Sexual Disinhibition Under Sexual Arousal: Evidence for Domain Specificity in Men and Women

Abstract

Men have been shown to estimate their likelihood of engaging in sexually coercive behaviors and also uncommon and unprotected sexual behaviors as higher when they are in an acute state of sexual arousal. The present research sought to test (1) whether sexual arousal effects could be replicated under more controlled laboratory settings, (2) whether women showed the same pattern of results, and (3) whether this effect was specific to sexual disinhibition or would generalize to non-sexual disinhibited behavior. In two experimental studies, male and female participants (Study 1: N = 84; Study 2: N = 86) were either sexually aroused by acoustically presented erotic narratives or listened to sexually non-arousing neutral narratives. Afterwards, they self-estimated their likelihood of engaging in a variety of behaviors that could be characterized as sexual or non-sexual disinhibited behavior. Results replicated the previously established effect of sexual disinhibition under sexual arousal for men and provided the first evidence for a similar effect in women. No arousal effects were observed for non-sexual behavior, rendering alternative explanations based on mere indifferent responding unlikely. The discussion focused on a plausible explanation for this effect.

Appendices

Appendix

Study 1: Erotic Story (Sexual Arousal Condition)

Episode 1

When the football match starts on television, we adjourn to the dining room. Tommy joins us as well. “It’s too smoky in the living room,” he says and takes a seat at the table next to me. In my head, he causes a flood of images: I see me and him, closely embraced. His naked, young body firmly pressed against mine. When his thigh accidentally touches mine, the animal between my legs wakes up and I start sweating. While he is making friendly conversation, I take a curious glance at his lap. The fabric of his brightly colored linen pants has an eye-catching bulge. Oh my God! If this is Tommy’s cock in its passive state, how big will he grow when he’s in action? Today, I’m wearing my long, light brown summer dress that has a continuous line of buttons down the front. The two topmost buttons are opened and seductively reveal the gap between my breasts. Additionally, I always open the four bottommost buttons to have free movement. Now, I open four more bottom buttons as unobtrusively as possible and push the fabric of my dress off my thigh. I look down. I can see the translucent, black string on my panties that barely covers my crotch. Hmm, it doesn’t take much imagination to picture how I look under the thin fabric. I lean back slowly, open my thighs, and nudge him with my knee. I want to give him the opportunity to send his eyes on a journey.

Episode 2

Meanwhile, I continue my inconsequential conversation. From the corner of my eye, I see Tommy staring at my lap. Anxiously, he starts to wriggle about in his chair. His nervousness is so sweet! Over the next few minutes, I repeatedly catch him looking down at me. His face has a lovely flush and, talking to me, he avoids making eye contact. I push my pelvis a bit forward so that Tommy can see every detail. A lip has gotten free and the black fabric digs into my gap. Surely, he still thinks he is getting these glimpses by accident. The next time he looks at me, I ask him, “Would you like some more?” He looks at me, perplexed. Smiling, I offer him the bottle of wine. “Yes, I’d love some,” he nods at me conspiratorially, “but not too much. I’m getting dizzy very fast.” “Good, then just a bit to start,” I say and pour him a little wine. Then my hand moves down to my lap and I push my slip to the side and release my pussy. With my fingers, I slightly spread my lips. Man, I’m so wet! My middle finger slides deep into my cunt and I feel a pleasant shudder. Slowly, I start to move my finger in circles.

Episode 3

I’d love to pleasure myself on the table in front of everyone. To cool down, I pull my finger out of my gap and put the trembling hand on the table. Still glistening because of my juices, my finger catches Tommy’s gaze. I grab the stem of my wine glass cautiously and let my thumb and forefinger slide up and down slowly, splaying out my middle finger provokingly. Taking a look at my lap and seeing my opened labia, Tommy flushes. Immediately, his cock erects and causes an enormous tent in his pants. I’m getting nearly crazed with horniness! I just have to get his cock! I have to touch it, have to feel it in me, no matter what I have to do! I’m sliding a bit towards him with my chair. His body trembles and I can hear that he has to pull himself together to be able to go on talking in a calm intonation. Carefully sliding my hand in his pants pocket, I trace the waistband of his underwear through the lining. I carefully start to pull down his boxers. Suddenly, the band catches on his erection. Oh, what a pleasant surprise: Immediately, he grabs through the other pocket and helps me to pull his underwear down. Not even a second later, I grab his rod. Only the thin fabric remains between our skins.

