Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparing Subjective Ratings of Sexual Arousal and Desire in Partnered Sexual Activities from Women of Different Sexual Orientations

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Little is known about non-monosexual women’s sexual arousal and desire. Typically, bisexual women have been excluded from research on sexual arousal and desire, whereas mostly heterosexual and mostly lesbian women have been placed into monosexual categories. This research (1) compared the subjective sexual arousal and desire of self-identified heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, mostly lesbian, and lesbian women in partnered sexual activities with men and with women, and (2) compared within-group differences for subjective sexual arousal and desire with men versus women for the five groups. Participants included 388 women (M age = 24.40, SD = 6.40, 188 heterosexual, 53 mostly heterosexual, 64 bisexual, 32 mostly lesbian, 51 lesbian) who filled out the Sexual Arousal and Desire Inventory (SADI). Sexual orientation was associated with sexual arousal and desire in sexual activities with both men and with women. Bisexuals reported higher sexual arousal and desire for women than heterosexuals and lesbians, while lesbians reported lower sexual arousal and desire with men than the other groups. Heterosexuals and mostly heterosexuals scored higher on the male than on the female motivational dimension of the SADI, while the reverse was found for lesbians and mostly lesbians. Findings indicate that non-monosexuals have higher sexual arousal and desire in sexual activities with women than monosexuals. Further, bisexual women did not differentiate their sexual arousal with men versus women, while the other sexual orientation groups differentiated in terms of their motivation to engage in sexual activity. These findings may have implications for how female sexual orientation is conceptualized.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bailey, J. M. (2009). What is sexual orientation and do women have one? In D. A. Hope (Ed.), Contemporary perspectives on lesbian, gay, and bisexual identities (Vol. 54, pp. 43–63). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, J. M., Rieger, G., & Rosenthal, A. (2011). Still in search of bisexual sexual arousal: Comment on Cerny and Janssen (2011). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40(6), 1293–1295. doi:10.1007/s10508-011-9778-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R. F. (2000). Gender differences in erotic plasticity: The female sex drive as socially flexible and responsive. Psychological Bulletin, 126(3), 347–374.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beach, F. A. (1976). Sexual attractivity, proceptivity, and receptivity in female mammals. Hormones and Behavior, 7(1), 105–138. doi:10.1016/0018-506X(76)90008-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bossio, J. A., Suschinsky, K. D., Puts, D. A., & Chivers, M. L. (2014). Does menstrual cycle phase influence the gender specificity of heterosexual women’s genital and subjective sexual arousal? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43, 941–952. doi:10.1007/s10508-013-0233-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, M. L. (2010). A brief update on the specificity of sexual arousal. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 25(4), 407–414. doi:10.1080/14681994.2010.495979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, M. L., & Bailey, J. M. (2005). A sex difference in features that elicit genital response. Biological Psychology, 70(2), 115–120. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2004.12.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, M. L., & Bailey, J. M. (2007). The sexual psychophysiology of sexual orientation. In E. Janssen (Ed.), The psychophysiology of sex (pp. 458–474). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, M. L., Rieger, G., Latty, E., & Bailey, J. M. (2004). A sex difference in the specificity of sexual arousal. Psychological Science, 15(11), 736–744. doi:10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00750.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, M. L., Seto, M. C., & Blanchard, R. (2007). Gender and sexual orientation differences in sexual response to sexual activities versus gender of actors in sexual films. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93(6), 1108–1121. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.93.6.1108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, M. L., Seto, M. C., Lalumière, M., Laan, E., & Grimbos, T. (2010). Agreement of self-reported and genital measures of sexual arousal in men and women: A meta-analysis. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39(1), 5–56. doi:10.1007/s10508-009-9556-9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, M. L., & Timmers, A. D. (2012). Effects of gender and relationship context in audio narratives on genital and subjective sexual response in heterosexual women and men. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41(1), 185–197. doi:10.1007/s10508-012-9937-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. M. (1998). Development of sexual orientation among adolescent and young adult women. Developmental Psychology, 34(5), 1085–1095. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.34.5.1085.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. M. (2000). Sexual identity, attractions, and behavior among young sexual minority women over a 2-year period. Developmental Psychology, 36(2), 241–250. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.36.2.241.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. M. (2003a). Was it a phase? Young women’s relinquishment of lesbian/bisexual identities over a 5-year period. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 352–364. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.352.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. M. (2003b). What does sexual orientation orient? A biobehavioral model distinguishing romantic love and sexual desire. Psychological Review, 110(1), 173–192. doi:10.1037/0033-295x.110.1.173.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. M. (2005). A new view of lesbian subtypes: Stable versus fluid identity trajectories over an 8-year period. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 29(2), 119–128. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2005.00174.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. M. (2007). The evolution of plasticity in female-female desire. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 18, 245–274. doi:10.1300/J056v18n04_01.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. M. (2008a). Female bisexuality from adolescence to adulthood: Results from a 10-year longitudinal study. Developmental Psychology, 44(1), 5–14. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.44.1.5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. M. (2008b). Sexual fluidity: Understanding women’s love and desire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L. M., & Wallen, K. (2011). Sexual minority women’s sexual motivation around the time of ovulation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40, 237–246. doi:10.1007/s10508-010-9631-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ebsworth, M., & Lalumière, M. L. (2012). Viewing time as a measure of bisexual sexual interest. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41(1), 161–172. doi:10.1007/s10508-012-9923-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldey, K. L., & van Anders, S. M. (2012). Sexual arousal and desire: Interrelations and responses to three modalities of sexual stimuli. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 9(9), 2315–2329. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02845.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hequembourg, A. L., Livingston, J. A., & Parks, K. A. (2013). Sexual victimization and associated risks among lesbian and bisexual women. Violence Against Women, 19(5), 634–657. doi:10.1177/1077801213490557.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Israel, E., & Strassberg, D. (2009). Viewing time as an objective measure of sexual interest in heterosexual men and women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38(4), 551–558. doi:10.1007/s10508-007-9246-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Israel, T., & Mohr, J. J. (2004). Attitudes toward bisexual women and men: Current research, future directions. In R. C. Fox (Ed.), Current research on bisexuality (pp. 117–134). Binghamton, NY: Harrington Park Press/The Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, A. M., Wadsworth, J., Wellings, K., & Field, J. (1994). The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laan, E., Sonderman, M., & Janssen, E. (1995). Straight and lesbian women’s sexual responses to straight and lesbian erotica: No sexual orientation effects. Poster presented at the meeting of the International Academy of Sex Research, Provincetown, MA.

