#t. pyszczynski

[deathbeguiled]

The Causes And Consequences Of A Need For Self-Esteem: A Terror Management Theory, p. 197 — J. Greenberg, T. Pyszczynski, S. Solomon. January 1986.

[miss-wizard]

There's a really good reason that magic is so strongly connected to fun; it's fundamentally driven by the exact same psychological desires as any other form of entertainment. Magic‚ as with many other types of practices and taxonomy‚ exists as a means by which humanity can experience a feeling of control over their natural existence.

This anecdote is a pretty good example of the concept of Terror Management Theory (2015), a framework developed by S. Solomon, J. Greenberg and T. Pyszczynski, which built upon the anthropological theories of mortality presented in E. Becker's book The Denial of Death (1973).

In their work Tales from the Crypt: on the Role of Death in Life (1998), Solomon, Greenberg and Pyszczynski describe three core tenets of our archetypal worldview:

A shared set of beliefs about reality that imbues the universe with stability, meaning, and permanence;

Standards by which individuals can judge themselves to be of value;

Promises of safety and the transcendence of death to those who meet the standards of value.

These tenets were later codified into the concept of TMT, specifically referred to as distal defences; ideological systems constructed by humanity to help "protect" against reminders of our own mortality (referred to as mortality salience).

Becker posits that human civilisation is driven by a need to escape death; that we as a species have constructed intricate systems of cultural "rules" (described in 1938 by J. Huizinga, ironically, as the magic circle) in which we can operate within a set of logical, pre-defined mechanics where we are consistently rewarded for correct action.

These practices can be seen in our example of the street magician. This magician, through his thorough understanding of the laws of magic, is able to harness the natural ingredients around him to make a potion that cures the ailing man. It's effectively that same heroic story you hear about in every "introduction to writing" class, even having a literal representation of Joseph Campbell's "elixir".

The reason we as humans enjoy experiencing this kind of story is that it helps us feel that we are in control of our existence.

As a remnant of our time spent as creatures of survival in a natural ecosystem, we have a built-in fear of death; an instinctual need to be aware of any potential threats to our life. What systemic defences do is provide us with the archetype of the hero, a greater-than-life figure who is able to conquer and control death. For example, the pure of heart knight who valiantly saves the day through their courage and righteousness. This is the sense of adoration (K.S. McAllister & J.E. Ruggill, Playing to Death, 2018), in which those who could defeat death become characters of figurative (and often literal) worship.

Through these cultural ideas of magic and the heroic actor, we live out the fantasy that our existence within nature is something that can be reasoned with through a logical system of mechanics, even though the reality of our lives is often much more irrational and apathetic.

Sorry, I got really into this topic while I was writing an essay on Halo: Reach. Let me know if anything I said is bullshit btw because this is like the only psychological theory I know and I need it to be really good to impress transgender women

I think an under-discussed element of historical magic is fun.

I'm thinking back to Josephus. There's a passage in Antiquities of the Jews where he describes a sort of public medicine show common back in Judea. Theres a guy with a cough. A crowd forms to watch a magician grind up herbs and ingredients into a potion, that he then feeds to the sick man while praying. The potion causes the man to sneeze repeatedly, thus expelling the malicious spirit.

It's clear from Josephus's tone that he didn't necessarily believe that this street magician was curing a sick person, but he describes the scene with a genuine fondness. I think he liked these street magicians, but he didn't trust them. But trust wasn't necessarily the point; watching a guy sneeze out a demon is fun.

[brittanyyoungblog]

Why The Pandemic is Making Some People Horny--But Turning Others Off

There are a lot of conflicting media reports out right now about how the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is affecting people’s sex drives. Some are saying that all of the stress and anxiety is putting a damper on desire, while others are saying that everyone is super horny. So which is it?

Truth be told, it’s probably a bit of both. After all, we know from a mountain of psychological research that two people can respond to the same situation in very different ways and that the factors that increase sexual desire in some can drive it down in others.

There are a lot of different ways of analyzing the current situation, but one way to look at it is through the lens of Terror Management Theory. The basic idea behind this theory is that when we are reminded of the prospect of our own mortality (i.e., when we are confronted with the fact that everyone will eventually die), we change our attitudes and behaviors in ways designed to help us cope.

