PsycHacks Episode 600: Cheap sex (it's not all bad)
25 snips
Feb 27, 2026 A contrarian look at how easier sexual access changed dating norms and incentives. They trace the historical devaluation of sex and its ripple effects on motivation. The conversation flips the script, arguing that cheaper sex can push women to offer more than physicality to secure commitment. Practical traits high-value partners reportedly seek are highlighted.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Sex Has Been Devalued Since The Pill
- Sex has been significantly devalued over the past 50 years, moving from 'a lifetime of protection, provision, and commitment' to a few drinks or less.
- Orion Taraban ties this to birth control as a market reset, arguing we are closer to sex's true value now than historically.
Hyperinflated Sex Drove Male Self-Improvement
- Historical hyperinflation of female sexual access motivated men to create value: protection, provision, sacrifice, and difficult commitments.
- Taraban suggests this incentive produced many of the behaviors that made men 'better' across centuries.
Cheap Sex Weakens Male Incentives
- When the market lowers the price of a good, buyers stop paying extra effort; cheap sex reduces men's incentive to 'level up'.
- Taraban links this to a negative feedback loop and part of the contemporary men's crisis.
