View source for Seduction

{{Short description|Enticing a person to sexual behaviour}}
{{Distinguish|subduction|sedation}}
{{for-multi|other uses|Seduction (disambiguation)|the painting by Magritte|The Seducer}}
{{Redirect|Seduced|the documentary|Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult}}
[[File:William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - The Proposal (1872).jpg|thumb|''The Proposal'' (1872), [[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]] (1825–1905)]]
In [[sexuality]], '''seduction''' means enticing someone else into [[sexual intercourse]] or [[Human sexual activity|other sexual activity]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hatfield |first1=Elaine |last2=Sprecher |first2=Susan |title=The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality |chapter=Seduction |date=2015 |pages=1115–1354 |doi=10.1002/9781118896877.wbiehs424|isbn=978-1-4051-9006-0 }}</ref> Strategies of seduction include [[conversation]] and [[Sexual script theory|sexual scripts]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|author=Littleton, H. L.|author2=Axsom, D.|name-list-style=amp|year=2003|title=Rape and seduction scripts of university students: Implications for rape attributions and unacknowledged rape.|doi=10.1023/A:1025824505185|journal=Sex Roles|volume=49 |issue=9–10|pages=465–475|s2cid=146523271}}</ref> [[paralanguage|paralingual features]],<ref name=":5" /> [[non-verbal communication]],<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> and short-term behavioural strategies.<ref name=":8" />

The word ''seduction'' stems from Latin ''seducere'', which means, literally, 'to lead astray' or 'to draw aside'.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Glare, P. G. |title=Oxford Latin dictionary |publisher=Clarendon Press. Oxford University Press. |year=1982}}</ref> As a result, the term may have a negative [[connotation]]. Seen negatively, seduction involves [[temptation]] and [[wikt:enticement|enticement]], often sexual in nature, to coerce someone into a behavioural choice they would not have made if they were not in a state of [[sexual arousal]]. Seen positively, seduction is synonymous for the act of charming someone—male or female—by an appeal to the senses, often with the goal of reducing unfounded [[Fear|fears]] and leading to "[[sexual emancipation]]". Some sides in contemporary academic debate state that the [[morality]] of seduction depends on the long-term impacts on the individuals concerned, rather than the act itself, and may not necessarily carry the negative connotations expressed in dictionary definitions.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Abbey, A. |year=1982 |title=Sex differences in attributions for friendly behavior: Do males misperceive females' friendliness?. |journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology |volume=42 |issue=5 |pages=830–838 |doi=10.1037/0022-3514.42.5.830}}</ref>

Famous seducers from history or legend include [[Lilith]], [[Giacomo Casanova]], and the fictional character [[Don Juan]]. The emergence of the internet and technology has supported the availability and the existence of a [[seduction community]], which is based on discourse about seduction. This is predominantly by "[[pickup artist|pickup artists]]" (PUA). Seduction is also used within [[marketing]] to increase compliance and willingness.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|author=Deighton, J.|author2=Grayson, K.|name-list-style=amp|year=1995|title=Marketing and seduction: Building exchange relationships by managing social consensus|journal=Journal of Consumer Research|volume=21 |issue=4|pages=660–676|doi=10.1086/209426}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Delila schert Simson die Haare.jpg|thumb|299x299px|''Delilah cutting Samson's hair'', {{Circa|1460}}]]
Seduction is a popular motif in history and fiction, both as a warning of the social consequences of engaging in the behaviour or becoming its victim, and as a salute to a powerful skill.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Villain-Hero in Pamela and Pride and Prejudice.|author=Harmsel, H. T.|publisher=College English|year=1961|pages=23(2), 104–108}}</ref> In the Bible, [[Eve]] offers the [[forbidden fruit]] to [[Adam]]. Eve herself was verbally seduced by the serpent, believed in Christianity to be [[Satan]]; later, Chapter 7 of Proverbs warns of the pitfalls of seduction. [[Siren (mythology)|Siren]]s of [[Greek mythology]] lured sailors to their death by singing them to shipwreck; [[Cleopatra]] beguiled both [[Julius Caesar]] and [[Marc Antony]], [[Dionysus]] was the Greek god of seduction and wine. Famous male seducers, their names synonymous with sexual allure, range from [[The Tale of Genji|Genji]] to [[John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester]]<ref name="Johnson 2004 p. 398">{{cite book | last=Johnson | first=J.W. | title=A Profane Wit: The Life of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester | publisher=University of Rochester Press | year=2004 | isbn=978-1-58046-170-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sxrjd1kvZlQC&pg=PA398 | access-date=2023-06-18 | page=398}}</ref> and [[James Bond]].

