Close relationships

Affinity • Attachment • Bonding • Boyfriend • Casual • Cohabitation • Compersion • Concubinage • Courtship • Divorce • Domestic partnership • Dower, dowry, and bride price • Family • Friendship • Girlfriend • Husband • Infatuation • Intimacy • Jealousy • Limerence • Love • Marriage • Monogamy • Nonmonogamy • Office romance • Passion • Platonic love • Polyamory • Polyfidelity • Polygamy • Psychology of monogamy • Relationship abuse • Romance • Separation • Sexuality • Serial monogamy • Sexual orientation • Significant other • Wedding • Widowhood • Wife  This box: view • talk • edit  Social refers to human society or its organization. ... {redirect|Psychological science|the journal|Psychological Science (journal)}} Not to be confused with Phycology. ... This article is about human sexual perceptions. ... In the contexts of sociology and of popular culture, the concept of interpersonal relationships involves social associations, connections, or affiliations between two or more people. ... Image File history File links KarenWhimseyValentineMain. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Attachment in adults deals with the theory of attachment in adult romantic relationships. ... The term human bond -- or, more generally, human bonding -- refers to the process or formation of a close personal relationship, as between a parent and child, especially through frequent or constant association. ... For other uses, see Boyfriend (disambiguation). ... A casual relationship is a term used to describe the physical and emotional relationship between two people who may have a sexual relationship or a near-sexual relationship without necessarily demanding or expecting a more formal relationship as a goal. ... This article is about a living arrangement. ... Compersion is a term used by practitioners of polyamory to describe the experience of taking pleasure when ones partner is with another person. ... Concubinage refers to the state of a woman or youth in an ongoing, quasi-matrimonial relationship with a man of higher social status. ... Suitor redirects here. ... Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse. ... International recognition Civil unions and Domestic partnerships Recognized in some regions Unregistered co-habitation Recognition debated See also Same-sex marriage Civil union Registered partnership Domestic partnership Timeline of same-sex marriage Listings by country This box:      A domestic partnership is a legal or personal relationship between individuals who live... Dower (Lat. ... A dowry (also known as trousseau) is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage. ... Bride price also known as bride wealth or a dower is an amount of money or property paid to the parents of a woman for the right to marry their daughter. ... For other uses, see Family (disambiguation). ... Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more humans. ... For other uses, see Girlfriend (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Husband (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Infatuation (disambiguation). ... Definition Intimacy is complex in that its meaning varies from relationship to relationship, and within a given relationship over time. ... Jealous redirects here. ... Look up Limerence in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Love (disambiguation). ... Matrimony redirects here. ... Faithfulness redirects here. ... Nonmonogamy is a blanket term covering several different types of interpersonal relationship in which some or all participants have multiple marital, sexual, and/or romantic partners. ... An office romance, work romance, or corporate affair is a romance that occurs between two people who work together in the same office, work location, or business. ... In psychology and common terminology, emotion is the language of a persons internal state of being, normally based in or tied to their internal (physical) and external (social) sensory feeling. ... Platonic love in its modern popular sense is an affectionate relationship into which the sexual element does not enter, especially in cases where one might easily assume otherwise. ... Polyamory (from Greek (, literally “multiple”) and Latin (literally “love”)) is the desire, practice, or acceptance of having more than one loving, intimate relationship at a time with the full knowledge and consent of everyone involved. ... Polyfidelity, is a form of polyamorous group marriage wherein all members consider each other to be primary partners and agree to be sexual only with other members of this group. ... The term polygamy (a Greek word meaning the practice of multiple marriage) is used in related ways in social anthropology, sociobiology, and sociology. ... The psychology of monogamy deals with the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that commonly occur in monogamous relationships. ... Abuser redirects here. ... Romance is a general term that refers to an intimate and often sexual relationship between two people. ... Legal separation is a possible step towards divorce under United States law. ... Serial polygamy is a form of marriage in which participants have more than one sexual partner in their lifetime (hence polygamy), but not at the same time (hence serial). ... Sexual orientation refers to an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, or affectional attraction toward others,[1] usually conceived of as classifiable according to the sex or gender of the persons whom the individual finds sexually attractive. ... Significant other Significant Other is the second studio album by Limp Bizkit, released on June 22, 1999. ... For other uses, see Wedding (disambiguation). ... A widow is a woman whose spouse has died. ... For other uses, see Wife (disambiguation). ...