Reminders of our mortality are all around us right now. Every day, we are bombarded with news about new infections and deaths from COVID-19, and even though certain demographic groups are more at risk than others, the media has been reminding us that there are people of all ages dying from this virus.

As a result, a lot of us are dealing with a certain amount of death anxiety. Terror Management research suggests that different people are probably coping with this in very different ways.

For example, in lab studies where people were asked to think about the prospect of their own death, psychologists found that this increased sexual interest and desire for some people—but it didn’t do so for everyone. Who was most likely to experience an increase in sexual interest and desire? Those who had a positive body image, as well as those who were more comfortable with physical intimacy [1,2]. 

In other words, the way we feel about our bodies and the way we feel about sex in general seem to be key factors that predict whether people rely on sex as a coping mechanism for reducing anxiety. 

This can potentially help to explain why some people are hornier and more sexually active right now, as evidenced by increases in rates of porn consumption on major tube sites.

At the same time, however, it also helps to explain why not everyone is more interested in sex, and why others may be using non-sexual means of relieving anxiety instead.

Another way to look at the current situation is through the lens of the Dual Control Model of Sexual Response, which argues that we all have different propensities for sexual excitation (getting turned on) and sexual inhibition (getting turned off) [3]. Put another way, we all have a “gas pedal” and a “brake” when it comes to sexual arousal. However, some people have a gas pedal that always partially pressed (which makes it easier for them to get turned on), whereas others have a brake that’s always partially pressed (which makes it harder for them to get turned on).

For people who are easily inhibited, stressful situations like the one we’re currently in are likely to “slam the brake.” These individuals will probably find that it’s hard to get in the mood for sex right now unless they can find a really potent distraction or another way to be in the moment.

By contrast, for those who usually easily excitable, stressful situations don’t necessarily create the same roadblock—and they could potentially even have the opposite effect. How so? Well, we know that fear and anxiety sometimes have the effect of amplifying sexual arousal rather than suppressing it. Strong emotions are often mistaken for sexual attraction and, further, “excitation transfer” can occur, in which strong emotional states can amplify a sexual response. In fact, this is precisely why a lot of people say that “makeup sex” is the best sex—residual arousal from a fight with a partner is probably intensifying sexual arousal in those cases.

If you’re someone who’s easily excited to begin with, I suspect you’re probably more susceptible to these effects, where stress might paradoxically push the gas pedal rather than the brake.

Any way you analyze this situation, it’s important to recognize that one response isn’t inherently better than or superior to another. So whether you’re having more, less, or the same amount of sexual interest right now, it’s all good—you do you. Just remember that we all cope in different ways. 

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook (facebook.com/psychologyofsex), Twitter (@JustinLehmiller), or Reddit (reddit.com/r/psychologyofsex) to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

[1] Taubman-Ben-Ari, O. (2004). Intimacy and risk sexual behaviour – What does it have to do with death? Death Studies, 28, 865–887

[2] Goldenberg, J.L., McCoy, S.K., Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J., & Solomon, S. (2000). The body as a source of self-esteem: The effect of mortality salience on identification with one’s body, interest in sex, and appearance monitoring. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 118–130.

[3] Bancroft, John, Graham, Cynthia A., Janssen, Erick, Sanders, Stephanie A. (2009). The Dual Control Model: Current Status and Future Directions. Journal of Sex Research, 46 (2 & 3): 121-142. 

Image Source: 123RF

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from Meet Positives SMFeed 8 https://ift.tt/3bLOWjk via IFTTT

[ellenlucasonlinedatingblog]

Why The Pandemic is Making Some People Horny--But Turning Others Off

There are a lot of conflicting media reports out right now about how the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is affecting people’s sex drives. Some are saying that all of the stress and anxiety is putting a damper on desire, while others are saying that everyone is super horny. So which is it?

Truth be told, it’s probably a bit of both. After all, we know from a mountain of psychological research that two people can respond to the same situation in very different ways and that the factors that increase sexual desire in some can drive it down in others.

There are a lot of different ways of analyzing the current situation, but one way to look at it is through the lens of Terror Management Theory. The basic idea behind this theory is that when we are reminded of the prospect of our own mortality (i.e., when we are confronted with the fact that everyone will eventually die), we change our attitudes and behaviors in ways designed to help us cope.