Study 1: Neutral Story (Control Condition)

Episode 1

When treated decently, a cat always lives in friendship with a person. Normally, it doesn’t show as much attachment as a dog. But being met with the same love and diligence, its attachment will not be less than a dog’s. A dog, being left to its own devices, is an uncouth creature. I have seen it hundreds of times in Egypt, where nobody befriends the wild and free-roaming dogs. They become impudent, treacherous, distrustful, and shy. The cats in our home have always been treated very kindly and have very often proven their affection and attachment. To the dismay of the women of our house, they regularly bring their recently slain prey and the cats do not eat the prey until they have been praised for their skill and ability. When I was a boy, I knew two cats that were not only pleasant towards friends, but towards strangers. We children hugged them and they accompanied us on our way home in the evenings. It took half an hour, but the way did not seem to be too long for them. They never left our sides before we reached our house. Schach, a friend of mine, once told me the following story: When I still lived in my father’s house, I had a very close friendship to our old house cat, a magnificent animal. “Riese,” as we children called her because of her considerable size, was quickly drawn to me.

Episode 2

The cat was my neighbor at the table as well as my bedmate and when she was annoyed, whipping forcefully with her tail, nobody was more able to calm her than I was. I never went to the forest without being accompanied by the cat. In my absence, she seemed to be bored and when she was without my company for a long time, she went to the forest alone, probably hoping to meet me there. Usually, she waited for my arrival and went home with me. Being very curious, she was interested in everything. When I secretly turned off on a side trail, she was immediately on my scent and—after having smelled and licked me—quietly took her place next to me until I went on. When I went to a private school 2 h away from home in 1834, Riese accompanied me again and stayed here for the whole duration of my studies, for three and a half years. There, I made a very pleasing observation: Riese had become the mother of two lovely kittens. Then, misfortune befell her and she was caught and separated from her dependent kittens. I could not possibly leave the kittens to die and came up with a plan to rescue them. In the neighborhood, another cat had lost her young. She was chosen as foster mother. Willingly, she assumed the care of her stepchildren, suckling, licking, and cleaning them as well as possible.

Episode 3

But 1 day, the rightful mother returned. Riese had escaped from captivity and immediately hurried home. I brought her to the caretaker of her kittens. Pleased, purring and screaming, she hurried to her kittens and laid down next to them in the basket to assume her maternal duties. From then on, the kittens were suckled, treasured, and reared by both of their mothers, first by one of them, then by the other. If faced with danger, the two mothers united to form a furious resistance. Being accompanied by his owner, a butcher’s dog who came to the yard where the cats romped about with their kittens. The dog was attacked by the mother cats, nearly lost his eyesight, and ran straight away. After my college days, I returned home with Riese. Later, I lost sight of the admirable animal, since we had to separate forever. Where I live now, I had the opportunity to know an equally companionable cat. I brought up a cat, which was not only a real beauty, but also an example of cleanliness and good behavior. The whole neighborhood loved the animal and gave him milk very often. Often, he accompanied me on my way to the forest and sat far away from home, waiting for hours on the edge of the path where I had to go. Coming home at midnight, I heard his voice in the middle of the forest—and with a single bound, he sat on my shoulder. Not a single time was it necessary to punish the cat. Moreover, it would have defeated the purpose, since the animal was sensitive to even a harsh word.

Appendix 2

Study 2: Erotic Stories (Sexual Arousal Condition)

Story 1

The party ended early. My boyfriend sits alone listening to music. I wear a low cut dress that exposes the tops of my suntanned breasts. I feel his warm skin when I playfully nibble his ear. Sliding onto his lap I begin exploring his mouth with my tongue. As he guides his hand onto my breast, I moan, “Oh babe, I need you so bad, fuck me.” I reach back, unzip my dress, and pull the front down. Excitedly, I press his face into my huge tits. He licks and sucks my red nipples. As my passion mounts, I push him back onto the couch and tore our clothes off. My mouth explores his body. My tongue laps the flesh of his excited cock. “Oh yes, that tastes so good,” I groan. “I want it now.” Placing his hard cock into my cunt, I begin pumping. My breasts are bobbing as I hump him frantically. With a gasp, I continue surging over his erection faster and faster with my moist cunt. I pump furiously until reaching a shattering orgasm.

Story 2

My boyfriend and I find a clearing to rest from our hike. My tight jeans and thin blouse display my inviting figure. As we rest in the cool grass, we begin necking. Our tongues begin excitedly exploring each other’s mouths. Gently he begins caressing my firm round breasts, first over my clothes and then gradually his hands slipped under my blouse. With a sensuous moan, I say, “Oh baby, that feels so good, do it to me right now.” He begins kissing my neck and breasts as he quickly removes my clothes. My nipples swell between his lips. Excitedly, I beckon him to hurry. Naked, we fall together into the deep grass. I gently stroke his cock. As it hardened, I bend down and begin sucking and kissing it while his mouth savors the fleshy succulence of my thighs and cunt. With a gasp of delight, I roll over. “Oh yes, I need your cock now, quickly,” I moaned. He eased into my warm pussy. We pumped wildly together before exploding into ecstatic orgasms.