In biblical times, because unmarried females who lost their [[virginity]] had also lost much of their value as [[marriage]] prospects, the [[Old Testament]] [[Book of Exodus]] specifies that the seducer must marry his victim or pay her father to compensate him for his loss of the marriage price: "And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins."

The [[Book of Judges]] in the Old Testament describes [[Delilah]] seducing [[Samson]] who was given great strength by God, but ultimately lost his strength when she allowed the Philistines to shave his hair off during his slumber.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+16&version=ESV|title=Judges 16 – English Standard Version|website=Bible Gateway|access-date=24 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718055221/https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+16&version=ESV|archive-date=18 July 2017}}</ref>
== Use in sexual relationships ==
Males and females both implement the strategy of seduction as a method of negotiating their [[sexual relationships]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|author=McCormick, N. B.|author2=Jesser, C. J.|name-list-style=amp|year=1983|title=The courtship game: Power in the sexual encounter. Changing boundaries|journal=Changing Boundaries: Gender Roles and Sexual Behavior}}</ref> This can often involve [[Manipulation (psychology)|manipulation]] of other individuals. This is primarily based on [[desire]], normally physical, as well as attraction towards them. Popular phrases often used include; 'the language of [[love]] is universal'.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|author=Grammer, K|year=1989|title=Human courtship behaviour: Biological basis and cognitive processing.|journal=The Sociobiology of Sexual and Reproductive Strategies|pages=147–169}}</ref>  These phrases help to demonstrate the extensively pervasive and ubiquitous strategy use within [[love]] and relationships amongst humans. Individuals employing such strategies often do so subconsciously and will merely report the feelings and thoughts that they subjectively experienced and are colloquially comparable to 'attraction'<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Lamm, H.|author2=Wiesmann, U.|name-list-style=amp|year=1997|title=Subjective attributes of attraction: How people characterize their liking, their love, and their being in love.|journal=Personal Relationships|volume=4 |issue=3|pages=271–284|doi=10.1111/j.1475-6811.1997.tb00145.x|doi-access=free}}</ref> or 'love'.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Marston, P. J.|author2=Hecht, M. L.|author3=Robers, T.|name-list-style=amp|year=1987|title=True love ways': The subjective experience and communication of romantic love.|journal=Journal of Social and Personal Relationships|volume=4 |issue=4|pages=387–407|doi=10.1177/0265407587044001|s2cid=145339458}}</ref>

