Male bisexual arousal: a matter of curiosity?
Conflicting evidence exists regarding whether bisexual-identified men are sexually aroused to both men and women. We hypothesized that a distinct characteristic, level of curiosity about sexually diverse acts, distinguishes bisexual-identified men with and without bisexual arousal. Study 1 assessed men's (n=277) sexual arousal via pupil dilation to male and female sexual stimuli. Bisexual men were, on average, higher in their sexual curiosity than other men. Despite this general difference, only bisexual-identified men with elevated sexual curiosity showed bisexual arousal. Those lower in curiosity had responses resembling those of homosexual men. Study 2 assessed men's (n=72) sexual arousal via genital responses and replicated findings of Study 1. Study 3 provided information on the validity on our measure of sexual curiosity by relating it to general curiosity and sexual sensation seeking (n=83). Based on their sexual arousal and personality, at least two groups of men identify as bisexual.
Department of Psychology, University of Essex, United Kingdom. Electronic address: gerulf@essex.ac.uk.
Gerulf
G
Rieger
Allen M
AM
Rosenthal
Brian M
BM
Cash
Joan A W
JA
Linsenmeier
J Michael
JM
Bailey
Ritch C
RC
Savin-Williams
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000502:physiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011680:Pupil / Q000502:physiology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology*
Bisexuality; Genital arousal; Personality; Pupil dilation; Sexual orientation