Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pavlovian Conditioning of Sexual Interests in Human Males

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pavlovian conditioning of the human male sexual response may be involved in the ontogenetic development of sexual interests and may be responsible for individual differences. We attempted to demonstrate Pavlovian conditioning of sexual interests in a nonclinical sample of adult males. Ten participants were exposed to 11 pairings of a slide of a moderately attractive, partially nude female adult (TARGET) and a highly arousing videotape depiction of heterosexual sexual interactions (US). Ten other participants were exposed to 11 presentations of the TARGET alone. Participants exposed to the TARGET-US contingency showed a 10% relative increase in sexual arousal to the TARGET; participants exposed to the TARGET-ALONE contingency showed an 11% relative decrease in sexual arousal to the TARGET. This group difference is interpreted as resulting from both conditioning and habituation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Barlow, D. H., Reynolds, E. H., Agras, W. S., and Miss, J. (1973). Gender identity change in a transsexual. Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 28: 569-579.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barr, R. F., and McConaghy, N. (1971). Penile volume responses to appetitive and aversive stimuli in relation to sexual orientation and conditioning performance. Br. J. Psychiat. 119: 377-383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barr, R. F., and McConaghy, N. (1972). A general factor of conditionability: A study of galvanic skin responses and penile responses. Behav. Res. Ther. 10: 215-227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beech, H. R., Watts, F., and Poole, A. D. (1971). Classical conditioning of a sexual deviation: A preliminary note. Behav. Ther. 2: 400-402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clément, D. (1989). Le conditionnement classique et la réponse sexuelle masculine. Unpublished Master's Thesis, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec.

  • Cutmore, T. R. H., and Zamble, E. (1988). A Pavlovian procedure for improving sexual performance of noncopulating male rats. Arch. Sex. Behav. 17: 371-380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, M., and Wilson, M. (1983). Sex, Evolution, and Behavior, 2nd ed., Wadsworth, Belmont, CA.

  • De Gagné, R. (1988). Le conditionnement classique et la réponse sexuelle humaine. Unpublished Manuscript, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec.

  • Domjan, M., Lyons, R., North, N. C., and Bruell, J. (1986). Sexual Pavlovian conditioning approach behavior in male japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). J. Comp. Psychol. 100: 413-421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Domjan, M., O'Vary, D., and Greene, P. (1988). Conditioning of appetitive and consummatory sexual behavior in male japanese quail. J. Exp. Anal. Behav. 50: 505-519.