Research has indicated that seduction could substitute or equate to a form of collapsed or condensed [[courtship]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal|author=Givens, D. B.|year=1978|title=The nonverbal basis of attraction: Flirtation, courtship, and seduction.|journal=Psychiatry|volume=41 |issue=4|pages=346–359|doi=10.1080/00332747.1978.11023994|pmid=715095}}</ref> [[Evolutionary psychology]] suggests that this form of sexual enticement can be used in order to cajole desired individuals to engage in [[sexual intercourse]] and ultimately reproduce. This behaviour is also aimed at persuading someone to develop a short-term or long-term sexual relationship with them. Males declare that they adopt the strategy of seduction statistically more frequently than females.<ref name=":1" /> From an evolutionary perspective, this has been linked with females' higher [[parental investment]] and the lack of guarantee of male parental investment,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Parental investment and sexual selection. Sexual Selection & the Descent of Man|author=Robert, T.|publisher=Aldine de Gruyter|year=1972|location=New York|pages=136–179}}</ref> although evolutionary science cannot draw a causal relationship between the two factors. Females therefore need to be seduced more prior to engaging in sexual intercourse. Men more commonly wish to engage in more frequent short-term [[mating]],<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal|author=Buss, D.M.|author2=Schmitt, D.P.|name-list-style=amp|year=1993|title=Sexual Strategies Theory: an evolutionary perspective on human mating|journal=Psychological Review|volume=100|issue=2|pages=204–232|doi=10.1037/0033-295x.100.2.204|pmid=8483982}}</ref> which may require this strategy of seduction used to access the female for intercourse. However, this finding has been contradicted by non-verbal seduction results which indicate that females have more control within this area.<ref name=":2" /> Other potential strategies individuals employ to gain access to a mate include [[courtship|courting]] or having relatives select mates for [[Socioeconomics|socioeconomic]] reasons.<ref name=":2" /> Ultimately, both males and females have reported preferring seduction above all other strategies, such as the use of power or [[aggression]], for making a potential partner agree to sexual intercourse.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

== Human mate poaching<!--'Human mate poaching' redirects here--> ==
Seduction is related to '''human mate poaching'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA-->.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal|author=Schmitt, D. P.|author2=Buss, D. M.|name-list-style=amp|year=2001|title=Human Mate Poaching: Tactics and temptations for infiltrating existing mateships|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume=80 |issue=6|pages=894–917|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.80.6.894|pmid=11414373}}</ref> Human mate poaching refers to when either a male or female purposefully entices another individual who is already in an established relationship into sexual relations with them. This is akin to the definition of seduction in the introduction. This is a [[psychological mechanism]] which had unconscious and conscious manifestations, that in relation to evolutionary psychology has been [[Adaptive behavior|adaptive]] to our ancestors in the past and has continued to be functional in modern society.<ref name=":9" />

Human mate poaching is a form of seduction, and can be used as a short-term and long-term [[Human mating strategies|mating strategy]] among both sexes. Moreover, there are associated costs and benefits to poaching. Schmitt and Buss (2001)<ref name=":9" /> investigated the potential costs and benefits across sexes in relation to human mate poaching. 
Costs for engaging in poaching behaviours include unwanted pregnancy, transmitted infection and diseases, and insecurity about provisions (shelter, food, and financial security) and/or resource depletion, violence and aggression from the current partner, who takes part in [[Mate guarding in humans|human mate guarding]] behaviours (behaviours used to protect their mate from other potential males or females). 
However, the associated benefits include emotional support that may not be received from a current partner, and access to 'good [[genes]]', such as [[facial symmetry]].<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Scheib, J. E.|author2=Gangestad, S. W.|author3=Thornhill, R.|name-list-style=amp|year=1999|title=Facial attractiveness, symmetry and cues of good genes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B|journal=Biological Sciences|volume=266 |issue=1431|pages=1913–1917|doi=10.1098/rspb.1999.0866|pmid=10535106|pmc=1690211}}</ref> The associated benefits also include increased sexual variety, access to [[Physical attractiveness|physically attractive]] mates, and non-committal copulations.

Evolutionarily speaking, we are descended from our reproductively-successful ancestors who managed to solve the adaptive problem of finding a mate with the required characteristics needed at that time in their lives, e.g., plenty of resources, physical attractiveness, and showing signs of honest fertility. Therefore, our ancestors would have deployed this tactic (for enticing a suitable mate), which remains in our psychology. Some evolved poaching behaviours may not be suitable for current environmental problems. Leftover by-products from human evolution, such as preferences for fat and sugar,<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Eaton, S. B.|author2=Strassman, B. I.|author3=Nesse, R. M.|author4=Neel, J. V.|author5=Ewald, P. W.|author6=Williams, G. C., ...|author7=Mysterud, I.|name-list-style=amp|year=2002|title=Evolutionary health promotion|journal=Preventive Medicine|volume=34 |issue=2|pages=109–118|doi=10.1006/pmed.2001.0876|pmid=11817903|s2cid=18948871}}</ref> are not adaptive in western cultures at present, and thus similar poaching behaviours could still remain.

