The Psychology of Sexual Arousal

Capitalism Magazine ^ | December 18, 2003 | Michael J. Hurd

[presidio9]

Q: Why do men seem to enjoy viewing women naked (e.g., in photos, real life, etc.) much more than women seem to enjoy looking at naked men? It seems men are much more "turned on" romantically/sexually by the visual aspects of the opposite sex, than the other way around. Do you agree? And what accounts for this?

A: I have not done and do not intend to do a scientific study on the subject. However, I can share with you my fifteen years of experience talking to people about all kinds of personal matters, including sex. It is my experience that a general trend exists in which men are much more likely to be aroused by the visual and the physical than are women. However, I also see loads of evidence that men are just as capable of responding to values as well--intelligence, shared interests, sense of humor, sense of life, etc.--as opposed to the exclusively physical.

It appears that the most fulfilling sexual response, for both men and women, is inevitably a merging of the two: values and physical attributes. For whatever reason, many men get more caught up in repressing the one while many women become more preoccupied with repressing the other. It's interesting to note that any attempt to shut out either one--physical or values--whether by a man or a woman, results in some degree of romantic unhappiness. For both men and women, sex without love is as meaningless as love without sex is phony.

Although physiological factors can be involved, since there are obvious differences between men and women physically, I don't assume it's the primary explanation for this observed difference. I don't vote either "nature" or "nurture" as an explanation. Instead, I'm interested in why certain individuals end up choosing to value some attributes over others, and what the consequences of those value choices are.

My experience teaches that both men and women can make errors (most certainly do in romance); and both men and women can make choices that serve their interests and bring sustained happiness. In the area of romance, both men and women have a lot to learn when it comes to integrating their sexuality.

[Scott Mahrle]

Argh! You'll have to answer to my wife when I fail to perform.

[highlander_UW]

You can't just post something like that here without a several post warning. Some of us eat lunch.

[Arrowhead1952]

Great site. Republican women are so beautiful.

[MAGEE]

I think Dr. Hurd should get busy building up his client base and stop writing "Oprah" dialogue. Can you imagine this guy trying to advise you on anything more serious than a fallen souffle disaster?

[GrandMoM]

BUMP

[onedoug]

"Human sexuality, especially male sexuality, is polymorphous, or utterly wild (far more so than animal sexuality). Men have had sex with women and with men; with little girls and young boys; with a single partner and in large groups; with total strangers and immediate family members; and with a variety of domesticated animals. They have achieved orgasm with inanimate objects such as leather, shoes, and other pieces of clothing, through urinating and defecating on each other (interested readers can see a photograph of the former at select art museums exhibiting the works of the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe); by dressing in women's garments; by watching other human beings being tortured; by fondling children of either sex; by listening to a woman's disembodied voice (e.g., “phone sex”); and, of course, by looking at pictures of bodies or parts of bodies. There is little, animate or inanimate, that has not excited some men to orgasm. Of course, not all of these practices have been condoned by societies — parent-child incest and seducing another's man's wife have rarely been countenanced — but many have, and all illustrate what the unchanneled, or in Freudian terms, the “un-sublimated,” sex drive can lead to." --Dennis Prager, Why Judaism Rejected Homosexuality

[theDentist]

Dow Up and I can afford Britney

[sit-rep]

Here I was looking forward to analysing the analyzers, but this story said nothin'!

[unixfox]

And what accounts for this?

[Lizavetta]

and both men and women can make choices that serve their interests and bring sustained happiness.

Sustained happiness for men? I think it's no nagging or guilt trips, letting him buy whatever he wants with no hassling, and lots and lots of hummers.

I could be wrong, though....

[MAGEE]

And another thought: How old is this guy? He looks like hs hasn't yet had sex himself or with himself.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Great site. Republican women are so beautiful.

And so very rare...

[ArGee]

Probably because they're more honest.

Personally, I think it's because women are just naturally more esthetically pleasing.

'Course, I could be biased.

Shalom.

[sit-rep]

LOL!!

[ArGee]

Oof. All better now.

You know that a little bit of evil can counter a whole lot of good.

That said, it will take at least 2 Anns to counter a Hillary.

Especially that Hillary.

Shalom.

[Dementon]

I like the way you think.

[PaulaB]

now imagine the pic above combined with the multi button machine as shown and there is your future Ms. President.....LOL

[sit-rep]

...cough...

[Prime Choice]

That said, it will take at least 2 Anns to counter a Hillary.

Two Anns, huh? You'll have to twist my arm. ow. Okay. And I'll throw in some extras for good measure.

There. I'm feeling MUCH better now. : )

[Prime Choice]

Great site. Republican women are so beautiful.

And so very rare...

And so very kinky!

(Oops...that was the part I was supposed to think and not say.)