Prof. Gurit Birnbaum

Prof. Gurit Birnbaum completed her university studies in Israel and received a PhD degree in Psychology at Bar-Ilan University in 1998. She has published dozens of articles and book chapters. Her main research interests are: romantic relationships, human sexuality, and evolutionary psychology. More specifically, her research focuses on the convoluted role played by sexuality in the broader context of close relationship. Her research has involved the construction of assessment tools for studying individual differences in the sexual behavioral system, which have been used to shed light on the processes that mediate the impact of sexuality on close relationships; e.g., differential importance at different stages of development; the meaning couples attribute to their sex lives; the functional significance of sexuality within romantic relationship; and the link between sexuality and other aspects of the relationship. Her present research program employs experimental, qualitative, and daily experience methodologies to investigate the complex interplay between the attachment and sexual behavioral systems within romantic relationships and the dual potential of the sexual system for both satisfying and dysfunctional relational interactions.

Prof. Birnbaum was a post-doc at the University of Rochester. She was the head of the Experimental Psychology Program at Bar-Ilan University, as well as a visiting professor at the University of Minnesota, at Northwestern University, and at the University of Rochester. Now, she is a Professor of Psychology at Reichman University (IDC, Herzliya), where she received the outstanding researcher and lecturer awards. Prof. Birnbaum frequently contributes to international academic journals and served/serves as a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, European Journal of Social Psychology, and Archives of Sexual Behavior. She was also an associate editor of Personal Relationships. Prof. Birnbaum's research has been cited in leading media outlets, including The New York Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Times, and Time magazine.

You may watch Prof. Birnbaum's TED talk about why humans make sex so complicated here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD-Kl0lTsY4

Birnbaum, G. E. (2023). Evolving connections: Attachment and human mating strategies. In D. M. Buss (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of human mating (pp. 427-446). Oxford University Press.

Birnbaum, G. E., Chen, Y. R., Zholtack, K., Giron, J., & Friedman, D. (2023). Biting the forbidden fruit: The effect of flirting with a virtual agent on attraction to real alternative and existing partners. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4, 100084.

Birnbaum, G. E., Bachar, T., Levy, G. F., Zholtack, K., & Reis, H. T. (in press). Put me in your shoes: Does perspective-taking inoculate against the appeal of alternative partners? The Journal of Sex Research.

Birnbaum, G. E., Zholtack, K., & Ayal, S. (2022). Is infidelity contagious? Online exposure to norms of adultery and its effect on expressions of
desire for current and alternative partners. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 51(8), 3919-3930.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2022). Temptation at your door: Receiving mate poaching attempts and perceived partners’ desirability. Personal Relationships,

29(3), 566-580.

Birnbaum, G. E., Kanat-Maymon, Y., Slotter, E. B., & Luchies, L. B. (2021). Sexual desire mediates the relationship-promoting effects of perceived partner mate value. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50, 3733–3755.

Birnbaum, G. E., Iluz, M., Plotkin, E., Tibi, L., Hematian, Mizrahi, M., & Reis, H. T. (2020). Seeing what you want to see: Sexual activation makes potential partners seem more appealing and romantically interested. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,37(12), 3051–3069.

Joel, S., Eastwick, P. W., Allison, C. J., Arriaga, X. B., Baker, Z. G., Bar-Kalifa, E., Bergeron, S., Birnbaum, G. E., Brock, R. L., Brumbaugh, C. C., Carmichael, C. L., Chen, S., Clarke, J., Cobb, R. J., Coolsen, M. K., Davis, J., de Jong, D. C., Debrot, A., DeHaas, E. C., Derrick, J. L., Eller, J., Estrada, M. J., Faure, R., Finkel, E. J., Fraley, R. C., Gable, S. L., Gadassi, R., Girme, Y. U., Gordon, A. M., Gosnell, C. L., Hammond, M. D., Hannon, P. A., Harasymchuk, C., Hofmann, W., Horn, A. B., Impett, E. A., Jamieson, J. P., Keltner, D., Kim, J. J., Kirchner, J. L., Klewer, E. S., Kumashiro, M., Larson, G., Lazarus, G., Logan, J. M., Luchies, L. B., MacDonald, G., Machia, L. V., Maniaci, M. R., Maxwell, J. A., Mizrahi, M., Muise, A., Niehuis, S., Ogolsky, B. G., Oldham, C. R., Overall, N. C., Perrez, M., Peters, B. J., Pietromonaco, P. R., Powers, S. I., Prok, T., Pshedetzky-Shochat, R., Rafaeli, E., Ramsdell, E., Reblin, M., Reicherts, M., Reifman, A., Reis, H. T., Rhoades, G. K., Rholes, W. S., Righetti, F., Rodriguez, L. M., Rogge, R., Rosen, N. O., Saxbe, D., Sened, H., Simpson, J. A., Slotter, E. B., Stanley, S. M., Stocker, S., Surra, C., Vaughn, A. A., Vicary, A. M., Visserman, M. L., & Wolf, S. (2020). Machine learning uncovers the most robust self-report predictors of relationship quality across 43 longitudinal couples studies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,117 (32),