Human sexual behavior or different human sexual practices encompass a wide range of activities such as strategies to find or attract partners (mating and display behaviour), interactions between individuals, physical or emotional intimacy, and sexual contact. IT FEELS REALLY GOOD IF YOU IMATATE THE ANIMALS. LOL! “Mounting” redirects here. ... Display is a form of animal behaviour, linked to survival of the species in various ways. ... Caress redirects here. ... This subject is covered in some depth at Intimacy. ...

Some cultures will find only sexual contact within marriage acceptable; however, extramarital sexual activity still takes place. Unprotected sex may result in unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. In some areas, sexual abuse of individuals is prohibited by law and considered against the norms of society. Unprotected sex refers to any act of sexual intercourse in which the participants use no forms of protection from sexually transmitted diseases. ... This article is about human pregnancy in biological females. ... A sexually transmitted disease (STD), a. ... Bad Touch redirects here. ...

Aspects of human sexual behavior

Coitus, tacuinum sanitatis casanatensis (XIV century)

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x1098, 302 KB) Tacuina sanitatis (XIV century) العربية | Česky | Deutsch | English | Ελληνικά | Español | فارسی | Français | עברית | Indonesian | Italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | Magyar | Nederlands | Polski | Português | Românǎ | Русский | Slovenščina | Српски | Sunda | 简体中文 | 正體中文 | Türkçe | Русский | Українська +/- File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x1098, 302 KB) Tacuina sanitatis (XIV century) العربية | Česky | Deutsch | English | Ελληνικά | Español | فارسی | Français | עברית | Indonesian | Italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | Magyar | Nederlands | Polski | Português | Românǎ | Русский | Slovenščina | Српски | Sunda | 简体中文 | 正體中文 | Türkçe | Русский | Українська +/- File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this... The Tacuinum (sometimes Taccuinum) Sanitatis is a medieval handbook on wellness, based on the Taqwin al‑sihha (Tables of Health), an Arab medical treatise by Ibn Butlan; it exists in several variant Latin versions, the manuscripts of which are profusely illustrated. ...

Cultural aspects

As with other behaviors, human intelligence and complex societies have produced among the most complicated sexual behaviors of any animal. Most people experiment with a range of sexual activities during their lives, though they tend to engage in only a few of these regularly. Most people enjoy some sexual activities. However, most societies have defined some sexual activities as inappropriate (wrong person, wrong activity, wrong place, , etc.) Some people enjoy many different sexual activities, while others avoid sexual activities altogether for religious or other reasons (see chastity, sexual abstinence). Historically, some societies and religions have viewed sex as appropriate only within marriage. Allegory of chastity by Hans Memling. ... Sexual abstinence is the practice of voluntarily refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity. ... Matrimony redirects here. ...

Social norms and rules

Main article: Social norm

Human sexual behavior, like many other kinds of activity engaged in by human beings, is generally governed by social rules that are culturally specific and vary widely. These social rules are referred to as sexual morality (what can and can not be done by society's rules) and sexual norms (what is and is not expected). Sexual ethics, morals, and norms relate to issues including deception/honesty, legality, fidelity and consent. In sociology, a norm, or social norm, is a pattern of behavior expected within a particular society in a given situation. ... Sexual ethics is a sub-category of ethics that pertain to acts falling within the broad spectrum of human sexual behavior, sexual intercourse in particular. ... A sexual norm can refer to a personal or a social norm. ... For the financial services company, see Fidelity Investments. ...

