Repeated Exposure to Pornography and Arousal Levels of Subjects Varying in Guilt

Abstract

The present research attempted to determine whether the negative relationship between level of guilt and tendency to respond sexually which is often found in the literature was due to the fact that guilt reduces sexual arousal as suggested by Galbraith (1968). Two studies were performed. In Study 1, 42 male undergraduates rated sexual arousal as well as a variety of other feelings after reading each of eight different pornographic passages. In Study 2, 40 subjects made similar ratings each time after reading the same page of pornography for eight trials. In both studies subjects high and low in sex guilt initially reported a moderate level of sexual arousal which then declined with repeated exposure. The minimal sexual responding of subjects high in guilt found in the literature may very likely be a function of inhibition and not, as Galbraith suggests, a function of a lower level of sexual arousal.