Abstract
Sexual arousal is known to increase risky behaviors, such as having unprotected sex. This may in part relate to the emotion of disgust, which normally serves a disease avoidant function, and is suppressed by sexual arousal. In this report we examine disgust's role in sexual decision-making. Male participants received two study packets that were to be completed at home across two different time-points. Participants were asked to complete one packet in a sexually aroused state and the other in a non-aroused state. Participants were asked to rate: (1) arousal, (2) disgust, (3) willingness for sex, and (4) disease risk toward a range of female targets, which varied in level of potential disease risk (sex-worker vs. non sex-worker) and attractiveness. A measure of trait disgust was also included along with other related scales. Sexual arousal was associated with reduced disgust and reduced judgments of disease risk for all targets—these latter two variables being correlated—and with enhanced willingness to have sex with all of the depicted persons. Willingness to have sex when aroused (in contrast to non-aroused) was predicted by disease risk judgments and trait disgust, suggesting both direct (state) and indirect (trait) effects of disgust on sexual decision-making.
Highlights
Transmitted infections (STI) are common, with around 0.5 billion new cases occurring each year (World Health Organization, 2013)
In the current study we aimed to examine the role of disgust— both in reaction to the stimuli in the study and as a trait—in sexual decision-making, as it relates to Sexually transmitted infections (STI) risk
The neutral study packet contained a participant instruction sheet, demographic questions asking each participant to nominate in an open-ended question format their sex, age, and sexual orientation, and a prepicture viewing manipulation check which asked participants to rate on a seven-point category scale, “How sexually aroused do you feel ?” (1 = Not at all aroused, 7 = Very aroused)
Summary
Transmitted infections (STI) are common, with around 0.5 billion new cases occurring each year (World Health Organization, 2013). Similar findings have been obtained in heterosexual men and women, with increased willingness to have unprotected sex with an attractive partner, relative to a less attractive one (Epstein et al, 2007) While these two studies did not directly ask for STI risk judgments, it is apparent that the behavioral intentions carry a heightened risk of disease transmission, and that this heightened risk is very likely to be known to the participant. In both states participants were asked to evaluate the same set of images (each with a label) depicting four types of potential female sexual partner; attractive sex-workers, unattractive sex-workers, attractive aged controls, and unattractive aged controls This aspect of the manipulation allowed us to explore two levels of physical attractiveness—a factor known to influence sexual decision making—and two levels of perceived STI risk. While we predicted different effects, we were uncertain as to their specific direction, as this was an exploratory and auxiliary hypothesis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