Reminders of our mortality are all around us right now. Every day, we are bombarded with news about new infections and deaths from COVID-19, and even though certain demographic groups are more at risk than others, the media has been reminding us that there are people of all ages dying from this virus.

As a result, a lot of us are dealing with a certain amount of death anxiety. Terror Management research suggests that different people are probably coping with this in very different ways.

For example, in lab studies where people were asked to think about the prospect of their own death, psychologists found that this increased sexual interest and desire for some people—but it didn’t do so for everyone. Who was most likely to experience an increase in sexual interest and desire? Those who had a positive body image, as well as those who were more comfortable with physical intimacy [1,2]. 

In other words, the way we feel about our bodies and the way we feel about sex in general seem to be key factors that predict whether people rely on sex as a coping mechanism for reducing anxiety. 

This can potentially help to explain why some people are hornier and more sexually active right now, as evidenced by increases in rates of porn consumption on major tube sites.

At the same time, however, it also helps to explain why not everyone is more interested in sex, and why others may be using non-sexual means of relieving anxiety instead.

Another way to look at the current situation is through the lens of the Dual Control Model of Sexual Response, which argues that we all have different propensities for sexual excitation (getting turned on) and sexual inhibition (getting turned off) [3]. Put another way, we all have a “gas pedal” and a “brake” when it comes to sexual arousal. However, some people have a gas pedal that always partially pressed (which makes it easier for them to get turned on), whereas others have a brake that’s always partially pressed (which makes it harder for them to get turned on).

For people who are easily inhibited, stressful situations like the one we’re currently in are likely to “slam the brake.” These individuals will probably find that it’s hard to get in the mood for sex right now unless they can find a really potent distraction or another way to be in the moment.

By contrast, for those who usually easily excitable, stressful situations don’t necessarily create the same roadblock—and they could potentially even have the opposite effect. How so? Well, we know that fear and anxiety sometimes have the effect of amplifying sexual arousal rather than suppressing it. Strong emotions are often mistaken for sexual attraction and, further, “excitation transfer” can occur, in which strong emotional states can amplify a sexual response. In fact, this is precisely why a lot of people say that “makeup sex” is the best sex—residual arousal from a fight with a partner is probably intensifying sexual arousal in those cases.

If you’re someone who’s easily excited to begin with, I suspect you’re probably more susceptible to these effects, where stress might paradoxically push the gas pedal rather than the brake.

Any way you analyze this situation, it’s important to recognize that one response isn’t inherently better than or superior to another. So whether you’re having more, less, or the same amount of sexual interest right now, it’s all good—you do you. Just remember that we all cope in different ways. 

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook (facebook.com/psychologyofsex), Twitter (@JustinLehmiller), or Reddit (reddit.com/r/psychologyofsex) to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

[1] Taubman-Ben-Ari, O. (2004). Intimacy and risk sexual behaviour – What does it have to do with death? Death Studies, 28, 865–887

[2] Goldenberg, J.L., McCoy, S.K., Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J., & Solomon, S. (2000). The body as a source of self-esteem: The effect of mortality salience on identification with one’s body, interest in sex, and appearance monitoring. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 118–130.

[3] Bancroft, John, Graham, Cynthia A., Janssen, Erick, Sanders, Stephanie A. (2009). The Dual Control Model: Current Status and Future Directions. Journal of Sex Research, 46 (2 & 3): 121-142. 

Image Source: 123RF

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Will There Really Be a Coronavirus Baby Boom? Here’s What the Science Says

from MeetPositives SM Feed 4 https://ift.tt/3bLOWjk via IFTTT

[robbiemeadow]

Will There Really Be a Coronavirus Baby Boom? Here’s What the Science Says

In the last few weeks, I’ve seen a ton of headlines predicting a massive baby boom stemming from the COVID-19 coronavirus situation, with some making very bold claims. Case in point: “It’s probably going to be the biggest baby boom we’ve seen," Dr.  Kevin Kathrotia recently told Fox Business. 

But will the coronavirus baby boom really come to pass? Let’s take a look at what the research says.

The basis for a lot of these claims comes from studies finding that baby booms are linked to various catastrophes and natural disasters. For example, some research has found a statistical link between hurricane advisories and birth rates in coastal areas [1]. This is probably why Dr. Kathrotia also told Fox Business that "anytime there’s the threat of a hurricane, there’s a little baby boom."

