Editing Content theory (section)

== Sex, Hedonism, and Evolution ==

One of the first influential figures to discuss the topic of hedonism was Socrates, and he did so around 470–399 BCE in ancient Greece. Hedonism, as Socrates described it, is the motivation wherein a person will behave in a manner that will maximize pleasure and minimize pain. The only instance in which a person will behave in a manner that results in more pain than pleasure is when the knowledge of the effects of the behavior is lacking. Sex is one of the pleasures people pursue.<ref name=":5">{{cite book|title=Motivation Biological, Psychological, and Environmental|last1=Deckers|first1=Lambert|date=2018|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-138-03632-1|edition=5th|location=New York|pages=30–38, 71–75}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Chandler | first1 = H | year = 1975 | title = Hedonism | journal = American Philosophical Quarterly | volume = 12 | issue = 3| pages = 223–233 | jstor = 20009578 }}</ref>

Sex is on the first level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It is a necessary physiological need like air, warmth, or sleep, and if the body lacks it will not function optimally. Without the orgasm that comes with sex, a person will experience "pain," and as hedonism would predict, a person will minimize this pain by pursuing sex. That being said, sex as a basic need is different from the need for sexual intimacy, which is located on the third level in Maslow's hierarchy.<ref name=":5" />

There are multiple theories for why sex is a strong motivation, and many fall under the theory of evolution. On an evolutionary level, the motivation for sex likely has to do with a species' ability to reproduce. Species that reproduce more, survive and pass on their genes. Therefore, species have a sexual desire that leads to sexual intercourse as a means to create more offspring. Without this innate motivation, a species may determine that attaining intercourse is too costly in terms of effort, energy, and danger.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Murray | first1 = S | year = 2018 | title = Heterosexual Men's Sexual Desire: Supported by, or Deviating from, Traditional Masculinity Norms and Sexual Scripts? | journal = Sex Roles | volume = 78 | issue = 1| pages = 130–141 | doi = 10.1007/s11199-017-0766-7 | s2cid = 152019081 }}</ref>

In addition to sexual desire, the motivation for romantic love runs parallel in having an evolutionary function for the survival of a species. On an emotional level, romantic love satiates a psychological need for belonging. Therefore, this is another hedonistic pursuit of pleasure. From the evolutionary perspective, romantic love creates bonds with the parents of offspring. This bond will make it so that the parents will stay together and take care of and protect the offspring until it is independent. By rearing the child together, it increases the chances that the offspring will survive and pass on its genes themselves, therefore continuing the survival of the species. Without the romantic love bond, the male will pursue satiation of his sexual desire with as many mates as possible, leaving behind the female to rear the offspring by herself. Child-rearing with one parent is more difficult and provides less assurance of the offspring's survival than with two parents. Romantic love therefore solves the commitment problem of parents needing to be together; individuals that are loyal and faithful to one another will have mutual survival benefits.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Gonzaga | first1 = G. | last2 = Turner | first2 = R. | last3 = Keltner | first3 = D. | last4 = Campos | first4 = B. | last5 = Altemus | first5 = M. | last6 = Davidson | first6 = Richard J. | last7 = Scherer | first7 = Klaus R. | year = 2006 | title = Romantic Love and Sexual Desire in Close Relationships | journal = Emotion | volume = 6 | issue = 2| pages = 163–179 | doi = 10.1037/1528-3542.6.2.163 | pmid = 16768550 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Gonzaga | first1 = G. C. | last2 = Keltner | first2 = D. A. | last3 = Londahl | first3 = E. D. | last4 = Smith | first4 = M. | year = 2001 | title = Love and the commitment problem in romantic relations and friendship | journal = Journal of Personality and Social Psychology | volume = 81 | issue = 2| pages = 247–262 | doi = 10.1037/0022-3514.81.2.247 | pmid = 11519930 }}</ref>

Additionally, under the umbrella of evolution, is Darwin's term sexual selection. This refers to how the female selects the male for reproduction. The male is motivated to attain sex because of all the aforementioned reasons, but how he attains it can vary based on his qualities. For some females, they are motivated by the will to survive mostly, and will prefer a mate that can physically defend her, or financially provide for her (among humans). Some females are more attracted to charm, as it is an indicator of being a good loyal lover that will in turn make for a dependable child-rearing partner. Altogether, sex is a hedonistic pleasure-seeking behavior that satiates physical and psychological needs and is instinctively guided by principles of evolution.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Hosken | first1 = David J. | last2 = House | first2 = Clarissa M. | year = 2011| title = Sexual Selection | journal = Current Biology | volume = 21 | issue = 2| pages = R62–R65 | doi = 10.1016/j.cub.2010.11.053 | pmid = 21256434 | s2cid = 18470445 | doi-access = free }}</ref>