Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Effects of Acute Ethanol Consumption on Sexual Response and Sexual Risk-Taking Intent

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two theories of sexual risk taking (disinhibition and alcohol myopia) were tested using genital measures of sexual response and computer measures of sexual risk propensity. A total of 44 men and women completed two sessions comparing responses to erotic films while consuming alcohol (breath alcohol doses were .025 g/kg and .08 g/kg) or juice alone. After consuming alcohol, more sexual arousal was reported in response to neutral films and at a breath alcohol level of .08 g/kg as compared to no alcohol. Genital responses for men and women increased during sexual films, but men did not respond as strongly when breath alcohol level was .08 g/kg. Intentions to have intercourse with a new partner at baseline predicted the level of sexual arousal reported. As self-reported sexual arousal increased in response to sexual films and higher alcohol dose, the intent to engage in intercourse with a new partner increased. Alcohol dose was not related to later sexual intercourse intentions. With no direct relationship of alcohol and intercourse intentions, results appear more consistent with a disinhibition model of sexual arousal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The difference became significant if the data were binned to enter minute as a predictor. Male genital response effects that did reach the predetermined alpha cutoff include: Men exhibited a main effect of Film Set, F(2, 38) = 16.07, p < .001, η 2 p  = .46, and Film Type, F(1, 19) = 94.33, p < .001, η 2 p  = .83. The Film Set effect was due to a decrease in erection in response to the third as compared to the first, F(1, 19) = 35.70, p < .001, = .65 and second F(1, 19) = 12.36, p = .002, η 2 p  = .39, film sets. The Film Type effect was due to a higher erectile response to sexual as compared to neutral films. There were no other significant main or interaction effects. The non-significant interaction was included, because it suggests that the significant main effects may be due to a lower response to the sexual film when men reached BrAC = .08.

