Sexual arousal

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Sexual arousal is the process and state of an animal being ready for sexual intercourse.

Contents

Human sexual arousal

Unlike most other animals, human beings of both sexes are potentially capable of sexual arousal throughout the year, and there is therefore no human "mating season". Things that precipitate human sexual arousal are commonly known as turn-ons.

Causes of human sexual arousal

Signs of human sexual arousal

Common to both sexes:

  • increased blood supply and respiration rate

Male sexual arousal:

Female sexual arousal:

Homophobia and sexual arousal

Psychoanalytic theory has long held that homophobia is the result of repressed homosexual desires. A study showed that more homophobic heterosexual men (80%) showed signs of arousal from being shown images of homosexual sex than non-homophobic heterosexual men (34%). See 'Is Homophobia Associated With Homosexual Arousal?'. The two groups were, however, aroused to the same degree by heterosexual imagery and lesbian imagery. The authors noted as a competing explanation that anxiety also produces arousal and might be responsible for the difference, so further research should test the two competing explanations.

Sexual arousal in other animals

  • describe this here

Related topics


References

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