Article

The Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale: Reliablity and Validity Within a Heterosexual College Student Sample

October 2003
Journal of Personality Assessment 81(2):157-67

DOI:10.1207/S15327752JPA8102_07

Source
PubMed

Authors:

George Gaither

Ball State University

Martin Sellbom

University of Otago

The Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale (SSSS; Kalichman & Rompa, 1995) is a measure of the propensity to seek out novel or risky sexual stimulation. This measure has been consistently related to HIV-risk behavior in several different samples of gay men and with behavioral correlates of sexual permissiveness in college students. Five hundred twenty-eight college students completed the SSSS and several other sexuality and personality measures. The results reveal significant gender differences on the SSSS and similar (although stronger among women) patterns of significant correlations with sexually permissive characteristics and behaviors. Furthermore, SSSS scores were more highly correlated with sexual measures, whereas a more general measure of sensation seeking was more highly correlated with general personality measures. We discuss implications for use of the SSSS by sexuality educators and sex therapists.

Development and validity evidence of the Two-Dimensional Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2020
REV LAT AM PSICOL

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mainly HIV/AIDS, are acquired through risky sexual behaviors that have been associated with sexual sensation seeking. The purpose of this work is development a new scale for the assessment of sexual sensations seeking, with evidence of validity based on internal structure and relationship to other measures, for use in young people and adults in a Latin American context. An instrumental study was performed, with time-space sampling of students from the two Chilean cities with the highest rates of HIV. Final scale has 9 items to evaluate two dimensions: (1) sexual emotions seeking; and (2) tendency to sexual boredom. The identified structure provides good levels of reliability and presents validity evidence, based on the internal structure of the test, using CFA and ESEM. Two-dimensional sexual sensation seeking scale evidence proper psychometric properties to evaluate the seeking for sexual sensations in equivalents samples.

Bored stiff: The relationship between meaninglessness, sexual sensation seeking, and promiscuous attitudes via boredom susceptibility

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2021
PERS INDIV DIFFER

We investigated the relationships between boredom susceptibility, perceived meaninglessness, and attitudes to sex among heterosexual and bisexual men. We propose that meaninglessness is associated with men's increased endorsement of sensational and uncommitted sex via boredom susceptibility. In Study 1, we found a significant indirect relationship consistent with our hypothesis. In Study 2, we replicated this finding in a larger sample. Further, we showed that using sex as a coping mechanism to deal with unpleasant affective states explained the relationship between boredom susceptibility and our sex composite. Specifically, meaninglessness in life was associated with increased boredom susceptibility. In turn, boredom susceptibility was associated with the use of sex as a coping mechanism, which ultimately was associated with increased endorsement of sexual sensation seeking and promiscuous attitudes. We discuss these findings in light of research on sexuality, boredom, and meaninglessness.

A Validation Study of the German Version of the Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2019
ARCH SEX BEHAV

The dual control model of human sexual behavior proposes that sexual responses involve an interaction between sexual excitatory and sexual inhibitory systems. The Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales (SIS/SES; Janssen, Vorst, Finn, & Bancroft, 2002) as well as its short form (SIS/SES-SF; Carpenter, Janssen, Graham, Vorst, & Wicherts, 2011) assess individual propensities to become sexually excited and sexually inhibited. The present study utilized a dataset of 2221 German-speaking adults (n = 1214 women and n = 987 men) to examine the psychometric properties of the German version of the SIS/SES-SF. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the three factors suggested in the original version can be generally replicated within the current study. Analyses of measurement invariance for gender revealed that the general three-factor structure as well as factor loadings can be regarded as equal for men and women. However, scalar invariance could not be fully obtained, indicating that the intercepts of some items were different for men and women. Taken together, the results of the presents study provide further evidence for the psychometric properties of the German version of the SIS/SES-SF.

Adaptação portuguesa e validação da Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale para estudantes do ensino superior Adaptation and validation of the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale for Portuguese higher education students Adaptación portuguesa y validación de la Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale para estudian-tes de enseñanza superior

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2018

Adaptation and validation of the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale for Portuguese higher education students

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2017

Background: The use of personality assessment tools is essential not only to understand sexual behaviors but also to develop nursing interventions for the prevention of sexual risk behaviors. Objectives: Adaptation and validation of the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale (SSSS) for Portuguese higher education students. Methodology: Descriptive and correlational study using a sample of 1,946 college students aged 18 to 29 years. The final sample was composed of 1500 students who already had sexual intercourse. The psychometric characteristics of SSSS were assessed using 2 randomized subgroups. Results: The exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure with 9 items, which explained 54.80% of the total variance. The model showed a good internal consistency (α = 0.789). The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the adequate goodness-of-fi of the modified model. Conclusion: The instrument has good validity, fidelity, and reliability, and can be used to assess young people's sexual sensation seeking behaviors.

Sexual Coercion in the College Population: A Form of Risk-Taking Behavior

Article

Jul 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine whether a decision-making model of risk-taking behavior, specifically impulsivity, positive and negative outcome expectation, and sensation seeking, can be extended to motivation for perpetration of sexual coercion. Participants included 276 sexually active college students between the ages of 18 and 25 years old who completed a set of questionnaires: (a) Sexual Experiences Survey, (b) Sensation Seeking Scales, (c) Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events, (d) Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and (e) Reckless Behavior Questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were utilized to examine the relationship between these decision-making models and sexually coercive behaviors. General risk-taking behaviors were positively correlated with acts of sexual coercion, r = .16, p < .01. The predictor variables accounted for a significant amount of the variance in sexual coercion, R² = .11, F(4, 246) = 7.57, p < .01. Only sensation seeking contributed unique variance to our model of sexual coercion, β = .27, t = 4.06, p < .01. Interventions to reduce sexual coercion may be more successful if they target those high in risk-taking. Similarly, prevention efforts informed by research on how to engage and hold the attention of sensation seeking youth may be more successful.

Validation of the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale in Spanish Samples

Article

Jun 2017

The aim of this study was to validate the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale (SSSS; Kalichman, 2011) in Spanish samples. Two independent studies were conducted. In Study 1, we examined the factor structure of the SSSS in a sample of 1,272 heterosexual undergraduate students (40.0% men, 60.0% women). Results revealed a 2-factor structure. Factor 1 was related to physical sexual sensations and risky sexual behaviors and Factor 2 was related to exploratory or novel sex. A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed this factor structure in a sample of 373 community adults (33.8% men, 66.2% women). Two items were deleted, resulting in a final version composed of 8 items. This version showed good test–retest reliability and evidence of its concurrent validity. In Study 2, the factor structure was further confirmed in a sample of 1,596 university students (28.8% men, 71.2% women). More evidence of construct validity was provided, which revealed that higher levels of sexual sensation seeking were associated with more frequent sexual risk behaviors and poorer sexual health. Internal consistency reliability did not reach acceptable levels on all of the subscales. Results suggest that, although it has been used before, this scale needs a revision before its use in Spanish-speaking contexts.

Hot for Robots! Sexual Arousal Increases Willingness to Have Sex with Robots

Article

Nov 2022

Robots designed to elicit sexual arousal are coming. Sexual arousal can increase our willingness to engage in risky or unconventional sexual behaviors. However, researchers have yet to examine whether this effect extends to robots. Hence, this study provides the first empirical evidence that state sexual arousal can increase our willingness to engage erotically with robots. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that levels of sexual arousal would positively predict willingness to engage erotically with robots (Hypothesis 1); and that men would be more willing to engage erotically with robots than women (Hypothesis 2). A convenience sample of 321 adults (≥18y) completed a two-part online survey measuring their willingness to have sex with, love, engage in an intimate relationship with, and be friends with a robot and a human before and after viewing a sexually explicit video. The results partly support Hypotheses 1-2. They show that state sexual arousal increases willingness to have sex with a robot, and that men are more willing to have sex and engage in an intimate relationship with a robot than women, pre- and post-manipulation. These findings are important given the rise of sex robots and their potential influence on our intimate decisions and behaviors.

The role of sexual compulsivity in unprotected intercourse among STI patients in Shanghai, China

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2021
BMC PUBLIC HEALTH

Background Sexual compulsivity (SC) and its relationship with unprotected intercourse (UI) have long been an intriguing topic, but its existential meaning in the management of public health or, more precisely, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has rarely been studied to date. This study examines whether SC plays a role in UI among sexually active STI patients. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in two sexual transmitted disease (STD) clinicals of Shanghai Skin Diseases Hospital in Shanghai. Totally 664 sexually active STI patients were included. Results The ages of the 664 participants ranged from 18 to 76 years, with 58.73% between 26 and 40 years old. 449 (191 male and 258 female) reported had UI during the past 6 months. Although the only statistically significant difference ( p < 0.01) was in relation to UI with a casual sexual partner, the difference between male/female and regular/casual sexual partners remained evident. Conclusions SC is evidently a potential predictor of UI with a casual sexual partner in male STI patients, while the use of condoms is more likely to be affected by other factors. In addition to general sexual education, counseling interventions should be provided by health institutions, and specific intervention methods targeting gender and sexual partners should be considered.

Does Sexual Compulsivity Play a Role in Unprotected Intercourse? A Cross-Sectional Study Among Sexually Active STI Patients in Shanghai

Preprint

Full-text available

Sep 2020

Background: Sexual compulsivity and its relationship with unprotected intercourse have long been an intriguing topic, but its existential meaning in the management of public health or, more precisely, STIs (sexually transmitted infections) has rarely been studied to date. This study examines whether sexual compulsivity plays a role in unprotected intercourse among STI patients and its variation regarding gender and different types of sexual partner. Method: We carried out a cross-sectional study using mixed methods including a survey of 302 men and 362 women. Two clinics were purposely chosen for the study. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS for Windows. Results: The ages of the 664 participants ranged from 18 to 76 years, with more than half (58.73%) 26–40 years old. Of these 664 participants, 449 (157 male and 237 female) reported having unprotected intercourse during the past 6 months. Almost one-quarter of the male participants scored high on the Sexual Compulsivity Scale, compared with only 4.4% of females. Although the only statistically significant difference (p<0.01) was in relation to unprotected intercourse with a casual sexual partner, the difference between male/female and regular/casual sexual partners remained evident. Conclusions: Sexual compulsivity is evidently a potential predictor of unprotected intercourse with a casual sexual partner in male STI patients, while the use of condoms is more likely to be affected by other factors. In addition to general sexual education, counseling interventions should be provided by related health institutions, and specific intervention methods targeting each gender and different behavioral types should be considered.