  • Laumann, E. O., Gagnon, J. H., Michael, R. T., & Michaels, S. (1994). The social organization of sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehavot, K., Molina, Y., & Simoni, J. (2012). Childhood trauma, adult sexual assault, and adult gender expression among lesbian and bisexual women. Sex Roles, 67(5–6), 272–284. doi:10.1007/s11199-012-0171-1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lhomond, B., Saurel-Cubizolles, M.-J. P., Michaels, S., & The CSF Group. (2014). A multidimensional measure of sexual orientation, use of psychoactive substances, and depression: Results of a national survey on sexual behavior in France. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43, 607–619. doi:10.1007/s10508-013-0124-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lippa, R. A. (2006). Is high sex drive associated with increased sexual attraction to both sexes? It depends on whether you are male or female. Psychological Science, 17(1), 46–52. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2005.01663.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lippa, R. A. (2007). The relation between sex drive and sexual attraction to men and women: A cross-national study of heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual men and women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36(2), 209–222. doi:10.1007/s10508-006-9146-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lippa, R. A. (2013). Men and women with bisexual identities show bisexual patterns of sexual attraction to male and female ‘swimsuit models’. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 42(2), 187–196. doi:10.1007/s10508-012-9981-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mercer, C. H., Tanton, C., Prah, P., Erens, B., Sonnenberg, P., Clifton, S., … Johnson, A. M. (2013). Changes in sexual attitudes and lifestyles in Britain through the life course and over time: Findings from the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal). Lancet, 382(9907), 1781–1794. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62035-8.

