I agree with most of what you're saying, brainjuice, but I didn't at all mean to imply that post-ejaculatory "imprinting" was psychosomatic, actually quite the opposite, that what I'm calling "imprinting"
is probably based on some physiological mechanism. I do not think that it is controversial to claim that the neurochemistry of orgasm induces pair-bonding (which is thought to occur primarily, at least in my understanding, via the release of oxytocin). The more controversial part of my statement would be that the same physiological mechanism that can induce pair-bonding and other feelings of attachment with a mate, actually still operates in the absence of a mate, such as orgasm from masturbation, and can sort of "pair-bond" (or "imprint") a person to certain emotions, thoughts, aspects of the environment, behaviors etc. and that the object of such "pair-bonding" would be quite random and outside one's control unless one made a very deliberate effort to avoid conditioning stimuli (such as by meditating right after orgasm). But now I'm feeling that I may just be belaboring my original point here, I think you understand the substance of my argument, I just meant to clarify that I don't think it would be accurate to call it psychosomatic. Also, I didn't mean to discount whatever might be related to "POIS", I just don't have any experience with those kind of symptoms myself, like I said, I just feel a slight increase in lethargy and slight decrease in mental focus the following day, and it's not really enough to call it a problem.
Also, as I re-read this post, I guess I've sort of answered my own question, I guess I just need to do more research on oxytocin to see if orgasmic "imprinting" on something other than a mate has ever been observed by scientists.
Edited by electricmonk500, 12 August 2012 - 05:54 AM.