Some activities, known as sex crimes, are illegal in some jurisdictions, including those conducted between (or among) consenting and competent adults (examples include sodomy law and adult-adult incest). Scientific studies suggest sexual fantasy, even of unusual interests, is usually a healthy activity.^{[citation needed]} This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A sodomy law is a law that defines certain sexual acts as sex crimes. ... Incest is defined as sexual relations between closely related persons (often within the immediate family) such that it is either illegal or socially taboo. ...

Some people engage in various sexual activities as a business transaction. When this involves having sex with, or performing certain actual sexual acts for another person, it is called prostitution. Other aspects of the adult industry include (for example) telephone sex operators, strip clubs, pornography and the like. Whore redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Phone sex refers to sexually explicit conversation between two or more persons via telephone, especially when at least one of the participants masturbates or engages in sexual fantasy. ... For the book or movie Striptease see Striptease (book) and Striptease (movie) A striptease is a performance, usually a dance, in which the performer gradually removes their clothing for the purposes of sexually arousing the audience, usually performed in nightclubs. ... Porn redirects here. ...

Nearly all developed societies consider it a serious crime to force someone to engage in sexual behavior or to engage in sexual behavior with someone who does not consent. This is called sexual assault, and if sexual penetration occurs it is called rape, the most serious kind of sexual assault. The details of this distinction may vary among different legal jurisdictions. Also, precisely what constitutes effective consent to have sex varies from culture to culture and is frequently debated. Laws regulating the minimum age at which a person can consent to have sex (age of consent) are frequently the subject of political and moral debate^{[citation needed]}, as is adolescent sexual behavior in general. Additionally, many societies have forced marriage, so consent does not really figure in to the equation of a sex crime.^{[citation needed]} Age of consent laws Worldwide While the phrase age of consent typically does not appear in legal statutes,[1] when used with reference to criminal law the age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be capable of legally giving informed consent to any... Main articles: Human sexual behavior, Adolescence, and Adolescent sexuality Adolescent sexual behavior refers to the sexual behavior of adolescents. ...

It is possible to engage in sexual activity without a partner, primarily through masturbation and/or sexual fantasy. Woman masturbating, 1913 drawing by Gustav Klimt. ... Hokusais The Dream of the Fishermans Wife is an artistic depiction of a sexual fantasy This article is about psychological fantasies. ...

Frequency of sexual activity

The frequency of sexual intercourse might range from zero (sexual abstinence) to 15 or 20 times a week.^[1] It is generally recognized that postmenopausal women experience declines in frequency of sexual intercourse.^[2]. The average frequency of sexual intercourse for married couples is 2 to 3 times a week (in America). ^[3] It has been suggested that Duration of sexual intercourse be merged into this article or section. ... Sexual abstinence is the practice of voluntarily refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity. ... The word menopause literally means the permanent physiological, or natural, cessation of menstrual cycles, from the Greek roots meno (month) and pausis (a pause, a cessation). ...

Safety and ancillary issues

There are four main areas of risk in sexual activity, namely:

• choosing to trust a partner who is physically at risk
• sexually transmitted disease
• unwanted pregnancy
• seeking or engaging in an activity which is legally or culturally disapproved

These risks are raised by any condition (temporary or permanent) which impairs one's judgement, such as excess alcohol or drugs, or emotional states such as loneliness, depression or euphoria (e.g. new students at college). Carefully considered activity can greatly reduce all of these issues. A sexually transmitted disease (STD), a. ... This article is about human pregnancy in biological females. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Many drugs are provided in tablet form. ... Loneliness is an emotional state in which a person experiences a powerful feeling of emptiness and isolation. ... For other uses, see Depression. ... Euphoria (Greek ) is a medically recognized emotional state related to happiness. ...