References

  • Abbey, A., Saenz, C., & Buck, P. O. (2005). The cumulative effects of acute alcohol consumption, individual differences and situational perceptions on sexual decision making. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 66, 82–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abbey, A., Saenz, C., Buck, P. O., Parkhill, M. R., & Hayman, L. W. (2006). The effects of acute alcohol consumption, cognitive reserve, partner risk, and gender on sexual decision making. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 67, 113–121.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abrams, D. B., & Wilson, G. T. (1983). Alcohol, sexual arousal, and self-control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 188–198.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, P. B., & Mathieu, D. (1998). Drinking and safer sex: Are college students at risk? Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 23, 297–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ariely, D., & Loewenstein, G. (2006). The heat of the moment: The effect of sexual arousal on sexual decision making. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 19, 87–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartholow, B. D., Pearson, M., Sher, K. J., Wieman, L. C., Fabiani, M., & Gratton, G. (2003). Effects of alcohol consumption and alcohol susceptibility on cognition: A psychophysiological examination. Biological Psychology, 64, 167–190.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blanton, H., & Gerrard, M. (1997). Effect of sexual motivation on men’s risk perception for sexually transmitted disease: There must be 50 ways to justify a lover. Health Psychology, 16, 374–379.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boldero, J., Moore, S., & Rosenthal, D. (1992). Intention, context, and safe sex: Australian adolescents’ responses to AIDS. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 22, 1374–1396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briddell, D. W., & Wilson, G. T. (1976). Effects of alcohol and expectancy set on male sexual arousal. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 85, 225–234.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bronstad, P. M., Langlois, J. H., & Russell, R. (2008). Computational models of facial attractiveness judgments. Perception, 37, 126–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, S. A., Christiansen, B. A., & Goldman, M. S. (1987). The Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire: An instrument for the assessment of adolescent and adult alcohol expectancies. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 48, 483–491.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, S. A., Goldman, M. S., Inn, A., & Anderson, L. R. (1980). Expectations of reinforcement from alcohol: Their domain and relation to drinking patterns. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48, 419–426.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Canin, L., Dolcini, M. M., & Adler, N. E. (1999). Barriers to and facilitators of HIV-STD behavior change: Intrapersonal and relationship-based factors. Review of General Psychology, 3, 338–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carey, K. B. (1995). Alcohol-related expectancies predict quantity and frequency of heavy drinking among college students. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 9, 236–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Catania, J. A., Osmond, D., Neilands, T. B., Canchola, J., Gregorich, S., Shiboski, S., et al. (2005). Methodological challenges in research on sexual risk behavior”: Commentary on Schroder (2003a, 2003b). Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 29, 86–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chivers, M. L., Seto, M. C., Lalumière, M. L., Laan, E., & Grimbos, T. (2010). Agreement of self-reported and genital measures of sexual arousal among men and women: A meta-analysis. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 5–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corcoran, K. J., & Thomas, L. R. (1991). The influence of observed alcohol consumption on perceptions of initiation of sexual activity in a college dating situation. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 21, 500–507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crowe, L. C., & George, W. H. (1989). Alcohol and human sexuality: Review and integration. Psychological Bulletin, 105, 374–386.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Curtin, J. J., & Fairchild, B. A. (2003). Alcohol and cognitive control: Implications for regulation of behavior during response conflict. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112, 424–436.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doherty, K., & Low, K. G. (2008). The effects of a web-based intervention on college students’ knowledge of human papillomavirus and attitudes toward vaccination. International Journal of Sexual Health, 20, 223–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farkas, G. M., & Rosen, R. C. (1976). Effect of alcohol on elicited male sexual response. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 37, 265–272.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fillmore, M. T., & Vogel-Sprott, M. (1999). An alcohol model of impaired inhibitory control and its treatment in humans. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 7, 49–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Finn, P. R., Justus, A., Mazas, C., & Steinmetz, J. E. (1999). Working memory, executive processes and the effects of alcohol on Go/No-Go learning: Testing a model of behavioral regulation and impulsivity. Psychopharmacology, 146, 465–472.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fromme, K., Katz, E., & D’Amico, E. (1997a). Effects of alcohol intoxication on the perceived consequences of risk taking. Experimental & Clinical Psychopharmacology, 5, 14–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fromme, K., Katz, E. C., & Rivet, K. (1997b). Outcome expectancies and risk-taking behavior. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 21, 421–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaither, G. A., Sellbom, M., & Meier, B. P. (2003). The effect of stimulus content on volunteering for sexual interest research among college students. Journal of Sex Research, 40, 240–248.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • George, W. H., Cue Davis, K., Schraufnagel, T. J., Norris, J., Heiman, J. R., Schacht, R. L., et al. (2008). Later that night: Descending alcohol intoxication and men’s sexual arousal. American Journal of Mens Health, 2, 76–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George, W. H., Davis, K. C., Norris, J., Heiman, J. R., Schacht, R. L., Stoner, S. A., et al. (2006). Alcohol and erectile response: The effects of high dosage in the context of demands to maximize sexual arousal. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 14, 461–470.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • George, W. H., Davis, K. C., Norris, J., Heiman, J. R., Stoner, S. A., Schacht, R. L., et al. (2009). Indirect effects of acute alcohol intoxication on sexual risk-taking: The roles of subjective and physiological sexual arousal. