A study has revealed what people think is the ‘ideal’ body count for a partner – and the findings may not be what you’d expect.
The research, which surveyed over 340 participants in Germany, aimed to explore societal norms regarding s**ual behavior in 25 year olds, including the number of partners, frequency of s**ual activity, and even habits such as m**turbation.
The figures it came up with are considered ‘socially acceptable.’
According to the study, published in social psychological and personality science, the ‘ideal’ number of lifetime partners for men falls between four and five, with two to three being casual encounters.
For women, the number is slightly lower, with the ideal range being two to three partners total, and only one or two of those considered casual.
The researchers note: “There are both similarities and differences in the societal evaluation of male and female s**uality,” while adding that: “Moderate rather than extremely low or extremely high levels of s**ual activity are most valued for both genders.”
Interestingly, the average number of partners reported by Americans is much higher than these so-called ideals.
A separate survey conducted by Talker research for LELO revealed that the average American has had relations with 14 people over their lifetime.
This discrepancy highlights the difference between actual behavior and what is deemed socially acceptable or ‘ideal.’
The timing of individuals’ first s**ual experiences also varied by gender in the study.
Men typically reported their first experience between the ages of 18 and 20, while women reported theirs between 16 and 18, as originally noted by vice.
These differences align with broader social narratives that often pressure men to be more s**ually active while simultaneously judging women for the same behavior.
Despite shifting societal norms, traditional double standards persist.
The study found that men may be criticized for not having enough s**ual experience, while women are still often judged harshly for having too many partners.
As further evidence of the ongoing stigma surrounding s**ual history, a survey from fall 2024 found that one in four Americans in relationship have never disclosed their total number of partners to their current partner.
In that survey of 2,000 s**ually active adults, 26% admitted to keeping their body count secret, and 16% said they downplayed the number when asked.
Notably, 60% said their partner never inquired, and one in nine suspected their significant other might be hiding the truth too.While 83% of singles claimed they’d be open about their s**ual history, only 62% said they actually wanted to hear their partner’s number, reinforcing that even in modern relationships, some taboos remain difficult to shake.
