Study: Past Partner Count Lowers Long-Term Appeal; 'Rebecca Syndrome' and Jealousy Risks
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
A multinational study of 5,331 people across 11 countries found that individuals with fewer past sexual partners were rated as more attractive for long-term, committed relationships. Participants viewed images representing fictional people with histories of 4, 12, or 36 past partners; willingness to pursue a long-term relationship dropped sharply when a person had 4 or more partners and dropped again at 12+. The pattern held for both men and women. Rapid recent increases in partner count were judged most negatively, while those whose partner turnover had slowed were seen as more ready to settle down. The researchers interpret reduced partner-changing as a signal of readiness for commitment. Separately, the article notes Korea’s average lifetime number of sexual partners is very low (around 2), compared with higher averages in some Western countries. The report also discusses “Rebecca syndrome” (a term from Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca) — obsessive jealousy about a partner’s past lovers — which can worsen into self-hatred, depression, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Experts advise avoiding excessive checking of an ex’s social media, not probing a partner’s past in detail, and working to build self-esteem or seeking psychiatric help if needed.
