The Connection Between the Physiological and Psychological Reactions to Sexually Explicit Materials: A Literature Summary Using Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The results of the investigations providing data on the connection between measures of sexual arousal and positive psychological affect indicate a positive relationship whether measured directly (r=.212) or by a comparison of manipulation check data (r=.223). Female research participants demonstrate more negative emotional responses than men exposed to the same content (r=−.248), but the level of physiological arousal favors men by a much smaller magnitude (r=.134). The response to pornography on the basis of gender reflects not only a physiological difference in reaction but a psychological interpretation of that reaction as well.

Keywords:

• Pornography
• Physiology
• Meta-Analysis
• Media Effects
• Gender

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank anonymous reviewers for their suggestions and Alan Sillars for his assistance and direction on this manuscript.

Notes

1. Based on the suggestions of one reviewer, an effort was made to code for the content of the stimulus (nudity, consensual sex, forced sex) similar to other previous meta-analyses (Allen, D'Alessio, & Brezgel, 1995; Allen et al., 1999; Allen, Emmers, et al., 1995). Unfortunately, the data do not exist in the variety or in a recoverable format to permit this analysis.

2. It should be noted that examination of the three data tables demonstrates only a few studies that occur across the tables. That means that the data showing a greater sex difference in emotional versus physiological response is largely independent of the data that shows a similar correlation between emotional and physiological responses for males and females. This fact should be taken into consideration when comparing the implications of each analysis. Incomplete and inconsistent reporting of statistical information contributed to this outcome.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mike Allen

Mike Allen (PhD, Michigan State University, 1987) is a Professor and Chair at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Tara M. Emmers-Sommer

Tara Emmers-Sommer (PhD, Ohio University, 1995) is a Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Dave D'Alessio

Dave D'Alessio (PhD, Michigan State University, 1997) is an Associate Professor at the University of Connecticut

Lindsay Timmerman

Lindsay Timmerman (PhD, University of Texas, Austin, 2001) is an Assistant Professor

Alesia Hanzal

Alesia Hanzal (MA, University of Arizona, 2004) is a PhD candidate at the University of Arizona

Jamie Korus

Jamie Korus (BA, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 2000) is a MA student