The effects of self-focused attention, performance demand, and dispositional sexual self-consciousness on sexual arousal of sexually functional and dysfunctional men.
Sexually functional (N=26) and sexually dysfunctional heterosexual men with psychogenic erectile disorder (N=23) viewed two sexually explicit videos. Performance demand was manipulated through verbal instruction that a substantial genital response was to be expected from the videos. Self-focused attention was manipulated by introducing a camera pointed at the participant. Dispositional self-consciousness was assessed by questionnaire. Performance demand was found to independently inhibit the genital response. No main effect of self-focus was found. Self-focus inhibited genital response in men scoring high on general and sexual self-consciousness traits, whereas it enhanced penile tumescence in low self-conscious men. Inhibition effects were found in both volunteers and patients. No interaction effects of performance demand and self-focus were found. Subjective sexual arousal in sexually functional men was highest in the self-focus condition. In sexually dysfunctional men, subjective sexual response proved dependent on locus of attention as well as presentation order.
van Lankveld
Jacques J D M
JJ
Department of Medical, Clinical and Experimental Psychology, Academic Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. j.vanlankveld@dep.unimaas.nl
van den Hout
Marcel A
MA
Schouten
Erik G W
EG
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010411:Penile Induration; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*