May 13, 2022

The death of a loved one may be the most deeply affecting shift we will encounter in our lifetime, touching nearly every aspect of our lives. While this certainly includes changes to a person’s need for sexual contact, little is known about the relationship between grief and desire. Increased desire after loss seems to carry an especially weighty taboo, despite pleasure’s ability to provide meaning, embodiment, and connection in what is often an unbearably lonely time. Living in a culture that denies both death and pleasure, this comes as no surprise, although theory suggests that we leave room to consider the complex relationship between the two. This talk will use theory, research, and personal accounts to explore this connection.