Justin Garcia

On the Intimate Animal | CIIS Join Dr. Garcia and Dr. Walling to discuss the science of love and sex, celebrating the landmark exhibition Desire on the Couch with The Kinsey Institute.

🔔 THIS WEEK 🔔

CIIS & @drjustingarcia.bsky.social discuss the lifecycle of a romantic relationship.

Register to join the discussion on the evolutionary roots of intimacy www.ciis.edu/events/intim...

Episode 481: Can Our Brains Handle Modern Dating? - Sex and Psychology From dating apps to AI matchmaking, we're exploring how modern technology affects the human brain and how it's reshaping intimacy.

Humans evolved for face-to-face courtship in small communities. So what happens when we take that same mating psychology and drop it into a global, app-based marketplace? @kinseyinstitute.bsky.social Director @drjustingarcia.bsky.social has the answer. www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast...

Episode 480: The Evolution Of Love And Desire - Sex and Psychology Are humans built for monogamy? What happens inside the brain when we fall in love? Unpacking the neurobiology of love, desire, and attachment.

Humans evolved powerful brain systems for both attachment AND novelty. That tension explains a lot about modern relationships, as @drjustingarcia.bsky.social from the @kinseyinstitute.bsky.social explains on today's episode. www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/podcast...

5 Secrets to Increase Your Sexual Satisfaction: Tips From a Sex Therapist - Sex and Psychology As a practicing sex therapist, I often see two partners legitimately trying to bridge a satisfaction gap between each other, but they can’t seem to get the moves just right. If left unchecked, this can lead to resentment and conflict; however, couples who figure out how to speak to each other sexually (both verbally and nonverbally) have the highest success in terms of finding something that works for both of them.Making an environment conducive to this sort of positive growth requires a little bit of effort and the ability to listen. Drawing on my clinical experience, here are my top tips...

Where comfort, intimacy, and trust intersect is where sexual satisfaction likes to live. https://www.sexandpsychology.com/blog/2020/4/13/5-secrets-to-increasing-sexual-satisfaction-tips-from-a-sex-therapist/

A headshot picture of Geena Davis with science of love logo

Thank you @greatergoodmag.bsky.social @geenadavisorg.bsky.social for having us join this podcast 🎧

We loved exchanging ideas on the science of love with you 🧬

@drjustingarcia.bsky.social

greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/ite...

Thank you! I really hope you enjoy reading THE INTIMATE ANIMAL! 🥰

A book, game, pen, and candle on a table

✨Enter to WIN✨ The Intimate Animal Gift Box with a copy of the book 📖 + goodies from the Kinsey Institute, Esther Perel & Mienne 🎁

Enter here ⬇️
knsy.in/bookprize

@drjustingarcia.bsky.social @littlebrown.bsky.social

Animals experience joy. Scientists want to measure it Scientists have long focused on quantifying fear and other negative emotions in animals. Now they’re trying to measure positive feelings — and it’s a challenge.

A lovely read about researchers who make animals happy for a living 😊 A day spent playing the sounds of baby bonobo laughter is surely a day well spent

www.sciencenews.org/article/scie...

Why we crave intimacy | CNN That feeling of being known by someone, without saying a word? That’s intimacy, and a new book from Dr. Justin Garcia says it’s oxygen for your relationships.

Thanks to Ian Kerner and @cnn.com
for the opportunity to share more about my new book, THE INTIMATE ANIMAL!

www.cnn.com/2026/02/01/h...

Picture of crash course series with birds and bees

We're recruiting for a new study, can you help? Must:

Have seen at least 1 episode of YouTube series "Crash Course Sex Ed"

Be a parent / caregiver for someone <18 

Live in USA 🇺🇸

IF yes. Please consider taking a short survey to share your 💭 on sex ed: iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Thank you so much, @adrianaravenlust.bsky.social!

Adults in a class with text overlayed “kickstart your learning with a certificate from the Kinsey Institute”

If your work touches sex, relationships, or intimacy, you’ve probably been asked questions your formal training never covered. Want to build credible, research-driven knowledge?

🎓 Check out our 4-day Human Sexuality Intensive course. knsy.in/intensive

Orgasm-related laughing, crying, nosebleeds and more are normal, albeit rare When some women orgasm, they experience unusual physical and emotional responses such as laughing, crying, headaches, tingling, foot pain, nosebleeds and more. Known as peri-orgasmic phenomena, the responses are not related to the normal physiology of an orgasm.&nbsp; A new survey-based Northwestern University study is the first to break down how frequently and consistently women experience these responses, and when they&rsquo;re more likely to occur (i.e. with a partner or during masturbation).&nbsp; While the study found these responses are rare &mdash; only 2.3% of the sample &mdash;...

Research finds that some women experience unusual physical symptoms during orgasm, which can include laughing, crying, headaches, hallucinations, sneezing, and nosebleeds. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111540

Why humans live and die for love A new book explores how humans evolved to be wired for intimacy. It can save our lives.

Thanks to @popsci.com for publishing this excerpt from my new book, THE INTIMATE ANIMAL

www.popsci.com/environment/...

