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Sexual Hookup Culture: A Review

Open access
Garcia, Justin R., Reiber, Chris, Massey, Sean G., Merriwether, Ann M.·2012·Review of General Psychology
DOI 10.1037/a0027911PMC PMC3613286
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Abstract

“Hookups,” or uncommitted sexual encounters, are becoming progressively more engrained in popular culture, reflecting both evolved sexual predilections and changing social and sexual scripts. Hook-up activities may include a wide range of sexual behaviors, such as kissing, oral sex, and penetrative intercourse. However, these encounters often transpire without any promise of, or desire for, a more traditional romantic relationship. A review of the literature suggests that these encounters are becoming increasingly normative among adolescents and young adults in North America, representing a marked shift in openness and acceptance of uncommitted sex. We reviewed the current literature on sexual hookups and considered the multiple forces influencing hookup culture, using examples from popular culture to place hooking up in context. We argue that contemporary hookup culture is best understood as the convergence of evolutionary and social forces during the developmental period of emerging adulthood. We suggest that researchers must consider both evolutionary mechanisms and social processes, and be considerate of the contemporary popular cultural climate in which hookups occur, in order to provide a comprehensive and synergistic biopsychosocial view of “casual sex” among emerging adults today.

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  • Hookups are a normative experience for most college students.

    “Hookups are a normative experience for college students with 72% of college students reporting hooking up by their Senior year.”

    From Social Motivations for College Hookups. (2021) · cites this paper as Garcia et al. 2012

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Black GD 1994 Hollywood censored Cambridge, MA Cambridge University Press
  2. Chronicle Books 2011 Hook-ups & hangovers: A journal San Francisco, CA Chronicle Books
  3. Garcia JR Reiber C Merriwether AM Heywood LL Fisher HE 2010a 3 Touch me in the morning: Intimately affiliative gestures in uncommitted and romantic relationships Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society New Paltz, NY
  4. Low BS 2000 Why sex matters Princeton, NJ Princeton University Press
  5. Riley C 2010 Making the hook-up: Edgy sex with soul Berkeley, CA Cleis Press
  6. Sherman AJ Tocantins N 2004 The happy hook-up: A single girl’s guide to casual sex Berkeley, CA Ten Speed Press

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Authors
Garcia, J. R., Reiber, C., Massey, S. G., & Merriwether, A. M.
Affiliations
  • Indiana University Bloomington (US)
  • Binghamton University (US)
Corresponding author
Garcia, Justin R.
ORCID
Venue
Review of General Psychology
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2012-06
Volume
16
Issue
2
Pages
161-176
ISSN
  • 1089-2680 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1552
DOI
10.1037/a0027911
PMC
PMC3613286
OpenAlex
W2154001391
Cited by
572
References
153
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 89 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 53 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 4
FWCI
100.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Review of General Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (T32HD049336)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Marriage and Sexual Relationships
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
Keywords
casual sex, emerging adulthood, adolescents, young adults, popular culture, evolutionary psychology, social norms, biopsychosocial model, sexual scripts

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