Validación de la Escala de Búsqueda de Sensaciones Sexuales en mexicanos casados o cohabitantes

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2018

Jose Moral de la Rubia

p>El objetivo del estudio fue validar la Escala de Búsqueda de Sensaciones Sexuales de 9 ítems (SSSS-9) en una población de adultos mexicanos casados o cohabitantes con pareja del sexo opuesto. Se recolectó una muestra de 807 participantes (53.4 % mujeres y 46.6 % hombres; 90.1 % casados y 9.9 % cohabitantes) por rutas aleatorias. Se aplicó la SSSS-9 y las escalas de conducta infiel y actitud hacia la exclusividad marital. La SSSS-9 presentó una consistencia interna muy alta. El número de factores fue uno según el análisis paralelo de Horn. El modelo unifactorial tuvo buen ajuste y resultó válido para ambos sexos por análisis factorial confirmatorio. La distribución de la SSSS-9 mostró asimetría positiva. Su promedio fue mayor en hombres que en mujeres. Tuvo correlación alta con conducta infiel y moderada con actitud hacia la exclusividad marital. Se concluye que las propiedades de SSSS-9 resultan mejores en esta población que las reportadas con SSSS-11 en otras poblaciones.</p

Sexual Sensation Seeking: A Validated Scale for Spanish Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2018
AIDS BEHAV

Sexual Sensation Seeking has been identified as a main predictor of unsafe sex that particularly affects LGB people. This study adapts and validates the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale to Spanish LGB people. For this purpose, we tested the factor structure in 1237 people, ranged from 17 to 60 years old, 880 self-defined as homosexuals and 357 as bisexuals. The results support the appropriateness of this scale for Spanish LGB people and determine two factors, explaining the 49.91% of variance: “physical sensations attraction” and “sexual experiences”. Our findings reveal optimal levels of internal consistency in the total scale (α = 0.81) and each factor (α = 0.84 and α = 0.71). Additional analyses have demonstrated convergent validity for this scale. Important implications of the validated Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale in Spanish LGB people are discussed, in order to early detection and preventive interventions for HIV and other sexual health problems.

Differentiating Sexual Offender Type on Measures of Impulsivity and Compulsivity

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2017

It is suspected that rapists, child molesters, and offenders with both child and adult victims (mixed offenders) may have different motivations and offending patterns—that they are heterogeneous. A central difference between these groups of offenders may be their propensity toward sexually impulsive behaviors and compulsive behavior. Analyses were conducted to assess the mean differences between the various offender types across four measures related to sensation seeking and compulsivity as well as several other proxy behavioral measures. Results suggest that there are differences in sexual impulsive and compulsive behavior among the different types of offenders. Treatment implications are discussed.

Psychometric properties of the Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women and Men (SESII-W/M) and the Sexual Excitation Scales/Sexual Inhibition Scales short form (SIS/SES-SF) in a population-based sample in Germany

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2018
PLOS ONE

The Sexual Excitation Sexual/Inhibition Inventory for Women and Men (SESII-W/M) and the Sexual Excitation Scales/Sexual Inhibition Scales short form (SIS/SES-SF) are two self-report questionnaires for assessing sexual excitation (SE) and sexual inhibition (SI). According to the dual control model of sexual response, SE and SI differ between individuals and influence the occurrence of sexual arousal in given situations. Extreme levels of SE and SI are postulated to be associated with sexual difficulties or risky sexual behaviors. The present study was designed to assess the psychometric properties of the German versions of both questionnaires utilizing a large population-based sample of 2,708 participants (Mage = 51.19, SD = 14.03). Overall, psychometric evaluation of the two instruments yielded good convergent and discriminant validity and mediocre to good internal consistency. The original 30-item version of the SESII-W/M did not show a sufficient model fit. For a 24-item version of the SESII-W/M partial strong measurement invariance across gender, and strong measurement invariance across relationship status, age, and educational levels were established. The original structure (14 items, 3 factors) of the SIS/SES-SF was not replicated. However, a 4-factor model including 13 items showed a good model fit and strong measurement invariance across the before-mentioned participant groups. For both questionnaires, partial strong measurement invariance with the original American versions of the scales was found. As some factors showed unsatisfactory internal consistency and the factor structure of the original scales could not be replicated, scores on several SE- and SI-factors should be interpreted with caution. However, most analyses indicated sufficient psychometric quality of the German SESII-W/M and SIS/SES-SF and their use can be recommended in German-speaking samples. More research with diverse samples (i.e., different sexual orientations, individuals with sexual difficulties) is needed to ensure the replicability of the factor solutions presented in this study.

What turns women on?: Black and White women’s sexual arousal.

Chapter

Full-text available

Sep 2009

Katrenia Reed Hughes

Gender differences in sexual arousal to stimuli are well established; less is known about sexual arousal among women from different ethnicities. Heterosexual Black and White college women reported their subjective sexual arousal to erotic videos portraying White actors or Black actors. Black women were more aroused by the Black video than the White video. White women found both videos similarly arousing. Sex guilt and the male actor's attractiveness predicted White women's arousal to the White video; willingness to have sex with someone of another race and the male actor's attractiveness predicted their arousal to the Black video. None of the variables predicted Black women's arousal to the White video; however, their arousal to the Black video was predicted by the male actor's attractiveness. Suggestions for further research on the sexual arousal of diverse groups of women are discussed.

Psychometric properties and validation of the sexual sensation seeking scale in Spanish adolescents: Brief screening method for use in research and clinical practice

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2018
PERS INDIV DIFFER

Sexual sensation seeking among adolescents has been mostly associated with unprotected sex and other risky behaviors. This paper presents the Spanish adaptation and validation of the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale (SSSS). This cross-sectional study included 1350 adolescents (601 male and 749 female), aged between 15 and 18 years (M = 16.1, SD = 0.97). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) yielded two components: Physical Sensations Attraction (PSA), and New Experiences Seeking (NES), which together accounted for 48.98% of the total variance. That structure was later verified through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Internal consistency was 0.82 for the total scale, and 0.76 and 0.82 for each factor. Moreover, the measure had adequate convergent validity and was positively related to sexual compulsivity, number of sexual partners in the last six months, and consumption of alcohol and other drugs. In conclusion, this self-administered instrument is a useful brief screening measure in research and clinical practice for Spanish-speaking people.

Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales for Men

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2018
ARCH SEX BEHAV

The dual control model (DCM) postulates the involvement of relatively independent inhibitory and excitatory systems, which together provide a “double control” over sexual response and associated behavior (Janssen & Bancroft, 2007). Based on this model, the Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scales assess the propensity for sexual excitation and sexual inhibition. This research focused on analyzing some psychometric properties of this questionnaire and developing a Spanish version in men. The sample consisted of 823 heterosexual men of ages ranging from 18 to 74 years. Confirmatory factor analysis generated a version of the scale that consisted of 34 items (11 items with the worst factor loadings were eliminated) distributed in four factors (one sexual excitation factor and three sexual inhibition factors). This is consistent with the DCM of sexual response. The four factors demonstrated good reliability coefficients except for sexual inhibition due to the threat of performance consequences, which was found to have a low internal consistency. Consequently, this is something that will be addressed in future studies. The four factors were found to have good test–retest reliability. The measures of the Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scales had good validity properties and a coherent relationship with sexual sensation seeking and erotophilia.

The mediating role of technology and the prevalence of sexual sensation seeking behaviours among men of varying sexual orientations in Canada, the US, and Western Europe

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2016
Can J Hum Sex

Technology is being readily incorporated into the sexual lives of men. We investigated the relationship between sexual sensation seeking and technology use for sex purposes of heterosexual men and men who have sex with men (MSM) from different geographic locations. A total of 317 MSM and 276 heterosexual men completed the survey. Participants were recruited from Canada (n = 230), the United States (n = 205), and Western Europe (n = 113). No relationship was found between sexual orientation and sexual sensation seeking. Casual relationships between sexual sensation seeking and technology use based on sexual orientation were explored in two mediation models. Canadian men scored higher in sexual sensation seeking than men from Western Europe. There were no other significant differences across geographic locations. Implications of technology use and sexual sensation seeking are discussed.

Is the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale a Reliable Instrument? Addressing Multiple Factor Structures in a Colombian Sample

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2023

The sexual sensation seeking scale (SSSS) is a widely used instrument to measure individuals' tendency to seek an optimal level of sexual arousal and novel sexual experiences. However, psychometric studies have suggested different factor structures for this instrument, which may lead to a biased assessment of the subdimensions of sexual sensation seeking. The present study (N = 812) aimed to identify the best factorial model of the SSSS by comparing the model suggested by previous research. Results from Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses showed that none of the models tested have sufficient goodness-of-fit to support the internal validity of the instrument. Thus, this study highlights the limitations of the SSSS in assessing sexual sensation seeking and proposes psychometric alternatives that should be considered by researchers to achieve a reliable measure of sexual sensation seeking.

Sex robots and personality: It is more about sex than robots

Article

Jul 2022
COMPUT HUM BEHAV

Examining the links between personality traits and attitudes toward sex robots can provide insights into who may desire such machines, and why. This online study thus examined the associations between the Big-Five, traits related to sexuality, technology, and (sexual) novelty, and people's willingness to engage with and perceived appropriateness of using sex robots in a convenience sample of 492 adults (≥18 years; 283 ciswomen, 171 cismen, and 37 non-binary and gender nonconforming individuals with access to the recruitment material on social media, the Concordia University participant pool, or flyers/word-of-mouth in the Montreal Community). Correlational analyses showed that willingness to engage with and perceived appropriateness of using sex robots were more closely related to erotophilia and sexual sensation seeking than any other traits. Mixed repeated measures ANOVAs and independent samples t-tests with Bonferroni corrections also showed that cismen and non-binary/gender nonconforming individuals were more willing to engage with sex robots and perceive their use as more appropriate than ciswomen. These findings suggest that erotophilic individuals seeking novel or more intense sexual experiences may be(come) the primary users of sex robots and influence their development. These findings are important given the growing place of technology in our intimate lives and relationships.

