study which turns on its head the theory that the same things tend to
turn men on.
According to the study, conducted by researchers at the Kinsey
Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana
University, men report a variety of different experiences involving
sexual desire and arousal.
Men participating in focus groups expressed a range of experiences and
feelings relating to such matters as the relationship between
erections and desire, the importance of scent and relationships, and a
woman's intelligence.
"We have a lot of assumptions about how men think and feel and behave
sexually," said Erick Janssen, associate scientist at the Kinsey
Institute.
"We use all kinds of methods to measure men's sexual responses; in
addition, we use questionnaires and surveys to ask about sexual
behaviours. It's less common to sit down with men and ask them to talk
about their experiences," Janssen said.
In the study, the focus groups involved 50 men divided into three
groups based on their age (18-24 years, 25-45 years and 46 and older).
Different experiences were reported by different men -- factors like
depression or a risk of being caught having sex were reported by some
as inhibiting sex, while others found that they can enhance their
desire and arousal.
An erection is not the main cue for men to know they are sexually
aroused. Most of the men responded that they can experience erections
without feeling aroused or interested, leading researchers to suggest
that erections are not good criteria for determining sexual arousal in
men.
Many men found it difficult to distinguish between sexual desire and
sexual arousal, a distinction prominent in most sexual response models
used by researchers and clinicians.
The changes in the quality of older men's erections had a direct
effect on their sexual encounters, including, for some, a shifting
focus to the partner and her sexual enjoyment. Older men also
consistently mentioned that as they aged, they became more careful and
particular in choosing sexual partners.
The sexual history of women also mattered to the men, but differently
for different age groups. Sexually experienced women were considered
more threatening by younger men, who had concerns about "measuring
up", but such women were considered more arousing for older men.
The findings of the study ultimately could lead to a more effective
questionnaire for the dual control model but also can inform research
efforts to better understand the variability in sexual behaviour.
"One of the main conclusions of the focus group study is that, just
like women, men are different," Janssen said.
"Sex researchers tend to focus a lot on differences between men and
women, while not giving as much attention to the differences that
exist among men and women. This research is part of a larger agenda at
the Kinsey Institute, of looking at individual differences. This dates
back to Alfred Kinsey's original research, but in our current research
we not only try to capture the variations in men and women's sexual
experiences -- we also try to understand better what explains
variations in those experiences," Janssen added.
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