A comparison of sexually explicit illustrations for use in psychosexual therapy

This quantitative study aimed to establish patients' preferred illustrations for educative use in psychosexual therapy by comparing their responses to photographs and line drawings both depicting sexual activity. A sample of 68 subjects, divided almost equally between the sexes and between the age groups 18-40 and 41-65, attending a sexual difficulties clinic at the Porterbrook Clinic, Sheffield were recruited. Nearly all subjects felt comfortable with both types of illustration and thought that they were helpful. Roughly 70% of subjects favoured photographs over line drawing as being the most informative and useful, and most appealing. However, preference was reversed when subjects were asked which illustrations were most acceptable for keeping at home, with 52% preferring line drawings. There were no significant differences between the age groups in their preference choices, in contrast to previous studies which have shown older subjects less accepting of sexually explicit material than younger people.