Is It Better to Say I Love You Before or After Sex?
That's the question MIT psychologists set out to answer in a recent study, just published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
By Zoë Ruderman
(Uh, we know they're wicked smart and all, but did the researchers really not think to include "during sex" as one of the options? Because, let's be honest-it's not uncommon for the L-word to be said for the first time during a hookup.)
Anyway, here's what the study found: Women prefer to hear those three words for the first time after sex, but guys are happier when women say it to them for the first time before sex.
The psychologists theorized that a dude hears I love you and takes it as a sign that sex could be in the near future. Whereas women may hear it and assume it means the guy didn't view the sex as just a one-night stand or F-buddy thing.
Related: 25 Sex Tips You Didn't Know
There is one exception, though. When a guy is only looking to hook up, they prefer to hear I love you after sex, according to researchers. Or, we would venture to say, not at all.
The study revealed one other interesting piece of info: men are more likely to drop the L-bomb first. In fact, they tend to say it six months before the woman does.
Would you rather a guy say I love you before or after you two have sex for the first time? Do you think women should always wait for a guy to say those words? Or is it OK for ladies to do it first?
Related: 8 Ways To Feel Closer After Sex
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