However, it’s not quite as simple as that. What the research actually shows is that low-level advisories (like a tropical storm watch) are linked to increased birth rates, whereas severe advisories (like a hurricane warning) are actually linked to decreased birth rates. In other words, when natural disasters become more severe, the odds of a baby boom actually seem to go down.

Of course, it’s difficult (if not impossible) to extrapolate from hurricane research to the current coronavirus situation. Whereas hurricanes are very time-limited events localized in specific areas where people have opportunities to escape, the coronavirus is a worldwide issue, we don’t know how long we’re going to be grappling with the effects of it, and there’s no escape from it. In other words, these situations aren’t very comparable, so I’d be hesitant to generalize from one to the other. 

In addition to natural disaster research, there is also some work finding a link between terrorist acts and baby booms, including an increase in births in Oklahoma County in the period after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing [2]. Again, though, it’s hard to draw parallels between that and the coronavirus crisis because these are drastically different situations. Also, not all terrorist events have been linked to baby booms, which raises questions about this hypothesis. 

For example, while the media widely prognosticated a baby boom following 9/11, it didn’t actually come to pass. 

That said, theoretically, there are certainly some good reasons to predict that the coronavirus pandemic will increase rates of sexual activity. For example, let’s think about this through the lens of Terror Management Theory. The basic idea behind this theory, as I describe in my book The Psychology of Human Sexuality, is that “when we are reminded of our own mortality, we subconsciously alter our attitudes and behaviors in order to help us cope with the ‘terrifying’ prospect of our eventual death.”

Some research has found that when we are faced with the prospect of our own mortality, this prompts sexual desire and behavior as a coping mechanism [3]. Put another way, sex is one way that some people seek to reduce and relieve anxiety about existential crises. 

So to the extent that the coronavirus is making our mortality more salient, it’s not unreasonable to think that it just might prompt more sexual behavior, which could have implications for the birth rate down the line.

Also, taking a look at the broader picture, many people are in lockdown mode right now. Businesses are closed and there’s no choice but to stay home. To the extent that work-related pressures are reduced and people have more leisure time, that also creates more potential opportunities for physical intimacy, assuming you have a live-in spouse or partner, of course.  

At the same time, however, the coronavirus appears poised to throw the economy into recession and that’s going to create a lot of economic uncertainty. If people are preoccupied with how they’re going to pay their bills and are worrying about whether their jobs are going to be there when all of this is said and done, that would create strong pressures against childbearing and promote more consistent contraceptive use. Put another way, if people are focused more on basic survival right now, bringing new kids into the picture might be seen as highly risky. 

Similarly, something else that makes this situation unique is that so many schools across the country are closed, which means parents who are tele-working also suddenly have to care for their kids 24/7. That situation is one that could very well inhibit physical intimacy, and I’ve heard many parents on Twitter who have already said something to that effect. They describe the current situation as a strong deterrent to sex and, especially, to having more children. 

On top of that, it’s also worth noting that, today, access to highly-effective, reversible contraceptives (not just birth control pills, but also IUDs and implants) is greater than ever before. This gives people a lot more power and control over pregnancy, thereby allowing them to sexually engage without the risk of unintended pregnancy. Condoms can also be shipped discreetly to your door, even in the midst of this pandemic (thanks, Amazon!). Increased access to contraceptives may therefore play a role in limiting any potential baby boom.

I should also mention that the current lockdown situation will be a deterrent to dating and casual sex, which will place yet another limit on conception possibilities. So even if there’s an increase in sexual activity and conception among partnered folks, a decline in casual sex would provide a partial counterweight to that.

In short, there are a lot of competing forces at work here, so it’s difficult to say with any degree of certainty what’s going to happen. Given the severity, widespread impact, and uncertainty created by the COVID-19 coronavirus, I wouldn’t say it’s a foregone conclusion that there will be a baby boom in the next nine months, let alone the “biggest boom we’ve seen.” 

In fact, there’s also the possibility that we could even see a delayed coronavirus baby boom. If I had to place my money on something, that’s where it would be. In other words, rather than conceptions peaking now, perhaps we’ll see them rise once the virus is under control, the economy is in recovery, and the outlook (for having children and for life in general) is more optimistic.   

