According to a recently published study, one of the reasons men
perform oral sex on female partners may be to minimize the risk of
infidelity.
The study, published late last month in the Journal of Evolutionary Psychology, sought to discover why men perform oral sex on women, since the act does not lead directly to reproduction.
After surveying 243 adult men in heterosexual relationships, the
researchers deduced that cunnilingus is used to discourage women from
cheating, a theory the authors refer to as a "mate-retention strategy."
The research suggests that
men perform oral sex on their female partners in order "to minimize the
risk of their partner’s infidelity by increasing her relationship
satisfaction."
The study has garnered some negative reactions across the web: An article on The Gloss
wondered why the
researchers aren't "questioning the evolutionary
advantage of oral sex for men? Isn’t that purposeless, too?" And Handbag.com writer
Kate Gilbert pointed out that perhaps men perform oral sex because it's
pleasurable: "Sorry science guys -- sometimes things are just meant for
fun."
Share your thoughts on this unusual study in the comments below.
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