=== Short term ===
==== In males ====
Short-term strategies involved in seduction are associated with the [[dark triad]],<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Paulhus, D. L.|author2=Williams, K. M.|name-list-style=amp|year=2002|title=The Dark Triad of personality: Narcissism, Machiavellianism and Psychopathy|journal=Journal of Research in Personality|volume=36 |issue=6|pages=556–563|doi=10.1016/s0092-6566(02)00505-6|s2cid=6535576 }}</ref> however predominantly in males.{{CN|date=June 2025}} Short-term strategies are those used by an individual to obtain a mate for a short term sexual encounter.<ref name=":10" /> [[File:The Dark Triad Image.png|thumb|The Dark Triad, proposed by Paulhus and Williams (2002)]]
The [[dark triad]] is made up of three personality traits, [[psychopathy]], [[narcissism]] and [[Machiavellianism (psychology)|Machiavellianism]] and was proposed by [[Delroy L. Paulhus|Paulhus]] and Williams (2002).<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal|author=Jonason, P. K.|author2=Li, N. P.|author3=Webster, G. D.|author4=Schmitt, D. P.|name-list-style=amp|year=2009|title=The dark triad: Facilitating a short-term mating strategy in men|journal=European Journal of Personality|volume=23 |issue=1|pages=5–18|doi=10.1002/per.698|citeseerx=10.1.1.650.5749|s2cid=12854051}}</ref>  The three traits are exploitative in nature and are used for [[Sexual coercion|sexually coercive behaviours]], useful in the seduction process. Typically these three traits are deemed maladaptive for the individual and society. Nevertheless, these traits have been found to be adaptive in an exploitative strategy in short term mating.<ref name=":11" /> Dark triad traits are adaptive for an unrestricted [[Sociosexual orientation|sociosexuality]] and [[Promiscuity|promiscuous]] behaviours.<ref name=":10" /> The three traits are associated with [[impulsivity]], manipulative behaviours and lack of [[empathy]]. These personality traits would be useful in seducing a partner for a short term encounter.<ref name=":11">{{Cite journal|author=Jonason, P. K.|author2=Valentine, K. A.|author3=Li, N. P.|author4=Harbeson, C. L.|name-list-style=amp|year=2011|title=Mate-selection and the Dark Triad: Facilitating a short-term mating strategy and creating a volatile environment|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=51 |issue=6|pages=759–763|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2011.06.025|citeseerx=10.1.1.648.3614|s2cid=12310143 }}</ref> From an evolutionary perspective, these would have been particularly beneficial to our ancestral males who wanted to increase their [[reproductive success]], through seducing many women and therefore increasing their chance of passing on their genes. These particular traits may be used as a tactic for increasing success in mating.

The dark triad traits are seen more in males where the parental investment is lower. Having numerous copulations with many women increases the likelihood their genes will be passed on. Comparatively, a woman has to invest time and a lot of energy in carrying an infant and looking after him/her for many years subsequently.{{CN|date=June 2025}}

==== In females ====
The triad of traits ancestrally would not have been adaptive for women, because females were and still are less likely or less willing to engage in [[casual sex]],<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Herold, E.|author2=Mewhinney, D.|name-list-style=amp|year=1993|title=Gender Differences in Casual Sex and AIDS Prevention: A Survey of Dating Bars.|journal=The Journal of Sex Research|volume=30 |issue=1|pages=36–42|doi=10.1080/00224499309551676}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Conley |first1=Terri D. |date=2021 |title=Perceived proposer personality characteristics and gender differences in acceptance of casual sex offers |journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology |volume=100 |issue=2 |pages=309–329 |doi=10.1037/a0022152|pmid=21171789 }}</ref> because of the lack of certainty of resources to provide for her and her offspring, as well as lower chances of orgasm.