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology ? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook (facebook.com/psychologyofsex), Twitter (@JustinLehmiller), or Reddit (reddit.com/r/psychologyofsex) to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

[1] Evans, R. W., Hu, Y., & Zhao, Z. (2010). The fertility effect of catastrophe: US hurricane births. Journal of Population Economics, 23(1), 1-36.

[2] Rodgers, J. L., John, C. A. S., & Coleman, R. (2005). Did fertility go up after the Oklahoma City bombing? An analysis of births in metropolitan counties in Oklahoma, 1990–1999. Demography, 42(4), 675-692.

[3] Goldenberg, J.L., McCoy, S.K., Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J., & Solomon, S. (2000). The body as a source of self-esteem: The effect of mortality salience on identification with one’s body, interest in sex, and appearance monitoring. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 118–130.

Image Source: Shutterstock/Stokkete

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Can the Coronavirus be Transmitted Through Sex?

How Coronavirus is Affecting the World of Porn

from Meet Positives SM Feed 5 https://ift.tt/3ddKhsa via IFTTT

[brittanyyoungblog]

Will There Really Be a Coronavirus Baby Boom? Here’s What the Science Says

In the last few weeks, I’ve seen a ton of headlines predicting a massive baby boom stemming from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic—and some people are making very bold claims. Case in point: “It’s probably going to be the biggest baby boom we’ve seen," Dr.  Kevin Kathrotia recently told Fox Business. 

But will the coronavirus baby boom really come to pass? Let’s take a look at what the research says.

The basis for a lot of these claims comes from studies finding that baby booms are linked to various catastrophes and natural disasters. For example, some research has found a statistical link between hurricane advisories and birth rates in coastal areas [1]. This is probably why Dr. Kathrotia also told Fox Business that "anytime there’s the threat of a hurricane, there’s a little baby boom."

However, it’s not quite as simple as that. What the research actually shows is that low-level advisories (like a tropical storm watch) are linked to increased birth rates, whereas severe advisories (like a hurricane warning) are actually linked to decreased birth rates. In other words, when natural disasters become more severe, the odds of a baby boom actually seem to go down.

Of course, it’s difficult (if not impossible) to extrapolate from hurricane research to a pandemic like the one we’re experiencing now. Whereas hurricanes are very time-limited events localized in specific areas where people have opportunities to escape, the coronavirus is a worldwide issue, we don’t know how long we’re going to be grappling with the effects of it, and there’s no escape from it. In other words, these situations aren’t very comparable, so I’d be hesitant to generalize from one to the other. 

In addition to natural disaster research, there is also some work finding a link between terrorist acts and baby booms, including an increase in births in Oklahoma County in the period after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing [2]. Again, though, it’s hard to draw parallels between that and the coronavirus crisis because these are such drastically different situations. Also, not all terrorist events have been linked to baby booms, which raises questions about this hypothesis. 

For example, while the media widely prognosticated a baby boom following 9/11, it didn’t actually come to pass. 

That said, theoretically, there are certainly some good reasons to predict that the coronavirus pandemic will increase rates of sexual activity. For example, let’s think about this through the lens of Terror Management Theory. The basic idea behind this theory, as I describe in my book The Psychology of Human Sexuality, is that “when we are reminded of our own mortality, we subconsciously alter our attitudes and behaviors in order to help us cope with the ‘terrifying’ prospect of our eventual death.”

Some research has found that when we are faced with the prospect of our own mortality, this prompts sexual desire and behavior as a coping mechanism [3]. Put another way, sex is one way that some people seek to reduce and relieve anxiety about existential crises. 

So to the extent that the coronavirus is making our mortality more salient, it’s not unreasonable to think that it just might prompt more sexual behavior, which could have implications for the birth rate down the line.

Also, taking a look at the broader picture, many people are in lockdown mode right now. Businesses are closed and there’s no choice but to stay home. To the extent that work-related pressures are reduced and people have more leisure time, that also creates more potential opportunities for physical intimacy, assuming you have a live-in spouse or partner, of course.  

At the same time, however, the coronavirus appears poised to throw the economy into recession and that’s going to create a lot of economic uncertainty. If people are preoccupied with how they’re going to pay their bills and are worrying about whether their jobs are going to be there when all of this is said and done, that would create strong pressures against childbearing and promote more consistent contraceptive use. Put another way, if people are focused more on basic survival right now, bringing new kids into the picture might be seen as highly risky. 

