Sex After a Quarrel: Motivations and Relationship Effects

After a conflict, there is often a sudden desire for intimacy. An emotional argument can intensify sexual attraction, as the body releases adrenaline, which stimulates sexual arousal. Additionally, during an argument, people often do not hold back their emotions, which contributes to being more uninhibited in their intimate relationships.

Sex after a quarrel can also help reduce stress that can accumulate during a tense confrontation. Research shows that intimacy after a quarrel helps people feel better not only on that day but also on the following day. However, this effect is observed only in those who are satisfied with their relationships. Moreover, sex after a quarrel can become a reconciliation ritual, allowing partners to become closer after discord. During orgasm, the hormone oxytocin is released in both sexes, which has a calming effect and promotes a more favorable response to a partner's behavior.

Despite the perception that sex after a quarrel is more intense, it is not a universal rule. It is possible for anxiety and mistrust to develop towards one's partner during a conflict, which negatively affects libido, especially in women. Research indicates that men are more likely to use intimacy to relieve tension during a conflict, while women are more sensitive to interpersonal interactions. In the absence of emotional support, men in unsatisfactory relationships may perceive physical intimacy as the only way to relieve tension.

Experiments also show that men may find their partners more attractive after a conflict, whereas this effect is not observed in women. If one partner initiates sex to avoid conflict or in hopes of reconciliation, it can lead to negative consequences.

It is important to remember that sex should be based on the mutual consent of both partners. The necessity of engaging in sexual activity after a quarrel when there is no genuine desire carries the risk of psychological trauma.