Hoffmann, Heather, David Goodrich, Molly Wilson, and Erick Janssen.
Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity 21, no. 2 (2014): 75-91.
Abstract
While a number of hypotheses exist on the origins of sexual compulsivity, few empirical studies have examined underlying mechanisms. The current research examined if sexually compulsive individuals are more sexually conditionable. Men who have sex with men (MSM) with high or low scores on the Sexual Compulsivity Scale (Kalichman et al., 1994) were presented with an odor that was (experimental group) or was not (control group) paired with brief erotic film clips. We assessed the effects of the olfactory stimulus on genital response and on a behavioral measure of risk taking. We also assessed changes in odor preference, using explicit and implicit measures, to explore the role of evaluative conditioning. There was a trend for high compulsive men to show greater conditioned genital arousal and for conditioned cues to increase sexual motivation in high but not low compulsive men. The strongest support for sexual learning was found with our behavioral measure: High compulsive men showed greater intent to engage in sexual behavior in the presence of the olfactory cues. Results also suggest that high compulsive men experienced increased implicit liking for odors paired with erotic film. Overall, the findings suggest that conditioning processes play a role in sexual compulsivity.
RELEVANT EXCERPTS
The current study is, to our knowledge, the first to examine the role of learning processes in sexual compulsivity. Overall, the findings suggest that conditioning processes play a role in sexual compulsivity. As in previous sexual conditioning studies in humans, conditioning effects were not strong but were in the predicted direction. After excluding low quality signals, we found a clear trend for high compulsive men to show increased conditioned genital arousal (supporting Hypothesis 1) and a tendency for conditioned cues to increase sexual motivation (risk taking) more in high than in low compulsive men (supporting Hypothesis 3). Furthermore, although evidence for evaluative conditioning was not straightforward, our results suggest that high compulsive men experienced increased implicit “liking” (but not explicit liking) for odors paired with erotic films, as compared to odors that were presented during conditioning but that were not paired with erotic films (partial support for Hypothesis 2).
The strongest evidence of sexual learning was found for the behavioral (risk taking) measure. High compulsive men reported stronger intentions to engage in sexual behavior in the presence of an olfactory cue that had previously been paired with a sexual stimulus.
While this may be an anomalous finding, it is possible that men who score higher on sexual compulsivity, while potentially more interested in sex, are generally more selective or discriminating. Hence, conditioned arousal may indeed increase (risky) sexual behavior in these men.
Although preliminary in nature, the findings of the current study are encouraging and represent, we believe, a first but much needed step to improve our understanding of the role of learning processes in sexual compulsivity and its link to sexual behavior. If learning processes play a role in compulsivity, it has implications for prevention. Further, such findings could ultimately inform therapeutic intervention
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