If you’ve ever partaken in some hanky-panky in a public space, you might have noticed the extreme high that one is able to get off the fear of being caught.

University of California’s (UOC) ‘Sex Info Online’ summarizes public sex as “[…] doing sexual behaviours such as flashing, streaking, solitary or mutual masturbation, fellatio, and vaginal or anal intercourse in places where other people could potentially see the sex acts.” This may include something as simple as flashing someone in a bar (commonly referred to as exhibitionism), to joining the mile high club (sex on an airplane).

Besides the fact that it is technically illegal, sex in public places is not exactly a new phenomenon. So why has it appealed to us for so long?

Our good friend Wikipedia classifies ‘exhibitionism’ as a psychological disorder. How nice. However, it might be easier to associate people’s desire to get off in public with the physical symptoms that occur with the ‘fear’ of being caught. Fear triggers a biological reaction of increased adrenaline, increased pulse rate, heavier breathing and tensed muscles, to name a few things.

What other activities might cause similar biological responses? Hm. Perhaps, dirt bike riding, bungee jumping, sky diving, sports (all of which are socially accepted, might I add),

OH! And sex! UOC ‘s research tells us “ [in] fact, many of the chemicals that signal sexual arousal are the same ones that signal fear or anxiety.”

“The similar hormone signals allow fear or anxiety to be interpreted as sexually arousing.”

The potential hazards of publicizing sex are numerous. A dark, drunken bar full of blurry-eyed kids are looking for a quick-see and aren’t necessarily going to mind watching you be fondled on a Friday night.  Whereas, your 80-year-old neighbour who is pruning her rosebush at 8 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, might have something to say, and it likely won’t be “you kids are so sweet.”

Sex Info Online provides a rather lengthy list of things to remember before you begin fornicating in elevators, classrooms, photobooths and the like. Some of these points make plenty of sense: “If confronted by the police, remain calm, apologetic and submissive. Remember that the police are just trying to do their jobs.”  However, they also recommend that you pack a toiletry case, bring pepper spray and double check if your phone is all charged.

But if you go to all this trouble, you are sucking the fun and spontaneity (that public sex is often a result of) out of it. To actually enjoy it you must immerse yourself in the moment.

So, pack a condom and enjoy the ride.