Why do women have sex?

Why Women Have Sex: Understanding Sexual Motivations from Adventure to Revenge (and Everything in Between)

In the 40s and 50s, Alfred Kinsey, the "father" of sexology, asked about people’s sexual histories. In the free-loving 60s, Masters and Johnson explored sexual response. But for all their pioneering research, they never asked why. Now, Cindy Meston, a clinical psychologist, and David Buss, an evolutionary psychologist are asking this simple but informative question. For their new book, "Why Women Have Sex," they surveyed more than 1000 women all over the world about their sexual desire. From adventure to revenge (and everything in between), they identified 237 reasons. Exactly. Why do you have sex?

In the 40s and 50s, Alfred Kinsey, the "father" of sexology, asked about people’s sexual histories. In the free-loving 60s, Masters and Johnson explored sexual response. But for all their pioneering research, they never asked why. Now, Cindy Meston, a clinical psychologist, and David Buss, an evolutionary psychologist are asking this simple but informative question. For their new book, "Why Women Have Sex," they surveyed more than 1000 women all over the world about their sexual desire. From adventure to revenge (and everything in between), they identified 237 reasons. Exactly. Why do you have sex?

Guests:

Cindy Meston, co-author, "Why Women Have Sex: Understanding Sexual Motivations—from Adventure to Revenge (and Everything in Between)" (Times Books); professor of clinical psychology, University of Texas at Austin, where she directs the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory

David Buss, co-author, "Why Women Have Sex: Understanding Sexual Motivations—from Adventure to Revenge (and Everything in Between)" (Times Books); founder in the field of evolutionary psychology, professor at University of Texas at Austin