WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? MOST PEOPLE LIE ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY HAVE HAD SEX WITH
Do you think it's normal to lie about the number one has had sex with? What do you think most people lie about how many people they have had sex with? This article has discussed why people lie about the number of people they have had sex with and who is more likely to lie about the number of people they have had sex with.
People care about the number of sexual partners. The number of your sexual partners does not say a thing about who you are, and it doesn't say anything about your sexual relationship. You may love sex but have only had it with one person. You may have sex with different people but have a low sex drive. It should not matter. You should be able to own your number without having lots of connotations.
Penke & Asendorpf (2008) looked at more than 2000 participants, and people are still lying about their number of sexual partners. The survey above also found that more than 32 percent and 41 percent of men had given inaccurate information about their number of sexual partners. It means that 67% of women and 58% of men are telling the truth, which is unfortunate, but the fact that anyone is embarrassed about their sexual history that they have to lie about it is really unfortunate. How society judges the number of sexual partners is confusing and heartbreaking. People are lying in both directions. Below are some takeaways from the survey.
Men often lie To make Their Number Bigger.
Men are likelier to lie, but it is still upsetting. According to Spitzer (2003), seventeen percent of men lied to increase their number of partners, compared to 8 percent of women. Vaughan et al. (2000) discovered that 18 percent of women lied to decrease the number of partners they sleep with, compared to 13 percent of men. Considering how much women get slut shamed for having many sexual partners and how men are made to feel inadequate for not having enough sex partners, it's not shocking. It shows how unfair standards are and how they negatively affect everyone.
Some People Lie In Both Directions
Regarding unfair standards, 5 percent of women and 10 percent of men have lied to make their numbers higher and lower in different situations. The fact that you feel your number is too much and not enough shows how many stigmas need to be dropped.
A lot of People Would Leave Someone over Their Number.
Brand et al. (2007) discovered that thirty percent of people reported that they would likely dump someone over having multiple sex partners, which is very infuriating. The study above also stated that 70 percent said they were neutral or unlikely to break up with their partners.
People Think The Perfect Number Is How Many Partners They Have
According to Hillis et al. (2001), the average number of sexual partners is seven for women and six for men, and the number considered ideal is 7 for everyone. It means that people judge the perfect amount of what they've done.
People Share Their Sexual History Early
Some people are open about their sexual history. They prefer being open with their partners. Abma (2004) showed that more than 65% of men and women said they share their sexual history in the first four months, while 10.9 percent of women and 11 percent of men said they wouldn't disclose their sexual history. People talking openly about their sexual history is a good start.
Sexual Practices Vary From Country to Country
Different cultures have different attitudes toward sex. Almost every country has a different approach to sex. According to Schalet (2004), the idea of number 10 partners and one promiscuous in France didn't start until 16 sexual partners. Faulkner (2003) discovered that the ideal in Holland number is six, and those with over 10 sexual partners were considered promiscuous. It shows how much it has to do with perception. The actual number doesn't mean anything on its own. Instead, the culture surrounding the number makes it seem more significant than it is.
Sexual Practices Vary from State to State.
Louisiana came in with more percent of men lying about their sexual partners compared to Utah.
Some Married Couples Lie
Men and women lie when asked who is making sexual decisions regarding who has more power in sexual decision-making. You wouldn't expect disagreement when the same question is posed to husbands and wives in the same couple. There is a systematic disagreement. Not all gender differences are due to men's and women's selective under-reporting and over-reporting of sexual acts. Some sexual behavior varies by gender. For example, men have more sex than women, and men less commonly use protection. Men have more
Reasons Why People Lie
Some people are concerned with being too far above average because it makes them look promiscuous. Others are concerned with being too far below average because it makes them look inexperienced. Being too far above average seems a bigger concern for women, who are judged more harshly than men for having an extensive sexual history. People lie about their sexual behavior because it is up to them to decide if they want to tell the truth or bring the number down to what society deems acceptable.
Conclusion
This article discusses why people lie about the number of people they have had sex with. Numbers do not matter. You have to be safe, whether you have one or a hundred partners. Regardless of your number of past sexual partners, the most important thing in any sexual relationship is taking precautions to prevent the spread of STIs. No one should shame you because of your past sexual encounters. Having many sexual partners does not mean a person is a prostitute; some have genuine reasons. Men are found to be liars compared to women because they want to associate themselves with prowess. Own your number and be safe and do what brings you joy.
References
Abma, J. C. (2004). Teenagers In The United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, And Childbearing, 2002 (No. 24). US Department Of Health And Human Services, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, National Center For Health Statistics.
Brand, R. J., Markey, C. M., Mills, A., & Hodges, S. D. (2007). Sex Differences In Self-Reported Infidelity And Its Correlates. Sex Roles, 57(1), 101-109.
Faulkner, S. L. (2003). Good Girl Or Flirt Girl: Latinas' Definitions Of Sex And Sexual Relationships. Hispanic Journal Of Behavioral Sciences, 25(2), 174-200.
Hillis, S. D., Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., & Marchbanks, P. A. (2001). Adverse Childhood Experiences And Sexual Risk Behaviors In Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Family Planning Perspectives, 206-211.
Penke, L., & Asendorpf, J. B. (2008). Beyond Global Sociosexual Orientations: A More Differentiated Look At Sociosexuality And Its Effects On Courtship And Romantic Relationships. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, 95(5), 1113
Schalet, A. (2004). Must We Fear Adolescent Sexuality?. Medscape General Medicine, 6(4).
Spitzer, R. L. (2003). Can Some Gay Men And Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation? Two Hundred Participants Reported A Change From Homosexual To Heterosexual Orientation. Archives Of Sexual Behavior, 32(5), 403-417.
W. Vaughan, Everett M. Rogers, Arvind Singhal, Ramadhan M. Swalehe, P. (2000). Entertainment-Education And HIV/AIDS Prevention: A Field Experiment In Tanzania. Journal Of Health Communication, 5(Sup1), 81-100.