4 big differences between human and animal sexuality

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Human sexuality is endowed with eroticism, symbolism and enriched meanings, especially if we compare it with the animal world, where reproductive motivation is much more marked. Let’s see its peculiarities.

Human and animal sexuality have elements in common, but also many contrasts. It could not be otherwise, if we take into account that human beings are immersed in a culture and a civilization, both endowed with symbolic realities absent in the animal world.

The above makes sexuality in man historical, unlike animal sexuality.. What is thought about sex and the way in which it is assumed and practiced depends on the context. In the 1920s, a kissing scene was removed from a film because it was considered pornographic. Nowadays, such a scene does not provoke any reaction.

Sexuality in humans is neither genitality nor pornography although it is not unusual for the three concepts to be confused. There are taboos and elements that we share with animals. In any case, the difference between sex in humans and in other species lies mainly in the four aspects that we will see below.

“There are fewer ways to make love than people say, but more than you think”.

-Colette-

Animals only have sexual encounters at specific times and never outside of these, while man responds to desire.

1. There is no “heat”, a contrast between human and animal sexuality

One of the big differences between the sexuality of humans and that of animals is what is known as “heat.” The other species only have sexual copulation at specific times and never outside of these.. Human beings can have sex and sexual expressions without this organic restriction.

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Animals never have sex when the female is pregnant. In human beings there is no such limitation. In addition, the other species do not copulate when the female is menstruating; while in humans this pattern is not present, nor is it in a few primates.

Therefore, human sexuality is much more active and extensive. It does not require specific times or places. The only condition is that sexual desire and the anatomical and physiological capacity to achieve copulation are present.

2. Humans have many more erogenous zones

While some mammals, especially primates, derive pleasure from physical contact and actions such as rubbing and licking, only human beings have erogenous zones as such. These are areas of the body with very rich nerve endings, which provide pleasurable sensations associated with sexuality.

Such zones are located on the lips, earlobes, nipples, breasts and genital organs.. That is why human sexuality can also take many modalities and allows for a large number of sexual games. There is pleasure beyond the genital.

However, it must be said that some animals also have sexual behaviors associated with erogenous zones. Short-nosed fruit bats have oral sex. This is believed to prolong copulation and make fertilization more effective. Brown bears in captivity also have oral sex, but it is not clear if they maintain that practice in the wild.

3. Behavior after orgasm

Another difference between both sexualities is the behavior after orgasm.. This is much more noticeable in the female sex. Female primates, for example, once copulation is over, return to their normal activities, as if nothing had happened. The same goes for all animals in general.

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Human beings do not function the same, even in casual sexual relations. Both men and women seem to need a kind of transition between intercourse and normal daily life.. The usual thing is that within the framework of a couple expressions of affection or perhaps sadness and insecurity appear. It all depends on the relationship.

Unlike animals, it is normal for humans to show affection after sex.

4. Sexuality in humans is much longer

The fourth difference between human and animal sexuality is its validity in terms of age.. In old animals there is usually no sexual behavior, especially in females. Once they have finished their reproductive stage, most die. Others last a few more years, but their sexuality is practically non-existent.

In humans it is different. A person can be sexually active even at very advanced ages. It applies to both women and men. Although there is less sexual activity as we get older, it doesn’t actually have to stop.

In sum, human sexuality does not have a strictly reproductive purpose. Likewise, it is crossed by symbolic elements that give it meaning for the individual and for the culture. It implies the satisfaction of an instinct, but also of a need for connection and transcendence.