Justin Lehmiller

The orgasm face decoded: The intriguing science of sexual climax Scientists are finally decoding the orgasm face. Explore how human evolution, primate behavior, and mate selection shape our expressions of climax.

Research finds that the pattern of facial movements people make during orgasm is strikingly similar to those that occur when we experience pain. In fact, when viewing images of faces alone, participants are unable to reliably distinguish orgasm from painful reactions. www.psypost.org/the-orgasm-f...

5 Women Who Changed the Science of Sex - Sex and Psychology If you study the history of sex research, you’re likely to see certain names mentioned over and over again, such as Sigmund Freud, Alfred Kinsey, and William Masters. The contributions of these men were undoubtedly foundational. They offered novel theories and insights into human sexuality and helped to open up conversations about a subject that...

It's Women’s History Month, so we're highlighting some of the women who have advanced our understanding of human sexuality in important ways. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2026/3/11/5-women-who-changed-the-science-of-sex/

Therapists test an AI dating simulator to help chronically single men practice romantic skills A recent study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior suggests that artificial intelligence could help men facing chronic singlehood. Researchers found that practicing romantic skills with a guided conversational program reduced feelings of loneliness and psychological distress.

Use of an AI dating simulator may help single men who struggle to connect. They experienced a reduction in anxiety, loneliness, & distress related to their sex lives. https://www.psypost.org/therapists-test-an-ai-dating-simulator-to-help-chronically-single-men-practice-romantic-skills/

Episode 482: Building Secure Non-Monogamous Relationships - Sex and Psychology How to craft secure non-monogamous relationships and work skillfully with intense emotions that might arise along the way.

Beginning a consensually non-monogamous relationship can trigger reactions you never saw coming. In this episode, we're exploring how to work with those intense emotions and build security. www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast...

In the Northwest, Polyamory Finds Something New: Legal Protection From big cities like Seattle and Portland, Ore., to small ones like Astoria, Ore., proponents of “nontraditional” romantic relationships are making headway in getting legal recognition.

A growing number of cities in the northwestern US are considering legislation that offers legal protections for persons in polyamorous relationships. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/pacific-northwest-polyamory-legal-protection.html?unlocked_article_code=1.R1A.F4MA.d10DpGAYL84K&smid=url-share

Are Men Who Pay For Sex More Sexist? - Sex and Psychology A common refrain in many anti-prostitution arguments is that sex work is inherently exploitative and that it perpetuates gender inequality. Built into these arguments is an assumption that men who buy sex from women are more sexist to begin with and/or that participating in sex markets increases sexist beliefs.But is there any truth to this idea? Are men who buy sex necessarily more sexist?

Research finds that attitudes relating to women’s roles in the workplace, home, and politics actually tended to be more positive among men who had paid for sex compared to the national average. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2020/5/25/are-men-who-pay-for-sex-more-sexist/

I’m a Straight Man Who Fantasizes About Other Men: Is That Normal? - Sex and Psychology A reader submitted the following question:“I am a straight and happily married man, but lately I have had fantasies about other men. Some of them are just about me and another man, while others involve my wife and I am with a gay or bi man. The question I have has several parts to it. First, is this normal? Second, I have told my wife about these fantasies, and she seemed interested at first, but now is stand-offish about it, how do I help her open up to it?”Thank you for asking this question. Let me start by saying that it’s not uncommon for people who identify as straight or heterosexual...

Among adults who identify as exclusively heterosexual, I've found that 59% of women and 26% of men reported having had a same-sex fantasy before. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2020/5/15/im-a-straight-man-who-fantasizes-about-other-men-is-that-normal/

Rates of Consensual and Nonconsensual Nonmonogamy Among Heterosexual, Gay, and Bisexual Adults - Sex and Psychology I was recently invited to write a book chapter on nonmonogamy in LGBTQ+ relationships, and one of the things I wanted to do in it was compare the prevalence of both consensual nonmonogamy (polyamory, open relationships, swinging) and nonconsensual nonmonogamy (cheating/infidelity). Further, I wanted to look at whether rates of these practices were similar or different for LGBTQ+ persons compared to heterosexual persons. However, I found it surprisingly difficult to locate reliable data points.The problem I kept running into is that study after study conflated consensual nonmonogamy with...

