Male bisexual arousal: A matter of curiosity?

• Published in: Biological psychology Vol. 94; no. 3; pp. 479 - 489
• Main Authors: Rieger, Gerulf, Rosenthal, Allen M., Cash, Brian M., Linsenmeier, Joan A.W., Bailey, J. Michael, Savin-Williams, Ritch C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Attention - physiology; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Bisexuality; Bisexuality - physiology; Exploratory Behavior - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genital arousal; Heterosexuality - physiology; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; Personality; Personality - physiology; Photic Stimulation; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Pupil - physiology; Pupil dilation; Sexual Behavior - physiology; Sexual orientation; Genital arousal; Sexual orientation; Personality; Bisexuality; Pupil dilation; Sexual arousal; Curiosity; Arousal; Pupillometry; Male
• ISSN: 0301-0511; 1873-6246
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.09.007

•Bisexual-identified men may or may not be sexually aroused to both men and women.•Level of curiosity about sexually diverse acts might distinguish their arousal patterns.•Bisexual-identified men with elevated sexual curiosity showed bisexual arousal.•Those lower in curiosity had responses resembling those of homosexual men.•At least two groups of men identify as bisexual.•Sexual curiosity relates to global curiosity and sexual sensation seeking. Conflicting evidence exists regarding whether bisexual-identified men are sexually aroused to both men and women. We hypothesized that a distinct characteristic, level of curiosity about sexually diverse acts, distinguishes bisexual-identified men with and without bisexual arousal. Study 1 assessed men's (n=277) sexual arousal via pupil dilation to male and female sexual stimuli. Bisexual men were, on average, higher in their sexual curiosity than other men. Despite this general difference, only bisexual-identified men with elevated sexual curiosity showed bisexual arousal. Those lower in curiosity had responses resembling those of homosexual men. Study 2 assessed men's (n=72) sexual arousal via genital responses and replicated findings of Study 1. Study 3 provided information on the validity on our measure of sexual curiosity by relating it to general curiosity and sexual sensation seeking (n=83). Based on their sexual arousal and personality, at least two groups of men identify as bisexual.