Having a one-night stand seems like fun to a lot of people. People who joins willingly to the hookup culture means that they don’t regret it. Would you agree? Well, the truth is they sometimes do but they don’t announce it to the world!
According to a great numbers of research samples, it’s very likely that people regret their most recent hookups. But depending on how you look at it, there may be very little to regret. Here are the reasons why you should never regret a hookup.
You’re Strained to Risky Behavior
The researchers at PloS One have suggested that some of us have a greater tendency to be drawn to risky behavior than others. They believe these behaviors have something in common with the gene DRD4, which is also associated with cheating and gambling behaviors.
People who are not prone to engaging in risky behaviors generally do not engage in hooking up. So, if you feel regret after a hookup, maybe you are one of those people who aren’t drawn to risky behavior.
It Just Feels Great
Do you know why over half of the people who have casual sex enjoy their hookups? Because it just feels good. The act of having sex feels good and the fact that people are doing it without the drama or commitment that comes with a relationship makes it feel even better. If you consider these benefits, and not what society or your family and friends say is right or wrong, you may also like it too.
It’s Exciting
As long as you’re having safe sex, a hookup can be exciting, especially if you know that it’s going to be good. It’s the rush you get when the person you’re with has a body you’re not familiar with.
You don’t know what their likes and dislikes are, and your time together is based on nothing more than the common desire for physical pleasure. The only thing to really regret about a hookup is terrible, boring sex, according to Donna Freitas, author of “The End of Sex.”
The Pleasure Compensates the Guilt
Everything we do has a certain amount of pleasure and a certain amount of guilt tied to it. That’s just how the brain works. For example, let’s say you go into a clothing store, and you see a great pair of jeans. You could either get those jeans or pay your electric bill on time. No matter what choice you make, you will feel a mixture of pleasure and regret. You just have to decide which feeling you can live with.
The same is true with hookups. Most people surveyed after a hookup have stronger positive feelings than negative ones. So, while you may have some regrets, the fun, pleasure and memories will outweigh your regrets the majority of the time.
It Depends How You View Bad Sex
Women are more likely to regret a hookup that wasn’t pleasurable. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to regret a missed opportunity for a hookup. So, if a man has a choice between bad sex and no sex, most likely, he’ll “just do it.”
It Won’t Ruin Your Chances for Long-Term Love
According to research at the University of Virginia, as many as 32 percent of all marriages began with a hookup. And as the sociologist Elizabeth Armstrong has advocated, hooking up can allow women to maintain their independence (working towards a career and self-development), while also learning how to deal with the sexual aspects of an adult relationship.
The lesson here is that you can find love in a hookup, but don’t forget that there are other things to consider before committing to a relationship with that person.
The article makes some valid points about the nature of human behavior and the inherent excitement in casual sex. It’s fascinating how much influence our genetics can have on our choices. However, it seems rather reductionist to attribute complex emotional experiences solely to genetics.
Interestingly, the statistics presented appear to support the notion that hookups can have a positive impact on one’s life. The focus on the balance between pleasure and regret is a captivating perspective.
Yet, it’s critical to recognize that individual experiences vary greatly, and what works for one may not work for another.
Indeed, if we look at it from a purely hedonistic standpoint, the pleasure derived from such encounters often outweighs the negatives.
While the article attempts to normalize hookup culture, it’s important to remember the diversity of human experiences. Not everyone will find casual sex fulfilling, and societal pressures can complicate matters further. It’s all about personal choice and what aligns with one’s values and emotional needs.
Oh, the irony! Promoting casual flings while expecting folks to magically find true love in such fleeting encounters is laughable. Society’s mixed messages about sex will never cease to amuse me.
This piece is quite idealistic. The notion that hookups are mostly positive is misleading. Emotional fallout and the risk of STDs are real concerns that should not be dismissed so lightly.
Fox, you are absolutely right. The article fails to address the potential long-term emotional and physical consequences of casual sex.
Sure, there are risks, but isn’t that true for almost everything in life? The key is to take precautions and be honest with oneself about what one wants.