The effects of attentional focus and partner responsiveness on sexual responding: replication and extension.
The effects of manipulating attentional focus (self-versus partner-focus) and level of partner responsiveness (high, low, and ambiguous) on sexual responding were examined with sexually functional (N = 8) men. These manipulations were embedded in six standardized 3-minute erotic audiotapes. When the partner was displaying high sexual responsiveness, partner-focus resulted in significantly higher levels of penile responding than did self-focus. Post-stimuli questionnaires indicated that, although not statistically significant, self-reported attentiveness was consistently higher under partner-focus conditions. These findings are discussed in regard to their relevance to the concept of spectatoring as discussed by Masters and Johnson (1970). A comparison to previous research that examined the same variables using videotapes is included.
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D004882:Erotica; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000502:physiology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology