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Having sex on the first date used to be a major no-no for some singles. The belief was that having sex day one labeled you a “hoe” or “too easy.” Naysayers also cautioned against doing the nasty early on, believing that sex would take away from a couple’s ability to get to know each other.
But according to new research, sex early on may not affect the relationship as much as we previously thought. A team of social scientists from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzilya in partnership with the University of Rochester found that sexual desire not only attracts partners, but also acts as a glue for relationship bonding.
“Sex may set the stage for deepening the emotional connection between strangers,” says the study’s lead author Gurit Birnbaum. “This holds true for both men and women. Sex motivates human beings to connect, regardless of gender.”
The study’s co-author, Harry Reis, reinforced this idea explaining, “Although sexual urges and emotional attachments are distinct feelings, evolutionary and social processes likely have rendered humans particularly prone to becoming romantically attached to partners to whom they are sexually attracted.”
Even though first date sex isn’t a sure fire way to guarantee relationship success, it’s undeniable that sex’s original purpose was to create deep bonding between partners.
“Throughout human history, parents’ bonding greatly increased the children’s survival chances,” Reiss said.
Birnbaum followed up saying that it’s not a direct correlation, but it definitely can help.
“Sexual desire may play a causally important role in the development of relationships,” says Birnbaum. “It’s the magnetism that holds partners together long enough for an attachment bond to form.”
How long you wait to have sex is ultimately up to you. But for those who are comfortable expressing their sexuality earlier, it may not be an inhibitor to relationship building.