Sexually transmitted disease

Main article: Safe sex

Sexual behaviors that involve contact with the bodily fluids of another person entail risk of transmission of sexually transmitted disease. Safe sex practices try to avoid this. These techniques are often seen as less necessary for those in committed relationships with persons known to be free of disease; see fluid bonding. Safe sex (also called safer sex or protected sex) is a set of practices that are designed to reduce the risk of infection during sexual intercourse to avoid developing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). ... A sexually transmitted disease (STD), a. ... Fluid bonding is the practice of sexual partners who explicitly choose to expose themselves to each others bodily fluids. ...

Due to health concerns arising from HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, HPV and other sexually transmitted infections, some people may want potential sex partners to be tested for STDs before engaging in sex. Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ... Chlamydia is a common term for Chlamydiae. ... Syphilis is a curable sexually transmitted disease caused by the Treponema pallidum spirochete. ... The clap redirects here. ... HPV is an initialism that can mean : Human Powered Vehicle Human papillomavirus a type of STD High Production Volume Chemicals Health Purchasing Victoria Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share... Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), are diseases that are commonly transmitted between partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A sexually transmitted disease (STD), a. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Unwanted pregnancy

Sexual behaviors that involve the contact of semen with the vagina or vulva may result in pregnancy. To prevent pregnancy, many people employ a variety of birth control measures. The most popular methods of prevention are condoms, spermicides, hormonal contraception, and sterilization. Horse semen being collected for breeding purposes. ... The vagina, (from Latin, literally sheath or scabbard ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. ... The vulva (from Latin, vulva, plural vulvae or vulvas; see etymology) is the region of the external genital organs of the female, including the labia majora, mons pubis, labia minora, clitoris, bulb of the vestibule, vestibule of the vagina, greater and lesser vestibular glands, and vaginal orifice. ... This article is about human pregnancy in biological females. ... A standard latex condom still rolled up This article is about the contraceptive device. ... Spermicide is a substance that kills sperm, inserted vaginally prior to intercourse to prevent pregnancy. ... Hormonal contraception refers to birth control methods that act on the hormonal system. ...

Legal issues related to sexual behavior

Main articles: Paraphilia#Legal views and Sex and the law

Look up paraphilia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Sodomy and same sex laws

Various forms of same-sex sexual activity have been prohibited under law in many areas at different times in history. In 2003, the Lawrence v Texas United States Supreme Court decision overturned all such laws in the US.^[4] Holding A Texas law prohibiting homosexual sodomy violated the liberty under the Fourteenth Amendment of adults to engage in private intimate conduct. ...

Usually, though not always, such laws are termed sodomy laws, but also include issues such as age of consent laws, "decency" laws, and so forth. Laws prohibiting same-sex sexuality have varied widely throughout history, varying by culture, religious and social taboos and customs, etc. Often such laws are targeted or applied differently based on sex as well. For example, laws against same-sex sexual behavior in the United Kingdom during the reign of Queen Victoria, sodomy or "buggery" laws were aimed specifically at male same-sex sexual activity and did not target or even address female homosexuality. A well known example of such laws applied in relatively modern times can be found in the life story of Alan Turing. A sodomy law is a law that defines certain sexual acts as sex crimes. ... Queen Victoria redirects here. ... Alan Mathison Turing, OBE, FRS (23 June 1912 – 7 June 1954) was an English mathematician, logician, and cryptographer. ...

Child sexual abuse

Main article: Child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification. ...

List of sex acts and practices

There are many variations of sexual activities, and often multiple names for any given practice. For more detail see the comprehensive list of sex positions and list of sexual slang.

