Beyond Body Count: How Many Past Partners Are Too Many?

6 days ago

The term 'body count' refers to the number of past sexual partners a person has had and is widely discussed in modern dating contexts.
A common belief is that a high body count is desirable for men but undesirable for women, suggesting a sexual double standard.
Research published in Scientific Reports explored whether people care about a prospective partner's body count across different cultures.
Findings indicate that people generally prefer partners with fewer past lovers, with the 'sweet spot' being two to four past partners.
The study found no evidence of a sexual double standard; women were not judged more harshly than men for having a high body count.
People also care about the timing of past sexual encounters, preferring partners whose number of new partners is decreasing over time.
The preference for lower body counts and slowing rates of new partners was consistent across 11 countries, indicating cross-cultural universality.
Individuals more open to casual sex (high in sociosexuality) were less affected by body count, but the effect was still present.
The research challenges the notion that women are judged more harshly for their sexual history than men.
The study suggests that past behavior is a key factor in mate choice, with evolutionary roots explaining these preferences.

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