Quickie: When Sexting Isn’t Just About Sex
Researchers find three reasons for sending nude photos
It seems like a no-brainer that sexting is related to sex, but this isn’t the whole story. In fact, according to research, two-thirds of people participate in sexting for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with sex.
“Sexting among adults is an evolution of how we have communicated our sexual desires to our partners in the past.” — Joseph M. Currin
Researchers Joseph M. Currin and Kassidy Cox focused on three reasons for sexting that had been identified in past studies: foreplay, relationship reassurance, and receiving a non-sexual favor from the recipient of the naked pictures later. To find out which reasons were most prevalent, Currin and Cox asked 160 people, from 18 to 69 years old, why they sent nude photos to others, and even the researchers report they were surprised by the results.
“It was intriguing that two-thirds of the individuals who engaged in sexting did so for non-sexual purposes,” said Cox. “This may actually be demonstrating some individuals engage in sexting, but would prefer not to, but do so as a means to either gain affirmation about their relationship, relieve anxiety, or get something…
