Sex could be one of the most powerful practices for reinforcing behavior.
Sex could be seen as a ladder for ascending or descending, according to certain currents in contemporary psychology and neuroscience.
Summary: What human beings experience, think, or feel during any sexual activity, they increasingly become in their life.
Below: A text suggesting that sex can be used as a tool for inner change, positive…or negative if lovers do not know what they are doing. Yes, just as the Tantras have long said.
The “Flow” of Csikszentmihalyi?
Flow is a modern concept describing a state of complete immersion in an activity, where one is fully focused and engaged, and time seems to pass quickly. As Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi explains, “Flow is a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter” (Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, p. 4). Csikszentmihalyi suggested that Flow is an optimal state for human performance and well-being. When a person is in a state of Flow, they feel a sense of control, concentration, and enjoyment, which can lead to brain remodeling.
Overall, behaviours experienced during a state of Flow can rewrite the brain by increasing plasticity, releasing neurotransmitters and creating new neural connections
Can sex be considered a form of Flow?
Yes. Although Csikszentmihalyi did not explicitly mention sex as an example of Flow, his descriptions of this state include characteristics that can be associated with immersive sexual experiences. These characteristics include intense concentration, a loss of time perception, and total immersion.
These observations are supported by neuroscientific research. According to Norman Doidge, “Neuroplasticity is the property of the brain that allows it to change its own structure and functioning in response to mental activity and experience” (The Brain That Changes Itself, p. xv). During sexual activity, individuals may experience a state of Flow: total immersion, a loss of time perception, and complete engagement. These elements are markers of an inner transformation due to the intense and absorbing nature of the experience.
Brain Plasticity During Sexual Activity?
Moreover, studies have shown that sexual activity can have various effects on the brain, including the release of neurochemicals such as dopamine and oxytocin, which play crucial roles in pleasure and reinforcing behaviors. Dopamine is often associated with the sensation of anticipation and reward, while oxytocin, dubbed the “love hormone,” promotes feelings of connection and intimacy between partners.
Reference: INTS, “Sex and Neuroscience: The Unexpected Impact of Our Brain on Our Sexual Life,” INTS, last accessed December 30, 2024, https://www.ints.fr/sexologie/sexe-et-neurosciences-limpact-insoupconne-de-notre-cerveau-sur-notre-vie-sexuelle/.
These neurochemicals, combined with the state of Flow, promote the creation of new neural connections and increase brain plasticity, thereby altering cognitive functions and overall brain health.
Reference: Cairn.info, “Brain Plasticity and Its Implications in Psychology,” L’Année Psychologique 2013/2 (2013): 255-273, last accessed December 30, 2024, https://shs.cairn.info/revue-l-annee-psychologique1-2013-2-page-255.
If negative emotions such as shame, guilt, aggression, or fear are experienced during sexual activity, these emotions risk being reinforced and rewired into the brain with each repetition. Conversely, positive emotions such as love, joy, generosity, attentiveness, connection to the other, and appreciation of the experience without performance anxiety can create beneficial repercussions, reshaping the brain to better integrate these qualities.
As Csikszentmihalyi notes, “The quality of our lives depends on the quality of our experiences” (Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, p. 3). It is therefore essential to approach sex with a constructive attitude, making it a vector for positive inner transformation.
A Link with Tantric Practices?
This concept of self-rewriting is not limited to conventional sex. Tantric practices, rooted in ancient traditions, have long emphasized the importance of using sexual energy to cultivate a state of Flow. These practices aim to transform sexual experiences into tools for spiritual and personal growth.
By aligning Tantric teachings with modern discoveries on neuroplasticity and Flow, we can conclude that conscious and intentional sexual practices can play a key role in human development.
Non-Beneficial Brain Re-encoding
Csikszentmihalyi mentions the possibility of negative outcomes from Flow experiences, particularly when the activity inducing the Flow state is harmful or addictive. In Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, he warns that “it is possible to have flow experiences in activities that are […] harmful” (p. 163). Additionally, he writes: “If a drug addict finds the greatest pleasure in taking drugs, or if a criminal enjoys burglarizing houses, then flow theory predicts that they will not only do these things more often but also become more dependent on them over time” (p. 113).
Pornography addiction could be considered an example of negative Flow. Csikszentmihalyi describes Flow as an experience that occurs when one is engaged in an activity that is both challenging and rewarding, requiring a high degree of concentration and focus. In the case of pornography, the individual may feel immediate pleasure and reward while maintaining intense immersion in this activity.
However, these experiences could also become highly addictive and destructive depending on the emotions and states cultivated during these moments. They risk leading to consequences such as hypofrontality (loss of voluntary control), diminished sexual capacity, and detrimental brain re-encoding. This re-encoding could affect the individual’s well-being, romantic relationships, vision of humans reduced to objects, and transform love relationships into mere mechanical outlets.
If aggressive or demeaning thoughts toward the other person are experienced during sexual activity, these ideas risk being reinforced in the individual’s mind through repeated experiences, especially if intensified by a Flow state. Thus, the intensity of Flow could amplify not only positive emotions but also negative patterns in the brain.
In Conclusion
Sex could be much more than imagined; it could be a forge in which the human mind is molded and reshaped according to the inner state experienced. Unfortunately, these profound dimensions are not taught by parents or schools, who are often unaware of these ideas, which have long been present in the Tantras.
Let us approach sexuality with awareness and love, for the flourishing of the finest human qualities. Everything depends on two factors: the quality of what we experience internally during sexuality and the beneficial quality of this sexuality for the individuals involved.
References
- Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper & Row, 1990.
The foundational text on Flow theory, exploring its effects on performance, well-being, and personal transformation. - Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life. New York: Basic Books, 1997.
A more accessible exploration of Flow and its role in daily life. - Doidge, Norman. The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. New York: Viking Penguin, 2007.
An introduction to neuroplasticity with concrete examples of brain changes based on experience and activity. - Doidge, Norman. The Brain’s Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity. New York: Viking, 2015.
A follow-up exploring how neuroplasticity can be applied to healing and personal transformation. - Robinson, Marnia. Cupid’s Poisoned Arrow: From Habit to Harmony in Sexual Relationships. North Atlantic Books, 2009.
A detailed exploration of how modern sexual habits can negatively impact relationships and brain chemistry, proposing alternative approaches to foster harmony and intimacy. - Wilson, Gary. Your Brain on Porn: Internet Pornography and the Emerging Science of Addiction. Commonwealth Publishing, 2015.
An analysis of the impact of pornography consumption on the brain, highlighting mechanisms of addiction and neuroplasticity. - Huberman, Andrew D. Huberman Lab Podcast. Accessible via https://hubermanlab.com.
This podcast explores the mechanisms of neuroplasticity, the impact of habits on the brain, and strategies for reprogramming behavior and learning.
