One-night stand
Encyclopedia
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer(s) on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship to come out of it.
A one-night stand can occur for different reasons, which varies from person to person - It may, for example, consist of young adults who are exploring their sexuality
or engage in sexual activity as part of making out; or single people seeking to engage in sexual activity
while not looking for any sort of commitment or relationship; or another example is a married person
who has a fling
but does not wish to disturb their marriage and family relationships.
Participants in a one-night stand usually have not known each other long and have had minimal time to get acquainted before engaging in sexual activity. The vast majority of one-night stands occur when both participants are under the influence of alcohol
. A high proportion of people who have participated in a one-night stand(s) have regretted it and according to surveys women regret it more than men.
A one-time sexual encounter is not necessarily a one-night stand (i.e a one time sexual encounter within a relationship), the defining of a one-night stand is the absence of expectation or intention that the relationship will be extended beyond the initial sexual encounter.
A one-night stand is also distinct from prostitution
, as it takes place without direct payment of money, and from a casual relationship
, which may not initially involve sex
but occurs more than once whether it is short-term or long-term.
A one-night stand can be thought of as a one time sexual encounter which neither person has any desire for anything else. The participants usually have little or no contact with one another aside from sex. However, where the people involved have a regular sexual relationship without romantic involvement, this is generally considered a casual relationship
, which is distinct from the one-night stand phenomenon.
A one-night stand can occur for different reasons, which varies from person to person - It may, for example, consist of young adults who are exploring their sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
or engage in sexual activity as part of making out; or single people seeking to engage in sexual activity
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
while not looking for any sort of commitment or relationship; or another example is a married person
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
who has a fling
Casual relationship
A casual relationship, colloquially known as a fling, is a physical and emotional relationship between two people who may have a sexual relationship or a near-sexual relationship without necessarily demanding or expecting the extra commitments of a more formal romantic relationship...
but does not wish to disturb their marriage and family relationships.
Participants in a one-night stand usually have not known each other long and have had minimal time to get acquainted before engaging in sexual activity. The vast majority of one-night stands occur when both participants are under the influence of alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
. A high proportion of people who have participated in a one-night stand(s) have regretted it and according to surveys women regret it more than men.
A one-time sexual encounter is not necessarily a one-night stand (i.e a one time sexual encounter within a relationship), the defining of a one-night stand is the absence of expectation or intention that the relationship will be extended beyond the initial sexual encounter.
A one-night stand is also distinct from prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
, as it takes place without direct payment of money, and from a casual relationship
Casual relationship
A casual relationship, colloquially known as a fling, is a physical and emotional relationship between two people who may have a sexual relationship or a near-sexual relationship without necessarily demanding or expecting the extra commitments of a more formal romantic relationship...
, which may not initially involve sex
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
but occurs more than once whether it is short-term or long-term.
A one-night stand can be thought of as a one time sexual encounter which neither person has any desire for anything else. The participants usually have little or no contact with one another aside from sex. However, where the people involved have a regular sexual relationship without romantic involvement, this is generally considered a casual relationship
Casual sex
Casual sex or hooking up refers to certain types of human sexual activity outside the context of a romantic relationship. The term is not always used consistently: some use it to refer to any extramarital sex, some use it to refer to sex in a casual relationship, whereas others reserve its use for...
, which is distinct from the one-night stand phenomenon.
See also
- Anonymous sexAnonymous sexAnonymous sex is a form of one-night stand or casual sex between people who have very little or no history with each other, often engaging in sexual activity on the same day of their meeting and usually never seeing each other again afterwards. The term "cruising for sex" is used to refer to...
- Casual relationshipCasual relationshipA casual relationship, colloquially known as a fling, is a physical and emotional relationship between two people who may have a sexual relationship or a near-sexual relationship without necessarily demanding or expecting the extra commitments of a more formal romantic relationship...
- CottagingCottagingCottaging is a British gay slang term referring to anonymous sex between men in a public lavatory , or cruising for sexual partners with the intention of having sex elsewhere...
- DoggingDogging (sexual slang)Dogging is a British English euphemism for engaging in sexual acts in a public or semi-public place or watching others doing so. There may be more than two participants; both group sex and gang banging can be included. As observation is encouraged, voyeurism and exhibitionism are closely associated...
- PromiscuityPromiscuityIn humans, promiscuity refers to less discriminating casual sex with many sexual partners. The term carries a moral or religious judgement and is viewed in the context of the mainstream social ideal for sexual activity to take place within exclusive committed relationships...
- Chips-fungaChips-fungaChips-Funga, this term emanates from the East African country of Kenya and is popular with the residents of its capital city Nairobi to mean a one night stand. The term is combination of two words "Chips" and "Funga". Chips is the locally popular world for French Fries while funga is a swahili word...