Physiological Arousal and Perceptions of a Member of the Opposite Sex

Summary

This study attempted to determine whether physiological arousal can enhance feelings toward and perceptions of an opposite-sex partner. Male and female Ss maintained continual eye contact with either a real-life partner (High Arousal condition) or a life-size slide of a partner (Low Arousal condition) and some were asked to stay relaxed while interacting with a real-life partner (Cool condition). Independent galvanic skin response monitoring revealed that Ss were more aroused in the two real-life interactions than the simulated condition. Males tended to rate their partners less favorably than did females; Ss in the High Arousal and Cool conditions had more favorable feelings toward and perceptions of their partner than did Ss in the Low Arousal condition, supporting the notion that physiological arousal can enhance feelings and perceptions held toward an opposite-sex person.