Skip to content
My WebMD Sign In, Sign Up

Announcements

Attention: The information provided in this forum is intended for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for individual professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
How do you and your partner balance your sexual motivations?
avatar
Leslie Becker-Phelps, PhD posted:
People have sex for three basic reasons. There is purely physical sex, which is driven by a desire for sensual pleasure. There is purely emotional sex, which is driven by a need to feel emotional reassurance. This need can often be met even better by just cuddling. And, there is bonding sex, which is motivated by a desire for physical and emotional closeness.


What are your prime motivations for sex? How much are you and your partner on the same page with this? And, how do you balance these different needs? For this and much more info on relationships, please visit Dr. Becker-Phels Blog here: The Art of Relationships .
Reply
 
avatar
Rhondamay responded:
The sex I have with my guy is most often a combination of all three. We both treasure the closeness and bonding effect that sex gives us but sometimes it is more lust and sensory fulfillment. Other times it is the comfort of reassurance.

Once when I lost a sibling I spontaneously dragged my guy to the bedroom and did my best to ravage him. I know that was not lust or bonding it was 100% reassurance. Sometimes cuddling isn't enough.

I don't know if this is balance but it works for us.
 
avatar
Leslie Becker-Phelps, PhD replied to Rhondamay's response:
It sounds to me like you've found a balance that works for you; which is great! (Everyone has to find their own way of balancing these different needs.)
 
avatar
samanthas11 replied to Rhondamay's response:
I guess I would be similar. A combination of all of them with a tendency to lean towards bonding.
 
avatar
An_246418 responded:
depending on life situations all three basic reasons can apply. For the most part, we like emotional and bonding sex. Busy schedules can bring on purely physical sex since we both know when we desire just sexual pleasure. Cuddling too, is very important to the relationship as a way of being close to each other. I couldn't be without it ever!!! We enjoy each other and very much in tune to each others needs so balancing is not an issue for us. In the beginning of our relationship, we talked about what we wanted in a sexual relationship so that we both could be on the same page and the experience has been very rewarding


Featuring Experts

Leslie Becker-Phelps, PhD, launched her counseling career at age 17, as a telephone helpline volunteer in her New Jersey hometown. She is now a well-r...More

Helpful Tips

Just a little something I read today that I thought I should share...
Discretion "Recognizing and avoiding words, actions and attitudes that could bring undesirable consequences." Here are some simple things ... More
Was this Helpful?
5 of 5 found this helpful

Related Drug Reviews

  • Drug Name User Reviews

Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration

FDAYou are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.