Faking "Turn-Ons" and "Turn-Offs"

Abstract

This report describes a single-case study of the differential effects of neutral, moderately aversive, or highly aversive covert images used in covert sensitization on physiological arousal to homosexual stimuli in a bisexual male. During the experiment, data became confounded after it was revealed that the patient had begun using aversive scenes from treatment sessions to block his sexual arousal in assessment sessions. Subsequent investigation determined that this patient could block sexual arousal to extrinsic stimuli presented in laboratory assessment by covertly attending to neutral or aversive stimuli. He could attain sexual arousal with 90% or greater erection in the presence of sexually neutral stimuli by covertly attending to sexually evocative imagery. Implications for treatment and assessment of sexual deviation are discussed.

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