I’m honored and thrilled that the Next Big Idea Club @nextbigidea.bsky.social team has selected my new book, THE INTIMATE ANIMAL, as a monthly must-read! 📕

Pre-order THE INTIMATE ANIMAL through Hudson Booksellers and receive a 30% discount using code CANTWAIT
— don’t miss out, pre-order now!
📕 😊
hudsonbooksellers.com/book/9780316...

Pre-order THE INTIMATE ANIMAL and sign up to join us! I’m looking forward to what is sure to be a fun, lively, and thought-provoking conversation with @nayeema.bsky.social and you!
📕 🎊 ❤️

kinseyinstitute.org/research/int...

Headshots of Justin and Nayeema with headline text reading virtual Q&A

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY ⚡️📖

Preorder The Intimate Animal - a new book from Kinsey Institute Exec Director @drjustingarcia.bsky.social - to request an exclusive invite for a Q&A with Dr. Garcia + @nayeema.bsky.social

Details: knsy.in/intimateanimal
Register by: Jan 26, 2026

@littlebrown.bsky.social

Kissing is an ‘evolutionary conundrum.’ Scientists just mapped its unexpected origins | CNN Ape ancestors and early humans likely kissed their friends and sexual partners, according to a new study.

"Kissing is both biological and cultural...and clearly has some evolutionary origins…”
@drjustingarcia.bsky.social

edition.cnn.com/2025/11/19/s...

Book giveaway for The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love by Justin R. Garcia Oct 29-Nov 12, 2025 Enter to win one of 20 free copies available. Giveaway dates from Oct 29-Nov 12, 2025. Enter for a chance to win an advanced copy of THE INTIMATE ANIMAL ...

GIVEAWAY 🎁 Your chance to win a free advanced copy of @drjustingarcia.bsky.social new book 📕

Enter by November 12!

@littlebrown.bsky.social

www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Kinsey Institute study shows lasting impact of limited sex education on adult relationships

New paper 📑 44% of 3895 singles aged 18-98 surveyed believe they’d have healthier romantic relationships today if they had better sex ed.

Details 👇

news.iu.edu/kinseyinstit...

P.S. it is never too late to learn with our Crash Course series!
@jessicajhille.bsky.social @drjustingarcia.bsky.social

Make Your Match with the Kinsey Institute The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University is where the world turns to understand sex and relationships. Now, you can help continue its expert-led research.

Make Your Match ⚡️ with an incredible 2:1 gift match on all donations made to the Kinsey Institute in October. Please consider a donation to this special crowdfunding campaign to support our research 🎁🙏

Every $1 donated = $3

Thanks to generous support from Match ❣️

knsy.in/giftmatch

Are alpha males real? The term "alpha male" was coined in 1970 to describe wolves. But what does science think about the term now?

“Alpha status is more like a temporary job role than an innate characteristic of the leading individual”

www.livescience.com/animals/are-...

For those interested in our @kinseyinstitute.bsky.social colleague Stephen Porges’ groundbreaking research and thinking on Polyvagal Theory #polyvagal and what it means for social behavior, trauma, and human connection:

Screenshot of website showing dartboard with heart as the center with an arrow through it and stats that 60% believe in love at first sight and more men identify as romantic than women.

Survey results 4 our 14th Singles in America collab with Match are LIVE w/ data on everything from how much 💰 singles are spending on dates to how they're using AI to if they believe in love at first sight. Get the insights on modern dating at singlesinamerica.com

@drjustingarcia.bsky.social

📚 Our 2024 Annual Report is LIVE. It includes research deep dives, highlights from our art exhibitions & acquisitions, a list of key publications/awards, news, & more. THANK YOU to all our amazing supporters, partners & collaborators over the last year 👏👏

kinseyinstitute.org/about/annual...

‘Research that touches the heart’: the scientists who study sex and love Romance and relationships are research topics for some scientists in academia and the private sector. Nature asked them for their insights.

"Relationships are central to the human experience," shares
@natureportfolio.nature.com in conversation with scientists @drjustingarcia.bsky.social, Kenneth Tang, Sarah Stanton, & Samantha Joel.

Read the article 👇

www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00318-6

6 Relationship Resolutions for 2025 We asked researchers, couples counselors and sex therapists for some simple strategies to strengthen your romantic relationship in 2025.

Do you have a Relationship Resolution for 2025?

See our #1 suggestion to the @nytimes.com 👇👇

www.nytimes.com/2025/01/01/w...

We have opened applications for two exciting scholarship tracks within our Kinsey Institute Library & Special Collection. Awards between $3-5k available open to a variety of disciplines. Learn more 🏆🔗
knsy.in/awards

Beyond words: Relationships between emoji use, attachment style, and emotional intelligence Assessing the relationships between emoji use and traits related to communication and interpersonal skills can provide insights into who employs emojis and the psychological mechanisms underlying comp...

💡 DYK? Emojis may influence relationship dynamics. We found:

🗣️ Emoji use is linked to traits that ↗️ communication & bonding

🧠 Higher EI was linked w/ more often sharing emojis w/ friends, esp for women

⛔ People with more avoidant attachment styles exchanged emojis less often

📖 knsy.in/emoji1