The Relation of Sexual Preferences to Sexual Experiences

Abstract

68 male college students served as Ss in a study of the relationship of current sexual preferences to past sexual experiences. Sexual preferences were assessed by presenting to the Ss 19 thematically different photographs which represented a wide range of potentially arousing stimuli. The S was then given the task of rating each photograph on a six-point scale as to the degree he found it sexually stimulating. This procedure was repeated with two additional sets of 19 pictures each: these were different photographs but with the same 19 thematic areas represented. Data relating to the S’s past sexual history were obtained by a questionnaire whose items roughly paralleled the thematic content of the photographs. Correlations were determined between the Ss’ ratings and various aspects of their past sexual experience. One provocative result was that all 6 of the homosexual experiences included in the sexual history questionnaire were positively correlated with reported responsiveness to a photograph of a partially clad male.