Validation of the French-Canadian Version of the Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form (SIS/SES-SF): Associations With Sexual Functioning, Sociosexual Orientation, and Sexual Compulsivity

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2021

Sugar Dating, Perceptions of Power, and Condom Use: Comparing the Sexual Health Risk Behaviours of Sugar Dating to Non-Sugar Dating Women

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2021

Sugar dating is a form of dating typically characterized by wealthier, older men providing financial support to younger, less financially secure women in exchange for companionship and sexual intimacy. The goals of the current study were to (1) quantitatively assess the sexual practices of sugar dating women in their arrangements with sugar daddies, including time spent on sexual activity, average number of current partners, and relative perceptions of relationship power, (2) examine how perceptions of power within arrangements relate to condom use with sugar daddies, and (3) compare samples of sugar dating and non-sugar dating women on both condom use consistency by partner type and rates of STI testing and diagnoses. Overall, condom use for all women was highest with casual sexual partners and lowest with romantic partners, with sugar dating women’s condom use with sugar daddies in between. Consistent with social exchange theory, perception of power within sugar dating arrangements predicted condom use with sugar daddies, such that women who felt they held more power reported more consistent condom use. Further, sugar dating women were twice as likely to have been diagnosed with an STI but were more than six times as likely to have been tested for STIs.

Effects of affective arousal on risky sexual decision-making in US emerging adult college students

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2021

Affect has been linked to risky sexual decision-making and may be particularly important for college students. Research has overlooked the role of affective arousal, rather focusing exclusively on affective valence. Other decision-making factors that may be impacted by affective states, such as sexual abdication (i.e. yielding sexual decision-making), have also been disregarded. Using a 2 × 2 randomized-factorial design, this experimental study investigated the effects of affective arousal on intentions to engage in condomless sex with heterosexual college students (N = 136; 50% women). Potential indirect effects of sexual abdication were also explored. Results demonstrated no main effect of affective arousal on intentions to engage in condomless sex, yet indicated an indirect effect through sexual abdication. This is the first experimental data about the relationship between affective arousal and sexual decision-making. Findings suggest affective causes of sexual risk warrant further investigation.

The Structure, Covariates, and Etiology of Hypersexuality: Implications for Sexual Offending

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2021
Curr Psychiatr Rep

Purpose of Review A substantial increase in research on the structure, covariates, and etiology of hypersexuality has emerged during the last decade. It is the goal of this review to summarize and integrate this research and to indicate some practical implications for clinical and forensic practice, especially as applied to those who have sexually offended. Recent Findings Studies from the last half-decade converge on the conclusion that hypersexuality has both problematic and high sexual drive components. Both aspects have consistently been found to be distributed dimensionally and not categorically. Each subdimension covaries differentially with specific types of impulsivity. In addition to sexual abuse, psychological or emotional abuse has emerged to be a potent developmental antecedent of hypersexuality. Summary Current research has focused on the problematic dimension of hypersexuality and has neglected to specify the criteria for high sexual drive. Lacking are large-scale representative and clinical samples that provide determination of optimal cutoffs for treatment and dispositional decisions for both dimensions of hypersexuality. Research on the etiology of both aspects of hypersexuality is in its infancy, and more differentiated assessments of developmental abuse histories are required.

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2021

Introduction The Dual control model proposes that both excitatory and inhibitory processes are responsible for the human sexual response. Aim To validate the French-Canadian translation of the Sexual Inhibition and Excitation Scales-Short Form (SIS/SES-SF) by exploring its factor structure and by investigating its capacity to retrospectively predict sexual functioning and behaviors, namely, sociosexual orientation and sexual compulsivity. Methods A French-Canadian translation of the SIS/SES-SF was created using forward-backward translation. A community sample of 362 men and 420 women completed an online survey. The factor structure and the measurement invariance between men and women was explored using Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling. Predictive power of the scales was tested using Multiple Linear Regression models using a corrected threshold (P< .008). Main outcome measures Sexual functioning was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function and the Female Sexual Function Index while sexual compulsion and sociosexual orientation were measured using the Sexual Compulsion Scale and the Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory, respectively. Results The original three-factor solution of the SIS/SES-SF was replicated. All three scales showed acceptable internal consistency and good temporal stability. Yet, results only supported configural measurement invariance between men and women, suggesting that their scores cannot be directly compared. Overall, for both men and women, higher sexual excitation (SES) was significantly predictive of better sexual functioning, while higher sexual inhibition due to threat of performance failure (SIS1) was a significant predictor of lower sexual functioning. Both sexual compulsivity and sociosexual orientation were significantly predicted by higher SES and lower sexual inhibition due to threat of performance consequences (SIS2). Conclusion These results support the cross-cultural transferability of the SIS/SIS-SF and the Dual control model to French-Canadian men and women, higlighting the utility for clinicians to evaluate both excitatory and inhibitory factors associated with sexual dysfunction and sexual behaviors. Nolet K, Guay JP, Bergeron S. Validation of the French-Canadian Version of the Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form (SIS/SES-SF): Associations With Sexual Functioning, Sociosexual Orientation, and Sexual Compulsivity. Sex Med 2021;9:100374.

Sexual Fetishes: Sensations, Perceptions, and Correlates

Article

Apr 2021

Most literature on sexual fetishes focuses on maldevelopment, abnormality, and stigma. Benefits and psychosocial aspects of practicing fetishes are seldom documented. We aimed to explore the sensations, perceptions, and socioemotional experiences involved in practicing fetishes. We recruited 316 participants from various websites and social media platforms geared specifically for people with fetishes. Participants completed our online anonymous questionnaire which yielded both quantitative and qualitative data. When asked what they wanted the world to know about their fetish, content analysis showed that those who engage in fetishes gave responses that fell into the categories of what fetishes are not, what fetishes are, about the practice itself, and about negative aspects. Participants had typical Satisfaction with Life scores. Participants had lower than typical Mate Value Scale scores (a gauge of one’s own perceived desirability) with some exception. Results suggest generally positive experiences and attitudes among those who practice fetishes and support the notion that fetishes are not inherently pathological.

Archives of Sexual Behavior Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scales in Men: Psychometric Properties of a Polish Adaptation

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2021
ARCH SEX BEHAV

The present study aimed to develop a Polish version of the Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scale (SIS/SES-PL) and explore its psychometric validity in a sample of 498 men aged between 18 and 55 years. We used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to obtain the best model fit. Out of the 45 items in the original scale, 32 items with eight subscales and three higher-order factors: (sexual excitation [SES], sexual inhibition due to performance failure [SIS1], and sexual inhibition due to performance consequences [SIS2]) were included in the SIS/SES-PL. The SIS/SES-PL was found to have a good and satisfactory fit (compara-tive fit index = .87; Tucker-Lewis Index = .85; root mean square error of approximation = .054; χ 2 = 1108.7; p < .001; test-retest reliability Cronbach's alpha = .93). A small correlation between age and the SIS1 and SIS2 scores was detected. However, forward multiple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation only between age and SIS1 [β = .23, p < .001, R 2 for model = .05; F(1, 494) = 27.52, p < .001]. Furthermore, a moderate correlation between SIS1 and SES2, as well as SIS1 and general inhibition properties (measured using the Behavioral Inhibition Scale), was noted. In the case of SIS2, only small effects were observed, with the highest values for engaging in risky sexual behavior. Out of the total number of 42 variables, a moderate correlation between SES and the following was described: importance of sex, hypersexual behaviors, frequency of masturbation, frequency of sexual activities per month, sexual risk-taking, high promiscuity (measured using the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory Revised-Drive), general activation properties (measured using the Behavioral Activation Scale), neuroticism, and erotophilic tendencies (measured using the Sexual Opinion Survey-Short Form). The results of the study allowed us to conclude that the SIS/SES-PL might be a useful tool for tailoring therapy for men with sexual problems, as well as in the field of clinical research on sexual inhibition and excitation. Furthermore, it is a reliable and useful tool for measuring propensities for sexual excitement and inhibition.

Are psychological distress, substance misuse, and sexual sensation seeking associated with autoerotic asphyxiation-related distress?

Article

Jun 2020
Can J Hum Sex

Autoerotic asphyxiation (AEA) involves enhancing sexual arousal by deliberately self-inducing a reduction of oxygen to the brain. Most studies of AEA have focused on those who have expressed distress or who have died from the practice. The present study explores correlates of AEA-related distress in a community sample, focusing on self-reported measures of psychological distress, substance misuse, and sexual sensation seeking. Individuals who expressed an interest in AEA (n = 165) participated in an online anonymous survey. Findings revealed a significant positive association between AEA-related distress and symptoms of depression, and a significant negative association between AEA-related distress and sexual sensation seeking. Both depression and sexual sensation seeking remained associated with AEA-related distress at the multivariate level. The findings are consistent with prior literature on AEA that suggests comorbidity with depression and highlights the importance of psychological screening when people present to clinicians due to AEA, particularly for depression. Contrary to our hypothesis, those with higher sexual sensation seeking reported lower levels of AEA-related distress. Future research on AEA-related distress may benefit from using a sexual sensation seeking measure that better assesses sexual dysregulation.

How Much Do We Really Know About Sociosexuality in Ghana?

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2021
Sex Cult

Sociosexuality describes a person’s willingness and preparedness to engage in uncommitted sexual activity with various sexual partners. Sociosexuality has important implications for sexual health and HIV prevention because it mostly involves willingness to engage in casual sex. Yet to date, there are no prior studies on sociosexuality and its correlates in Ghana. To fill this gap, this study explored the association between sociosexuality (attitude, desire, and behaviour), gender, sexual sensation seeking, sexual attitudes, and religiosity in romantic relationships among participants (N = 315; men = 164, women = 151) from Ayawaso West Wuogon municipality in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Data were analysed using Hierarchical Multiple Regression. Results showed that, compared with women, men reported higher unrestricted sociosexuality. Further, sexual sensation seeking and sexual attitudes were positively associated with sociosexuality. However, personal religiosity was not associated with sociosexuality. Sexual attitudes interacted with sexual sensation seeking in influencing sociosexuality. Our results suggest that some Ghanaian men seem to view uncommitted sex as an appropriate sexual behaviour, consistent with prevailing masculine sexual script norms. The findings indicate that sexual risk reduction programmes in Ghana should target sociosexuality and sexual sensation seeking.

