Introductory editorial to ‘Orgasm: Neurophysiological, Psychological, and Evolutionary Perspectives’

F ew topics in psychology are the source of as much pleasure and anxiety as orgasm. However, the precise functions and evolutionary origins of orgasm remain a mystery. The conditions shaping sexual climax may be particularly complex in humans, whose sexual behavior is characterized by cultural shaping, abstract goals, and frequent non-reproductive motivations. In light of the fact that 'nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution' (Dobzhansky, 1973), we organized this special issue around evolutionary perspectives. At the same time, we recognized that adaptationist hypotheses can be difficult to test, and that biological (perhaps especially psychological) processes are not necessarily evolutionarily advantageous (Gould & Lewontin, 1979). Indeed, given the complexity and flexibility of human sexual behavior, some phenomena may be more fruitfully explored with an agnostic stance toward particular evolutionary models. Accordingly, we were open to a wide range of frameworks and experimental approaches in compiling this special issue, hoping to inspire further research and novel hypotheses. We have brought together a number of scientists with expertise in the study of orgasm. Our contributors are evolutionary psychologists, animal behavior experts, fMRI researchers, and investigators specializing in the analysis of large-scale surveys. We hoped to address a broad range of questions in this special issue, such as: 1. Why does orgasm intensity and frequency differ between and within individuals? 2. Why is women's orgasmic capacity more variable (on average) than men's, with many women reporting difficulty achieving orgasm and some women reporting the ability to experience multiple orgasms? 3. How is the human experience of orgasm and climax different from that of animals? 4. Do orgasms contribute to mate choice, and if so, through what mechanisms do they exert their influences? Many of the featured papers focus on female orgasm, which reflects broader clinical trends of studying anorgas-mia in women, and also ongoing theoretical investigations into whether female orgasm has an evolutionary purpose. Previously, scientists have reached opposing conclusions on the topic of the evolutionary significance of female orgasm, with Lloyd (2006) arguing against female orgasm being a product of natural selection, and others arguing that it has an adaptive function in either mate or sperm A comprehensive review by Puts, Dawood, and Welling (2012) summarized a variety of studies on the topic, suggesting that the whole of evidence seems to indicate that female orgasm is adaptive rather than vestigial. However, questions remain about the precise effects …