Justin J. Lehmiller is an American social psychologist and author. Lehmiller is a research fellow at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. Lehmiller has authored books such as Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life and The Psychology of Human Sexuality. He has appeared on several television programs to discuss his research and the science of sex. He maintains a Sex and Psychology blog.
Life, education, and career
Lehmiller is from Canton, Ohio. He attended college at Gannon University, earning a B.A. in psychology in 2001. In 2003, he graduated from Villanova University with a M.S. in experimental psychology. In 2008, he received his doctorate in social psychology from Purdue University. Lehmiller began his academic career as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Colorado State University. Following that, he served as a College Fellow in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University and as the director of the Social Psychology Graduate Program at Ball State University. Lehmiller's book Tell Me What You Want was published by Da Capo Press in 2018. The book is based on the largest-ever survey of sexual fantasies in the United States. Lehmiller's survey of 4,175 Americans offers insight into what Americans are fantasizing about, where people's sexual fantasies come from and what they say about an individual, and how to communicate about fantasies with a partner. In January 2020, Lehmiller appeared on an episode of the Netflix series Sex, Explained, in which he discussed some of the main findings from his book. Lehmiller collaborated with advice columnist, Dan Savage, to study gay men's cuckolding fantasies, publishing the findings in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, a peer-reviewed journal for research on sexuality. He has also published on sexual fantasies, consensual non-monogamy, marginalized relationships, and friends with benefits. Lehmiller is a consulting editor at The Journal of Sex Research and an elected member of the International Academy of Sex Research. Lehmiller has appeared on several television programs to discuss his research and the science of sex, including Dr. Phil, National Geographic's Taboo, and the Netflix series Sex, Explained. He maintains a Sex and Psychology blog.
Other works
Harman, J. J., & Lehmiller, J. J.. A Social Psychology Research Experience. San Diego, CA: Cognella.
Lehmiller, J. J., & Agnew, C. R.. Marginalized relationships: The impact of social disapproval on romantic relationship commitment. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 40-51.
Lehmiller, J. J., & Agnew, C. R.. Perceived marginalization and the prediction of romantic relationship stability. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69, 1036-1049.
Lehmiller, J. J.. Secret romantic relationships: Consequences for personal and relational well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 1452-1466.
Lehmiller, J. J., VanderDrift, L. E., & Kelly J. R.. Sex differences in approaching friends with benefits relationships. Journal of Sex Research, 48, 275-284.
Lehmiller, J. J., VanderDrift, L. E., & Kelly, J. R.. Sexual communication, satisfaction, and condom use behavior in friends with benefits and romantic partners. Journal of Sex Research, 51, 74-85.
Lehmiller, J. J., & Ioerger, M.. Social networking smartphone applications and sexual health outcomes among men who have sex with men. PLoS ONE, 9: e86603. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086603
Lehmiller, J. J.. A comparison of sexual health history and outcomes among monogamous and consensually non-monogamous sexual partners. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 12, 2022-2028. doi:10.1111/jsm.12987
Balzarini, R. N., Campbell, L., Holmes, B. M., Lehmiller, J. J., Harman, J. J., & Atkins, N.. Perceptions of romantic partners in polyamorous relationships. PLoS ONE, 12: e0177841. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0177841
