The coolidge effect is named after president Calvin Coolidge who reportedly said "I am more interested in the man who can make one sentence stand than in the man who makes a speech." It's also called the Coolidge Effect, the Coolidge rule, or the Coolidge phenomenon. In psychology, it refers to how male animals become sexually aroused again upon seeing their mates. This means that males lose their sexual attraction towards females if they do not see them for some time and are then introduced to them again. Females, on the other hand, show no such effects. The term was coined by Francis Hecker in 1948 when he noticed that roosters showed renewed interest in hens even after copulation had occurred multiple times. Studies have shown that this phenomenon occurs across various species including humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, goats, pigs, cows, sheep, lizards, frogs, fish, birds, butterflies, and beetles. In humans, the coolidge effect has been observed in men exposed to pornography videos or live partners while watching porn. Research suggests that the brain releases dopamine during orgasm which increases pleasure-seeking behavior and desires for novelty. There may also be an element of social reinforcement involved where men feel proud about their sexual success with women. However, the exact mechanism remains unknown as there are individual differences in sexual desire and response to stimuli. Some studies suggest that variations in testosterone levels could contribute to the phenomenon.
The coolidge effect has important implications for human relationships and health. For example, it can lead to infidelity or addiction to pornography due to the constant need for new partners and experiences. It may also explain why couples often experience a decrease in sexual intimacy over time since familiarity leads to decreased novelty seeking. On the other hand, it encourages experimentation and exploration within relationships through role-playing, kinks, bondage, dominance/submission, etc. The effect can also help individuals break out of ruts caused by monotony or routine in their sex lives. Additionally, the coolidge effect may provide evolutionary benefits such as increasing genetic diversity and enhancing survival chances of offspring. However, its effects on females are less well studied compared to males, highlighting the importance of further research into gender differences in sexual arousal and attraction.