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38, 538–550.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George, W. H., Gournic, S. J., & McAfee, M. P. (1988). Perceptions of postdrinking female sexuality: Effects of gender, beverage choice, and drink payment. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 18, 1295–1317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George, W. H., & Marlatt, G. A. (1986). The effects of alcohol and anger on interest in violence, erotica, and deviance. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 150–158.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • George, W. H., & Stoner, S. A. (2000). Understanding acute alcohol effects on sexual behavior. Annual Review of Sex Research, 11, 92–124.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerend, M. A., & Magloire, Z. F. (2008). Awareness, knowledge, and beliefs about human papillomavirus in a racially diverse sample of young adults. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42, 237–242.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gold, R. S., & Skinner, M. J. (1997). Unprotected anal intercourse in gay men: The resolution to withdraw before ejaculating. Psychological Reports, 81, 496–498.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenhouse, S. W., & Geisser, S. (1959). On methods in the analysis of profile data. Psychometrika, 24, 95–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, S. M., & Beckman, L. J. (1986). Alcohol consumption, female sexual behavior and contraceptive use. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 47, 327–332.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heiman, J. R., & Rowland, D. L. (1983). Affective and physiological sexual response patterns: The effects of instructions on sexually functional and dysfunctional men. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 27, 105–116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herzog, T. A. (1999). Effects of alcohol intoxication on social inferences. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 7, 448–453.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoon, P. W., Coleman, E., Amberson, J., & Ling, F. (1981). A possible physiological marker of female sexual dysfunction. Biological Psychiatry, 16, 1101–1106.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, E., Carpenter, D., & Graham, C. (2003). Selecting films for sex research: Gender differences in erotic film preference. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32, 243–251.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, E., Prause, N., & Geer, J. (2007). The sexual response system. In J. T. Cacioppo, L. G. Tassinary, & G. G. Berntson (Eds.), Handbook of psychophysiology (3rd ed., pp. 315–341). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, B. T., Jones, B. C., Thomas, A. P., & Piper, J. (2003). Alcohol consumption increases attractiveness ratings of opposite-sex faces: A possible third route to risky sex. Addiction, 98, 1069–1075.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klassen, A. D., & Wilsnack, S. C. (1986). Sexual experience and drinking among women in a U.S. national survey. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 15, 363–392.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krüeger, T. H. C., Schiffer, B., Eikermann, M., Haake, P., Gizewski, E., & Schedlowski, M. (2006). Serial neurochemical measurement of cerebrospinal fluid during the human sexual response cycle. European Journal of Neuroscience, 24, 3445–3452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kruse, M. I., & Fromme, K. (2005). Influence of physical attractiveness and alcohol on men’s perceptions of potential sexual partners and sexual behavior intentions. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 13, 146–156.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laan, E., Everaerd, W., & Evers, A. (1995). Assessment of female sexual arousal: Response specificity and construct validity. Psychophysiology, 32, 476–485.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lang, A. R., Searles, J., Lauerman, R., & Adesso, V. J. (1980). Expectancy, alcohol, and sex guilt as determinants of interest in and reaction to sexual stimuli. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 89, 644–653.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laumann, E. O., Gagnon, J. H., Michael, R. T., & Michaels, S. (1994). The social organization of sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leigh, B. C. (1990). The relationship of substance use during sex to high-risk sexual behavior. Journal of Sex Research, 27, 199–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leigh, B. C. (1993). Alcohol consumption and sexual activity as reported with a diary technique. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 102, 490–493.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, L. A., & Carroll, R. A. (1994). Nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity in men without complaints of erectile dysfunction using a new quantitative analysis software. Journal of Urology, 152, 1103–1107.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, L. M., Rosenthal, S. L., Succop, P. A., Stanberry, L. R., & Bernstein, D. I. (1999). College students’ knowledge and perceptions of genital herpes. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 10, 703–708.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lindman, R. E., Koskelainen, B. M., & Eriksson, C. J. (1999). Drinking, menstrual cycle, and female sexuality: A diary study. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 23, 169–173.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, T. K., Fong, G. T., Zanna, M. P., & Martineau, A. M. (2000a). Alcohol myopia and condom use: Can alcohol intoxication be associated with more prudent behavior? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 605–619.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, T. K., MacDonald, G., Zanna, M. P., & Fong, G. (2000b). Alcohol, sexual arousal, and intentions to use condoms in young men: Applying alcohol myopia theory to risky sexual behavior. Health Psychology, 19, 290–298.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malatesta, V. J., Pollack, R. H., Crotty, T. D., & Peacock, L. J. (1982). Acute alcohol intoxication and female orgasmic response. Journal of Sex Research, 18, 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malatesta, V. J., Pollack, R. H., Wilbanks, W. A., & Adams, H. E. (1979). Alcohol effects on the orgasmic-ejaculatory response in human males. Journal of Sex Research, 15, 101–107.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morlet, A., Watters, G. R., Dunn, J., Keogh, E. J., Creed, K. E., Tulloch, A. G., et al. (1990). Effects of acute alcohol on penile tumescence in normal young men and dogs. Urology, 35, 399–404.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, A. B., & Albery, I. P. (2001). Alcohol consumption and HIV risk behaviours: Integrating the theories of alcohol myopia and outcome-expectancies. Addiction Research and Theory, 9, 73–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Geographic. (1995). Ocean drifters. United States: National Geographic Video.