Showing Skin: Tattoo Visibility Status, Egalitarianism, and Personality are Predictors of Sexual Openness Among Women

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2020
Sex Cult

Research indicates that women with tattoos are evaluated more negatively than women without tattoos on numerous qualities. Further, men perceive better chances for sexual success with tattooed women than those without visible tattoos. Despite these findings, less is known about whether women with visible tattoos are more open to casual sexual encounters than their non-tattooed counterparts, and if so, what variables may predict such openness. The purpose of the present study was to explore whether, and to what extent, stereotyped perceptions of tattooed women as sexually open are accurate, and to explore the possible role of egalitarianism in sexual openness. Measures of personality and sensation-seeking were also examined. A sample of 814 women, both tattooed and non-tattooed, were recruited through a Western Canadian university research pool and various social media outlets to complete an online questionnaire assessing these attributes. Women with tattoos reported greater willingness to engage in uncommitted sexual relations, as well as higher endorsement of egalitarianism and sensation-seeking, relative to non-tattooed women. Among tattooed women alone, several personality and tattooing variables predicted sexual openness. Findings suggesting body tattooing as an indicator of sexual openness are critically discussed in relation to contemporary stereotypes surrounding femininity and sexuality.

Sexual Motivation and Satisfaction Among Consensually Non-Monogamous and Monogamous Individuals

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2020

Background Previous research has found differences in sexual motives and, separately, sexual satisfaction in consensually non-monogamous (CNM) and monogamous individuals and that these constructs are related to relationship outcomes (eg, relationship quality). Aims The present study sought to refine and expand on previous research by (i) using a more common, validated measure of sexual motives, (ii) measuring sexual satisfaction with multiple partners within CNM relationships, and (iii) examining how sexual motives are related to sexual satisfaction in CNM relationships. Methods Participants were recruited from a university and using online forums that CNM individuals frequently use (eg, reddit, Facebook). Individuals recruited included those in non-exclusive relationships with one partner (“non-exclusive single-partner;” n = 40), those in non-exclusive relationships with more than one partner (“non-exclusive multipartner;” n = 87), and monogamous individuals (n = 322). Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple regressions. Outcomes The main outcome measures of this study are scores on the Why Humans Have Sex Scale and the New Scale for Sexual Satisfaction. Results Non-exclusive multipartner participants were more motivated to have sex for physical motivations compared with monogamous participants. Although there were no significant differences in sexual satisfaction when comparing monogamous with non-exclusive multipartner participant's secondary and primary partners, unique patterns of sexual motivations were associated with sexual satisfaction based on relationship configuration. Clinical Translation Understanding the unique sexual motives associated with sexual satisfaction in various relationship configurations may help improve clinical approaches to couples counseling for both CNM and non-CNM populations. Strengths and Limitations Data were collected from CNM participants in a variety of relationship configurations and provide analyses comparing primary and secondary partners. However, these results are limited by a small sample of CNM participants who were intentionally recruited from self-identified CNM e-forums. Conclusions These findings add further understanding to the unique traits that characterize CNM individuals and the underlying motivational framework that may encourage individuals to initiate and maintain CNM relationships. Mitchell VE, Mogilski JK, Donaldson SH, et al. Sexual Motivation and Satisfaction Among Consensually Non-Monogamous and Monogamous Individuals. J Sex Med 2020;XX:XXX–XXX.

Sexual sensation seeking, hookups, and alcohol consumption among first-year college students

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2020
J AM COLL HEALTH

Objective: To explore sexual sensation seeking (SSS) among an ethnically-diverse sample of first-year college students and their hookup behaviors. Participants: 1,480 first-year college students who hooked up in the last 30 days were recruited from four universities in 2016. Methods: Students completed an online survey before completing an online STI and alcohol prevention intervention. Results: Male and sexual minority students had significantly higher SSS scores compared to female and heterosexual students respectively. Students with higher SSS scores were less likely to report condom use at last vaginal and anal hookup, more likely to hookup under the influence of alcohol and participate in a wide range of sexual behaviors. There were no significant mean differences in SSS scores by level of intoxication during their last hookup. Conclusion: These findings highlight the role of SSS in predicting sexual risk behaviors of first-year college students and the overall low SSS scores among this sample.

Biomedical HIV Protection Among Gay and Bisexual Men Who Use Crystal Methamphetamine

Article

Full-text available

May 2020
AIDS BEHAV

Use of crystal methamphetamine (crystal) among gay and bisexual men (GBM) has been associated with condomless anal intercourse with casual partners (CLAIC) and HIV infection. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and undetectable viral load (UVL) are important biomedical HIV prevention strategies. We investigate the relationship between crystal use and HIV sexual risk behaviours in the context of PrEP and UVL. In 2018, 1367 GBM provided details about crystal use and HIV prevention strategies. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate associations between crystal use and behaviour. Recent crystal use was independently associated with greater social engagement with gay men and having more sexual partners. Crystal use was also independently associated with use of PrEP and UVL among GBM who engaged in CLAIC. Although GBM who used crystal were more likely to have engaged in CLAIC, they were also more likely to use biomedical HIV prevention which mitigates against the risks of HIV infection.

Relación entre espiritualidad, búsqueda de sensaciones y conductas sexuales de alto riesgo

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2018

The main purpose of this research was to evaluate interactions between spirituality, sensation seeking and high-risk sexual behavior, with the intention of corroborating or discarding spirituality as a moderating variable in this relationship. To test the moderating effect, we surveyed 563 Puerto Rican adults, selected by availability. The average age of participants was 33.83. The experimental design was non-experimental, correlational type. According to our results, a low, negative and statistically significant relationship was found between spirituality and high-risk sexual behavior. Despite this, the evidence collected in this study dictates that spirituality does not influence personality in such a way as to dampen the relationship between sensation seeking and high-risk sexual behaviors.

The relationship between sexual sensation seeking and problematic Internet pornography use: A moderated mediation model examining roles of online sexual activities and the third-person effect

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2018

Background and aims: Internet pornography consumption is prevalent among college students and problematic for some, yet little is known regarding the psychological constructs underlying problematic Internet pornography use (PIPU). Drawing on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution model, this study tested a model that sexual sensation seeking (SSS) would impact PIPU through online sexual activities (OSAs) and that this relationship would be influenced by the third-person effect (TPE; a social cognitive bias relating to perceived impacts on others as compared to oneself) in a gender-sensitive manner. Methods: A total of 808 Chinese college students (age range: 17-22 years, 57.7% male) were recruited and surveyed. Results: Men scored higher than women on OSAs and PIPU and on each scale's component factors. The relationship between SSS and PIPU was mediated by OSAs, and the TPE moderated this relationship: the predictive path (SSS to PIPU) was significant only in participants with high TPE. The moderated mediation model was not invariant across gender groups, with data suggesting that it accounted for a greater proportion of the variance in men as compared with women. Discussion and conclusions: The findings suggest that SSS may operate through participation in OSAs to lead to PIPU, and this relationship is particularly relevant for college-aged males scoring high on the TPE. These findings have implications for individuals who might be particularly vulnerable to developing PIPU and for guiding educational efforts and targeting interventions in college-aged students. The extent to which these findings extend to other age groups and cultures warrants further examination.

Examining the Impact of Geosocial Networking on the Sex Behaviors of Men Who Have Sex with Men

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2019

Men who have sex with men (MSM) often use smartphone geosocial networking applications (GSN apps) to meet sex partners. Relative to non-GSN app users, MSM GSN app users have more sex partners. Research also reveals sexual-risk taking is associated with alcohol consumption and sexual sensation seeking (SSS) in MSM. We examined if GSN app use moderated relationships between SSS and risky sexual behaviors, as well as relationships between alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors. Participants were 423 MSM who completed survey measures concerning demographics, app use, alcohol consumption, SSS, and risky sexual behavior recruited via various social networking websites (e.g., Reddit, Facebook). Data revealed that app use predicted recent numbers of male sex partners, and SSS predicted recent and lifetime male sex partners and receptive unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). GSN app use did not moderate relationships between SSS and risky sexual behaviors or between alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors. Although app use did not serve as a moderator, relationships between app use and number of sex partners and SSS and UAI suggest future work should consider how sexual health programming might be incorporated into GSN apps.

Dimensional Personality Traits Broadly and Selectively Associated with Normative Externalizing Behavior

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2018
J PSYCHOPATHOL BEHAV

This study aimed to distinguish personality traits that are widely associated with several types of externalizing behaviors from personality traits that are more selectively associated with one or only a few specific types of externalizing behavior. A wide range of externalizing behaviors (e.g. alcohol and drug use, risky driving, aggressive acts, sexual promiscuity and relationship infidelity, academic misconduct) typical among an undergraduate population (N = 257) were examined along with a range of personality traits measured using the Section III personality model for the DSM-5. We found that externalizing behavior was best associated with the domain level trait Antagonism and, to a lesser degree, Disinhibition. Antagonism’s association with problematic behavior was primarily accounted for by the facet trait Deceitfulness. Deceitfulness was found to be associated with a wide range of behaviors including relationship infidelity, theft, aggressive acts, and drug and alcohol use. Associations between Disinhibition and problem behavior, especially risky driving and poor work or school performance, were best accounted for by the Irresponsibility facet, as opposed to the Impulsivity or Distractibility facet traits. This comprehensive multivariate approach is important for a more complete understanding of the complex relationship that exists between personality traits and externalizing behavior. A better understanding of factors precipitating externalizing behavior could ultimately lead to an increased ability to target interventions to individuals most susceptible to engage in problematic behavior.