Additionally, there are other potential considerations of the implication of short-term strategies. Males cannot employ such strategies without there being willing females to engage in sexual intercourse within a short-term relationship with them.  Therefore, benefits from engaging in multiple short-term mating must also exist for females. These matings enable females to practice and enhance their skills, specifically within attraction and seduction.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|author=Greiling, H.|author2=Buss, D. M.|name-list-style=amp|year=2000|title=Women's sexual strategies: The hidden dimension of extra-pair mating.|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|volume=28 |issue=5|pages=929–963|doi=10.1016/s0191-8869(99)00151-8}}</ref> This often occurs during [[extra-pair mating]] when females have sexual intercourse with males other than their husband.<ref name=":0" /> There are potential benefits for females to engage in these matings, including the ability to acquire more resources. For example, females are better able to access meats, goods or services in exchange for sexual intercourse or if she were to give birth to a child whose father has better genes than her husband.<ref name=":13">{{Cite book|title=The evolution of human sexuality|author=Symons, D.|publisher=New York: Oxford University Press.|year=1979}}</ref> Females use these short-term matings to hone their mating and seduction skills and increase their protection. This is because males often provide increased protection against other males exploitation or from non-humans for the females they mate with and their offspring.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Human sperm competition. In R. L. Smith, Sperm competition and the evolution of mating systems|author=Smith, R. L.|publisher=New York: Academic Press|year=1984|pages=601–659}}</ref> However, this willingness to make the first move towards seduction and engage in a sexual relationship may be subtle.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Grammer, K.|year=1989|title=Human courtship behavior: Biological basis and cognitive processing.|journal=The Sociobiology of Sexual and Reproductive Strategies|pages=147–169}}</ref> For example, females may simply stand close to their target.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Perper, T.|author2=Fox, V. S.|name-list-style=amp|year=1980|title=Flirtation and pickup pattern in bars.|journal=In Eastern Conference on Reproductive Behavior, New York.}}</ref>

Improving attraction and seduction skills can also help a female with acquiring a better or more desirable male according to the 'Mate Switching Hypothesis'.<ref name=":0" /> This is because, females are able to assess their potential mate before committing to a long-term relationship.<ref name=":12" /> Alternatively, according to this hypothesis females are also able to get rid of an unwanted husband through mate expulsion using short-term strategies, such as by seducing another man into a short-term sexual relationship.<ref name=":13" />  Females may also be more equipped at deterring male partners from future [[infidelity]], demonstrated by the 'Mate Manipulation Hypothesis'.<ref name=":0" /> This hypothesis suggests that females are able to use revenge to deter future [[infidelity]]. This can be achieved by a female partaking in a short-term affair, incorporating the use of seduction, with another male as a revenge tactic for her husband's previous affair, which aims to increase commitment of her intended long-term mate.<ref name=":13" /><ref>Greiling, H. (1993). Women's short-term sexual strategies. In ''Conference on Evolution and the Social Sciences, London School of Economics, London, England''.</ref> These hypotheses indicate{{According to whom|date=June 2025}} the benefits for females of developing and expanding on their seduction skills within sexual relationships.