Story 3

I am lying in bed in the morning with my boyfriend. Only the sheets cover the seductive curves of my sensuous body. I roll toward him and, slipping my warm hand under the sheet, begin to caress his stomach. I start to fondle his hardening prick and pubic hair. At the same time, I slide my hot darting tongue into his mouth. I whisper, “I want you right now. I’m going to do it to you. I want you so bad.” I begin to explore his body with my tongue as he hungrily sucks my engorged nipples and his fingers probe the slippery folds of my cunt. Rising up, I straddle him and lowered myself over him, enveloping his cock with my warm wet cunt. “Oh yes, I love it. I want you so bad,” I moan. I rise and fall over him panting in ecstasy and straining my thighs apart engulfing him further inside me. My breasts bounce provocatively and my breath comes in short sharp gasps of pleasure as I furiously pump towards a fiery climax.

Story 4

I was lying on the deserted beach with my boyfriend. My bikini shows my firm breasts and inviting hips to their fullest. He leans over and begins to gently caress my warm flat stomach. He slips his hand under my suit and starts to fondle my damp silky pubic hair. At the same time, sliding his tongue between my hot full lips, he says, “I want you now, right here on the beach.” “Oh yes, do it to me,” I pant. We quickly shed our bathing suits. He begins to explore my body with his tongue and then hungrily sucks my fully erect nipples while his fingers explore the slippery folds of my cunt. My body quivers in anticipation. As he plunges his cock into me, I arch my back, grinding my hips into him as I moan, “Oh yes, harder. I want you so bad.” I wrap my velvet thighs tightly around his waist forcing him further into me. I shudder and moan with passion as we furiously screw to a fiery climax.

Study 2: Neutral Stories (Control Condition)

Story 1

The Laundromat is humming with activity as people do their washing. A woman with long blonde hair is folding her clothes. Selecting the two washing machines beside hers, I begin sorting my clothes and distributing them between the two machines. Once they are loaded I add powdered soap. I notice that I do not have enough change. “Excuse me, do you have change for a dollar,” I ask. The woman searches in her change purse and offers me four quarters. I thank her, take the change, and insert the quarters in the machine. I relax and wait as the washer begins filling with hot water. A while later, the machine gradually comes to a stop, having completed the wash and rinse cycles. I carefully remove the damp clothes and place them in an empty dryer. “That machine is not working,” advises the woman. I thank her and move my clothes to another machine. Selecting the hottest temperature to dry my clothes, I insert some dimes and push the start button.

Story 2

The restaurant is quiet and dimly lit; most of the tables are unoccupied. There are about a dozen other people there. I sit down and the waiter brings me a menu. “Would you like anything from the bar?” he asks. I order a beer and start to examine the menu. I have never eaten here before but the prices look reasonable. When the waiter returns with my beer, I am ready to order. I have decided to have the steak with fried mushrooms and a salad. “Would you like French fries or a baked potato?” the waiter asks. I decide on a baked potato and I sit back to enjoy my beer and wait for my food. When it arrives, I am pleasantly surprised by the size of the portions. My steak is enormous and everything looks great. I am not disappointed when I begin eating. Everything tastes incredible. I finish my meal and then sit for a while and leisurely enjoy some coffee.

Story 3

Bright and sunny, a perfect day to go to the zoo; because it is Wednesday, there are very few other people there and I have a chance to examine the animals at my leisure. I have always been fascinated by the big cats so I head towards the tigers. I get there just as the zoo keeper is feeding them. It is incredible watching them tear into the huge chunks of raw meat. After they all have finished eating, they all lay down in the shade and go to sleep. So I move on to something a little more interesting. The monkey house is bustling with activity. I watch hypnotized as several of the younger monkeys chase each other, swinging from ropes and tree branches on their compound. Several times I am sure that one of them would fall. But they always seem to catch themselves at the last moment and then continue with their hectic chase. I continue watching for about 30 min and then move on, heading towards the elephants.

Story 4

I am alone, just browsing through the large shopping plaza. Ahead I notice a group of children busily talking. As I approach, a young boy of about 10 years of age smiles and asks if he could speak to me for a moment. He wears a t-shirt with writing on it. I agree to stop and talk to him for a while. He says, “Would you like to buy some tickets for our school raffle? You could win a microwave oven.” He explains that the raffle was to buy new musical instruments for the school band as well as to help finance a school trip. This seems to me to be a worthwhile cause. So I ask him how much each ticket cost. The young boy explains that each ticket is two dollars but a book of five would only cost me nine dollars. I decide to go for the whole book of tickets. As I hand him the ten dollar bill, I ask if there are any other prizes besides the microwave oven. “Oh yes!” he replies, “you could also win a digital watch or one of several dinner theatre passes for two.” I am excited whether I will win one of these prizes.