Leading Better Sex Lives: Trait Charisma is Associated with Higher Sexual Desire and Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships

Abstract

Sexuality is a key predictor of relationship satisfaction, but sexual desire and satisfaction can be difficult to maintain over time. Limited research informs who might be more likely to experience higher (compared to lower) levels of desire and sexual satisfaction in their relationships. Certain aspects of personality, such as extraversion, have been associated with sexual satisfaction and desire, but evidence linking personality to sexual outcomes has generally been mixed. A promising, yet unexplored, trait that could be linked to desire and sexual satisfaction is charisma—a combination of influence and affability that has been identified as a desirable trait when people are selecting a romantic or sexual partner. Across two studies—a cross-sectional study of individuals in relationships (N = 413) and a 21-day dyadic daily experience study (N = 121 couples)—people higher in charisma reported being more communally responsive to their partner’s needs during sex, and in turn, experience higher daily sexual desire and satisfaction. Through higher sexual communal motivation, people with a charismatic partner also reported higher sexual desire, but not sexual satisfaction. The effects were retained above and beyond general communal motivation and Big Five personality dimensions, although extraversion accounted for some of the associations. Therefore, charisma is a trait that is linked with higher sexual communal motivation, which is associated with charismatic people reporting higher desire and sexual satisfaction in their romantic relationships.