scholarly journals Asexuality vs. sexual interest/arousal disorder: Examining group differences in initial attention to sexual stimuli

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261434
Author(s):  
Julia Bradshaw ◽  
Natalie Brown ◽  
Alan Kingstone ◽  
Lori Brotto
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Sexual Interest ◽  
Voluntary Attention ◽  
Sexual Stimuli ◽  
Erotic Stimuli ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Arousal Disorder ◽  
Sexual Response Cycle

Attention is considered to be a critical part of the sexual response cycle, and researchers have differentiated between the roles of initial (involuntary) and subsequent (voluntary) attention paid to sexual stimuli as part of the facilitation of sexual arousal. Prior studies using eye-tracking methodologies have shown differing initial attention patterns to erotic stimuli between men and women, as well as between individuals of different sexual orientations. No study has directly compared initial attention to sexual stimuli in asexual individuals, defined by their lack of sexual attraction, to women with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD), a disorder characterized by a reduced or absent interest in sex coupled with significant personal distress. The current study tested differences in the initial attention patterns of 29 asexual individuals (Mage = 26.56, SD = 4.80) and 25 heterosexual women with SIAD (Mage = 27.52, SD = 4.87), using eye-tracking. Participants were presented with sexual and neutral stimuli, and their initial eye movements and initial fixations to both image types and areas of erotic contact within sexual images were recorded. Mixed-model ANOVAs and t-tests were used to compare the two groups on the speed with which their initial fixations occurred, the duration of their initial fixations, and the proportion of initial fixations made to sexual stimuli. On two indices of initial attention, women with SIAD displayed an initial attention preference for sexual stimuli over neutral stimuli compared to asexual participants. This study adds to a growing literature on the distinction between asexuality and SIAD, indicating that differences in early attention may be a feature that differentiates the groups.

scholarly journals Cognitive processing of sexual cues in asexual individuals and heterosexual women with desire/arousal difficulties

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251074
Author(s):  
Natalie B. Brown ◽  
Diana Peragine ◽  
Doug P. VanderLaan ◽  
Alan Kingstone ◽  
Lori A. Brotto
Keyword(s):  
Visual Attention ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Sexual Interest ◽  
Implicit Associations ◽  
Implicit Association ◽  
Attention Task ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Arousal Disorder ◽  
Sexual Words

Asexuality is defined as a unique sexual orientation characterized by a lack of sexual attraction to others. This has been challenged, with some experts positing that it is better explained as a sexual dysfunction. Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD) is characterized by absent/reduced sexual interest/arousal paired with personal distress, with two subtypes: acquired and lifelong. Research suggests that while asexuality and acquired SIAD are distinct entities, there may be overlap between asexuality and lifelong SIAD. Findings from studies using eye-tracking and implicit association tasks suggest that these methodologies might differentiate these groups on the basis of their neural mechanisms. However, no study has compared their cognitive processing of sexual cues, and the literature on lifelong SIAD is minimal. The current study tested differences in the cognitive processing of sexual cues between asexual individuals and women with SIAD (lifelong and acquired). Forty-two asexual individuals and 25 heterosexual women with SIAD (16: acquired; 9: lifelong) completed three study components: a visual attention task, a Single Category-Implicit Association Task, and the sex semantic differential. ANOVAs examined group differences in: 1) visual attention to erotic cues, 2) implicit appraisals of sexual words, and 3) explicit appraisals of sex. Women with SIAD displayed a controlled attention preference for erotic images and areas of sexual contact, with longer dwell times to these areas relative to asexual individuals, who did not gaze preferentially at erotic cues. For implicit appraisals, all groups demonstrated negative—neutral implicit associations with sexual words. For explicit appraisals, women with acquired SIAD reported more positive evaluations of sex relative to asexual individuals and women with lifelong SIAD. This project sheds light on key differences between asexuality and low desire, and has implications for best clinical practice guidelines for the assessment of lifelong SIAD.

Symptomatology and treatment of persistent genital arousal disorder. Case report

2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (15) ◽  
pp. 614-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Erős ◽  
Ildikó Brockhauser ◽  
Edina Pólyán
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Sexual Interest ◽  
Rare Condition ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Genital Arousal ◽  
Sexual Stimuli ◽  
Psychological Suffering ◽  
Temporary Relief ◽  
Arousal Disorder ◽  
Insight Into

Persistent genital arousal disorder is a rare condition among women characterized by unwanted and intrusive sexual arousal that can persist for an extended period of time and unrelated to sexual desire or sexual stimuli. Since its first documentation in 2001, numerous studies have been dedicated to investigate its specifics. The persistent genital arousal occurs in the absence of sexual interest and fantasies and it causes excessive psychological suffering. Masturbation, spontaneous orgasm or sexual intercourse can offer only a temporary relief. Researches provide a limited insight into the characteristics of persistent genital arousal disorder. This paper presents a case and summarizes the scientific findings on prevalence, etiology and treatment perspectives. Orv. Hetil., 2015, 156(15), 614–618.

