The Phenomenon of Hookups and Romantic Relationship Attachments

This essay delves into the phenomenon of 'hookups,' defined as uncommitted sexual encounters, and their implications for the development of close attachments in romantic relationships. It examines the characteristics of hookups, including partner types, alcohol and drug use, and emotional reactions, while contrasting them with romantic relationships. The essay analyzes the impact of hookups on mental health, including loneliness, depression, and guilt, along with gender differences in emotional involvement and regret. It also explores the connection between hookup behavior and future romantic relationships, considering both positive and negative implications. The research emphasizes the importance of meaningful social relationships and attachment patterns, referencing relevant studies to support its arguments, and concludes by acknowledging the complex biopsychological nature of uncommitted sex and its influence on both pleasure and reproductive motives.

Running head: THE PHENOMENON OF ‘HOOKUPS’
THE PHENOMENON OF ‘HOOKUPS’
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1THE PHENOMENON OF ‘HOOKUPS’
Discuss the phenomenon of ‘hookups’ (i.e., uncommitted sexual encounters) and their
implications for the development of close attachments in romantic relationships.
“Hookups” are the modern term that is used to refer the uncommitted sexual encounters.
The phenomenon of hook-ups in the contemporary times is excessively progressing and gaining
popularity in the current culture. Implication of uncommitted sexual encounters has certain
impacts that contribute towards human behaviour and thinking (Kuperberg & Padgett, 2016).
The implication of Hookups has certain impacts on the development of close attachments in
romantic relationship. In the similar discourse, the paper aims to discuss the concept of “hook-
up’ and the impacts of their implication on the development of the close attachment in romantic
relationship. The paper will analyse the implication of this specific phenomenon with and the
consequences of it on the long term romantic relations.
Conceptualization hook-ups:
The term ‘hook-up’ is used by the young people to refer a wide range of intimate interactions
between people or partners. Even through the meaning is much simpler, the ambiguous nature of
the term is evident and makes the phenomenon ambiguous. The term covers a wide range of
intimate interactions involving between partners (Johnson & Chen, 2015). According to Fielder
et al. (2014), the characteristics of hook-ups was described with the help of an event-level
approach which reduces memory burden, avoids averaging across experiences and provide
information in precise form. The hook-up is elaborated into eight dimensions that are neither
well researched not have specific consequences and may have conflicting results. The eight
dimensions that are used to list the characteristics of hook-ups are the following:
1. Partner type

2THE PHENOMENON OF ‘HOOKUPS’
2. Alcohol and drug use
3. Relationship duration such as one night stand or events occurred multiple times.
4. Motivation for hook-ups
5. Use of condom
6. Specific sexual behaviours that occurred
7. Differences between romantic relationship and hook-ups.
8. Emotional reactions (Fielder et al., 2014)
Researches have found an association between alcohol use and hook up behaviour. Most
of the times the occurrence of hook up behaviour is led by use of alcohol since the decision
making capability of individual becomes at risk when a person is drunk (LaBrie et al., 2014).
The second most prominent factor where hook-ups are noted is between friends or with the
former partner. Also, the term hook-up is a term used to refer ranges of behaviour. While some
used to it to refer only kissing, some used it to refer intercourse. Therefore, the term is
ambiguous in its context. Lastly, the most prominent characteristic of hook-up is from the health
perspective. Usage of condom very less or absent in this kind of relationship. When a
comparison is made between romantic interaction and hook-ups, it showed some of the most
interesting findings. For example, consumption of alcohol is in more times is common in hook-
ups, the sexual interaction is less romantic however hook-ups are most often followed by regret
factor (Claxton et al., 2015).
Implication of hook-ups for the development of close attachment in romantic
relationship. Research suggests that casual sexual encounters have become increasingly
normative among the young adults and adolescents. The phenomenon certainly represents a shift
in openness and acceptance of uncommitted sex. When implications of these acts that

3THE PHENOMENON OF ‘HOOKUPS’
specifically related with the social-sexual relationships, dramatic implications are noted on
physical and mental health. Any individual who have been engaged in hook-up behaviour are
seen with variety of mental health factors (Christopher & Roosa, 2014). There is a greater scope
for reduction of loneliness and feeling of depression when an individual indulge in hook-ups. At
the same time, the participants with less depressive symptoms and feeling of loneliness tend to
feel depressive and lonely when they indulge in the hook up. Often hook-ups also result in guilt
and negative feelings. Studies shows that women are prone to feel depressed about the fact of
being involved with someone unknown in sexual intercourse than men. Also, there is a link
between the number of sex partners and the interest in marital thoughts. The increased number of
sex partners leads to less thoughts on marital decisions and it is same in both the sexes. When the
after hook-ups feelings are considered it reveals a certain gender differences. Women are found
displaying more negative reactions than men. Also, there are gender differences when the
emotional involvement is concern. Women are identified with more emotional involvement in
seemingly ‘low involvement’ sexual encounters than men. There are number of studies that have
included measures of regret in regard to hook-ups. These specific studies have documented the
regretful feeling that is associated with the hook up. Hook-up results to some of the common
emotions such as feeling of embarrassment, loss of self-respect and sexual regret (Twenge,
Sherman & Wells, 2017).
Close attachments to other people are essential for the normal development of cognitive,
social and emotional development. In many ways adults are better off when they enjoy
meaningful social relationships (Holmes, 2014). According to researches, it is the quality that
matter most than quantity of an individual’s social relationship which is closely associated with
the wellbeing of life satisfaction. The size of an individual’s social system is not as significant as