Examining the Social, Sexual, and Technological Behaviour of Gay Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men

Thesis

Apr 2018

Kiffer G. Card

Online sex seeking (OSS) has previously been associated with condomless anal sex (CAS) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM). Previous studies suggest that this association may be in part due to the uptake of OSS among GBM who are more likely to engage in CAS. This thesis examines the interpersonal factors that might underlie this association. Data for this thesis were collected through the Momentum Health study, a longitudinal cohort of GBM living in Metro Vancouver and recruited using Respondent-Driven Sampling. Latent class analysis, hierarchical regression, and structural equation models examined (i) patterns of online and offline community connectedness, (ii) covariates of event-level CAS within the context of online-initiated partnerships, and (iii) confounding effects of collectivism on the OSS-CAS relationship. Latent modeling of patterns of community connectedness identified three classes: Class 1, “Socialites,” (38.8%) were highly connected both online and offline. Class 2, “Traditionalists,” (25.7%) were moderately connected with little app/website-use. Class 3, “Techies,” (35.4%) had high online connectedness and relatively low in-person connectedness. In multivariable modelling, Socialites had higher collectivism than Traditionalists, who had higher collectivism than Techies. Patterns of community connectedness were also related to HIV-testing, perceptions of HIV stigma, serodisclosure, and condom use. Supporting these findings, hierarchical event-level logistic regression showed that collectivism, altruism, and social embeddedness were protective factors against CAS – particularly for HIV-negative men. Structural equation modelling revealed that collectivism, altruism, and sensation seeking accounted for approximately 40% of the association between OSS and CAS. In conclusion, these analyses suggest that collectivism, and related sociocultural constructs, promotes greater adherence to established safe sex practices while individualism may be more amenable to novel risk-reduction strategies which may or may not include condoms. While further research is needed to understand the plasticity of these interpersonal factors, these results suggest that programs facilitating collectivism might have the potential to establish broad safe sex norms. Furthermore, sex-positive risk reduction is likely an important component of HIV prevention for GBM who are less attuned to traditional social influences – many of whom predominantly use the internet to connect with other GBM.

Hypersexuality: Equifinal, Cohesive, Clinical Presentation or Symptom Cluster with Multiple Underlying Mechanisms?

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2017
ARCH SEX BEHAV

The Slippery Slope of Sexual Decision-Making in Young Adults: The Role of Social and Cognitive Factors

Chapter

Jun 2017

Sexual decision-making in young adults continues to present challenges for public health and social science researchers more than three decades after the first HIV epidemic. The objective of this chapter is to identify relevant social and cognitive factors that may influence decision-making about risky sexual behavior in young adults. More specifically, the chapter focuses on our research on sexual decision-making among heterosexual urban college students in a high-risk HIV/AIDS community. Participants completed two weeks of daily sexual encounter diaries, followed by in-depth interviews. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze the data. Results showed that participants’ decisions about the use of condoms varied by particular social factors, such as partner influence and condom use attitudes; and cognitive factors, such as perceptions of relationship status and HIV/STD risk assessment. Participants’ justification of their behavior differentiated higher- from lower- risk individuals. The findings suggest that in order to intervene effectively with higher-risk individuals, it is important to understand the nature of the evidence used to make decisions and the conditions under which these decisions change. Risky decision-making in the context of education, the role of technology, and adequate interventions are discussed.

Exploration of Relational Factors and the Likelihood of a Sexual Robotic Experience

Conference Paper

Full-text available

Apr 2017
Lect Notes Comput Sci

As technology progresses, robots will become increasingly involved in our everyday lives. Robots are already available for individual purchase and are starting to appear in our homes and offices. Robots specifically built for sexual experiences are presently available on the market. There is no current research on sexual robots or how it will affect our previous, current, and future sexual relationships. This study asked 133 participants to understand what relational factors could contribute to the likelihood of participants having a sexual episode with a robot. Results indicate one is more likely to have a sexual episode with a robot the more sexual fantasies and risky behavior one partakes in. Additionally, one is less likely to have sex with a robot the more they view robots negatively. Findings are discussed with future research directions.

Higher sexual excitation is associated with an increase in sex-linked substance use in women with a history of unwanted sexual contact

Article

Oct 2022
Can J Hum Sex

Survivors of unwanted sexual contact have an increased likelihood of using substances in sexual situations, which puts them at heightened risk for intoxication-related harms. Separately, research has indicated that women may intentionally use substances in sexual situations to either enhance pleasure (i.e., increase sexual excitation) and/or reduce sexual anxiety or shame (i.e., reduce sexual inhibition), a phenomenon termed sex-linked substance use (SLSU). A predominant assumption in the literature is that women with unwanted sex histories are more likely to disengage during sex, suggesting greater inhibition-related SLSU; however, there is little prior research directly examining if women who have unwanted sex histories primarily engage in SLSU to increase sexual excitation or decrease inhibitions. We conducted exploratory analyses of an online survey in a convenience sample of 516 undergraduate women including data on their history of unwanted sex, SLSU, and sexual excitation/inhibition. Sexual excitation mediated the association between a history of unwanted sexual contact and SLSU, suggesting that women with unwanted sexual histories reported higher levels of sexual excitation, which in turn was associated with a higher likelihood of using substances to increase pleasure during sexual activity. Specifically, arousability, partner characteristics, and power dynamics subfactors were significant mediators. Sexual inhibition did not mediate the relationship between a history of unwanted sexual contact and SLSU, suggesting that women with unwanted sex histories may have been less likely to use substances to reduce sexual inhibitions. If replicated, these findings suggest that sexual excitation may be a useful target of intervention surrounding SLSU, particularly in women with histories of unwanted sexual contact. Specifically, treatments targeting cognitive and affective tendencies associated with sexual excitation may help women who engage in SLSU to have safe, pleasurable sexual activity, without increasing the risk of intoxication-related harms.

Sex Addiction

Chapter

Sep 2022

Manpreet Dhuffar-Pottiwal

Although empirical literature into sex addiction has flourished in the last two decades, the lack of universal agreement, and diagnostic criteria within such studies was reflected in the paucity of treatment provisions for those experiencing compulsive sexual behaviors. Since its ultimate inclusion in the International Classification of Diseases-11 (ICD-11), Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) provides a solid foundation in which gold-standard treatment interventions can be designed and implemented. This chapter will provide a theoretical overview of this issue, its biological basis, co-morbidities, prevalence rates, assessment approaches and treatment approaches reported in the literature. While research in CSBD has accelerated and there is evidence that examines the lasting consequences of the disorder, the field has been has subjected to a number of treatment barriers. The implications of these are further discussed.KeywordsCompulsive sexual behavior disorderCompulsive sexual behaviorHypersexualitySex addiction treatmentTreatment interventionsBehavioral addictions

How are pornography and sexual sensation seeking related?

Article

Aug 2021

Sexual sensation seeking (SSS) describes an individual’s tendency to seek novel and risky sexual stimulation. In research, SSS has been measured through the Sexual Sensation Seeking scale or by examining relevant behaviors such as unprotected sex, multiple sex partners, and unfamiliar unique sex partners. While we know that pornography use and SSS are correlated, the direction of this association is unclear. Using panel data and Bayesian Multi-level Modeling, we examined the direction of the relationship between these two constructs. Using an MTurk.com sample of 312 participants, we collected data on pornography use and SSS once a month for six months. To measure pornography use, we used a newly validated measure that assesses frequency of use, duration per viewing episode, whether pornography exposure was accidental or intentional, and how much arousal the exposure to pornography produced. To measure SSS, we used the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale but omitted one item about pornography use to reduce the risk of a spurious finding. We observed that SSS and pornography use correlate at baseline, but their prospective predictive power is weak. These findings suggest that while SSS and pornography use tend to co-occur, we do not observe strong evidence that one causes the other.

Interested in serial killers? Morbid curiosity in college students

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2022
CURR PSYCHOL

A plethora of movies, television programs, podcasts, and online videos are dedicated to horror and terror, with fictional (e.g., zombies) and nonfictional (e.g., serial killing) themes. Morbid curiosity is a phenomenon where individuals attend to, or seek information about, horrid subjects, such as terror and death. Moreover, morbid curiosity has been tied with sexual curiosity and sensation seeking in past research, with men typically demonstrating more of each phenomenon. We hypothesized that interest in the topic of serial killers and other morbid academic and entertainment topics would be positively associated with morbid curiosity, sexual curiosity, and sensation seeking. Data supported these hypotheses with some notable gender differences. Viewed through the lens of evolutionary psychology, interest in horrific events, such as serial killing, may be a product of protective vigilance. We discuss these results, limitations, and future directions for research.

HIV/AIDS Riskini Artıran Cinsel Davranışlar

Article

Jun 2017

A social work plan to promote HIV testing: A social marketing approach

Article

Jan 2017

Jp Morgan-Siebe

Many people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) do not know that they are infected. It is important for infected persons to get tested for HIV in order to be diagnosed and medically treated. HIV has no known cure, but it can be controlled and sometimes prevented with proper medical care. The social work profession has ideal positioning to be extraordinarily helpful in work that promotes HIV testing, leading to reducing then eliminating new HIV diagnoses. Social marketing interventions, along with audience segmenting are explained. Specific attention is given to two separate subjects---minority health disparities and impulsive and/or sensation seeking sex practices---to showcase the versatility of social marketing in the promotion of HIV testing. Further ideas about how social workers can participate in these interprofessional social marketing campaigns are provided.

Erasing the Scarlet Letter: How Positive Media Messages About Sex Can Lead to Better Sexual Health Among College Men and Women

Article

Jan 2017

Erika Johnson

This study explores how positive media messages about sex can lead to better sexual health among young adults (college students at a large university, N = 228) by de-emphasizing sensation seeking, condom embarrassment, and stigma. Employing social learning theory and normative influence frameworks, the research found that college-age women had higher stigma (β =.22, t = 3.37, p <.001 for felt stigma) and lower sensation seeking (β = –.34, t = −3.17, p <.01). Participants exposed to more media in some forms (e.g., news reading, β = –.131, t = −1.94, p =.05) had less felt self-stigma. Thus, exposure to media, such as TV and media, and positive messages could encourage healthy sexual behavior in young women (around college age).

