Effects of body image on choice reaction time as an assessment of sexual interest

• Main Author: Bodkins, Misty D.
• Other Authors: Gaither, George A.
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Reaction time; Sexual excitement.; Body image in women.; Women > Sexual behavior.
• Online Access: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/187526; http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1272761

Wright and Adams (1994; 1999) developed a Choice Reaction Time measure to assess sexual interests in men and women. In their studies, men responded in accordance to their self-reported sexual interests much more consistently than women. Placing these results in the framework of objectification theories (e.g., Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997), the present study was designed to examine the relationship between body image and young women's CRT responses.Forty-two females participated in the CRT task. Consistent with previous studies, 21 (50%) of the women took longer to respond on male trials than female trials. These women were compared to those who took longer on female trials on all the body image and sexuality measures using ANOVA's. Results indicated no significant differences on any of the body image measures, but a small number of differences on sexuality measures. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for gender differences in sexual interest. === Department of Psychological Science