7 July 2016: We need to teach men rational sexual behavior

By Nat Pernick, M.D.

7 July 2016


Even in the best of times, society has inherent instability.  There will occasionally be catastrophic versions of the small problems that regularly occur, even if we cannot predict their timing and nature.  This conclusion is based on self-organized criticality, a concept introduced by Danish physicist Per Bak,  and previously discussed in my blog post about the Orlando nightclub shooting.


However, these are not the best of times.  Numerous factors promote increased societal instability, including climate change and terrorists targeting our infrastructure.  In addition, the American anti-government / anti-tax movements have severely weakened physical infrastructure and “personal infrastructure”, those institutions which promote individual productivity through education, economic well being and health care.  The trends towards marked concentrations of wealth and political power have damaged our political and economic systems, and created a sense of despair, illustrated by increasing rates of drug overdoses and suicides.  In effect, there is a plan to destroy America by undermining our fundamentals, being put into place by those who are advancing a political ideology, but likely don’t really understand what they are doing.

To best prepare for our current and future challenges, we need to maximize individual capability and productivity.  Towards this end, it is important to take a critical look at common societal practices that reduce productivity, even if some are difficult to discuss.  This post raises two themes regarding men and sexuality.


First, we need formal educational programs to teach boys how to deal with their sexual drive.  In teenage boys, and even in older men, the sex drive is typically overwhelming.  As a result, it is not surprising that we regularly read about prominent men whose lives are destroyed because of their inability to deal with these drives, most recently Charles Pugh, former Detroit City Council President and Brock Turner, All-American swimmer.  There are many similar cases, not reported, of men who are less prominent.  In addition, there are many cases, not criminal, of men who have acted badly, causing marked damage to themselves or others, and a resulting loss to society.


The educational programs must include basic biology.  Adults need to be able to understand and talk about their reproductive systems and sex.  But we also need instruction about rational responses to biologic urges.  I am not an educator, and cannot suggest what the final educational materials should be.  This is a sensitive subject, and teaching will likely vary by geography and local culture.  But it is important that we start this task, to raise the expectations of behavior of our male population, with the resulting benefit to society.


Second, we must end the cultural norm that says men, particularly single men, should positively respond to all potential offers of sex.  Although probably talked about more than actually done, getting women into bed on a casual basis almost seems like a norm for men.  However, it seems clear that despite "feeling good", casual sex is not a good idea, because:
(a) there are profound economic and social consequences associated with raising children created by this sexual activity;(b) there is a high risk, estimated at 20.4% for travel related casual sex, of acquiring one of 35 sexual transmitted diseases; 
(c) there is a risk, albeit low, of a false rape report (the percentage of false reports made to law enforcement is 2-8%);(d) it may be important to individuals that various religious and moral authorities condemn sex that is not associated with love and commitment.

Despite our efforts, men / boys may still engage in inappropriate and casual sexual activity, but this may be less likely if they are educated about reproductive biology and sex, and if we change the cultural norm that supports and promotes casual sex.  

For our society to succeed, we must maximize productivity and usefulness from all of its members.  Teaching and encouraging rational sexual behavior may help.