Sexual Partners and Self Esteem
Lindsey Larsen
Research in psychology
Introduction
3/14/13 Sexual Partners in relation to self esteem: Research in Psychology Study When one is trying to attract a desired sex partner, their self esteem could determine how successful they are. Depending on the individuals level of self esteem they would be more or less likely to approach a possible mate. When determining the number of sex partners a person has had it is important to observe the level of self esteem of the individual in relation to the amount of partners they have supposedly slept with. A research study was done that observed males and females in their desire to possess socially desired traits. They used video tape recordings of individuals with various self esteem types and had the individuals speak to the camera as if trying to “pick up” on their desired sex partner. The study found that self esteem did not play a role in ones presentation of oneself. When asked to physically act out the desired roles and traits individuals claimed to have, self esteem did play apart in the individuals behaving accordingly to how they described themselves. (Stinson, Wood, Reddoch, Holmes, & Little, 2011) This study supports the idea that the higher self esteem an individual has the more sex partners they will likely have. If individuals have high levels of self esteem they are more likely to act on the impulse to speak and present themselves as a sex partner to a desired person. When studying self esteem it is important to observe what may be causing the high or low levels of self esteem which could relate to the high or low number of sex partners. Researchers have found that job performance and high grades lead people to have higher levels of self esteem. (Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger, and Vohs., 2003) Therefore we may be able to assume that people with more sex partners have higher levels of self esteem. The question of self esteem affecting the number of people a person sleeps with versus the number
Research in psychology
Introduction
3/14/13 Sexual Partners in relation to self esteem: Research in Psychology Study When one is trying to attract a desired sex partner, their self esteem could determine how successful they are. Depending on the individuals level of self esteem they would be more or less likely to approach a possible mate. When determining the number of sex partners a person has had it is important to observe the level of self esteem of the individual in relation to the amount of partners they have supposedly slept with. A research study was done that observed males and females in their desire to possess socially desired traits. They used video tape recordings of individuals with various self esteem types and had the individuals speak to the camera as if trying to “pick up” on their desired sex partner. The study found that self esteem did not play a role in ones presentation of oneself. When asked to physically act out the desired roles and traits individuals claimed to have, self esteem did play apart in the individuals behaving accordingly to how they described themselves. (Stinson, Wood, Reddoch, Holmes, & Little, 2011) This study supports the idea that the higher self esteem an individual has the more sex partners they will likely have. If individuals have high levels of self esteem they are more likely to act on the impulse to speak and present themselves as a sex partner to a desired person. When studying self esteem it is important to observe what may be causing the high or low levels of self esteem which could relate to the high or low number of sex partners. Researchers have found that job performance and high grades lead people to have higher levels of self esteem. (Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger, and Vohs., 2003) Therefore we may be able to assume that people with more sex partners have higher levels of self esteem. The question of self esteem affecting the number of people a person sleeps with versus the number