For heterosexuals, rates of infidelity are four times higher than the rate of open relationships. For sexual minorities, rates of open relationships are more common than infidelity. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2020/5/1/rates-of-infidelity-among-heterosexual-gay-and-bisexual-adults/

Does More Porn Use Equal More Sex Problems? Reporting negative impacts of porn use is relatively uncommon. Paradoxically, those who use the least porn are the most likely to report negative effects.

It is widely assumed that high-frequency porn use is linked to more sexual problems. Paradoxically, however, research finds that people using the least porn are reporting the most problems. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-myths-of-sex/202412/does-more-porn-use-equal-more-sex-problems

Fact Check: Does Pubic Hair Grooming Increase the Risk of Getting an STI? - Sex and Psychology Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise, and many people are curious about the reasons why. While the cause is obviously multifactorial, some have suggested that at least part of the rise in STIs may be due to increasing rates of pubic hair grooming in men and women alike. Given that it’s not uncommon for people to experience cuts and skin irritation from genital grooming practices, it at least sounds plausible in theory that pubic hair shaving could potentially increase infection risk. But what does the research actually say?

Pubic hair grooming is on the rise--and so are STIs. So is there a link between them? Here's what the research says. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2020/4/29/fact-check-does-pubic-hair-grooming-increase-the-risk-of-getting-an-sti/

Almost a third of Gen Z men agree a wife should obey her husband | King's College London 31% of Gen Z men agree that a wife should always obey her husband and one third (33%) say a husband should have the final word on important decisions, according to a new global study of 23,000 people.

Global survey of 23,000 adults finds that Gen Z men are 2X as likely as Boomer men to say a wife should always obey her husband and 3X as likely to say a "real woman" should never initiate sex. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/almost-a-third-of-gen-z-men-agree-a-wife-should-obey-her-husband

Episode 481: Can Our Brains Handle Modern Dating? - Sex and Psychology From dating apps to AI matchmaking, we're exploring how modern technology affects the human brain and how it's reshaping intimacy.

Humans evolved for face-to-face courtship in small communities. So what happens when we take that same mating psychology and drop it into a global, app-based marketplace? @kinseyinstitute.bsky.social Director @drjustingarcia.bsky.social has the answer. www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast...

“It’s a Beautiful Feeling”: Exploring Embodied, Psychological, and Gendered Motivations for Sex Under the Influence of Cannabis Among Young Adults Cannabis is the second most used substance in sexual contexts after alcohol, particularly among young adults. Understanding motivations underlying sex under the influence of cannabis can shed light...

Young adults' reasons for using cannabis during sex are many and varied. While frequently used to enhance sensation & deepen connection, it's also used to ease anxiety, tolerate unwanted sex, and because arousal became a conditioned response to cannabis. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Completely agree! And I think this film does a good job of balancing that. It’s not an “everyone should be doing ENM” movie and respects that different things work for different people.

More Than Monogamy: A New Film All About Open Relationships - Sex and Psychology When it comes to relationships, monogamy is usually the default. The person with whom you have sex is the person you are also romantically committed to. However, monogamy doesn’t work well for everyon...

"More Than Monogamy" is a new feature-length documentary that explores everything you need to know when it comes to consensually non-monogamous relationships. Here's how to watch and an interview with one of the filmmakers by @emmendelson.bsky.social www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2026/3/...

Romance and sexual intimacy don't diminish with age, study suggests A study by the University of New Hampshire challenges common assumptions about aging and intimacy, revealing that many single adults aged 60 to 83 continue to prioritize sexual activity in their romantic relationships—underscoring the enduring significance of sex for older adults.

Study of single adults aged 60-83 finds that most continue to prioritize sex in romantic relationships. 72% said they would not pursue a relationship lacking sex, indicating that sexuality remains important across the lifespan. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-romance-sexual-intimacy-dont-diminish.html

Episode 480: The Evolution Of Love And Desire - Sex and Psychology Are humans built for monogamy? What happens inside the brain when we fall in love? Unpacking the neurobiology of love, desire, and attachment.

Humans evolved powerful brain systems for both attachment AND novelty. That tension explains a lot about modern relationships, as @drjustingarcia.bsky.social from the @kinseyinstitute.bsky.social explains on today's episode. www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast...

The Sexologist Who Unlocked the Female Orgasm Fifty years ago, a controversial writer named Shere Hite taught us how to talk about sex and pleasure, selling books by the millions. Why do so few people know her name today?