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortner, C. N. M., MacDonald, T. K., & Olmstead, M. C. (2003). Alcohol intoxication reduces impulsivity in the delay-discounting paradigm. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 38, 151–156.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palti, Y., & Bercovici, B. (1967). Photoplethysmographic study of the vaginal blood pulse. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 97, 143–153.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plaud, J., Gaither, G., Hegstad, H., Rowan, L., & Devitt, M. (1999). Volunteer bias in human psychphysiological sexual arousal research: To whom do our research results apply? Journal of Sex Research, 36, 171–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prause, N., & Janssen, E. (2006). Blood flow: Vaginal photoplethysmography. In I. Goldstein, C. M. Meston, S. Davis, & A. Traish (Eds.), Women’s sexual function and dysfunction (pp. 359–367). London: Taylor & Francis Medical Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prause, N., Williams, K., & Bosworth, K. (2010). Wavelet denoising of vaginal pulse amplitude. Psychophysiology, 47, 393–401.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, H. B., & Henson, D. E. (1976). Effects of alcohol on male sexual responding. Psychopharmacologia, 47, 123–134.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saults, J. S., Cowan, N., Sher, K. J., & Moreno, M. V. (2007). Differential effects of alcohol on working memory: Distinguishing multiple processes. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 15, 576–587.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schacht, R., George, W., Heiman, J., Davis, K., Norris, J., Stoner, S., et al. (2007). Effects of alcohol intoxication and instructional set on women’s sexual arousal vary based on sexual abuse history. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36, 655–665.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schroder, K. E. E., Carey, M. P., & Vanable, P. A. (2003a). Methodological challenges in research on sexual risk behavior: I. Item content, scaling, and data analytical options. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 26, 76–103.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schroder, K. E. E., Carey, M. P., & Vanable, P. A. (2003b). Methodological challenges in research on sexual risk behavior: II. Accuracy of self-reports. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 26, 104–123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schroder, K., Johnson, C., & Wiebe, J. (2009). An event-level analysis of condom use as a function of mood, alcohol use, and safer sex negotiations. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38, 283–289.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seltzer, M. L., Vinokur, A., & Rooijen, L. J. V. (1975). A self-administered Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (SMAST). Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 36, 117–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shuper, P. A., Neuman, M., Kanteres, F., Baliunas, D., Joharchi, N., & Rehm, J. (2010). Causal considerations on alcohol and HIV/AIDS—A systematic review. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 45, 159–166.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sintchak, G., & Geer, J. H. (1975). A vaginal plethysmograph system. Psychophysiology, 12, 113–115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Souto, A., Bezerra, B. M., & Halsey, L. G. (2008). Alcohol intoxication reduces detection of asymmetry: An explanation for increased perceptions of facial attractiveness after alcohol consumption? Perception, 37, 955–958.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steele, C. M., & Josephs, R. A. (1990). Alcohol myopia: Its prized and dangerous effects. American Psychologist, 45, 921–933.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steele, C. M., & Southwick, L. (1985). Alcohol and social behavior: I. The psychology of drunken excess. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48, 18–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strong, D. A., Bancroft, J., Carnes, L. A., Davis, L. A., & Kennedy, J. (2005). The impact of sexual arousal on sexual risk-taking: A qualitative study. Journal of Sex Research, 42, 185–191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, J., Fulop, N., & Green, J. (1999). Drink, illicit drugs and unsafe sex in women. Addiction, 94, 1209–1218.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Testa, M., & Dermen, K. H. (1999). The differential correlates of sexual coercion and rape. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 14, 548–561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Testa, M., Livingston, J. A., & Collins, R. L. (2000). The role of women’s alcohol consumption in evaluation of vulnerability to sexual aggression. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 8, 185–191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thornhill, R., & Gangestad, S. W. (1993). Human facial beauty: Averageness, symmetry, and parasite resistance. Human Nature, 4, 237–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogel-Sprott, M., Easdon, C., Fillmore, M., Finn, P., & Justus, A. (2001). Alcohol and behavioral control: Cognitive and neural mechanisms. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 25, 117–121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1063–1070.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, P., Watson, I., & Batt, R. (1981). Prediction of blood alcohol concentrations in human subjects. Updating the Widmark Equation. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 42, 547–556.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiederman, M. W. (1999). Policy capturing methodology in sexuality research. Journal of Sex Research, 36, 91–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. T., & Lawson, D. M. (1976). Effects of alcohol on sexual arousal in women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 85, 489–497.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. T., & Lawson, D. M. (1978). Expectancies, alcohol, and sexual arousal in women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 358–367.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. T., & Niaura, R. (1984). Alcohol and the disinhibition of sexual responsiveness. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 45, 219–224.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wincze, J., Hoon, P., & Hoon, E. (1977). Sexual arousal in women: A comparison of cognitive and physiological responses by continuous measurement. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 6, 121–132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woodard, T. L., Collins, K., Perez, M., Balon, R., Tancer, M. E., Kruger, M., et al. (2008). What kind of erotic film clips should we use in female sex research? An exploratory study. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5, 146–154.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA

    Nicole Prause

  2. Department of Psychology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA

    Cameron Staley

  3. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Peter Finn

Authors
  1. Nicole Prause
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cameron Staley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peter Finn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicole Prause.

Appendix

Appendix

Description Read to Participant

You will view many slides in this task. Each screen may have a photograph of a person. Also, the screen may tell you how many sexual partners this person has had. Sometimes the screen will give you only a picture, sometimes only the statement about their number of past sexual partners, and sometimes it will give you both. You will see each person’s picture several times.

You should imagine that you have met this person at a party at a friend’s house and you are getting along quite well. This person wants you to go back to his/her apartment and have sexual intercourse with you. However, you do not have a condom and cannot be sure that they do either. Based just on the information that you are given on the screen, you will then be asked to make a judgment as to how likely you would be to have sex with them. You should make this judgment as though you do not currently have a partner. Also, although some people believe that more sexual partners increase a person’s sexual skills (or make them “good in bed”) you should only consider the number of partners as the likelihood that this person has a sexually transmitted disease. Therefore, the more sexual partners a person has had, the more likely that the person has an STD.

Please try to give your first impression and try to be as honest as possible when responding in this task. I will tell you over the intercom when to do this task. The sheet on the wall will remind you what the main features of this story are that you should remember.

Prompt Immediately Preceding the Task

You will now complete the computer task. Recall that in this situation you should think of the pictures as people that you have met at a party that are interested in you. Also remember that you should only consider the number of partners as the likelihood that the person has a sexually transmitted disease. Use the strip on the keyboard to remind you of the question that you are answering.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Prause, N., Staley, C. & Finn, P. The Effects of Acute Ethanol Consumption on Sexual Response and Sexual Risk-Taking Intent. Arch Sex Behav 40, 373–384 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9718-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9718-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation