The effect of task demands on gender-specificity of visual attention biases in androphilic women and gynephilic men

Abstract

Models of sexual response propose that attentional processing of sexual cues is requisite for the initiation and regulation of sexual response. Previous research has established marked gender effects in the stimulus features (e.g., gender cues) that capture and sustain attention, dependent on the stage of attentional processing assessed (initial versus controlled). In the current study we manipulated the instructional/task demands commonly used in studies of visual attention to examine the effects of a free- versus motivated-viewing task, on gender differences and similarities in visual attention biases to preferred and nonpreferred sexual cues. Instructional/task demands did not influence overall patterns of visual attention biases for either gender; however, the motivated-viewing task did result in greater controlled attentional processing of sexual cues for both women and men. Replicating previous research, we observed gender effects in initial and controlled attention, as well as a positive relationship between controlled attention and self-reported attraction. These findings are discussed in the context of models of sexual response. We also discuss the potential implications of instructional/task demands for sexual psychophysiology research.