50 years ago, sexologist Shere Hite conducted a groundbreaking study finding that most women do not reach orgasm by means of vaginal penetration alone. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/03/09/shere-hite-and-the-hite-report-rosa-campbell-book-review

5 Secrets to Increase Your Sexual Satisfaction: Tips From a Sex Therapist - Sex and Psychology As a practicing sex therapist, I often see two partners legitimately trying to bridge a satisfaction gap between each other, but they can’t seem to get the moves just right. If left unchecked, this can lead to resentment and conflict; however, couples who figure out how to speak to each other sexually (both verbally and nonverbally) have the highest success in terms of finding something that works for both of them.Making an environment conducive to this sort of positive growth requires a little bit of effort and the ability to listen. Drawing on my clinical experience, here are my top tips...

Where comfort, intimacy, and trust intersect is where sexual satisfaction likes to live. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2020/4/13/5-secrets-to-increasing-sexual-satisfaction-tips-from-a-sex-therapist/

What are the Most Effective Pick-Up Lines? Here’s What the Science Says - Sex and Psychology For decades, researchers have been studying the effectiveness of different kinds of pick-up lines in order to better understand the psychology of attraction. What they’ve found is that certain types of lines definitely seem to work better than others—and the results have been surprisingly consistent over the years.

Do pick-up lines actually work? Research finds that their effectiveness depends, in part, on the attractiveness of the person delivering them. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2020/4/6/what-are-the-most-effective-pick-up-lines-heres-what-the-science-says/

How Do You Help a Partner Who is Depressed? Advice From a Sex Therapist - Sex and Psychology Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in the United States. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health, 1 in 14 Americans experienced an episode of major depression in the last year alone. Given the circumstances surrounding the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, many in the mental health community predict that the number will be even higher this year because these circumstances are creating a “perfect storm” of depression risks.The widespread prevalence of depression has a lot of implications for our lives, even if we don’t personally have...

When your partner is depressed, don't to "fix" them. Here's what to do instead. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2020/4/8/how-to-help-a-depressed-partner/

😂 We do a bit of both on these courses! The Amsterdam one actually overlaps with King’s Day, so I can assure you we won’t just be studying!

Why Long-Term Partners Might Need Some Sexual Novelty How couples can avoid the Coolidge Effect.

Arousal to the same sexual stimulus typically declines over time, but novelty can reawaken it. This phenomenon, known as the Coolidge Effect, occurs across sexes in both animals and humans. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-myths-of-sex/202311/why-we-crave-sexual-novelty

Study Abroad With Me in Paris and Amsterdam! - Sex and Psychology Join Dr. Lehmiller and Sexual Health Alliance in Paris or Amsterdam next year for an immersive study abroad course on sex and culture.

Join me for an immersive, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel the world and learn all about sex and culture. This spring we're headed to Paris and Amsterdam! https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2025/11/13/study-abroad-with-me-in-paris-and-amsterdam/

The psychology behind society’s fixation on incels Despite their small numbers, incels loom incredibly large in public consciousness. A new study explains why: their stories hit our deepest evolutionary panic buttons regarding sex, status, and societal threat.

Incels capture extraordinary public attention not because they are especially numerous or violent, but because their stories tap into deep-rooted psychological biases that make them unusually memorable and shareable. https://www.psypost.org/the-psychology-behind-societys-fixation-on-incels/

Episode 479: Can Humor Make You Better In Bed? - Sex and Psychology Research shows humor boosts sexual satisfaction. Learn how playfulness can improve intimacy and communication in relationships.

Research shows that couples who bring playfulness into conversations about sex report greater satisfaction and emotional connection. This episode explores how to leverage humor for better sex. www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast...

Thank you!

Is Love Addictive? Many Say Yes, and It’s Changing Our Idea of Romance.

Can love be "addictive?" Many say yes, but it's not a clinically recognized diagnosis, and it's highly debated among scientists, in part, because there isn't stable consensus about what "love" even means. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/m...

The Science-Backed Secret to Long-Term Passion Self-expansion is the process of growing through new, shared experiences. Research finds that it may be one of the keys to sustaining long-term sexual desire.

Desire often fades when relationships become too comfortable. Engaging in novel, challenging experiences that help you see your partner in a new light can reignite attraction over time. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-myths-of-sex/202602/the-science-backed-secret-to-long-term-passion

Want more Sex Ed? Our partners at the Kinsey Institute have compiled research summaries from recent studies related to the topics covered in each episode of Crash Course Sex Ed. You can find links to relevant resources in the description of each Crash Course Sex Ed video, and at complexly.info/sexed