Sexual fantasies represent an expression of the human imagination, so talking about them should not be taboo. However, they are part of the lives of many adults and not all people fantasize with the same frequency.
This was determined by a study published in the scientific journal PLOS One, which revealed that certain personality traits significantly influence the intensity and regularity of these thoughts.
Researchers analyzed more than 5,000 adults, ages 18 to 94, to learn how personality relates to sexual fantasies. The results showed clear differences between some profiles and others.
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What type of people have the most sexual fantasies?
According to the study results, people who reported a significantly higher frequency of sexual fantasies are those with a personality trait known as neuroticism.
This type of personality describes those who manifest emotional instability, with a tendency to suffer from anxiety and experience negative emotions.
Likewise, this relationship appeared in practically all categories analyzed by the researchers, including exploratory, intimate, impersonal fantasies and those related to domination or submission.
Furthermore, the experts discovered that the most influential trait was not anxiety or emotional instability, but rather the tendency to present depressive symptoms. In this sense, these people could use sexual fantasies as a spontaneous way to regulate their emotions and generate more positive moods.
And who has fewer sexual fantasies?
The study also determined that people who have fewer sexual fantasies are those with high levels of responsibility and kindness. The researchers observed that this difference was mainly related to the sense of personal responsibility and not so much to aspects such as organization or productivity.
Something similar happened with those who obtained high scores in agreeableness. In this case, the determining factor was respect for social norms and traditional values, while other characteristics such as trust or compassion did not show a significant influence.
Experts suggest that these personalities may experience greater internal pressure to conform to certain social norms and, therefore, more frequently avoid thoughts related to sexual fantasies.