Similarly, something else that makes this situation unique is that so many schools across the country are closed, which means parents who are tele-working also suddenly have to care for their kids 24/7. This situation is one that could very well inhibit physical intimacy, and I’ve heard many parents on Twitter who have already said something to that effect. They describe the current situation as a strong deterrent to sex and, especially, to having more children. 

In addition, it’s worth mentioning that access to highly-effective, reversible contraceptives (not just birth control pills, but also IUDs and implants) is greater today than ever before. This allows people to sexually engage with a very low risk of unintended pregnancy. Also, condoms can now be shipped discreetly to your door, even in the midst of this pandemic (thanks, Amazon!), which removes barriers caused by embarrassment about buying them. Altogether, this increased access to contraceptives will play a role in limiting potential baby booms linked to catastrophes and natural disasters.

Lastly, I should also mention that the current lockdown situation will be a deterrent to dating and casual sex, which will place yet another limit on possibilities for conception. So even if there’s an increase in sexual activity and conception among partnered folks, a decline in casual sex would likely provide a partial counterweight to that.

In short, there are a lot of competing forces at work here, so it’s difficult to say with any degree of certainty what’s going to happen. Given the severity, widespread impact, and uncertainty created by the COVID-19 coronavirus, I wouldn’t say it’s a foregone conclusion that there will be a baby boom in the next nine months, let alone the “biggest boom we’ve seen.” 

In fact, there’s also the possibility that we could even see a delayed coronavirus baby boom. If I had to place my money on something, that’s where it would be. In other words, rather than conceptions peaking now, perhaps we’ll see them rise once the virus is under control, the economy is in recovery, and the outlook (for having children and for life in general) is more optimistic.   

Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology ? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook (facebook.com/psychologyofsex), Twitter (@JustinLehmiller), or Reddit (reddit.com/r/psychologyofsex) to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.

[1] Evans, R. W., Hu, Y., & Zhao, Z. (2010). The fertility effect of catastrophe: US hurricane births. Journal of Population Economics, 23(1), 1-36.

[2] Rodgers, J. L., John, C. A. S., & Coleman, R. (2005). Did fertility go up after the Oklahoma City bombing? An analysis of births in metropolitan counties in Oklahoma, 1990–1999. Demography, 42(4), 675-692.

[3] Goldenberg, J.L., McCoy, S.K., Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J., & Solomon, S. (2000). The body as a source of self-esteem: The effect of mortality salience on identification with one’s body, interest in sex, and appearance monitoring. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 118–130.

Image Source: Shutterstock/Stokkete

You Might Also Like:

Can the Coronavirus be Transmitted Through Sex?

How Coronavirus is Affecting the World of Porn

from Meet Positives SMFeed 8 https://ift.tt/3ddKhsa via IFTTT

[ellenlucasonlinedatingblog]

Will There Really Be a Coronavirus Baby Boom? Here’s What the Science Says

In the last few weeks, I’ve seen a ton of headlines predicting a massive baby boom stemming from the COVID-19 coronavirus situation, with some making very bold claims. Case in point: “It’s probably going to be the biggest baby boom we’ve seen," Dr.  Kevin Kathrotia recently told Fox Business. 

But will the coronavirus baby boom really come to pass? Let’s take a look at what the research says.

The basis for a lot of these claims comes from studies finding that baby booms are linked to various catastrophes and natural disasters. For example, some research has found a statistical link between hurricane advisories and birth rates in coastal areas [1]. This is probably why Dr. Kathrotia also told Fox Business that "anytime there’s the threat of a hurricane, there’s a little baby boom."

However, it’s not quite as simple as that. What the research actually shows is that low-level advisories (like a tropical storm watch) are linked to increased birth rates, whereas severe advisories (like a hurricane warning) are actually linked to decreased birth rates. In other words, when natural disasters become more severe, the odds of a baby boom actually seem to go down.

Of course, it’s difficult (if not impossible) to extrapolate from hurricane research to the current coronavirus situation. Whereas hurricanes are very time-limited events localized in specific areas where people have opportunities to escape, the coronavirus is a worldwide issue, we don’t know how long we’re going to be grappling with the effects of it, and there’s no escape from it. In other words, these situations aren’t very comparable, so I’d be hesitant to generalize from one to the other. 

