Factors Affecting Sexual Vocalization in Human Females

Prokop, P. Factors influencing sexual vocalization in the human female. Arch Sex Behav (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02018-4

Commentary

The human female uses many signals to attract male attention and is motivated by the reinforcement of the father's investment in offspring.

This "sexual vocalization" is a form of female sexual signaling.

The hypothesis explaining the functional importance of vocalization applies to non-human primates, but there are few studies on human females.

In this study, a sample of 403 heterosexual Slovakian women was used to investigate the factors underlying sexual vocalization.

Sexual vocalizations were shown to be most frequent during penetration itself, compared to other forms of sexual activity that support signaling functions, the most frequently reported sexual vocalization was moaning, followed by screams and instructional commands, squeals, and words.

Both the frequency and intensity of sexual vocalizations were significantly and positively associated with sexual arousal during the last sexual vaginal intercourse and social intercourse.

About 38% of the women reported that they pretended to be vocal at this time.

Second, pretend vocalizations were shown to be associated only with pretend orgasm, and no direct evidence was found for associations between self-reported frequency and intensity of sexual vocalizations, partner satisfaction/physical attractiveness/ambition/dominance, self-perceived attractiveness, or orgasm occurrence.

Frequency of sexual vocalization was positively affected by fertility risk, and at the proximity level, women who are less sexually restricted may use sexual vocalization to increase their sexual attraction to their current partner by increasing their partner's self-esteem.

Enhanced vocalization by less sexually restricted women has been shown to ultimately secure higher paternal investment and may increase paternal trust in current sexual partners.