Who are gynandromorphophilic men? Characterizing men with sexual interest in transgender women

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 819-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Hsu ◽  
A. M. Rosenthal ◽  
D. I. Miller ◽  
J. M. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Sexual Arousal ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Sexual Interest ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Homosexual Men ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Erotic Stimuli ◽  
Subjective Sexual Arousal

BackgroundGynandromorphophilia (GAMP) is sexual interest in gynandromorphs (GAMs; colloquially, shemales). GAMs possess a combination of male and female physical characteristics. Thus, GAMP presents a challenge to conventional understandings of sexual orientation as sexual attraction to the male v. female form. Speculation about GAMP men has included the ideas that they are homosexual, heterosexual, or especially, bisexual.MethodWe compared genital and subjective sexual arousal patterns of GAMP men with those of heterosexual and homosexual men. We also compared these groups on their self-ratings of sexual orientation and sexual interests.ResultsGAMP men had arousal patterns similar to those of heterosexual men and different from those of homosexual men. However, compared to heterosexual men, GAMP men were relatively more aroused by GAM erotic stimuli than by female erotic stimuli. GAMP men also scored higher than both heterosexual and homosexual men on a measure of autogynephilia.ConclusionsResults provide clear evidence that GAMP men are not homosexual. They also indicate that GAMP men are especially likely to eroticize the idea of being a woman.

A map of desire: multidimensional scaling of men's sexual interest in male and female children and adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
J. Michael Bailey ◽  
Ray Blanchard ◽  
Kevin J. Hsu ◽  
William Revelle
Keyword(s):  
Multidimensional Scaling ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Sexual Interest ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Biological Sex ◽  
Adult Men ◽  
Sexual Offenses ◽  
Erotic Stimuli

Abstract Background Men sexually interested in children of a specific combination of maturity and sex tend to show some lesser interest in other categories of persons. Patterns of men's sexual interest across erotic targets' categories of maturity and sex have both clinical and basic scientific implications. Method We examined the structure of men's sexual interest in adult, pubescent, and prepubescent males and females using multidimensional scaling (MDS) across four datasets, using three large samples and three indicators of sexual interest: phallometric response to erotic stimuli, sexual offense history, and self-reported sexual attraction. The samples were highly enriched for men sexually interested in children and men accused of sexual offenses. Results Results supported a two-dimensional MDS solution, with one dimension representing erotic targets' biological sex and the other dimension representing their sexual maturity. The dimension of sexual maturity placed adults and prepubescent children on opposite ends, and pubescent children intermediate. Differences between men's sexual interest in adults and prepubescent children of the same sex were similar in magnitude to the differences between their sexual interest in adult men and women. Sexual interest in adult men was no more associated with sexual interest in boys than sexual interest in adult women was associated with sexual interest in girls. Conclusions Erotic targets' sexual maturity and biological sex play important roles in men's preferences, which are predictive of sexual offending. The magnitude of men's preferences for prepubescent children v. adults of their preferred sex is large.

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

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Persall
Keyword(s):  
Gender Difference ◽  
Sexual Desire ◽  
Sexual Attitudes ◽  
Sexual Interest ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Tracking Data ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Sexual Arousability

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.

Ready or Not: Exploring Sexual Arousal with Women who Report Sexual Arousal Difficulties

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Zadorozny
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Sexual Arousal ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Doppler Imaging ◽  
Erotic Stimuli ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Subjective Sexual Arousal ◽  
First Time ◽  
Subjective Arousal ◽  
Report Measure

The purpose of this study is to examine possible differences in genital and subjective components of sexual arousal between women with and without sexual arousal/desire difficulties (SADD). Previous research has focused on physiological differences with women who have SADD, in particular, genital response to erotic stimuli. The pattern of results in the literature indicates that women with SADD exhibit similar genital responses to controls (Meston, Rellini, & McCall, 2010), yet women with SADD typically report a decrease in intensity of genital sensation in sexual situations (Laan, van Driel, & van Lunsen, 2008; Giraldi, Rellini, Pfaus, & Laan, 2013), calling into question the method of measurement employed to assess genitalresponse. In the current study, genital and subjective arousal, along with genital-subjective agreement (i.e., sexual concordance), will be investigated to determine if there is a difference between women with SADD and controls. Participants will include 30 self-identified heterosexual women who will complete a validated self-report measure of sexual function and a session in which they rate their subjective sexual arousal while their genital blood flow is measured in response to various films. Laser Doppler Imaging will be used to measure genital blood flow for the first time in this population. This study could lead to a better understanding of sexual arousal in women with SADD, which will assist with diagnosis, as well as identify areas to focus on when trying to develop treatments for sexual dysfunction.

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