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The Psychology of Sexual Arousal
Capitalism Magazine ^ | December 18, 2003 | Michael J. Hurd

Posted on 12/18/2003 12:43:59 PM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: nakedwomen
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To: unixfox; harpseal; Chapita; Squantos; wardaddy; Travis McGee
Ya'll check this one out....

...Link...

41 posted on 12/18/2003 2:12:52 PM PST by sit-rep
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To: unixfox
That pic is great. I wonder what (if anything) those contraptions actually do ...
42 posted on 12/18/2003 2:21:30 PM PST by spodefly (This is my tagline. There are many like it, but this one is mine.)
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To: presidio9
I think if men's naughty bits were more, shall we say, aesthetically pleasing to the eye, I'd want to look at them more.

Shirtless is always good.
43 posted on 12/18/2003 2:23:56 PM PST by stands2reason
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To: Prime Choice
Urrrggggg...must...find antidote!


44 posted on 12/18/2003 2:27:49 PM PST by ErnBatavia (Some days you're the windshield; some days you're the bug)
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To: stands2reason

Shirtless is always good.

Be careful what you wish for...

45 posted on 12/18/2003 2:29:48 PM PST by presidio9 (protectionism is a false god)
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To: Prime Choice
Women's bodies are just much more beautiful and interesting to look at!

Mmmm, hmmm...


46 posted on 12/18/2003 2:30:58 PM PST by stands2reason
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To: presidio9
No one can explain why, but men look for a hottie and if she happens to have charm and brains too, that's a plus.

Women look for commitment and security and if he happens to look decent, that's a plus.

'Tis the mystical way of the universe.

47 posted on 12/18/2003 2:31:19 PM PST by Sender (“We have placed them in a quagmire from which they can never emerge except dead” -Baghdad Bob)
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To: presidio9
great link!
48 posted on 12/18/2003 2:31:44 PM PST by wardaddy ("either the arabs are at your throat, or at your feet")
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To: Lizavetta
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.

Two out of three ain't bad....(I'm really tight with money!)

49 posted on 12/18/2003 2:33:04 PM PST by stands2reason
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To: sit-rep
Now I know why the toggle is up when the machine is turned on!
50 posted on 12/18/2003 2:33:21 PM PST by Chapita
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To: stands2reason

Shirtless is always good.
51 posted on 12/18/2003 2:35:37 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim (Saddam looked like he could use a "Baath Party".)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
Nice boiler...when was the last time this guy tied his own shoes?
52 posted on 12/18/2003 2:38:20 PM PST by AngryJawa (All I want for Christmas comes in .45 Auto)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
I meant "attractive men"---see post 46
53 posted on 12/18/2003 2:38:43 PM PST by stands2reason
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To: ErnBatavia
AHHHH!!!! *runs away from keyboard screaming*
54 posted on 12/18/2003 2:51:58 PM PST by Prime Choice (Leftist opinions may be free, but I still feel like I'm getting ripped off every time I receive one.)
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To: presidio9
Would have to check recent research . . . but as best as I can recall,

men have more of their brains devoted to visual stimuli in general and women have quite a lot more of their brains devoted to verbal communications. This is true--AT BIRTH.

I think some have postulated--eroneously to my mind--that men became that way as hunters and protectors of the family--needing to be visually alert for game as well as arrows flying by etc.
55 posted on 12/18/2003 2:55:06 PM PST by Quix (Choose this day whom U will serve: Shrillery & demonic goons or The King of Kings and Lord of Lords)
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To: stands2reason
Yeah, yeah... give Mr. #46 a couple years and he'll come 'round. :)
56 posted on 12/18/2003 3:10:22 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim (Saddam looked like he could use a "Baath Party".)
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To: Prime Choice
Here. Quick, take two

Monica Bellucci's and call me in the morning...

57 posted on 12/18/2003 3:18:56 PM PST by stands2reason
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To: stands2reason
*eyes pop out on cartoon style springs*

*head morphs into that of a wolf*

Arooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
58 posted on 12/18/2003 3:20:39 PM PST by Prime Choice (Leftist opinions may be free, but I still feel like I'm getting ripped off every time I receive one.)
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To: Lizavetta
"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."

Bingo, you hit the mark. When the wifee lays on the nagging or guilt trips, I invoke the "let him buy whatever he wants with no hassling" solution. Over the years I've managed to acquire lots of fancy tools via this method.

59 posted on 12/18/2003 3:41:51 PM PST by roadcat
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To: presidio9
There's lots of empirical evidence that shows that men tend to be more attuned to physical attractiveness cues, whereas women are more tuned into other things, such as income, personality, and so on. But there is also a lot of overlap.

The gender difference is often explained in terms of evolutionary theory. From an evolutionary perspective, men would be more attuned to attractiveness, because what is attractive is pretty much always associated with attributes of health and/or childbearing capability. Such attributes include waist-to-hip ratio, facial and bodily symmetry, and so on. These tend to be universal indicators of attractiveness.

Women are also attractived to attributes that signal health, such as facial symmetry, as well as attributes that signal the male can protect her physically, such as height, coordination and strength. But women tend more than men to be attracted to attributes that signal that the man is willing to commit to a long-term relationship. If the man sticks around, he can help take care of the children, and the children will be more likely to survive in order to carry on the genes.

There is a lot of research to back up these claims, too.

For a review, see for example:

The Evolutionary Theory of Sexual Attraction
60 posted on 12/18/2003 3:45:08 PM PST by bdeaner
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