2008 Woodie Awards
Sex is never simple
Daniel Abraham
Opinion | 4/24/08
Sex is like a wolf in sheep's clothing. It can be a beautiful, romantic and exciting experience but that's only the short term of it. In the long run it often blind- sides you with damages that you may never even discover.
However, that won't stop any of us from having sex because no matter how dangerous it is, it's addictive as well. Like cigarettes and alcohol. But when I talk about the dangers of sexual encounters I'm not talking about the physical effects like STDs and pregnancy, I'm talking about the psychological affects it can have on people. Some college students want sex without a relationship. And while that's all fine and dandy, it never seems to work that way without somebody getting hurt. Here's why: when humans have sex their bodies release a hormone called oxytocin which causes a bonding between the two individuals involved. It affects the part of the brain that controls social recognition, which can cause people to trust and even fall in love.
So you can see the conflict right? On one hand, you want sex with no strings attached. However, due to oxytocin, there is a string that you can't detach. While some people have the ability to shake it off and move on after sex, others cannot no matter how much they may want to or say they can. That's why you've got to be careful with whom you're sleeping. But don't think that just because you're in a relationship that sex won't cause problems. A relationship based on just physical touch is like the house in quick sand in that it won't last long. But more specifically, sex can temporarily hide major issues in your relationship. A lot of couples don't spend enough time having serious conversations because they're constantly thinking about, talking about, or having sex. Therefore they take a lot longer to determine whether they're compatible. If you want see the true colors of your relationship and how a person really feels about you, take the sex out for a week, a month, or just as long as you can while still spending the same amount of time with that person.
And remember, be careful who you're laying with and your hormones because sex is complicated.
Daniel Abraham is a junior mass communication major and The Towerlight's assistant sports editor.
However, that won't stop any of us from having sex because no matter how dangerous it is, it's addictive as well. Like cigarettes and alcohol. But when I talk about the dangers of sexual encounters I'm not talking about the physical effects like STDs and pregnancy, I'm talking about the psychological affects it can have on people. Some college students want sex without a relationship. And while that's all fine and dandy, it never seems to work that way without somebody getting hurt. Here's why: when humans have sex their bodies release a hormone called oxytocin which causes a bonding between the two individuals involved. It affects the part of the brain that controls social recognition, which can cause people to trust and even fall in love.
So you can see the conflict right? On one hand, you want sex with no strings attached. However, due to oxytocin, there is a string that you can't detach. While some people have the ability to shake it off and move on after sex, others cannot no matter how much they may want to or say they can. That's why you've got to be careful with whom you're sleeping. But don't think that just because you're in a relationship that sex won't cause problems. A relationship based on just physical touch is like the house in quick sand in that it won't last long. But more specifically, sex can temporarily hide major issues in your relationship. A lot of couples don't spend enough time having serious conversations because they're constantly thinking about, talking about, or having sex. Therefore they take a lot longer to determine whether they're compatible. If you want see the true colors of your relationship and how a person really feels about you, take the sex out for a week, a month, or just as long as you can while still spending the same amount of time with that person.
And remember, be careful who you're laying with and your hormones because sex is complicated.
Daniel Abraham is a junior mass communication major and The Towerlight's assistant sports editor.
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