Coolidge Effect
An increase in sexual activity when the variety of sexual partners increases; named after former president Calvin Coolidge.
The Coolidge effect is a phenomenon observed in many species, including humans, in which individuals exhibit renewed sexual interest and vigor when exposed to a novel sexual partner, even after they have become satiated with a familiar partner. The term is derived from an anecdote about President Calvin Coolidge and his wife visiting a farm, where Mrs. Coolidge observed a rooster copulating multiple times with different hens. When she asked the farmer how the rooster was able to do so, the farmer replied, “He finds new partners.”
The Coolidge effect is thought to be a result of the brain’s reward system and the natural drive for sexual variety. It is related to the concept of habituation, in which the neural response to a stimulus decreases with repeated exposure. However, the introduction of a novel stimulus can reverse the habituation, thereby increasing the neural response and leading to renewed interest.
Research has shown that the Coolidge effect is more pronounced in males than in females, possibly due to differences in sexual selection pressures. It has also been linked to addiction and compulsive sexual behavior in some individuals, particularly in those who have a greater propensity for novelty-seeking and impulsivity.
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