  • Mustanski, B. S., Chivers, M. L., & Bailey, J. M. (2002). A critical review of recent biological research on human sexual orientation. Annual Review of Sex Research, 13, 89–140.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rieger, G., Rosenthal, A. M., Cash, B. M., Linsenmeier, J. A. W., Bailey, J. M., & Savin-Williams, R. C. (2013). Male bisexual arousal: A matter of curiosity? Biological Psychology, 94(3), 479–489. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.09.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, A. M., Sylva, D., Safron, A., & Bailey, J. M. (2012). The male bisexuality debate revisited: Some bisexual men have bisexual arousal patterns. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41(1), 135–147. doi:10.1007/s10508-011-9881-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rullo, J., Strassberg, D., & Israel, E. (2010). Category-specificity in sexual interest in gay men and lesbians. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39(4), 874–879. doi:10.1007/s10508-009-9497-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rust, P. C. (1992). The politics of sexual identity: Sexual attraction and behavior among lesbian and bisexual women. Social Problems, 39(4), 366–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rust, P. C. (1995). Bisexuality and the challenge to lesbian politics: Sex, loyalty, and revolution. New York, NY: New York University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rust, P. C. (2000). Bisexuality: A comtemporary paradox for women. Journal of Social Issues, 56, 205–221. doi:10.1111/0022-4537.00161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savin-Williams, R. C. (2006). Who’s gay? Does it matter? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15(1), 40–44. doi:10.1111/j.0963-7214.2006.00403.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savin-Williams, R. C. (2009). How many gays are there? It depends. In D. A. Hope (Ed.), Contemporary perspectives on lesbian, gay, and bisexual identities (vol. 54, pp. 5–41): New York, NY: Springer.

  • Savin-Williams, R. C., & Vrangalova, Z. (2013). Mostly heterosexual as a distinct sexual orientation group: A systematic review of the empirical evidence. Developmental Review, 33(1), 58–88. doi:10.1016/j.dr.2013.01.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt, D. P. (2005). Sociosexuality from Argentina to Zimbabwe: A 48-nation study of sex, culture, and strategies of human mating. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 28(2), 247–311. doi:10.1017/S0140525X05000051.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shively, M. G., & De Cecco, J. P. (1977). Components of sexual identity. Journal of Homosexuality, 3(1), 41–48. doi:10.1300/J082v03n01_04.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Storms, M. D. (1980). Theories of sexual orientation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38, 783–792. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.38.5.783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suschinsky, K. D., Bossio, J. A., & Chivers, M. L. (2014). Women’s genital sexual arousal to oral versus penetrative heterosexual sex varies with menstrual cycle phase at first exposure. Hormones and Behavior, 65(3), 319–327. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.01.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Suschinsky, K. D., & Lalumière, M. (2012). Is sexual concordance related to awareness of physiological states? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41(1), 199–208. doi:10.1007/s10508-012-9931-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Suschinsky, K. D., Lalumière, M. L., & Chivers, M. L. (2009). Sex differences in patterns of genital sexual arousal: Measurement artifacts or true phenomena? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38(4), 559–573. doi:10.1007/s10508-008-9339-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Toledano, R., & Pfaus, J. (2006). The Sexual Arousal and Desire Inventory (SADI): A multidimensional scale to assess subjective sexual arousal and desire. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 3(5), 853–877. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2006.00293.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Anders, S. (2012). From one bioscientist to another: Guidelines for researching and writing about bisexuality for the lab and biosciences. Journal of Bisexuality, 12(3), 393–403. doi:10.1080/15299716.2012.702621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vrangalova, Z., & Savin-Williams, R. C. (2012). Mostly heterosexual and mostly gay/lesbian: Evidence for new sexual orientation identities. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 85–101. doi:10.1007/s10508-012-9921-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

TJP was supported by a doctoral scholarship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, Canada

    Tonje J. Persson & James G. Pfaus

  2. Centre for Clinical Research in Health, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Andrew G. Ryder

  3. Culture and Mental Health Research Unit and Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, Canada

    Andrew G. Ryder

Authors
  1. Tonje J. Persson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrew G. Ryder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James G. Pfaus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tonje J. Persson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Persson, T.J., Ryder, A.G. & Pfaus, J.G. Comparing Subjective Ratings of Sexual Arousal and Desire in Partnered Sexual Activities from Women of Different Sexual Orientations. Arch Sex Behav 45, 1391–1402 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0468-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0468-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation