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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
In contrast to the body of research focusing on female sexual desire, there has
been very little research into patterns of male sexual desire. This study addresses
this deficiency in the literature by providing empirical answers to the following
three questions: (1) is there a pattern of responsive sexual desire – defined as being
predominantly receptive to a partner’s initiation of sexual activity without
initially desiring it – among men? (2) Is this pattern associated with lower levels of
sexual health than a more spontaneous pattern of male desire? (3) Are existing
clinical observations regarding possible causes of reduced interest in partnered sex
useful for understanding the more responsive men’s sexual desire? A large online
survey about men’s sexual interest was conducted in 2011 among 2215 Norwegian
and Portuguese men aged 18–75 years (the average age in the sample was 36.5
years). Sociodemographic, health-related, sociosexual and relationship-related
information was collected. Three distinct patterns of male sexual desire were
observed: decreased (23.6%), responsive (2.5%) and spontaneous (73.9%) desire
patterns. Men in the more responsive and spontaneous desire groups significantly
differed from participants in the decreased desire group, as they reported
significantly higher levels of sexual interest, sexual satisfaction and frequency of
sexual intercourse and were less likely to have experienced sexual health
difficulties in the past 12 months. Interestingly, participants with more responsive
and spontaneous desire patterns were indistinguishable in terms of a number of
sociodemographic, health-related, sociosexual and relationship-related variables.
The sole predictor of the responsive sexual desire pattern was proneness to
relationship-related sexual boredom. Clinical observations about the roles of
negative emotions, relationship strain and specific sexual arousal patterns
(homoerotic, autoerotic and/or paraphilic) in the etiology of hypoactive sexual
desire did not seem relevant for men with responsive desire.
Description
Keywords
Sexual desire Men Sexual health Responsive desire pattern
Citation
Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 28, 246-258