often drivers behind sexual restraint within societies.
- Differences between the sexes can feel exciting, while similarity may make intimacy easier. Attraction also develops through familiarity and contrast. What feels “exotic” can become appealing. - Novelty in sex is limited. Women often require stronger emotional intensity to feel the same level of passion or connection.
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- Across history more women than men have reproduced, which means women have had greater selective influence on men — being generally choosier, while only men at the top of hierarchies reproduced widely.
- Sexual desire and behavior are partly innate, and natural selection favors both the quantity and quality of offspring, though raising many children requires large resources.
- Human sexuality shifts over time as cultural norms loosen and tighten in cycles, and women tend to show greater “erotic plasticity,” meaning their sexual behavior is more influenced by culture than men’s.
- Sex is often treated as a resource associated with women, exchanged for other forms of value such as commitment or status, which shapes social dynamics and even infidelity. Women themselves are often drivers behind sexual restraint within societies.
- Differences between the sexes can feel exciting, while similarity may make intimacy easier. Attraction also develops through familiarity and contrast. What feels “exotic” can become appealing. - Novelty in sex is limited. Women often require stronger emotional intensity to feel the same level of passion or connection.
November 24, 2025
The Social Psychology of Sexual Interactions: 19 Things You Didn’t Know About Other People’s Sex Lives, by Roy F. Baumeister and Dianne Tice, is a 19-lecture series and audio course examining human sexuality from a social-psychological perspective. I stumbled upon it mid-stride after finishing another audiobook during a dog walk. I knew nothing about it, but after the previous book I needed something lighter.
Roy F. Baumeister is an American social psychologist known for his research on the self, social rejection, belongingness, sexuality and sex differences, self-control, self-esteem, self-defeating behaviours, motivation, aggression, consciousness and free will, and is one of the most cited psychologists of his generation. Dianne M. Tice is a social psychologist and long-time collaborator of Baumeister, known for her work on self-regulation, emotion and interpersonal behaviour.
Drawing on social psychology, and even economics, they offer accessible insights into age-old questions such as:
• Do men really want sex more than women?
• Who is actually having lots of sex, and why?
• How has the internet changed sexual behaviour?
• Why have so many societies tried to stifle female sexuality?
The Social Psychology of Sexual Interactions is nothing extraordinary, but its format and tone—professional, data-driven, yet lightly humorous—suited my walks well. It is refreshing to hear people speak about sexuality in such a relaxed and open manner. Free pornography has migrated from blue-lit screens into behaviour, clothing and thought, influencing almost everyone, yet few talk about it openly; like all taboos, its power thrives on silence. This is why I enjoyed the audiobook: it addresses every aspect of human sexuality, not just the ubiquity of porn, and explains it in clear, straightforward terms. It is nothing spectacular, but it made for good, podcast-like listening.
Roy F. Baumeister is an American social psychologist known for his research on the self, social rejection, belongingness, sexuality and sex differences, self-control, self-esteem, self-defeating behaviours, motivation, aggression, consciousness and free will, and is one of the most cited psychologists of his generation. Dianne M. Tice is a social psychologist and long-time collaborator of Baumeister, known for her work on self-regulation, emotion and interpersonal behaviour.
Drawing on social psychology, and even economics, they offer accessible insights into age-old questions such as:
• Do men really want sex more than women?
• Who is actually having lots of sex, and why?
• How has the internet changed sexual behaviour?
• Why have so many societies tried to stifle female sexuality?
The Social Psychology of Sexual Interactions is nothing extraordinary, but its format and tone—professional, data-driven, yet lightly humorous—suited my walks well. It is refreshing to hear people speak about sexuality in such a relaxed and open manner. Free pornography has migrated from blue-lit screens into behaviour, clothing and thought, influencing almost everyone, yet few talk about it openly; like all taboos, its power thrives on silence. This is why I enjoyed the audiobook: it addresses every aspect of human sexuality, not just the ubiquity of porn, and explains it in clear, straightforward terms. It is nothing spectacular, but it made for good, podcast-like listening.
November 5, 2025
Interesting conversations and things to think about.
November 13, 2024
Unequal distribution…
Pareto principle; 80/20 rule.
20% of men have 70% of the sex
20% of women have 65% of the sex.
Women rate 80% of men as below average.
Top 5% have over half the amount of sex.
Poor and uneducated are having most of the sex.
Men will do whatever they need to for sex. If it’s marriage, men will get married. Men will pay the price no matter the cost. Women generally want to keep this price high, they are the sellers.
2/3 of our ancestors are female.
Most men in history have not reproduced. Most women in history have reproduced.
Men do not want to miss out on a chance for reproduction.
It benefits women to play it safe, they will get a mate when they wish.
Women are choosy.
Reproductive capacity is less frequent than men.
We are descended from women who played it safe and men who took chances.
Suppression of female sexuality…
It is the women who suppress female sexuality, not the men, which is the general narrative today. Men do not want to suppress female sexuality unless or until they have a long term partner.
Experiments have proved this: for example, women are much more likely than men to think less of promiscuous women.
Why? When sex becomes cheap, women may not gain long-term partners which is their general goal. For men, long-term relationships are much less beneficial from a Darwinian perspective.
Marriage…
As the frequency of sex decreases, so does marital satisfaction.
Women do not need sex for marital happiness, men do.
Women’s sexual desire decreases, men’s stay the same.
Sex increases marital happiness for about 48 hours.
Pareto principle; 80/20 rule.
20% of men have 70% of the sex
20% of women have 65% of the sex.
Women rate 80% of men as below average.
Top 5% have over half the amount of sex.
Poor and uneducated are having most of the sex.
Men will do whatever they need to for sex. If it’s marriage, men will get married. Men will pay the price no matter the cost. Women generally want to keep this price high, they are the sellers.
2/3 of our ancestors are female.
Most men in history have not reproduced. Most women in history have reproduced.
Men do not want to miss out on a chance for reproduction.
It benefits women to play it safe, they will get a mate when they wish.
Women are choosy.
Reproductive capacity is less frequent than men.
We are descended from women who played it safe and men who took chances.
Suppression of female sexuality…
It is the women who suppress female sexuality, not the men, which is the general narrative today. Men do not want to suppress female sexuality unless or until they have a long term partner.
Experiments have proved this: for example, women are much more likely than men to think less of promiscuous women.
Why? When sex becomes cheap, women may not gain long-term partners which is their general goal. For men, long-term relationships are much less beneficial from a Darwinian perspective.
Marriage…
As the frequency of sex decreases, so does marital satisfaction.
Women do not need sex for marital happiness, men do.
Women’s sexual desire decreases, men’s stay the same.
Sex increases marital happiness for about 48 hours.
September 15, 2023
The book is an interesting series of lectures. I listened to the entire audiobook in 24 hours. It was like listening to academic lecturers repeating ALL the things that the misogynist Kevin Samuels said in his YouTube videos.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews