The Psychology of Sex Noises

Written by Stephanie Castillo for YourTango.com

YourTango Expert Dr. John Grohol recently wrote about a study, published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, which found that women’s sex noises are not generally a reflex or consequence of orgasm, but rather an effort to help the man reach the finish line. The researchers found that a woman’s “vocalizations” most often occurred around the man’s orgasm, just before or simultaneously with ejaculation. Read more here: Yes, Yes, Yes! What Women’s Moans In Bed Mean

“According to this study, whether they know it or not, women appear to vocalize during sex not to express their own enjoyment so much as to help the man reach climax,” notes Grohol. “This is in keeping with the idea that we all have sexual scripts in our head of both our idealized sexual encounter, as well as what we believe our partners want.”

Of the 77 women (all of whom were heterosexual) surveyed in the study, most were likely to achieve orgasm when masturbating or having their partner manipulate them to orgasm, not through oral sex or intercourse. Women in the study reported they most often experienced orgasm during foreplay.

The researchers theorize: “These data together clearly demonstrate a dissociation of the timing of women experiencing orgasm and making copulatory vocalizations and indicate that there is at least an element of these responses that are under conscious control, providing women with an opportunity to manipulate male behavior to their advantage.”

Manipulate male behavior, eh? Now if we could just “manipulate” men into longer foreplay, maybe then they’d hear some bonafide sex noises. You hear that, guys?

What do you think? Does this study mean women need to let looser and have more fun in bed?

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Stacey E.

3:35PM PDT on Oct 12, 2011

Interesting

send a green star

Jenny S.

5:40PM PDT on Oct 8, 2011

hmmm... would be nice if the article was a little longer.

jennifer c.

2:06AM PDT on Sep 15, 2011

good article

Serena A.

7:52AM PDT on Sep 2, 2011

interesting

Kathy P.

7:11PM PDT on Aug 31, 2011

interesting but perhaps not accurate? a good read in any case

heather g.

2:28AM PDT on Aug 29, 2011

This study was not at all comprehensive.

I read the comments and thought : "I'm very fortunate"

Guy K.

11:29PM PDT on Aug 28, 2011

I don't know if women do manipulate me in bed but I like the topic. Keep it up! No pun intended.

Lika S.

11:05PM PDT on Aug 28, 2011

Well, maybe it's a good think I was not asked... lol. But of course I think I'm luckier than most people in that department.

I also kudo Jane Barton's statement of sex being interactive, rather than manipulative.

Robyn L.

4:40PM PDT on Aug 28, 2011

interesting that of 71 het women, the mean age is 22 and this is a study of all women's sexuality?

at 22 I often wanted the guy to finish.
Today, yes, I have a sound that says "I am satisfied and you can finish in your own time."

I also have a please not yet tone.

and reading this also made me think of the tape of bats engaging in oral sex.
We have to get creative.