Birnbaum, G. E., Zholtack, K., & Reis, H. T. (2020). No pain, no gain: Perceived partner mate value mediates the desire-inducing effect of being hard to get during online and face-to-face encounters. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37(8-9), 2510–2528.

Birnbaum, G. E., Iluz, M., & Reis, H. T. (2020). Making the right first impression: Sexual priming encourages attitude change and self-presentation lies during encounters with potential partners. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 86, 103904.

de Jong, D. C., Reis, H. T., Peters, B. J., DeHaan, C., & Birnbaum, G. E. (2019). The role of implicit sexual desire in romantic relationships. Personality and Individual Differences, 149, 46-56.

Chen, Y. R., Birnbaum, G. E., Giron, J., & Friedman, D. (2019). Individuals in a romantic relationship express guilt and devaluate attractive alternatives after flirting with a virtual bartender. Proceedings of the 19th ACM International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents (IVA, 2019).

Birnbaum, G. E., Zholtack, K., Mizrahi, M., & Ein-Dor, T. (2019). The bitter pill: Cessation of oral contraceptives enhances the appeal of alternative mates. Evolutionary Psychological Science, 5(3), 276–285.

Mizrahi, M., Reis, H. T., Maniaci, M. R., & Birnbaum, G. E. (2019). When insecurity dampens desire: Attachment anxiety in men amplifies the decline in sexual desire during the early years of romantic relationships. European Journal of Social Psychology, 49(6), 1223-1236.

Birnbaum, G. E., Mizrahi, M., & Reis, H. T. (2019). Fueled by desire: Sexual activation facilitates the enactment of relationship-initiating behaviors. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(10), 3057-3074.

Sharon-David, H., Mizrahi, M., Rinott, M., Golland, Y., & Birnbaum, G. E. (2019). Being on the same wavelength: Behavioral synchrony between partners and its influence on the experience of intimacy. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(10), 2983-3008.

Birnbaum, G. E., Mizrahi, M., Kovler, L., Shutzman, B., Aloni-Soroker, A., & Reis, H. T. (2019). Our fragile relationships: Relationship threat and its effect on the allure of alternative mates. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48(3), 703–713.

Birnbaum, G. E., Kanat-Maymon, Y., Mizrahi, M., Recanati, M., & Orr, R. (2019). What fantasies can do to your relationship: The effects of sexual fantasies on couple interactions. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45(3), 461-476.

Birnbaum, G. E., & Reis, H. T. (2019). Evolved to be connected: The dynamics of attachment and sex over the course of romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 25, 11-15.

Birnbaum, G. E., Kanat-Maymon, Y., Mizrahi, M., Barniv, A., Shir, N., Govinden, J., & Reis, H. T. (2018). Are you into me? Uncertainty and sexual desire in online encounters and established relationships. Computers in Human Behavior, 85, 372-384.

Mizrahi, M., Kanat-Maymon, Y., & Birnbaum, G. E. (2018). You haven't been on my mind lately: Partner responsiveness mediates the link between attachment insecurity and dyadic fantasies. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 35(4), 440-459.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2018). The fragile spell of desire: A functional perspective on changes in sexual desire across relationship development. Personality and Social Psychology Review22(2), 101–127.

Birnbaum, G. E., Mizrahi, M., Kaplan, A., Kadosh, D., Kariv, D., Tabib, D., Ziv, D., Sadeh, L., & Burban, D. (2017). Sex unleashes your tongue: Sexual priming motivates self-disclosure to a new acquaintance and interest in future interactions. , 43, 706-715.

