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Topics: Psychology, Sex and Relationships, Community, Mental Health, Science
Callum Jones
Topics: Psychology, Sex and Relationships, Community, Mental Health, Science
A new study has looked into what having sexual fantasies may say about you as a person and the results are certainly surprising.
It's a bit of a taboo subject for sure and one you're likely not going to speak about in the work place, but thankfully there is a study out there to provide the answers should you wish.
Researchers over at Michigan State University spoke to 5,000 people about their sexual fantasies and personality traits, and there was a surprising correlation between an individual's deepest desires and their subsequent personality traits.
The study found that highly neurotic adults were likely to have more sexual fantasies than those dubbed as less neurotic adults.
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Now, you're probably thinking what neuroticism actually is. Well, according to the National Library of Medicine, it's 'the trait disposition to experience negative affects, including anger, anxiety, self‐consciousness, irritability, emotional instability, and depression'.
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Experts working on the study found participants more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression had a higher chance of experiencing frequent sexual fantasies.
"People high in negative emotionality might engage in sexual fantasies as an emotion regulation tool to compensate for negative mood," authors of the study said.
"Agreeable people may be less likely to sexually fantasize because of their respect for norms and others."
A full analysis of the results was published in PLOS One, where experts detailed how they got there.
"Agreeableness and conscientiousness are associated with norm endorsement, harm prevention, and tradtionalism," they said. "Thus, it seems reasonable to assume that they might be less likely to engage in fantasies that are non–traditional, bridge social norms, or simulate consensual aggression."
Experts continued: "The fact that depression was strongly related to sexual fantasy - and that anxiety and emotional volatility were not - provides support for the possible emotional regulatory function of sexual fantasies."
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Dr James Ravenhill, who was not involved in the study, told BBC Science Focus that those who have high levels of neuroticism may find it difficult to juggle some emotions and find it more tricky to deal with stress.
As a result, Dr Ravenhill went on to explain that for these people, 'sexual fantasising may allow them to experience more positive and satisfying sexual relationality'.
When it comes to the opposite side of the spectrum, the psychologist explained how they are likely to experience more positive moods, which could lead to 'greater relationship satisfaction'.
Dr Ravenhill explained to the BBC as a result, these people are less likely to play out 'aspects of sex in a fantasy world'.