4THE PHENOMENON OF ‘HOOKUPS’
whether it includes at least one confident that can be weather a friend, relative or a spouse to
whom one can feel special attachment. Towards that person one can thoughts and feelings can be
shared. In the most married adults in the society, the most important confidants are their spouses.
For men spouses are of immense significance as they are highly depended on them. However, for
women, they are most relied on their friends, siblings and children for emotional support more
than spouses. Therefore, it is the meaningful and the serious relationship that plays the important
role in the lifespan (Sigelman & Rider, 2014).
The way people reflect their style of attachment impacts almost everything from the way
one selects their partners, the way they act in relationship and the way one end their relationship.
Therefore recognizing the attachment pattern becomes important and helps in understanding the
strengths and vulnerabilities in a relationship. The early childhood attachments create the
attachment patterns and continue to function as a working model for relationships in adulthood.
Often young people attempt to negotiate multiple desires. It is likely that a large portion of
emerging adults today engage in hook-ups by compulsion while desiring immediate sexual
gratification as well as more stable romantic attachments. Hook-ups are linked to future romantic
relationship. in addition to this there are clear gender differences in perception of heterosexual
hook-ups that contribute to romantic relationships of future (Coontz, 2016).
Conclusion:
Although many researches shows there is positive impact following hook up, there are
researches that reflects that there are more negative implications of the phenomenon.
Uncommitted sex is now explored across a variety of disciplines. Theoretical perspectives is
understood in best knowledge as a biopsychological phenomenon. Evidences shows that these
sexual patterns are both influenced with by pleasures and reproductive motives. This was

5THE PHENOMENON OF ‘HOOKUPS’
observed in the participant’s reactions following uncommitted sex. However, as the researches
have shown and discussed a majority of both men and women are motivated to engage in hook-
ups. Also, they are consistent with the want of romantic relationship and desire throughout.

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Referencing:
Christopher, F. S., & Roosa, M. W. (2014). Factors affecting sexual decisions in the premarital
relationships of adolescents and young adults. In Sexuality in close relationships (pp.
127-150). Psychology Press.
Claxton, S. E., DeLuca, H. K., & van Dulmen, M. H. (2015). The association between alcohol
use and engagement in casual sexual relationships and experiences: A meta-analytic
review of non-experimental studies. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44(4), 837-856.
Coontz, S. (2016). The way we never were: American families and the nostalgia trap. Hachette
UK.
Fielder, R. L., Walsh, J. L., Carey, K. B., & Carey, M. P. (2014). Sexual hookups and adverse
health outcomes: A longitudinal study of first-year college women. The Journal of Sex
Research, 51(2), 131-144.
Holmes, J. (2014). The search for the secure base: Attachment theory and psychotherapy.
Routledge.
Johnson, M. D., & Chen, J. (2015). Blame it on the alcohol: The influence of alcohol
consumption during adolescence, the transition to adulthood, and young adulthood on
one-time sexual hookups. Journal of sex research, 52(5), 570-579.
Kuperberg, A., & Padgett, J. E. (2016). The role of culture in explaining college students’
selection into hookups, dates, and long-term romantic relationships. Journal of Social and
Personal Relationships, 33(8), 1070-1096.
LaBrie, J. W., Hummer, J. F., Ghaidarov, T. M., Lac, A., & Kenney, S. R. (2014). Hooking up in
the college context: The event-level effects of alcohol use and partner familiarity on
hookup behaviors and contentment. Journal of Sex Research, 51(1), 62-73.

7THE PHENOMENON OF ‘HOOKUPS’
Sigelman, C. K., & Rider, E. A. (2014). Life-span human development. Cengage Learning.
Twenge, J. M., Sherman, R. A., & Wells, B. E. (2017). Sexual inactivity during young adulthood
is more common among us millennials and igen: Age, period, and cohort effects on
having no sexual partners after age 18. Archives of sexual behavior, 46(2), 433-440.