Birnbaum, S., Birnbaum, G. E., & Ein-Dor, T. (2017). Can contraceptive pill affect future offspring’s health? The implications of using hormonal birth control for human evolution. Evolutionary Psychological Science, 3(2), 89-96.

Mizrahi, M., Hirschberger, G., Mikulincer, M., Szepsenwol, O., & Birnbaum, G. E. (2016). Reassuring sex: Can sexual desire and intimacy reduce relationship-specific attachment insecurities? European Journal of Social Psychology, 46(4), 467-480.

Birnbaum, G. E., Mizrahi, M., Hoffman, G., Reis, H. T., Finkel, E. J., & Sass, O. (2016). Machines as a source of consolation: Robot responsiveness increases approach behavior and desire for companionship. Proceedings of the 11th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI 2016), pp. 165-171.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2016). Attachment and sexual mating: The joint operation of separate motivational systems. In J. Cassidy, & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of Attachment, Third Edition: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications (pp. 464-483). New York: Guilford Press.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2015). Like a horse and carriage? The dynamic interplay of attachment and sex during relationship development. European Psychologist, 20, 265-274.

Szepsenwol, O., Mizrahi, M., & Birnbaum, G. E. (2015). Fatal suppression: The detrimental effect of sexual and attachment deactivation within emerging romantic relationships. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6, 504-512.

Ein-Dor, T., Perry, A., Hirschberger, G., Birnbaum, G. E., & Deutsch, D. (2015). Coping with mate poaching: Gender differences in detection of infidelity-related threats. Evolution and Human Behavior, 36, 17-24.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2015). On the convergence of sexual urges and emotional bonds: The interplay of the sexual and attachment systems during relationship development. In J. A. Simpson, & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and research: New directions and emerging themes (pp. 170-194). New York: Guilford Press.

Birnbaum, G. E., Mikulincer, M., Szepsenwol, O., Shaver, P. R., & Mizrahi, M. (2014). When sex goes wrong: A behavioral systems perspective on individual differences in sexual attitudes, motives, feelings, and behaviors. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106, 822-842.

Hoffman, G., Birnbaum, G. E., Vanunu, K., Sass, O., & Reis, H. T. (2014). Robot responsiveness to human disclosure affects social impression and appeal. Proceedings of the 9th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI 2014), pp. 1-8.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2014). Sexy building blocks: The contribution of the sexual system to attachment formation and maintenance. In M. Mikulincer & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Mechanisms of social connection: From brain to group (pp. 315-332). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Szepsenwol, O., Mikulincer, M., & Birnbaum, G. E. (2013). Misguided attraction: The contribution of normative and individual-differences components of the sexual system to mating preferences. Journal of Research in Personality, 47, 196-200.

Birnbaum, G. E., Mikulincer, M., & Austerlitz, M. (2013). A fiery conflict: Attachment orientations and the effects of relational conflict on sexual motivation. Personal Relationships, 20, 294-310.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2013). Sexual desire. In L. Bormans (Ed.), The world book of love. Tielt, Belgium: Lannoo Publishers.

Birnbaum, G. E., Simpson, J. A., Weisberg, Y. J., Barnea, E., & Assulin-Simhon, Z. (2012). Is it my overactive imagination? The effects of contextually activated attachment insecurity on sexual fantasies. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 29, 1131–1152.

Sagiv-Reiss, D. M., Birnbaum, G. E., & Safir, M. P. (2012). Changes in sexual experiences and relationship quality during pregnancy. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 1241-1251.

Birnbaum, G. E., & Reis, H. T. (2012). When does responsiveness pique sexual interest? Attachment and sexual desire in initial acquaintanceships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38, 946-958.

Birnbaum, G. E., Weisberg, Y. J., & Simpson, J. A. (2011). Desire under attack: Attachment orientations and the effects of relationship threat on sexual motivations. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28, 448–468.

Birnbaum, G. E., Hirschberger, G., & Goldenberg, J. L. (2011). Desire in the face of death: Terror management, attachment, and sexual motivation. Personal Relationships, 18, 1-19.