    Google Scholar 

  • Earls, C. M., and Jackson, D. R. (1981). The effects of temperature on the mercury-in-rubber strain gauge. Behav. Assess. 3: 145-149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freund, K. (1960). Some problems in the treatment of homosexuality. In Eysenck, H. J. (ed.), Behaviour Therapy and the Neuroses, Pergamon, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freund, K., Langevin, R., and Zajac, Y. (1974). A note on erotic arousal value of moving and stationary human form. Behav. Res. Ther. 12: 117-119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. M., and Desjardin, C. (1980). Classical conditioning: Induction of luteinizing hormone and testosterone secretion in anticipation of sexual activity. Science 210: 1039-1041.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbertson, D. W. (1975). Courtship as a reinforcement for key pecking in the pigeon, Columba livia. Anim. Behav. 23: 735-744.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, G. T., Rice, M. E., Quinsey, V. L., and Chaplin, T. C. (1996). Viewing time as a measure of sexual interest among child molesters and normal heterosexual men. Behav. Res. Ther. 34: 389-394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, G. T., Rice, M. E., Quinsey, V. L., Chaplin, T. C., and Earls, C. M. (1992). Maximizing the discriminant validity of phallometric data. Psychol. Assess. 4: 502-511.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, S. H., Barlow, D. H., and Agras, W. S. (1974a). An experimental analysis of classical conditioning as a method of increasing heterosexual arousal in homosexuals. Behav. Ther. 5: 33-47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, S. H., Barlow, D. H., and Agras, W. S. (1974b). An experimental analysis of exposure to explicit heterosexual stimuli as an effective variable in changing arousal patterns of homosexuals. Behav. Res. Ther. 12: 335-345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollis, K. L., Cadieux, E. L., and Colbert, M. M. (1989). The biological function of Pavlovian conditioning: A mechanism for mating success in the blue gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus). J. Comp. Psychol. 103: 115-121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Julien, E., and Over, R. (1984). Male sexual arousal with repeated exposure to erotic stimuli. Arch. Sex. Behav. 13: 211-222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalumière, M. L., and Earls, C. M. (1992). Voluntary control of penile responses as a function of stimulus duration and instructions. Behav. Assess. 14: 121-132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landolt, M. A., Lalumière, M. L., and Quinsey, V. L. (1995). Sex differences and intra-sex variations in human mating tactics: An evolutionary approach. Ethol. Sociobio 16: 3-23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laws, D. R., and Marshall, W. L. (1990). A conditioning theory of the etiology and maintenance of deviant sexual preference and behavior. In Marshall, W. L., Laws, D. R., and Barbaree , H. E. (eds.) , Handhook of Sexual Assault: Issues, Theories, and Treatment of the Offender, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 209-229.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConaghy, N. (1970). Penile response conditioning and its relationship to aversion therapy in homosexuals. Behav. Ther. 1: 213-221.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConaghy, N. (1974). Penile volume responses to moving and still pictures of male and female nudes. Arch. Sex. Behav. 3: 565-570.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyby, J., Bigelow, J., Kerchner, M., and Barbehenn, F. (1983). Male mouse (Mus musculus) ultrasonic vocalizations to female urine: Why is heterosexual experience necessary? Behav. Neurol. Biol. 38: 32-46.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Donohue, W. T., and Geer, J. H. (1985). The habituation of sexual arousal. Arch. Sex. Behav. 14: 233-246.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Donohue, W. T., and Plaud, J. J. (1991). The long-term habituation and spontaneous recovery of male sexual arousal. J. Behav. Ther. Exp. Psychiat. 22: 87-96.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Donohue, W. T., and Plaud, J. J. (1994). The conditioning of human sexual arousal. Arch. Sex. Behav. 23: 321-344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinsey, V. L., and Chaplin, T. C. (1988). Preventing faking in phallometric assessments of sexual preference. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 528: 49-58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinsey V. L., and Lalumière M. L. (1995). Evolutionary perspectives on sexual offending. Sex. Abuse: J. Res. Treat. 7: 301-315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinsey, V. L., Rice, M. E., Harris, G. T., and Reid, K. S. (1993). The phylogenetic and ontogenetic development of sexual age preferences in males: Conceptual and measurement issues. In Barbaree, H. E., Marshall, W. L., and Hudson, S. M. (eds.) , The Juvenile Sex Offender, Guilford, New York, pp. 143-163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinsey, V. L., Earls, C. M., Ketsetzis, M., and Karamanoukian, A. (1996). Viewing time as a measure of sexual age and gender preferences. Ethol. Sociobiol. 17: 341-354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rackham, D. (1971). Conditioning of the pigeon 's courtship and aggressive behavior. Unpublished master's thesis. Dalhousie University.

  • Rachman, S. (1966). Sexual fetishism: An experimental analogue. Psychol. Res. 16: 293-296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rachman, S., and Hodgson, R. J. (1968). Experimentally-induced “sexual fetishism”: Replication and development. Psychol. Res. 18: 25-27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, R. C. (1973). Supression of penile tumescence by instrumental conditioning. Psychosom. Med. 35: 509-514.

    Google Scholar 

  • Storms, M. D. (1981). A theory of erotic orientation development. Psychol. Rev. 88: 340-353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trivers, R. L. (1985). Social Evolution. Benjamin-Cummings, Menlo Park, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zamble, E., Hadad, G. M., and Mitchell, J. B. (1985a). Pavlovian conditioning of sexual arousal: Unsuccessful attempts with an ejaculatory US. Bull. Psychonom. Soc. 23: 149-152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zamble, E., Hadad, G. M., Mitchell, J. B., and Cutmore, T. R. H. (1985b). Pavlovian conditioning of sexual arousal: First-and second-order effects. J. Exp. Psychol.: Anim. Behav. Proc. 11: 598-610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zamble, E., Mitchell, J. B., and Findlay, H. (1986). Pavlovian conditioning of sexual arousal: Parametric and background manipulations. J. Exp. Psychol.: Anim. Behav. Proc. 12: 403-411.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Martin L. Lalumiere
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vernon L. Quinsey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lalumiere, M.L., Quinsey, V.L. Pavlovian Conditioning of Sexual Interests in Human Males. Arch Sex Behav 27, 241–252 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018686817316

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018686817316

Search

Navigation