What is sex in college? What does it mean? What is it for? We live in a “hookup culture” that is progressively convinced that sex is a recreational activity that has no long-term impact on the health and happiness of collegiate’s around the globe. Well…at least that’s the reputation of college: The place to go not just for a specific advanced education in academics, but for sexual education as well… to take part in a little experimentation before settling down after graduation, to experience this so called “hook up” culture that exists in colleges all around the globe.
But what if that isn’t really the case? What if sex is also made for long-term bonding and attachment like our parents taught us. What if it is really made for love and this so called “hook up” culture is damaging our relationships in the future? The “love” chemical; the chemical that fuels attachment and bonding through cuddling, kissing, and sexual contact is called oxytocin. Essentially it’s a hormone that announces: I’m with someone special, lets switch “love”on and any type of caution off. When oxytocin levels are higher, you’re more likely to overlook the downsides and any faults or incompatibilities between you and your partner and to take risks you wouldn’t “normally” take. Do you really want to be soaked in this hormone when making a critical decision in a relationship with a guy? Questions like: What do I think of him? what does he think of me? How far do I want to take this so called relationship…we may or may not even have in the first place?
When it comes to sex, oxytocin turns RED lights GREEN, it turns LEMONS into LIMES, and APPLES into ORANGES. Oxytocin plays a huge part in something called the “the biochemistry of attachment.” This means you could easily develop feelings for a guy whose last intention is to bond with you. You might think of this kid all day, when in reality he can barely remember your name the next day.
With casual sex existing in this “hookup” culture, the bonding that should occur between individuals is merely an illusion. Meaning oxytocin’s ability to facilitate attachment decreases and its potency is weakened with frequent “hook-ups”. So a person’s ability to establish secure bonds and relationships with future partners increasingly collapses. Oh and did I mention… oxytocin is especially potent in women. Which probably explains why we easily bond with men after a sexual encounter compared to men bonding with women after an encounter. This also explains why we might experience more heartache and even heartbreak more often than men do within this so called “hook-up” culture.
Now I am not saying sex is bad, of course it’s NOT bad, but collegiates around the globe; I encourage you to use this knowledge to impact your future decisions and remember… GIRL POWER!!