=== Long term ===
'Strategies are defined as evolved solutions to adaptive problems'.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Buss, D. M.|author2=Schmitt, D. P.|name-list-style=amp|year=1993|title=Sexual strategies theory: an evolutionary perspective on human mating|journal=Psychological Review|volume=100 |issue=2|pages=204–232|doi=10.1037/0033-295x.100.2.204|pmid=8483982}}</ref> Men and women differ in the adaptive problems that they face, and therefore deploy different strategies. Women strongly desire the resources and commitment that comes with paternal parental investment and therefore impose a longer period of time for courtship and use of seduction prior to engaging in a long-term sexual relationship. Women also spend time seeking and seducing men that are willing to invest and commit in the long run.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The evolution of desire: Strategies of human mating|edition=Rev.|author=Buss, D. M.|publisher=New York: Basic Books|year=2003}}</ref> It is likely that exploitative strategies will not be used when seducing a long-term partner.<ref name=":10" /> The traits associated within the dark triad (Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism) are not useful for long term mating strategies because they are negatively correlated with [[agreeableness]], empathy and reciprocation, which are traits promoting a healthy relationship.<ref name=":11" />

== Biosocial theory ==
Kenrick and Trost (1987)<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|title=Males, Females and Sexuality. Theories and Research.|author=Kelley. K|publisher=State Univ of New York Pr|year= 1986|isbn=978-0887063091|location=New York|pages=69}}</ref> have formulated a Biosocial theory of heterosexual relationships which encompasses several stages of seduction. This includes five stages of natural progression:
# Individuals identify a potential partner based on desired characteristics such as physical attraction
# Both individuals establish contact
# Other traits of the individual that are not necessarily explicit are analysed to determine fitness
# A physical [[Intimate relationship|relationship]] is established
# The relationship is either successful and progresses or discontinued

Within these stages, both individuals are interacting in a game which is never explicit, this is because if either individual were to be rejected this would damage their [[self-esteem]]. Therefore, when seducing, the overarching aims and goals are never vocalised to the other desired individual. This is sometimes referred to as paradoxical exhibition.<ref name=":7" />

The main goal of seduction whether it is active under [[Consciousness|conscious]] or [[unconscious mind|unconscious]] mechanisms is to impress the desired partner and display positive characteristics that are likely to be attractive, and to repress undesirable characteristics.<ref name=":7" />

=== Non-verbal communication ===
Within the interactive seduction game, non-verbal communication is a prominent feature in accessing the desirable potential mate. The purpose of this communication is to reduce the interpersonal distance between the desired individuals.

Physiological features such as [[Pupillary response|pupil dilation]]<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Tombs, S.|author2=Silverman, I.|name-list-style=amp|year=2004|title=Pupillometry: A sexual selection approach|journal=Evolution and Human Behavior|volume=25 |issue=4|pages=221–228|doi=10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2004.05.001|bibcode=2004EHumB..25..221T }}</ref> are a salient cue, expressing attraction. Leading on from this, eye contact is a very notable sign of attraction. Although there are cross cultural differences in whether eye contact is used or not, in Western cultures, the duration of eye contact and the exchange between two individuals is important in the first stages of the biosocial model.
Another non-verbal cue in the process of seduction are facial expressions. [[Smile|Smiling]] is considered another prominent feature in seduction,<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|author=Andersen, P. A.|year=1985|title=Nonverbal immediacy in interpersonal communication|journal=Multichannel Integrations of Nonverbal Behavior|pages=1–36}}</ref> as it signifies willingness to engage in a social interaction, and in the case of seduction, to participate in creating an intimate bond. These non-verbal behaviours become synchronised between the two individuals which can then lead to the last two stages of the biosocial model.

=== Paralingual features ===
[[Paralanguage|Paralingual]] features are those associated with the voice, such as [[pitch accent|pitch]], [[tone (linguistics)|tone]] and [[rhythm]].<ref name=":5" /> These features of verbal communication change in different stages of the seduction process. Studies have shown that when initiating an interaction with a female, the seductive characteristics of the voice will begin with slightly higher pitch and increased [[articulation (phonetics)|articulation]] in the first meeting. However, whilst seducing, the paralanguage will alter gradually. His voice will eventually become softer with lower pitch and modulated voice. These characteristics of the voice are akin to those adults use when speaking to children, in [[Infant-directed speech|infant directed speech]]. This is vocal exhibition, which has been found mostly in males. The aim of modulating the voice is to attract the desired female and become intimate.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|author=Kenrick, D. T.|author2=Groth, G. E.|author3=Trost, M. R.|author4=Sadalla, E. K.|name-list-style=amp|year=1993|title=Integrating evolutionary and social exchange perspectives on relationships: Effects of gender, self-appraisal, and involvement level on mate selection criteria|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume=64 |issue=6|pages=951–969|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.64.6.951}}</ref>

