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The conditioning of human sexual arousal

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Abstract

Although most theories of human sexual behavior claim that much normal sexual behavior is learned, and theories of the etiology and modification of paraphilic and dysfunctional sexual behavior also claim that abnormal sexual behavior is learned and can be counterconditioned, there is no systematic review examining the relationship between conditioning and human sexual behavior. We review research addressing whether habituation, sensitization, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning processes are involved in human sexual behavior. We conclude that, due to the methodological problems of extant studies, the basis for asserting the existence of relationships between habituation, sensitization, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and sexual behavior is tenuous.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Illinois University, 60115, DeKalb, Illinois, USA

    William O'Donohue Ph.D.

  2. University of North Dakota, 58202, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA

    Joseph J. Plaud Ph.D.

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  1. William O'Donohue Ph.D.
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  2. Joseph J. Plaud Ph.D.
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O'Donohue, W., Plaud, J.J. The conditioning of human sexual arousal. Arch Sex Behav 23, 321–344 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541567

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