A new sex survey by researchers at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University has revealed that men’s turn-ons and triggers differ widely from one another.

Men (n=50) in the study, were divided into three groups based on their age, and expressed a wide range of their experiences and feelings relating to such matters as the relationship between erections and desire, the importance of scent and relationships, and a woman’s intelligence.

Some factors, such as depression or the risk of being caught having sex, were reported by some men as inhibiting sex, while other men found that they could enhance their desire and arousal.

One of the most interesting factors to come out of the survey was that an erection was not the main cue for men to know they are sexually aroused. Most of the men responded that they can experience erections without feeling aroused or interested, leading researchers to suggest that erections are not good criteria for determining sexual arousal in men.

Many men also found it difficult to distinguish between sexual desire and sexual arousal, a distinction prominent in most sexual response models currently being used by researchers and clinicians.

The changes in the quality of older men’s erections had a direct effect on their sexual encounters, including, for some, a shifting focus to the partner and her sexual enjoyment. Older men also consistently mentioned that as they aged, they became more careful and particular in choosing sexual partners.

The sexual history of women also mattered to the men – but differently for different age groups. Sexually experienced women were considered more threatening by younger men, who had concerns about “measuring up,” but such women were considered more arousing for older men.

The Kinsey Institute study is unique because few studies so far have examined how closely the findings of decades of laboratory studies on sex actually reflect the experiences of men.

Erick Janssen, associate scientist at the Kinsey Institute said:

We have a lot of assumptions about how men think and feel and behave sexually, we use all kinds of methods to measure men’s sexual responses; in addition, we use questionnaires and surveys to ask about sexual behaviors. It’s less common to sit down with men and ask them to talk about their experiences.

Janssen and his colleagues focussed on sexual excitation and sexual inhibition, which they refer to as the dual control model of sexual response. Janssen relates this to the accelerator and brake pedals in a vehicle – both can influence a car’s behaviour (you can slow down by letting go of the accelerator or by pressing the brake) but they do so in different ways. This model is used around the world by sex researchers in studies on topics as varied as sexual dysfunction and sexual risk taking.

The success of women’s focus groups led Janssen and his colleagues to conduct focus groups with men, the findings of which could ultimately inform research efforts to better understand the variability in sexual behaviour.

Dr. Janssen added:

One of the main conclusions of the focus group study is that, just like women, men are different. Sex researchers tend to focus a lot on differences between men and women, while not giving as much attention to the differences that exist among men, and women.

The study “Factors that Influence Sexual Arousal in Men: A Focus Group Study” is published in the April issue of the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour.

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Posted by Jonathan in Psychology, Sociology

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