Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...

Close Relationships and Culture

Close Relationships and Culture

Culture shapes how people approach attraction, choose partners, and build long-term relationships. While some preferences in mate selection appear consistent across cultures, such as men valuing physical attractiveness and women emphasizing financial resources, cultural contexts influence how these preferences are expressed and prioritized. Marriage extends beyond romantic ideals in many societies and is deeply embedded in social, economic, and religious frameworks.The Role of Culture in Mate...

Horney's Sociocultural Approach

Horney's Sociocultural Approach

Karen Horney's psychoanalytic theories emphasize the potential for self-realization and the importance of addressing social and cultural, rather than biological, factors in personality development. She challenged traditional Freudian views, particularly Freud's concept of "penis envy," which she argued stemmed from cultural influences rather than inherent biological differences. Horney believed that any sense of inferiority in women was a result of societal conditioning, such as dependence on...

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...

Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity

Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity

Reciprocity in attraction is fundamental to social and romantic relationships, shaping how individuals form and maintain connections. The psychological principle underlying this phenomenon is that people tend to like those who express liking toward them. Balance theory supports this tendency, suggesting that mutual attraction fosters psychological harmony, whereas one-sided affection leads to discomfort and cognitive dissonance.The Psychological Mechanisms Behind ReciprocityWhen individuals...

Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction

Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction

Physical attractiveness plays a crucial role in shaping interpersonal attraction, influencing first impressions, social interactions, and long-term relationship dynamics. Psychological research consistently demonstrates that attractiveness affects social evaluations and behavioral outcomes in various contexts.Influence on Social InteractionsResearch has shown that individuals perceived as physically attractive often experience preferential treatment in social and professional settings. One...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

If I Only Knew Then: Single Adults' Perceptions of the Impact of Sex Education on Their Romantic and Sexual Lives.

International journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health·2026

Same author

Sex-Positive HIV Prevention Messages: A Case Study From the Early Years of the Epidemic.

American journal of public health·2025

Same author

Diversity is a feature, not a bug<b>The Sexual Evolution: How 500 Million Years of Sex, Gender, and Mating Shape Modern Relationships</b> <i>Nathan H. Lents</i> Mariner Books, 2025. 352 pp.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2025

Same author

Beyond words: Relationships between emoji use, attachment style, and emotional intelligence.

PloS one·2024

Same author

The lifelong orgasm gap: exploring age's impact on orgasm rates.

Sexual medicine·2024

Same author

Exploring patterns in mental health treatment and interests of single adults in the United States: a secondary data analysis.

Frontiers in public health·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Ex Vivo Infection of Human Lymphoid Tissue and Female Genital Mucosa with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and Histoculture

Ex Vivo Infection of Human Lymphoid Tissue and Female Genital Mucosa with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and Histoculture

Published on: October 12, 2018

Sexual Hookup Culture: A Review.

Justin R Garcia¹, Chris Reiber, Sean G Massey

¹The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Review of General Psychology : Journal of Division 1, of the American Psychological Association

|April 6, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Casual sex encounters, or hookups, are increasingly common among young adults, reflecting shifts in social norms and evolving sexual behaviors. Understanding this trend requires considering both biological and social factors in emerging adulthood.

Keywords:

casual sex hooking up hookup human sexuality mating strategies sexual behavior sexual scripts

More Related Videos

Laboratory and Field Culture of Larvae of The Slipper Limpet, Crepidula fornicata

Laboratory and Field Culture of Larvae of The Slipper Limpet, Crepidula fornicata

Published on: January 5, 2024

Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community

Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community

Published on: May 31, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Ex Vivo Infection of Human Lymphoid Tissue and Female Genital Mucosa with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and Histoculture

Ex Vivo Infection of Human Lymphoid Tissue and Female Genital Mucosa with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and Histoculture

Published on: October 12, 2018

Laboratory and Field Culture of Larvae of The Slipper Limpet, Crepidula fornicata

Laboratory and Field Culture of Larvae of The Slipper Limpet, Crepidula fornicata

Published on: January 5, 2024

Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community

Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community

Published on: May 31, 2019

Area of Science:

Psychology
Sociology
Anthropology

Background:

Hookups, or uncommitted sexual encounters, are increasingly prevalent in popular culture.
These encounters represent a shift in sexual norms, particularly among adolescents and young adults.
Hookup activities encompass a range of sexual behaviors without commitment.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current literature on sexual hookups.
To examine the evolutionary and social forces influencing hookup culture.
To provide a biopsychosocial perspective on casual sex among emerging adults.

Main Methods:

Literature review of current research on sexual hookups.
Analysis of popular culture examples to contextualize hooking up.
Synthesis of evolutionary and social theories.

Main Results:

Hookups are becoming normative among adolescents and young adults in North America.
Popular culture significantly influences and reflects hookup culture.
Contemporary hookup culture results from the convergence of evolutionary and social factors.

Conclusions:

Hookup culture is best understood as a product of evolutionary and social forces during emerging adulthood.
A comprehensive view requires integrating evolutionary mechanisms, social processes, and the cultural climate.
Future research should adopt a synergistic biopsychosocial approach to casual sex in emerging adults.