More on the Modality of Monogamy
I say both men and women are understating their number of sexual partners.
Contrary to what is portrayed in this chart, I postulate an American
male average of about four. I do not agree with the common claim that
American men will overstate their number of partners.
In the GSS, males report an average of 14.19, women an average of 4.76.* If you mean the median, then males report a median of 3, woman a median of 2. For men, 4 partners is the 62nd percentile. So perhaps the results are compatible with your guesses.
P.S. The modality of monogamy is not an artifact of age. Monogamy is modal for 25-44, 30+, and 40+, for both men and women.
Update: Fans have calculated the total number of partners for the main characters on Friends. It’s high.
* Excluding the “989 or higher” bin.
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