8 Bizarre Things Science Has Taught Us About Sex

3. Spanking Brings You Closer Together

In a study in Archives of Sexual Behavior, researchers found that couples participating a a bit of healthy kink experienced increased feelings of closeness, but only after it was all over.

By monitoring the hormone levels in men and women at various S&M parties, researchers discovered the endochrinal rollercoaster ride of sadomasochism. During S&M scenes in which the bottom (the term for the submissive participant) was subjected to a mixture of painful and pleasurable stimulation, as well as sensory deprivation and binding, their levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, somewhat understandably spiked.

They also found the testosterone in the female submissives went through the roof, a response that the researchers reckon helps them cope with the heightened levels of aggression in S&M activities. They were, quite literally, taking it like a man. Interestingly, they didn't observe any hormonal changes in the tops.

So what does bondage have to do with bonding? Well, despite the frankly alarming and brutal appearances of most S&M scenes, they are based on a strong foundation of love an trust. There is even a point in the researchers notes in which he observed:

"...the top noticed that the bottom, who was bent over a table, was moving one foot around, unable to rest it evenly on the floor. The top paused the scene activities and placed a pillow under the bottom's foot to relieve the discomfort."

It takes a certain kind of character to worry about someone's comfort levels whilst actively flogging them.

After the session, hormone levels quickly returned to normal levels, indicating there there were no long-term negative effects. The couples who thought the session had gone "well" also reported a great feeling of closeness and bonding. Perhaps this has something to do with the unique situation of a high-stress, violent situation - which causes a rush of brain chemistry - accompanied with and followed by care.

Our response to danger and violence is designed to cope with predator situations in the natural world, but if the predator stays around for a cuddle afterwards, then perhaps the stress response gets converted into a powerful positive instead.