This list of sex positions includes descriptions of various forms of sexual intercourse and other sexual acts between people. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

General

Bareback is a term that originated in gay slang to describe acts of unprotected anal sex. ... This article is about the massage technique. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Peter Fendi, 1835 Group sex is sexual behaviour involving more than two participants at the same time. ... A sex toy is a term for any object or device that is primarily used in facilitating human sexual pleasure. ... Watercolour painting depicting cunnilingus by Achille Devéria Cunnilingus is the act of performing oral sex, using the mouth, lips, and tongue to stimulate the female genitals. ... Fellatio is oral sex performed upon the male human penis. ... 14th century manuscript illustration of the accusations of sodomy against the Knights Templar Anal_oral contact (commonly referred to as anilingus and colloquially known as rimming or tossing salad) is sexual activity involving contact between the anus or perianal areas of one person and the mouth of another. ... Hokusais The Dream of the Fishermans Wife is an artistic depiction of a sexual fantasy This article is about psychological fantasies. ... Woman masturbating, 1913 drawing by Gustav Klimt. ... Oral sex consists of all sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth, which may include use of the tongue, teeth, and throat, to stimulate genitalia. ... Oral stimulation of nipples is a human sexual practice. ... It has been suggested that Duration of sexual intercourse be merged into this article or section. ... Anal sex or anal intercourse is human sexual behavior involving the anus and rectum, especially, but not limited to, the insertion of the erect penis into the anus. ... It has been suggested that sumata be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Frottage. ... Porn redirects here. ... Sexual roleplaying is a sexual behavior between two or more people in which they take on erotic roles to carry out a sexual fantasy. ... This list of sex positions includes descriptions of various forms of sexual intercourse and other sexual acts between people. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

BDSM-related

• BDSM
  • Bondage
  • List of bondage positions
  • Domination and submission
  • Sadomasochism
  • Impact play
• Fetishism
  • Foot fetishism
  • Leather fetishism
  • Latex and PVC fetishism
• Nyotaimori
• Wax play

Collars are a commonly used symbol of BDSM and can be ornamental or functional. ... A model in bondage cuffs with a leg spreader In the context of BDSM, bondage involves people being tied up or otherwise restrained for pleasure. ... This is a list of bondage positions and methods. ... This article or section includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004. ... In this flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004 the top is using an advanced double flogger technique. ... Two women in handcuffs and latex miniskirts and tops - Latex and PVC fetishism Wikinews has related news: Dr. Joseph Merlino on sexuality, insanity, Freud, fetishes and apathy Sexual fetishism is the sexual attraction for material and terrestrial objects while in reality the essence of the object is inanimate and sexless. ... Foot fetishism is a pronounced fetishistic sexual interest in human feet. ... Leather fetishism is the name popularly used to describe a fetishistic attraction to people wearing leather, or in certain cases, to the garments themselves. ... Two women in handcuffs and latex miniskirts and tops Latex fetishism is the fetishistic attraction to people wearing latex clothing, or in certain cases, to the garments themselves. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Wax play can create colorful and beautiful patterns on the subject Wax play is a form of sensual play involving warm or hot wax usually dripped from candles or ladled onto a persons naked skin. ...

Specialized verbal or visual activities

Some forms of sexual activity involve someone else, but not touching the other:

• Dirty talk
  • Phone sex
  • Cybersex
• Exhibitionism is the recurrent urge or behavior to expose one's genitals to an unsuspecting person.
• Voyeurism is the recurrent urge or behavior to observe an unsuspecting person who is naked, disrobing or engaging in sexual activities.

Saucy Postcard 1905 - 1915 Dirty talk is a dysphemism for a lovers practice of using graphic word imagery to heighten sexual pleasure before and during the sex act. ... Phone sex refers to sexually explicit conversation between two or more persons via telephone, especially when at least one of the participants masturbates or engages in sexual fantasy. ... Webcam Cybersex, computer sex, internet sex or net sex is a virtual sex encounter in which two or more persons connected remotely via a computer network send one another sexually explicit messages describing a sexual experience. ... An exhibitionist exposing himself at a soccer game. ... “Voyeur” redirects here. ...

References

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Sex

• Physical intimacy
• Sexual attraction
• History of human sexuality
• Sexual orientation
• Sexual function
• Sex education
• Sexual slang
• List of sex positions
• Lust
• Sexual norm
• Human sexual response cycle