In addition to natural disaster research, there is also some work finding a link between terrorist acts and baby booms, including an increase in births in Oklahoma County in the period after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing [2]. Again, though, it’s hard to draw parallels between that and the coronavirus crisis because these are drastically different situations. Also, not all terrorist events have been linked to baby booms, which raises questions about this hypothesis. 

For example, while the media widely prognosticated a baby boom following 9/11, it didn’t actually come to pass. 

That said, theoretically, there are certainly some good reasons to predict that the coronavirus pandemic will increase rates of sexual activity. For example, let’s think about this through the lens of Terror Management Theory. The basic idea behind this theory, as I describe in my book The Psychology of Human Sexuality, is that “when we are reminded of our own mortality, we subconsciously alter our attitudes and behaviors in order to help us cope with the ‘terrifying’ prospect of our eventual death.”

Some research has found that when we are faced with the prospect of our own mortality, this prompts sexual desire and behavior as a coping mechanism [3]. Put another way, sex is one way that some people seek to reduce and relieve anxiety about existential crises. 

So to the extent that the coronavirus is making our mortality more salient, it’s not unreasonable to think that it just might prompt more sexual behavior, which could have implications for the birth rate down the line.

Also, taking a look at the broader picture, many people are in lockdown mode right now. Businesses are closed and there’s no choice but to stay home. To the extent that work-related pressures are reduced and people have more leisure time, that also creates more potential opportunities for physical intimacy, assuming you have a live-in spouse or partner, of course.  

At the same time, however, the coronavirus appears poised to throw the economy into recession and that’s going to create a lot of economic uncertainty. If people are preoccupied with how they’re going to pay their bills and are worrying about whether their jobs are going to be there when all of this is said and done, that would create strong pressures against childbearing and promote more consistent contraceptive use. Put another way, if people are focused more on basic survival right now, bringing new kids into the picture might be seen as highly risky. 

Similarly, something else that makes this situation unique is that so many schools across the country are closed, which means parents who are tele-working also suddenly have to care for their kids 24/7. That situation is one that could very well inhibit physical intimacy, and I’ve heard many parents on Twitter who have already said something to that effect. They describe the current situation as a strong deterrent to sex and, especially, to having more children. 

On top of that, it’s also worth noting that, today, access to highly-effective, reversible contraceptives (not just birth control pills, but also IUDs and implants) is greater than ever before. This gives people a lot more power and control over pregnancy, thereby allowing them to sexually engage without the risk of unintended pregnancy. Condoms can also be shipped discreetly to your door, even in the midst of this pandemic (thanks, Amazon!). Increased access to contraceptives may therefore play a role in limiting any potential baby boom.

I should also mention that the current lockdown situation will be a deterrent to dating and casual sex, which will place yet another limit on conception possibilities. So even if there’s an increase in sexual activity and conception among partnered folks, a decline in casual sex would provide a partial counterweight to that.

In short, there are a lot of competing forces at work here, so it’s difficult to say with any degree of certainty what’s going to happen. Given the severity, widespread impact, and uncertainty created by the COVID-19 coronavirus, I wouldn’t say it’s a foregone conclusion that there will be a baby boom in the next nine months, let alone the “biggest boom we’ve seen.” 

In fact, there’s also the possibility that we could even see a delayed coronavirus baby boom. If I had to place my money on something, that’s where it would be. In other words, rather than conceptions peaking now, perhaps we’ll see them rise once the virus is under control, the economy is in recovery, and the outlook (for having children and for life in general) is more optimistic.   

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[1] Evans, R. W., Hu, Y., & Zhao, Z. (2010). The fertility effect of catastrophe: US hurricane births. Journal of Population Economics, 23(1), 1-36.

[2] Rodgers, J. L., John, C. A. S., & Coleman, R. (2005). Did fertility go up after the Oklahoma City bombing? An analysis of births in metropolitan counties in Oklahoma, 1990–1999. Demography, 42(4), 675-692.

[3] Goldenberg, J.L., McCoy, S.K., Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J., & Solomon, S. (2000). The body as a source of self-esteem: The effect of mortality salience on identification with one’s body, interest in sex, and appearance monitoring. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 118–130.

Image Source: Shutterstock/Stokkete

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