==Contemporary law==
{{Main|Seduction (tort)}}
[[English common law]] defined the crime of seduction as a felony committed "when a male person induced an unmarried female of previously chaste character to engage in an act of sexual intercourse on a promise of marriage." A father had the right to maintain an action for the seduction of his daughter (or the enticement of a son who left home), since this deprived him of services or earnings.<ref>[http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/deans/mason/booksfathersfirsten.shtml Mary Ann Mason: From Father's Property to Children's Rights: A History of Child Custody] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901144641/http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/deans/mason/booksfathersfirsten.shtml |date=September 1, 2006 }}</ref>

In more modern times, [[Frank Sinatra]] was charged in New Jersey in 1938 with seduction, having enticed a woman "of good repute to engage in sexual intercourse with him upon his promise of marriage. The charges were dropped when it was discovered that the woman was already married."<ref>[http://www.jonhs.com/mugshots/sinatra.htm "Hollywood Behind Bars – Frank Sinatra Mugshot] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120904214720/http://www.jonhs.com/mugshots/sinatra.htm |date=2012-09-04 }} [http://seduccionpicara.com/como-enamorar-a-una-mujer-casada/ – Women's seduction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813211633/http://seduccionpicara.com/como-enamorar-a-una-mujer-casada/ |date=2016-08-13 }}. Jonhs.com. 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2012-05-22.</ref>

Seduction is also associated with [[organized crime]], particularly with the [[Italian-American Mafia]], [[Russian mafia]], [[Polish mob]], and to a lesser extent, the [[Irish mob]] and [[Jewish mob]]. They often use attractive women from their gang in order to bribe, get money from, or damage the careers of male [[politician]]s, [[police officer]]s, or [[Law enforcement in the United States#Federal|government agent]]s, as well as members of the [[general public]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Human sexuality}}
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|* [[Body odour and sexual attraction]]
* [[Charisma]]
* [[Eros (love)]]
* {{section link|Dating#Initiation}}
* [[Femme fatale]]
* [[Flirting]]
* [[Foreplay]]
* [[Freud's seduction theory]]
* [[Homosexual seduction]]
* [[Honey trapping]]
* [[Human sex pheromones]]
* [[Incubus]] and [[Succubus]]
* [[Proxemics]]
* [[The Art of Seduction]]
* [[Rake (character)]]
* [[Romantic love]]
* [[Sexual selection in humans]]
* [[Sperm competition]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<!-- Dead note "strauss": {{cite book | author=Strauss, Neil | title=The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists | publisher=Regan Books| year=2005 | isbn=0-06-055473-8}} -->

==Further reading==
* [[Giacomo Casanova|Casanova, G]] (1894) ''[[Histoire de ma vie|Story of my life]]''. London: Penguin. {{ISBN|0-14-043915-3}}
* [[Søren Kierkegaard|Kierkegaard, S]] (1997) ''The Seducer's Diary''. [[Princeton University Press]]. {{ISBN|0-691-01737-9}}
* Greene, R. (2010). ''The art of seduction'' (Vol. 1). [[Profile Books]]. [[Wikipedia:Books|{{ISBN|9780142001196}}]]

==External links==
{{wiktionary}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.donjuanarchiv.at/forschung/don-juan/quellen-und-texte-i/bibliographie-don-juan-fassungen/a-e-singer/bibliography-don-juan-theme.html/ Bibliography of Don Juan]
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Seduction |short=x}}

{{Human sexuality}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Seduction| ]]