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sociosexual orientation

a dimension of personality that describes people’s comfort with and preference for sexual activity in the absence of love or commitment. People who are said to have an unrestricted sociosexual orientation (usually but not exclusively men) report more sexual activity outside of committed intimate relationships (e.g., one-night stands, short-term relationships, extramarital affairs). In evolutionary theorizing, sociosexual orientation is considered a determinant of preferences about the enactment of short-term versus long-term mating strategies.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

slow-wave sleep

slow-wave sleep

deep sleep that is characterized by increasing percentages of particular types of delta waves on the electroencephalogram, corresponding to Stages 3 and 4 of NREM sleep. See also sleep stages.