Abstract
Male (30) and female (30) college undergraduate subjects were shown five photographic slides depicting different heterosexual behaviors and one slide depicting solitary masturbation by a person of the same sex as the subject. Subjects rated the extent to which they found each of the slides sexually arousing and pleasant or unpleasant and indicated how many times they had personally engaged in each of the depicted activities. Following exposure to the slides, sexual arousal and emotional reactions were assessed. Contrary to the propositions of Kinsey et al. (1953), female heterosexual experience was equal to or superior to masturbation experience as an indicant of female sexual reactivity to the erotic materials. Among males, masturbation experience was superior to heterosexual experience as an indicant of sexual reactivity. The role of affective reactions to sexual experiences as determinants of sexual responsiveness is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abramson, P. R. (1973). The relationship of the frequency of masturbation to several aspects of personality and behavior.J. Sex Res. 9: 132–142.
Bem, D. J. (1972). Self-perception theory. In Berkowitz, L. (ed.),Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Vol. 6, Academic Press, New York, pp. 1–62.
Brady, J. P., and Levitt, E. E. (1965). The relation of sexual preferences to sexual experiences.Psychol. Res. 15: 377–384.
Byrne, D., and Lamberth, J. (1970). The effect of erotic stimuli on sex arousal, evaluative responses, and subsequent behavior. InTechnical Reports of the Commission on Obscenity and Pornography, Vol. 8, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., pp. 41–67.
Curran, J. P., Neff, S., and Lippold, S. (1973). Correlates of sexual experience among university students.J. Sex Res. 9: 124–131.
Davis, K. B. (1929).Factors in the Sex Life of Twenty-two Hundred Women. Harper, New York.
Epstein, S., and Smith, R. (1957). Thematic apperception, Rorschach content and ratings of sexual attractiveness of women as measures of the sex drive.J. Consult. Psychol. 21: 473–478.
Griffitt, W. (1973). Response to erotica and the projection of response to erotica in the opposite sex.J. Exp. Res. Personal. 6: 330–338.
Jackson, E. D., and Potkay, C. R. (1973). Precollege influences on sexual experiences of coeds.J. Sex Res. 9: 143–149.
Kaats, G. R., and Davis, K. E. (1970). The dynamics of sexual behavior of college students.J. Marriage Family 32: 390–399.
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., Martin, C. E., and Gebhard, P. H. (1953).Sexual Behavior in the Human Female Saunders, Philadelphia.
Mosher, D. L. (1970). Psychological reactions to pornographic films. InTechnical Reports of the Commission on Obscenity and Pornography, Vol. 8, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., pp. 255–312.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Requests for reprints should be addressed to William Griffitt, Department of Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Griffitt, W. Sexual experience and sexual responsiveness: Sex differences. Arch Sex Behav 4, 529–540 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542131
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542131