Sexual Sensation Seeking, Sexual Compulsivity, and Gender Identity and Its Relationship With Sexual Functioning in a Population Sample of Men and Women

Article

Dec 2016
J SEX MED

Andrea Burri

Introduction: Despite awareness of the importance of psycho-affective factors in the development of sexual problems, there is a lack of studies exploring the relation of sexual sensation seeking (SSS) and sexual compulsivity (SC) to sexual functioning. Because sex differences in SSS and SC have been reported, gender identity (GI; an individual's own experience of his or her gender that is unrelated to the actual biological sex) might act as a moderator in this relation. Aim: To understand the role of SSS and SC for men and women's sexual functioning and to explore whether these potential associations are moderated by GI. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional online survey targeted 279 individuals (69.2% women, 30.8% men; mean age = 32 years). Validated questionnaires, including the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale, the Sexual Compulsivity Scale, the Female Sexual Function Index, the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool, and the International Index of Erectile Function, were applied. Main outcome measures: Variations in SSS and SC and their association with sexual functioning were investigated using Spearman rank correlation. Moderation analyses were conducted using regression models in which the interaction terms between SSS and GI and between SCS and GI as predictors of sexual functioning were included. Results: A statistically significant correlation between SSS and SC could be detected in men and women (r = 0.41 and 0.33, respectively; P < .001 for the two comparisons). In women, higher levels of SSS were associated with higher levels of desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm and less sexual pain (P < .05 for all comparisons). No moderating effect of GI could be detected. In men, GI was a significant moderator in the relation between SC and erectile function (β = 0.47; P < .001) and between SSS and erectile and ejaculatory function (β = -0.41 and 0.30; P < .001 for the two comparisons). Conclusion: The present study is the first to show a link between SSS and SC and sexual functioning. The results might have important clinical implications and can provide useful information for programs aimed at sexual health enhancement.

Emophilia, sociosexuality, and anxious attachment: Approach and inhibition differences

Article

Nov 2016
PERS INDIV DIFFER

Emophilia is defined by a tendency to fall in love quickly and often, which is associated with rapid romantic involvement. However, questions linger as to how it is different from anxious attachment, which also predicts rapid romantic involvement. One key difference is the process (i.e., approach vs. avoidance) through which these individuals perceive rewards and punishments. Whereas emophilia is defined as a reward-based approach process, anxious attachment is an anxiety based avoidance process. Three overlapping variables (emophilia, sociosexuality, and anxious attachment) were examined against the backdrop of Gray's Behavioral Activation and Inhibition Systems (BAS & BIS, respectively) using 240 participants from Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Each had a unique reinforcement pattern. Whereas anxious attachment was associated with both aspects of BIS, emophilia was associated with BAS-Reward and sociosexuality was associated with BAS-Fun and BAS-Drive. These findings suggest that while emophilia is associated with reward-based “approach” processes, anxious attachment is associated with fear and anxiety based “inhibitory” processes. These avoidance processes are presumably associated with need-based affiliation with a romantic partner.

Social Influence and AIDS-Preventive Behavior

Chapter

Full-text available

Jan 1990

The AIDS epidemic has thus far resulted in 97,258 cases of AIDS and claimed 57,094 lives (CDC Weekly Surveillance Report, July 31, 1989), and projections indicate that there will be a total of 270,000 AIDS cases by 1991 (National Academy of Sciences, 1986). In addition, there are probably 1.5 million HIV-positive individuals in the United States, each of whom can transmit the virus (National Academy of Sciences, 1986). Unless a cure for AIDS is found, a large percentage of these individuals will eventually die as a result of AIDS.

Extradyadic Involvement During Dating

Article

Full-text available

Apr 1999
J SOC PERS RELAT

College student men (n = 299) and women (n = 392) reported their experiences with extradyadic (ED) dating and sexual activity. We also investigated the relationships between ED activity and religiosity, sex–love–marriage association beliefs, narcissism, sexual sensation seeking, a ‘ludic’ or game-playing orientation to romantic relationships, and self-perceived ability to deceive one’s dating partner. Despite normative disapproval for ED activity, a majority of respondents reported having had ED involvement while dating. There was no sex difference in the incidence of ED dating or ED kissing; however, men were more likely than women to experience ED fondling, oral sex, or vaginal intercourse. In general, ED dating and ED sexual activity were related to less adherence to sex–love–marriage association beliefs, increased sexual sensation seeking, a ‘ludic’ love style, and a self-perceived ability to deceive one’s dating partner. Findings are discussed with regard to possible implications and directions for future research.

Volunteer Bias in Sexuality Research Using College Student Participants

Article

Full-text available

Feb 1999

Michael W Wiederman

Volunteer bias in sexuality research employing college student samples has been documented in previous research. In the current study, such potential volunteer bias was further investigated, as was respondents' self‐reported level of emotional discomfort during participation. College student men (n = 310) and women (n = 399) completed an anonymous questionnaire and were asked to indicate their willingness to volunteer for a similar questionnaire study, a study involving similar questions but administered in a face‐to‐face interview, and a study in which sexually explicit videos would be viewed. Nearly all of the men and women indicated willingness to participate in a similar questionnaire study, but more men than women were willing to participate in the other two studies. Of these two proposed studies, men were more interested in participating in the video study whereas women were more interested in participating in the interview study. Compared to nonvolunteers, volunteers for either study were generally more sexually experienced, held less traditional sexual attitudes, scored higher on measures of sexual esteem and sexual sensation seeking, and indicated greater tendencies toward interpersonal exploitation and self‐monitoring of expressive behavior. A minority indicated some discomfort while completing the current questionnaire. However, discomfort was unrelated to gender or willingness to participate in future studies.

Decision making and personality factors in sexual risk-taking for HIV/AIDS: A theoretical integration

Article

Full-text available

Nov 1995
PERS INDIV DIFFER

A number of studies have demonstrated reliable associations between sexual behaviors that place people at risk for HIV infection and personality traits related to: (1) sensation seeking and impulsivity, (2) Eysenck's extraversion-introversion and psychoticism scales, and (3) the emotional and behavioral capacity to negotiate safer sex with a partner. The present paper provides a model-based synthesis of the existing literature on personality factors in sexual risk-taking for HIV. Existing findings are summarized and integrated within the conceptual framework afforded by a simple model of sexual decision making, yielding a theoretical unification of personality factors, cognitive processes, and explicit behavior. Implications of this model and the existing literature on personality and sexual risk-taking are discussed with regard to both HIV/AIDS prevention efforts and the direction of future research.

Sexual Compulsivity Among Gay/Bisexual Male Escorts Who Advertise on the Internet

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2001

This exploratory investigation sought to understand the relationship between sexual compulsivity and HIV sexual risk behaviors among gay/bisexual male escorts in New York City. While previous studies have sought to understand the sexual risk behaviors of male street hustlers, masseurs, and agency-based escorts, no published studies have examined gay/bisexual escorts who advertise for their sexual services via the Internet. Potential participants were identified through magazine advertisements, user profiles on a popular online service, and escort web sites and were sent an e-mail inviting them to call a project number for more information. Fifty men completed a face-to-face interview and quantitative instruments, which assessed HIV sexual risk behaviors with work and nonwork partners, sexual compulsivity, sexual sensation seeking, and a measure of self-confidence. Sexual compulsivity was associated with higher frequency of engaging in HIV sexual risk behaviors. Lower self-confidence and higher sexual sensation seeking were found to be associated with sexual compulsivity, accounting for 36% of the total variance. This study is one of the few quantitative examina tions of HIV sexual risk behaviors among gay/bisexual sex workers who are escorts, and the first to examine escorts who rely on the Internet for advertising purposes. Implications and suggestions for future research and prevention programs are discussed.

Are men really more 'oriented' toward short-term mating than women? A critical review of theory and research

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2001
Psychol Evol Gend

According to Sexual Strategies Theory (D.M. Buss and D.P.Schmitt 1993), both men and women possess psychological adaptations for short-term mating. However, men may possess three adaptations that make it seem as though they are generally more 'oriented' toward short-term mating than women: (1) Men possess greater desire for short-term sexual relationships than women; (2) Men prefer larger numbers of sexual partners over time than women; and (3) Men require less time before consenting to sex than women. We review a wide body of psychological theory and evidence that corroborates the presence of these adaptations in men's short-term sexual psychology. We also correct some recurring misinterpretations of Sexual Strategies Theory, such as the mistaken notion that women are designed solely for long-term mating. Finally, we document how the observed sex differences in short-term mating complement some feminist theories and refute competing evolutionary theories of human sexuality.

Personality and Risk‐Taking: Common Bisocial Factors

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2000
J PERS

The first part of this article describes a study of the relationships between personality and risk-taking in six areas: smoking, drinking, drugs, sex, driving, and gambling. The participants, 260 college students, were given self-report measures of risky behaviors in each of the six areas and the Zuckerman- Kuhlman five-factor personality questionnaire. Generalized risk-taking (across all six areas) was related to scales for impulsive sensation seeking, aggression, and sociability, but not to scales for neuroticism or activity. Gender differences on risk-taking were mediated by differences on impulsive sensation seeking. The second part discusses biological traits associated with both risk-taking and personality, particularly sensation seeking, such as the D4 dopamine receptor gene, the enzyme monoamine oxidase, and augmenting or reducing of the cortical evoked potential. Comparative studies show relationships between biological markers shared with other species and correlated behaviors similar to sensation seeking in humans. A biosocial model of the traits underlying risk-taking is presented.

The Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire: An Objective Self-Report Measure of Psychological Tendencies Associated With Human Sexuality

Article

Full-text available

Mar 1993

The purpose of the present investigation was to develop and validate an objective self-report instrument, the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ), designed to measure psychological tendencies associated with sexual relationships. Results indicated that the MSQ subscales had high internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and were largely independent of social desirability tendencies. Other results indicated that women and men responded in unique ways to the MSQ, with women reporting greater sexual-fear and men reporting greater sexual-esteem, sexual-preoccupation, sexual-motivation, sexual-assertiveness, and external-sexual-control. Additional evidence for the concurrent, discriminant, and convergent validity of the MSQ was found: the MSQ was associated not only with women''s and men''s sexual attitudes and their exchange and communal approaches to sexual relations, but also with their scores on other instruments conceptually similar to the MSQ. Men''s and women''s sexual behaviors were also predictably related to their scores on the MSQ subscales. The discussion focuses on research and applied uses of the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire.

Four Ways Five Factors are Basic

Article

Full-text available

Jun 1992
PERS INDIV DIFFER

The five-factor model has recently received wide attention as a comprehensive model of personality traits. The claim that these five factors represent basic dimensions of personality is based on four lines of reasoning and evidence: (a) longitudinal and cross-observer studies demonstrate that all five factors are enduring dispositions that are manifest in patterns of behavior; (b) traits related to each of the factors are found in a variety of personality systems and in the natural language of trait description; (c) the factors are found in different age, sex, race, and language groups, although they may be somewhat differently expressed in different cultures; and (d) evidence of heritability suggests that all have some biological basis. To clarify some remaining confusions about the five-factor model, the relation between Openness and psychometric intelligence is described, and problems in factor rotation are discussed.