Birnbaum, G. E., Mikulincer, M., & Gillath, O. (2011). In and out of a daydream: Attachment orientations, daily relationship quality, and sexual fantasies. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37, 1398-1410.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2010). Bound to interact: The divergent goals and complex interplay of attachment and sex within romantic relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 27, 245-252.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2009). Sexual dysfunctions. In Harry T. Reis & Susan K. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of human relationships. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Gillath, O., Mikulincer, M., Birnbaum, G. E., & Shaver, P. R. (2008). When sex primes love: Subliminal sexual priming motivates relational goal pursuit. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34, 1057-1069.

Birnbaum, G. E., Svitelman, N., Bar-Shalom, A., & Porat, O. (2008). The thin line between reality and imagination: Attachment orientations and the effects of relationship threats on sexual fantasies. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34, 1185-1199.

Gillath, O., Mikulincer, M., Birnbaum, G. E., & Shaver, P. R. (2007). Does subliminal exposure to sexual stimuli have the same effects on men and women? The Journal of Sex Research, 44, 111-121.

Birnbaum, G. E., Cohen, O., & Wertheimer, V. (2007). Is it all about intimacy? Age, menopausal status, and women's sexuality. Personal Relationships, 14, 167-185.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2007). Attachment orientations, sexual functioning, and relationship satisfaction in a community sample of women. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24, 21-35.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2007). Beyond the borders of reality: Attachment orientations and sexual fantasies. Personal Relationships, 14, 321-342. (Nominated for the IARR 2010 Journal Article Award).

Birnbaum, G. E., & Reis, H. T. (2006). Women’s sexual working models: An evolutionary-attachment perspective. The Journal of Sex Research, 43, 328-342.

Birnbaum, G. E., & Gillath, O. (2006). Measuring subgoals of the sexual behavioral system: What is sex good for? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 23, 675-701.

Cohen, O., Birnbaum, G. E., Meyuchas, R., Levinger, Z., Florian, V., & Mikulincer, M. (2005). Attachment orientations and spouse support in adults with type 2 diabetes. Psychology, Health, and Medicine, 10, 161-165.

Birnbaum, G. E. (2003). The meaning of heterosexual intercourse among women with female orgasmic disorder. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32(1), 61-71.

Birnbaum, G. E., & Laser-Brandt, D. (2002). Gender differences in the experience of heterosexual intercourse. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 11(3-4), 143-158.

Mikulincer, M., Florian, V., Birnbaum, G., & Malishkevich, S. (2002). The death-anxiety buffering function of close relationships: Exploring the effects of separation reminders on death-thought accessibility. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(3), 287-299.

Birnbaum, G., Glaubman, H., & Mikulincer, M. (2001). Women’s Experiences of Heterosexual Intercourse—Scale Construction, Factor Structure, and Relations to Orgasmic Disorder. The Journal of Sex Research, 38, 191-204.

Mikulincer, M., Birnbaum, G., Woddis, D., & Nachmias, O. (2000). Stress and accessibility of proximity-related thoughts: Exploring the species-typical and intraindividual components of attachment theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(3), 509-523.

Birnbaum, G. E., Mizrahi, M., Hoffman, G., Reis, H. T., Finkel, E. J., & Sass, O. (2016). What robots can teach us about intimacy: The reassuring effects of robot responsiveness to human disclosure. Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 416-423.

Birnbaum, G. E., Reis, H. T., Mizrahi, M., Kanat-Maymon, Y., Sass, O., & Granovski-Milner, C. (2016). Intimately connected: The importance of partner responsiveness for experiencing sexual desire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 111, 530-546.

Birnbaum, G. E., & Finkel, E. J. (2015). The magnetism that holds us together: Sexuality and relationship maintenance across relationship development. Current Opinion in Psychology, 1, 29-33.

Birnbaum, G. E., Ein-Dor, T., Reis, H. T., & Segal, N. (2014). Why do men prefer nice women over bad ones? Gender typicality mediates the effect of responsiveness on perceived attractiveness in initial acquaintanceships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40, 1341–1353.

Birnbaum, G. E., Reis, H. T., Mikulincer, M., Gillath, O., & Orpaz, A. (2006). When sex is more than just sex: Attachment orientations, sexual experience, and relationship quality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91, 929-943.

Birnbaum, G. E., Orr, I., Mikulincer, M., & Florian, V. (1997). When marriage breaks up - Does attachment style contribute to coping and mental health? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 14(5), 643-654.

Areas of expertise