Sexual arousal is the process and state of an animal being ready for sexual intercourse.
Table of contents |
1.1 Causes of human sexual arousal
2 Sexual arousal in other animals1.2 Signs of human sexual arousal 1.3 Homophobia and sexual arousal 3 Related topics |
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.
Common to both sexes:
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.
Human sexual arousal
Causes of human sexual arousal
Signs of human sexual arousal
Male sexual arousal:
Female sexual arousal:
Homophobia and sexual arousal
Sexual arousal in other animals
Related topics