New Study Examines "Hookup Culture" In Awkward, Clinical Way

Old people find religion and suddenly they think they can judge the very things they did when they were young.

The average teen is waiting longer to have sex than they were 30 years ago. Just do some calculation on how old your friends parents were when they had their first child. They were younger than you would think. They often got marred by 17-18 (13-14 in some traditions). Which parent would want that for their child today?

Not necessarily true killerT...

Sex does not always equal children.

I would say that the only reason this seems to be a large part of the culture is that you only hear about the people that are sleeping around. You wouldn't go around saying, "that couple sleeps together often."

From my experience, there are at least 2 types of people: those who want to be in a committed relationship and those that want to have fun and are willing to sleep with someone once.

I'm not saying sex means children, I'm saying children mean sex was happening at a young age in times past.
Also the average life expectancy is lower the further back you go. What age would you guess people would start a family if they had about 30 or so years to live?
I'm guessing as soon as possible.

Waiting to start a family is a modern idea. It was not generally practiced any time in the past. It is a myth.
Just like the myth that people used to eat whatever they want and live to be 1000.
Old people tell lies about their youth, get used to it.

@haywall
Only two types? What about people who are committed but fall in love with someone else also?
Or get drunk and make a mistake?
Or are a married prostitute or opportunist?
Or are clients of a prostitute?
Or are committed, but still like to have fun with one or more people?
Or are having marital problems and change partners, then may or may not also do one or more of the above?

Did you think of any of those very common scenarios?
This is how complicated it gets when you deal with reality.
The "ideal" or "foundation" that people say we are straying from does not exist and never has, but it is the only guide most people have.

(1) Premarital relations were less common in the past, because marriage ages were usually lower. The current increase can be tied to the cultural trend of delay marriage further and further into life.

(2) There have been, are, and will continue to be many young people who will behave responsibly and wait until marriage. Never allow yourself to believe that "everyone is doing it" so that your actions are less shameful than they are.

(3) This study is still disturbing - it says that 33% of college female relations are not even attempting to develop relationships - much less the long term relationships that lead to successful child rearing.

(4) What is eroding the foundations of our society is the one parent home, which does have nothing to do with premarital relations, but with the post-conceptual actions of those responsible. One parent homes have sever financial, emotional, developmental, and educational setbacks compared to two parent homes.

Thus, while young people will make mistakes and bad decisions, a less permissive divorce culture and the "shotgun" wedding did serve to cement the two parent home in society for the good of their children.

(4)

Oaksparr7777,

(1)There is plenty of evidence that premarital sex occurred in the past. Just like there is evidence of homosexuality throughout human history. Perhaps you are mistaking a lack of social acceptance for a lack of occurrence?

(2)Your statement here is laced with judgmental, possibly religious, undertones that premarital sex is irresponsible and somehow shameful and wrong. Your view on this subject is not everyone's view.

(3)Why does sex have to have a relationship attached? People have natural biological desires and needs. It's proven that regular sexual intercourse is healthy for the human body. Someone in college clearly has life plans that may or may not include marriage and children. Most likely, those that do plan to get married are planning for later in their lives.

(4)That is a very narrow minded look at our society to assume that single parents are the cause of societal problems. There are many, MANY, two parent homes that are abusive, emotionally destructive, or financially challenged. To claim, that two parent homes are the ideal and that all single parent homes are bad is a very uninformed statement that clashes with reality.