The Dual Control Model of male sexual response: A theoretical approach to centrally mediated erectile dysfunction

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2000
NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV R

A theoretical model of dual control of male sexual response is considered, based on the balancing of central excitation and inhibition, with individuals varying in their propensity for both sexual excitation and inhibition of sexual response. A questionnaire method for measuring propensities for sexual excitation and inhibition has been developed (SIS/SES questionnaire), resulting in one excitation factor (SES) and two inhibition factors (SIS1 and SIS2). Evidence for the existence of both inhibitory and excitatory tone is discussed. The first inhibition factor (SIS1) may be related to level of inhibitory tone and is associated with fear of performance failure. The second inhibition factor (SIS2) may be related to external threats (e.g. from within the sexual relationship). The implications for the treatment of centrally mediated erectile dysfunction are discussed, with predictions that high SIS2 individuals will respond to psychological treatment, whereas high SIS1 individuals will respond better to pharmacological methods of treatment.

Is Homophobia Associated with Homosexual Arousal

Article

Full-text available

Sep 1996

The authors investigated the role of homosexual arousal in exclusively heterosexual men who admitted negative affect toward homosexual individuals. Participants consisted of a group of homophobic men (n = 35) and a group of nonhomophobic men (n = 29); they were assigned to groups on the basis of their scores on the Index of Homophobia (W. W. Hudson & W. A. Ricketts, 1980). The men were exposed to sexually explicit erotic stimuli consisting of heterosexual, male homosexual, and lesbian videotapes, and changes in penile circumference were monitored. They also completed an Aggression Questionnaire (A. H. Buss & M. Perry, 1992). Both groups exhibited increases in penile circumference to the heterosexual and female homosexual videos. Only the homophobic men showed an increase in penile erection to male homosexual stimuli. The groups did not differ in aggression. Homophobia is apparently associated with homosexual arousal that the homophobic individual is either unaware of or denies.

Ethnic identity, gay identity, sexual sensation seeking and HIV risk taking among multiethnic men who have sex with men

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2000
AIDS EDUC PREV

Data (N = 302) were collected from gay bars, bathhouses, community events and programs targeting gay men of color, and male participants of the National Minority AIDS Council Conference of AIDS in Dallas, 1998. More than half of the sample reported at least one incident of unprotected anal sex in the past month. Logistic regression analysis identified sexual sensation seeking (odds ratio [OR] = 4.22, p = .0001, confidence interval [CII = 2.39, 7.45); not having a defined gay identity (OR = 3.63, p = .0007, CI = 1.73, 7.65); being in a sexually exclusive relationship (OR = 2.94, p = .0016, CI = 1.51, 5.73); and, for those born overseas, length of stay in the United States (OR = .94, p = .0436, CI = .86, .98) as significant predictors of unprotected anal sex among the sample.

Personality and Risk-Taking: Common Bisocial Factors

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2001

The first part of this article describes a study of the relationships between personality and risk-taking in six areas: smoking, drinking, drugs, sex, driving, and gambling. The participants, 260 college students, were given self-report measures of risky behaviors in each of the six areas and the Zuckerman-Kuhlman five-factor personality questionnaire. Generalized risk-taking (across all six areas) was related to scales for impulsive sensation seeking, aggression, and sociability, but not to scales for neuroticism or activity. Gender differences on risk-taking were mediated by differences on impulsive sensation seeking. The second part discusses biological traits associated with both risk-taking and personality, particularly sensation seeking, such as the D4 dopamine receptor gene. the enzyme monoamine oxidase, and augmenting or reducing of the cortical evoked potential. Comparative studies show relationships between biological markers shared with other species and correlated behaviors similar to sensation seeking in humans. A biosocial model of the traits underlying risk-taking is presented.

Sexuality and Marital Life: Results of a Survey

Article

Full-text available

May 2002

Gilles Trudel

This article presents the results of a telephone survey regarding the conjugal and sex life of men and women from the Montreal region. Surprising as it may seem, the relationship between sexual and marital functioning within the couple has been the focus of little study to date. In fact, relatively little is known about the relationship among sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, sexual fantasies, and marital functioning. In this survey, a questionnaire covering these four variables was administered to 996 subjects chosen at random. The results indicate that women seem to have a more positive perception of their sexual behavior, whereas men seem to have a more positive perception of their marital life. Multiple regression analyses were run to examine the relationship between marital functioning and items related to sexual functioning. The links between sexual satisfaction and other items of the questionnaire concerning sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, and sexual fantasies were also analyzed. For this purpose, we subdivided the subjects into two age groups (under 60 and 60 and over) based on the loss of interest in sexual activity that the questionnaire allowed to discern in the 60+ group. The relationship between marital functioning and items related to sexual behavior proved statistically significant. Various items pertaining to sexual functioning also proved to be related to a global assessment of sexual satisfaction. Cognitive variables (sexual attitudes and sexual fantasies) were found to influence sexual satisfaction but had a lesser impact on marital functioning. Gender and age (under 60 or 60 and over) also had an effect on these relationships.

The Sexual Inhibition (SIS) and Sexual Excitation (SES) Scales: I. Measuring sexual inhibition and excitation proneness in men

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2002

This study involves the development and initial validation of a questionnaire measuring the propensity for sexual inhibition and excitation in men: the Sexual Inhibition Sexual Excitation Scales (SIS/SES). The underlying theoretical model postulates that sexual response and associated behavior depend on dual control mechanisms, involving excitatory and inhibitory neurophysiological systems. The scales and their discriminant and convergent validity and test-retest reliability are described. In a sample of 408 sexually functional men (mean age = 22.8 years), factor analyses identified three higher-level factors: two related to sexual inhibition and one to sexual excitation. Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analyses revealed that the factor structure provided an acceptable fit to the data obtained in a second (N = 459; mean age = 20.9 years) and third (N = 313; mean age = 46.2 years) sample of men, with similar distributions and relationships with other measures. Theoretical issues and areas for further research, including male sexual dysfunction and risk taking, are discussed.

The effect of stimulus content on volunteering for sexual interest research among college students

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2003

Much of the literature on volunteer bias in sexual interest research has been limited to either identifying variables on which volunteers differ from nonvolunteers or examining how the intrusiveness of the measurement device affects volunteer rates. The present study was designed to examine whether stimulus content would affect volunteer rates and volunteer/nonvolunteer differences in a large sample of college students (206 men and 358 women). The study also sought to determine whether such findings could also apply to research that recruits from exclusively heterosexual samples. Students completed questionnaires in small groups and were asked whether they would be willing to volunteer for studies that would involve viewing and rating five different types of sexually explicit images (nude men, nude women, heterosexual behavior, male homosexual behavior, and female homosexual behavior). Results indicate that men and women differed in the types of images that they would volunteer to view, based upon the content of the images. Furthermore, volunteers for each type of image reported significantly greater self-monitoring as well as sexual and general sensation seeking than did nonvolunteers, while differences on other measures were less consistent. Discussion is given to specific ways in which the findings and generalizability of sexual interest study results can be affected.

NEO Personality Inventory Professional Manual

Article

Jan 1992

Estimating and correcting for response bias in self‐reported HIV risk behavior

Article

Feb 1999

One of the most difficult problems of behavioral research on human sexuality and drug use is its reliance on people's self‐reports about their behavior. Given the essentially private nature of sexual and drug‐taking practices, many aspects of these practices are difficult, even impossible, to validate. The lack of a gold standard for self‐reports is particularly troubling with regard to HIV‐related behavior. To the extent that self‐reports are affected by response bias, the prevalence of high risk practices will be underestimated, hindering efforts to slow the spread of HIV. In this paper the extent of response bias in seven measures of high‐risk injection‐related and sexual behaviors is estimated. Self‐reported high‐risk injection practices may be significantly to substantially underreported due to response bias, whereas self‐reports of some high‐risk sexual practices do not appear to be contaminated by response bias. In regression analyses, the response bias in self‐reports of needle sharing and other high‐risk injection practices was modeled, and estimates of the probable actual prevalence of these practices derived. In situations in which behavioral self‐reports cannot be validated, such derivations may help in arriving at more accurate estimates of behavior.

In Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavior Sciences (Revised Edition)

Book

Jan 1988

Jacob Cohen

Behavioral Expression and Biosocial Bases of Sensation Seeking

Book

Jan 1994

Marvin Zuckerman

Convergences Among Stylistic Response Measures from Objective Personality Tests

Article

Oct 1964
EDUC PSYCHOL MEAS

Jerry S. Wiggins

"Structural convergences among stylistic response measures were investigated in a factor analysis of correlations of 30 such scales from 8 different objective tests in a group of 137 college students." 3 factors identified were social desirability, acquiescence, and role-playing. A more general dimension was labelled "cautious, controlled good-impression." (52 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

The Development and Validation of A Model Explaining Sexual Behavior Among College Students Implications for AIDS Communication Campaigns

Article

Dec 1994
HUM COMMUN RES

College students' risky sexual behavior places them at relatively higher than average risk for HIV infection. This study examines various explanations for college students' risky behavior, and proposes and tests a model of factors influencing college students' sexual behavior. A LISREL estimation of the model shows that the model fits the data. The results also show that (1) sensation-seeking predispositions and the sexual motive for a pleasurable relationship are indirectly or directly related to all measures of sexual behavior (i.e., number of partners, incidence of unprotected sex, and percentage of condom use); (2) sexual motives driven by concern for health have only an indirect effect on percentage of condom use; and (3) optimistic bias, personal relevance, perceptions about partners, and images of condoms are related to sensation seeking, sexual motives, and sexual behavior. In addition, interpersonal influence from sexual partners appears to both facilitate and inhibit safer sexual behavior. Suggestions are provided regarding campaigns designed for AIDS prevention among college students.

Patterns and Correlates of Risky Behavior Among HIV+ Gay Men: Are They Really Different from HIV− Men?

