WHAT ARE AMERICA'S SEXUAL DESIRES?
Tickle Inc. takes a revealing look at the lustier side of America

SAN FRANCISCO — February 2, 2004 — Leveraging its expertise in psychology and social science, the Tickle Research Group within Tickle Inc., the leading interpersonal media company, released its findings today on sexuality, attraction and desire in America. With more than 970,000 Americans responding to questions about their sexual personality on Tickle's PhD-certified tests, the Tickle Research Group uncovers the answers to age-old questions about lust and seduction - just in time for Valentine's Day.

What's the best way to seduce a woman? It turns out most women think a massage is the best way to seduce them - 54 percent of women, in fact (and 36 percent of men). Across the country, people in Boston are the most inclined towards a massage, followed by residents of Philadelphia and Phoenix. Individuals in New York, San Francisco and Seattle disagree, however. For them, the best seduction is having someone get to know them better.

Do satin sheets turn you on? If you live in Las Vegas, then you're likely to think so - Las Vegas residents ranked highest when asked if they were aroused by the sight of satin sheets. People in San Francisco were the least affected. Believe it or not, men were just slightly more apt to be turned on by satin sheets than women - 61 percent of men versus 59 percent of women.

Can't we just have a fling now and then? Amazingly enough, 45 percent of married people with children said the biggest downside of a committed relationship is that you can't sleep with other people you're attracted to. The number shrinks with the level of commitment - 33 percent of married people without children also agreed followed by 31 percent of those who were not married at all. Across the U.S., individuals in New York City felt the strongest about this particular downside (41 percent) followed closely by people in Washington DC (39 percent), Los Angeles and Miami (both 38 percent).

Bad guys are hot! 72 percent of women admit to being attracted to the bad guys in movies. They're not alone, though - 62 percent of men say they're most attracted to movie bad girls. Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Dallas are among the top five cities whose residents gravitate towards the bad guys/girls, while San Jose, Calif. residents are the least interested.

What happened to the goodnight kiss? Attitudes regarding sex on the first date are getting more lenient over time. In 2000, only 50 percent of men and women felt it was okay to have sex on the first date. That number has climbed steadily, reaching 57 percent in 2003. Men are about 1.5 times more likely to report that sex on the first date is okay.

Does lust lead to stalking? 24 percent of women and ten percent of men say that they have followed or stalked someone that they had strong romantic feelings for.

Not smart enough for sex? 44 percent of women in the U.S. said that they can't enjoy sex with someone who isn't their intellectual equal or better. Only 31 percent of men agreed. The top three cities where people prefer to have sex with someone at least as smart as them are New Orleans, Los Angeles and Atlanta. San Jose, San Francisco and Honolulu are cities that just don't care as much.

Does size really matter? When it comes to women and sex, apparently it does. 60 percent of women say they prefer larger to smaller. But where in the U.S. does size matter most? Women in Philadelphia, Chicago and New Orleans find it the most important, while their counterparts in Portland, Austin and Iowa City are least interested in size.

"Overall, our research reveals some fascinating details about the differences between men and women when it comes to matters of attraction and sex," said Dr. Courtney Johnson, director of research at Tickle Inc. "The findings give us insight into the attitudes of Americans towards seduction and sexuality - information that previously was unavailable. Not knowing this information could prove to be a disadvantage during courtship."

Find out more about your own sexual personality and desires by taking one of Tickle's PhD-certified premium tests at www.Tickle.com. You can learn in-depth details about your personality and psyche, including what drives your subconscious, who your ideal sexual partner is, what Freud would say about you and more. Once you've learned a little more about yourself, share your new-found knowledge with old and new friends through the Tickle Social Network. Or, if you're looking for a special Valentine to connect with, check out Tickle Matchmaking, one of the leading online dating services. Tickle Matchmaking leverages Tickle's core foundation in science and psychology and applies it to help people discover find their most compatible mates.

About Tickle: Tickle Inc. is the leading interpersonal media company, providing self-discovery, matchmaking, and social networking services to more than 18 million active members worldwide. Founded in 1999 as Emode, Tickle is a place where people can make deep, meaningful connections, understand themselves and others, and manage their personal and professional relationships in a way that is fun, useful, and familiar. Ranked as one of the top 50 Web sites by comScore Media Metrix, Tickle is distinguished by a strong foundation in scientific research; a proven commitment to member privacy; and many years of customer satisfaction and financial stability. Located in San Francisco, Calif., Tickle is funded by August Capital and nationally known leaders in the areas of media, consumer research, and technology. Tickle can be found at http://www.tickle.com.

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