Mate Retention is a Stronger Predictor of Faking Orgasm than Sociosexuality and Relationship Satisfaction among Hungarian Women

Meskó, Norbert and Csányi, Edit and Zsidó, András N. (2025) Mate Retention is a Stronger Predictor of Faking Orgasm than Sociosexuality and Relationship Satisfaction among Hungarian Women. FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY. ISSN 1664-1078 (Submitted)

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Abstract

Introduction Previous research has established a positive association between women’s faking orgasm and various relationship dynamics, including increased mate-retention behaviors, unrestricted sociosexuality, and lower relationship satisfaction. However, these associations have not been extensively examined in non-Western contexts. This study aimed to explore whether these relationships hold among Hungarian women, contributing to a broader understanding of the role of faking orgasm in romantic relationships. Methods A total of 449 Hungarian women (M_age = 33.95 years, SD = 10.14) participated in an online survey. Participants completed self-report measures assessing their frequency of faking orgasm, mate-retention behaviors, sociosexual orientation, and relationship satisfaction. The Faking Orgasm Scale (FOS) was used to measure the tendency to fake orgasms, while the Mate Retention Inventory (MRI) assessed engagement in mate-retention strategies. Sociosexual orientation was measured using the Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R), and relationship satisfaction was assessed with the Hungarian version of the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS-H). To test the hypothesized associations, binomial regression analyses and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were applied. Results The analyses revealed that unrestricted sociosexuality was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction and positively associated with mate-retention behavior. In turn, mate-retention behavior was positively associated with faking orgasm during sexual intercourse. When examining faking orgasm in the context of receiving oral sex, a different pattern emerged. Unrestricted sociosexuality negatively predicted relationship satisfaction, which positively predicted mate-retention behavior and negatively predicted faking orgasm during oral sex. Additionally, mate-retention behavior positively predicted faking orgasm during oral sex. Discussion These findings align with previous research conducted in American and Brazilian samples, suggesting that women may fake orgasms as part of a broader mate-retention strategy. Faking orgasm may serve to enhance both partners’ sexual and emotional experiences, potentially reinforcing the male partner’s emotional investment in the relationship. The observed differences between sexual intercourse and oral sex highlight the complexity of this behavior, indicating that the motivational underpinnings of faking orgasm may vary depending on the specific sexual context. Conclusion The study provides cross-cultural evidence that faking orgasm is linked to mate-retention behaviors and relationship satisfaction dynamics, supporting the view that this behavior may serve a relational function. These results contribute to a broader understanding of female sexual behaviors in romantic relationships, emphasizing the need for further research to explore the underlying motivations and potential cultural variations.

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