Article

Jun 1999

With the advent of highly effective antiretroviral therapies, the prospects for persons living with HIV infection (HIV+) undoubtedly include many years of continued sexual activity. Reports of unsafe sexual behavior among a subset of HIV+ men has alarmed some prevention researchers and stimulated rethinking of HIV prevention interventions for gay/bisexual men. This paper examines the rates of unsafe sex among HIV+ gay/bisexual men and their correlates, comparing them to HIV– men recruited simultaneously to the Chicago MACS/C&CS and AIM studies. Aside from initial differences in the rates of unprotected anal sex (UAS) among men prior to learning their HIV serostatus, there were no differences in actual rates of UAS or their correlates in the two samples. Further, the importance of attitudinal measures—i.e., sexual sensation seeking, preference for UAS, and belief in the efficacy of the new therapies—in predicting risky sex among gay/bisexual men regardless of serostatus argues for an emphasis on modifying these attitudes in any HIV prevention interventions for gay and bisexual men and the importance of combining primary and secondary HIV prevention strategies whenever possible.

Predicting high risk sexual behaviour in heterosexual and homosexual men: The roles of impulsivity and sensation seeking

Article

Dec 2001
PERS INDIV DIFFER

Impulsivity and sexual sensation seeking were examined as personality correlates of high risk sexual behaviour — unprotected sex with multiple partners — in samples of heterosexual (n=112) and homosexual (n=104) men. Among heterosexuals, both personality variables were associated with frequency of unprotected sex but only sexual sensation seeking was associated with number of sex partners. Sexual sensation seeking also mediated the association between use of drugs other than alcohol and number of sex partners. Among homosexuals, no personality or substance use variables predicted high risk sexual behaviour. Implications of the findings for the study of determinants of sexual risk-taking are discussed.

The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States

Article

Nov 1997
POPULATION

The Social Organization of Sexuality reports the complete results of the nation's most comprehensive representative survey of sexual practices in the general adult population of the United States. This highly detailed portrait of sex in America and its social context and implications has established a new and original scientific orientation to the study of sexual behavior. "The most comprehensive U.S. sex survey ever." âUSA Today "The findings from this survey, the first in decades to provide detailed insights about the sexual behavior of a representative sample of Americans, will have a profound impact on how policy makers tackle a number of pressing health problems." âAlison Bass, The Boston Globe "A fat, sophisticated, and sperm-freezingly serious volume. . . . This book is not in the business of giving us a good time. It is in the business of asking three thousand four hundred and thirty-two other people whether they had a good time, and exactly what they did to make it so good." âAnthony Lane, The New Yorker New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: VI. The K Scale

Article

Jan 1948
J Consult Psychol

Arguments and data are presented establishing the rationale of using the K factor as a suppressor on certain MMPI clinical scales. Five scales, Pt, Sc, Hs, Pd, and Ma, are improved by the correction as indicated by increased correspondence between scores and clinical status. The scales Hy, D, Mf and Pa are not so treated nor is it established that the K-score should be taken into account subjectively in evaluating them. It is suggested that the K-correction should be made routinely by users of the MMPI and that old records should be scored and redrawn if any research or validation study is to be carried on.

Sensation seeking in England and America: Cross-cultural, age, and sex comparisons

Article

Mar 1978

Compared the factor structure of the Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS) in English and American samples, and constructed a new form of the SSS, applicable to both groups. The English Ss consisted of 254 males and 639 females from the Maudsley Twin Register, ages 15–70 yrs. The American sample included 97 male and female undergraduates. Three of the 4 factors showed good cross-national and cross-sex reliability (i.e., significant and reasonably high resemblance between the 4 national and sex symbols). English and American males did not differ on the total SSS score, but American females scored higher than English females. Males in both countries scored higher than females on the total SSS score and on the Thrill and Adventure-Seeking and Disinhibition subscales. Significant age declines occurred for both sexes, particularly on Thrill and Adventure Seeking and Disinhibition. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

General versus specific traits in the assessment of anxiety

Article

Jul 1978

Principal faculty advisor: Marvin Zuckerman. Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Delaware.

Individual Differences in Sociosexuality: Evidence for Convergent and Discriminant Validity

Article

Jul 1991

Individual differences in willingness to engage in uncommitted sexual relations were investigated in 6 studies. In Study 1, a 5-item Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI) was developed. Studies 2, 3, and 4 provided convergent validity evidence for the SOI, revealing that persons who have an unrestricted sociosexual orientation tend to (a) engage in sex at an earlier point in their relationships, (b) engage in sex with more than 1 partner at a time, and (c) be involved in relationships characterized by less investment, commitment, love, and dependency. Study 5 provided discriminant validity for the SOI, revealing that it does not covary appreciably with a good marker of sex drive. Study 6 demonstrated that the SOI correlates negligibly with measures of sexual satisfaction, anxiety, and guilt. The possible stability of, origins of, and motivational bases underlying individual differences in sociosexuality are discussed.

Influence of Sensation Seeking on General Deviance and Specific Problem Behaviors From Adolescence to Young Adulthood

Article

Nov 1991

Indicators of a Sensation Seeking latent construct were assessed during adolescence and used to predict changes in repeatedly gathered measures of a latent construct of General Deviance. A community sample of 595 male and female Ss was assessed 3 times over a 5-year period from late adolescence to young adulthood. Most Ss reported use of licit drugs, about one half had tried illicit drugs, and a substantial minority had engaged in other delinquent or criminal activities. The General Deviance construct was stable over time, although specific cross-effects were found. Sensation Seeking was moderately correlated with General Deviance at all 3 levels but did not predict directly the General Deviance construct over time; the effects of Sensation Seeking on later deviant behavior and attitudes were specific rather than general.

Sensation-seeking congruence in couples as a determinant of marital adjustment: A partial replication and extension

Article

Oct 1988

The present study is a replication of an earlier one. There were 30 dysfunctional couples and 30 control couples matched with the clinic couples on age and education. Both partners independently took the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and the Locke Marital Adjustment Questionnaire (MAQ). Control couples were significantly higher on the MAQ (better marital adjustment). Correlations between partners in the control couples were higher than those between partners in the dysfunctional couples on the SSS Total and Boredom Susceptibility scales, which replicated previous findings. Female partners of males who scored high on the SSS were more likely to initiate the contact for treatment than partners of low male sensation seekers. Female partners of low male sensation seekers and the low males themselves tended to report that sex between them was only tolerable or "disgusting," whereas female partners of high sensation seekers and their mates tended to report sex as pleasurable and apparently sought therapy for other reasons. Congruence on sensation seeking is an important factor in marital adjustment.

Marital compatibility in sensation seeking trait as a factor in marital adjustment

Article

Feb 1981

Thirty couples seeking therapy for marital problems were matched with 30 control couples and compared on the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and the Marriage Adjustment Questionnaire (MAQ). The therapy subjects scored lower on the MAQ than the controls. The correlation between spouses on the SSS total score was higher in the control than in the therapy group. Males were generally higher than their spouses in the control group, but in almost half of the couples in the therapy group the females' scores equalled or exceeded those of their spouses. These differences in the therapy group were associated with certain features of the cases.

Kalichman SC, Johnson JR, Adair V, Rompa D, Multhauf K, Kelly JA. Sexual sensation seeking: scale development and predicting AIDS-risk behavior among homosexually active men. J Pers Assess 62: 385-397

Article

Jul 1994

Sensation seeking, the propensity to prefer exciting, optimal, and novel stimulation or arousal, is a potential mediating factor in sexual risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV), the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, the most widely used measure of sensation seeking, the Sensation Seeking Scale (Zuckerman, Kolin, Price, & Zoob, 1964), contains numerous culturally outdated items and items that do not pertain to sexual behavior. In this study, 106 homosexually active men completed newly developed measures of sensation seeking related to sexual and nonsexual experiences, as well as a measure of sexual compulsivity. Results show that the new scales were internally consistent and time-stable. Additional analyses demonstrated convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity for these scales, showing them to be of use as mediating variables in models of high-risk sexual behavior. Implications for HIV prevention and behavior change are discussed.

Gender differences in sexuality: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 114, 29-51

Article

Aug 1993

This meta-analysis surveyed 177 usable sources that reported data on gender differences on 21 different measures of sexual attitudes and behaviors. The largest gender difference was in incidence of masturbation: Men had the greater incidence (d = .96). There was also a large gender difference in attitudes toward casual sex: Males had considerably more permissive attitudes (d = .81). There were no gender differences in attitudes toward homosexuality or in sexual satisfaction. Most other gender differences were in the small-to-moderate range. Gender differences narrowed from the 1960s to the 1980s for many variables. Chodorow's neoanalytic theory, sociobiology, social learning theory, social role theory, and script theory are discussed in relation to these findings.

Sexual Sensation Seeking and Sexual Compulsivity Scales: Validity, and Predicting HIV Risk Behavior

Article

Jan 1996

Two studies are presented that evaluate newly developed scales of sensation seeking and sexual compulsivity. Results showed that the scales were reliable and correlated with convergent and divergent measures in expected directions in samples of both gay men (N = 296) and inner city low-income men and women (N = 158). Consistent with theories of sensation seeking, the scales corresponded to an attraction toward a range of sexual practices, including increased frequencies of unprotected intercourse and a greater number of sexual partners. As expected, sexual compulsivity was not related to variety and novelty in sexual practices, but was associated with lower levels of self-esteem and resistance to adopting sexual risk-reducing strategies. However important differences were observed between the gay men and heterosexual samples; scales correlated with substance use only among gay men, and sexual compulsivity was related to a range of sexual practices only among heterosexuals. The sensation seeking and Sexual Compulsivity Scales were therefore reliable, appeared valid, and useful in predicting sexual risk behaviors.

Development of a Sensation-Seeking Scale

Article

Jan 1965
J Consult Psychol

This article reports the development of a Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) designed to quantify the construct: "optimal stimulation level." Items were written, using the construct as a guide, and given to undergraduates. The items were factor analyzed. A general factor was found and the item-factor correlation pattern was similar in males and females. In another sample, satisfactory reliability for the SSS was obtained and it was found to be positively correlated with field independence as measured by the Embedded Figures Test. In a third sample, nonsignificant correlations between SSS and Howard's Stimulus Seeking Maze tests were found. A significant negative correlation between SSS and anxiety, as measured by the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List was obtained.

The Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale: Reliablity and Validity Within a Heterosexual College Student Sample

Abstract

No full-text available