However, we found that having sex to avoid disappointing your partner (i.e.,
for avoidance goals) is actually associated with partners reporting less desire and satisfaction.1 In other words, when people simply «give it up» to avoid negative outcomes in their relationships, their partners have less positive sexual experiences and feel worse about the relationship.
Hhaving sex
for avoidance goals may provide a daily boost in relationship satisfaction compared to not having sex at all (although not nearly as much of a boost as having sex for approach goals!).
The data suggest that on days when one partner in a relationship has sex
for avoidance goals, the other partner feels more negative emotions and reports lower relationship and sexual satisfaction.
These initial findings suggest that reasons for having sex are differentially linked to relationship and sexual outcomes — specifically, people who have sex for approach goals are perceived to have higher desire and satisfaction, whereas people who have sex
for avoidance goals are perceived to have lower desire and satisfaction.
Not surprisingly, people who had sex more
for avoidance goals over the course of the diary reported lower desire and felt less sexually satisfied four months later.
Given that having sex
for avoidance goals is associated with more negative outcomes for both partners, is it better to not have sex at all than to have sex
for avoidance goals?
In some scenarios couples were married for several years (vs. dating for several months), John's reason for sex was indicated instead of Katie's, and sex was pursued
for an avoidance goal (to avoid disappointing the partner) as opposed to an approach goal (to feel closer).
Not exact matches
Reconstruction of tissue - engineered skin featuring both the epidermis and the dermis is the ultimate
goal for improvement of healing quality and
avoidance of scar formation, arising after extensive burns.
Second,
for comparison's sake, my own personal
goals are high energy and creativity
for the work I do, injury
avoidance, and being at my personal physical best at every age.
To meet this
goal, we envisioned MyLawBC as a flexible platform
for dispute resolution and
avoidance.
When done right, prenuptial agreements are effective tools
for advancing the
goals of estate planning and tax
avoidance for married couples.
One the main treatment
goals in therapy
for anxiety disorders is to use specific methods to diminish the ANS reaction, eliminate the anxiety symptoms, decrease the cycle of
avoidance, and improve overall well - being.
In other words, people perceive having sex
for approach
goals (vs.
avoidance goals) as being associated with higher desire and satisfaction regardless of the person's gender or relationship length.
For example, an individual may give to their partner to pursue positive relationship outcomes, such as to feel closer or to express love (i.e., also known as approach
goals) or to avert negative outcomes such as to avoid disappointing a partner or to prevent conflict (i.e., also known as
avoidance goals).
Avoidance goals: A person having sex
for these reasons is focused on averting negative outcomes in their relationship, such as conflict or disappointing a partner.
Seeking connection versus avoiding disappointment: An experimental manipulation of approach and
avoidance sexual
goals and the implications
for desire and satisfaction.
In her talk, Dr. Impett discussed some of our work on sexuality where we consider couples» approach and
avoidance goals for sex and how one partner's sexual
goals influence the other partner's sexual and relationship quality.
The book also offers suggestions
for dealing with common client difficulties such as
avoidance, confusion, and
goal - directed attitudes.
The book also offers suggestions
for dealing with common client difficulties such as
avoidance, confusion, and
goal directed attitudes.