Openness to Sexuality as a Predictor of Gender Non-Specificity of Visual Sexual Interest in Heterosexual Women

Past research has indicated that there is a gender difference in regards to sexual arousal; such that heterosexual men typically show a pattern of gender-specificity, whereas women show a pattern of gender non-specificity. Although this is a robust finding, there is little research examining the predictors of this finding. The current study uses eye-tracking data (i.e., gaze time to male and female images) to examine the effect of openness to sexuality on visual sexual interest. Openness to sexuality is assessed using three factors: sexual attitudes, sexual desire, and sexual arousability. I predict that greater openness to sexuality (i.e., more positive sexual attitudes, greater sexual desire, and greater sexual arousability) is correlated with greater gender non-specificity of visual sexual interest.

Polish Adaptation of Sexual Arousability Inventory (SAI-PL) And Validation for Males

Objective: Sexual arousability is defined as an ability to react with sexual arousal in response to external and internal stimuli. Sexual arousability measures are important for research purposes and for diagnostics of sexual dysfunctions. Self-assessment techniques can be used for such measurement. Due to absence of Polish-language psychometric tools dedicated to sexual arousability measures we adapted Sexual Arousability Inventory; (SAI; Hoon et al., 1976). Design and Method: Psychometrical characteristic of Polish version of SAI (SAI-PL) was examined in the study with 132 participants (42 females, 90 males) aged 18 – 45. Participants were recruited through the student groups, support groups, non-profit organization, Internet, and personal contact. Validation with behavioral factors was performed on the group of 39 heterosexual males consuming pornography on the weekly basis. Results: SAI-PL has a very high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .912), and the same structural factor as original SAI. In addition, the results indicate the high accuracy of the tool relative to the group of men that has not been verified in previous studies devoted to the English version, validated only on a group of women. Conclusions: Due to the simple construction and good psychometric properties SAI-PL can be successfully used to diagnose sexual arousability disorders, in the assessment of the therapy, as well as for research purposes.

Influence of sexual arousability on partner communication mediators of condom use among African American female adolescents

Background Ample evidence shows that partner sexual communication is related to condom use. Although communication about safer sex may often occur when sexual arousal is high, no studies have examined arousability, one’s propensity for sexual arousal and partner sexual communication. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between sexual arousability and partner-related mediators of condom use among African American female adolescents, who have disproportionate risk for HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Methods: The study analysed self-reported baseline data from 701 African American females aged 14–20 years participating in a HIV/STI trial. Linear regression models examined associations between arousability and partner-related mediators of condom use (partner sexual communication self-efficacy, partner sexual communication frequency, sex refusal self-efficacy and condom use self-efficacy), controlling for age, impulsivity and relationship power. Results: Greater arousability was significantly associated with reduced levels of each partner communication outcome assessed (partner sexual communication self-efficacy, partner sexual communication frequency and sex refusal self-efficacy) but was not associated with condom use self-efficacy. Conclusions: Arousal and other positive aspects of sex have largely been ignored by HIV/STI prevention efforts, which primarily focus on individual behaviour. A population-level sexual health approach focusing on sexual wellbeing may reduce stigma, facilitate partner sexual communication and be more effective at reducing HIV/STI rates than traditional approaches.

Arousability as a predictor of sexual risk behaviours in African-American adolescent women

This study examined the impact of sexual excitation (arousability) on sexual risk-taking behaviours in a community sample of African-American adolescent women. A sample of 701 African-American adolescent women completed measures examining their propensity for sexual arousal, impulsivity and sexual behaviour. Compared with women with a lower propensity for sexual arousability, women with a higher propensity reported a greater number of sexual partners, more inconsistent condom use, a greater likelihood of having engaged in sexual intercourse with ‘risky’ partners, and sex while high on alcohol or drugs. These results indicate that women who have a greater propensity to become sexually aroused in a variety of situations may be at a greater risk for contracting HIV or sexually transmissible infections relative to women with a lower propensity for arousal. This suggests that individual differences in the propensity to become sexually aroused should be considered when developing intervention approaches targeting young African-American women.

The endocrinology of sexual arousal

The relevance of testosterone, oestradiol and certain peptides (oxytocin (OT), β-endorphin and prolactin (PRL)) to sexual arousal in humans is reviewed. In addition to behavioural studies, evidence of distribution of gonadal steroid receptors in the brain and the limited evidence from brain imaging are also considered. Testosterone plays a key role in the adult male, with clear, consistent evidence from studies of hypogonadal and eugonadal men. The roles of testosterone in the development of sexual arousability, and in the aging male, are less clear. The relevance of aromatization and of non-sexual effects of testosterone which might indirectly influence sexual arousal are not well understood. Testosterone in the female presents a more complex, less consistent picture. One possible explanation is a much greater variability across women in responsiveness to testosterone. A ‘desensitization hypothesis’ to account for the striking gender differences is offered. There is limited evidence of a direct effect of oestradiol on sexual arousability in women. The extent to which testosterone in women acts by conversion to oestradiol or by increase of free oestradiol is not yet clear. The role of peptides in sexual arousal remains uncertain, partly because of the multiple roles and sites of action of most peptides. OT and β-endorphin appear to have both excitatory and inhibitory effects. PRL has been proposed as an inhibitory factor via direct inhibition of dopaminergic activity, but the evidence for this is inconclusive. Whereas the traditional concept of ‘hormone’ continues to apply to the role of testosterone and oestradiol in sexual arousal, peptides present a more complex role.