The semantic meaning of pornographic stimuli for college males

Obtained semantic differential ratings from 40 male college students on 12 scales of 15 slides depicting sexual behavior. In addition, the time spent looking at each slide was recorded. Results indicate that the meaning structure of pornography involved only the evaluative and activity factors. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of behavioural science 1972-07, Vol.4 (3), p.204-209
Main Author: Ware, Edward E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Human
Inhibition (Personality)
Pornography
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Summary:Obtained semantic differential ratings from 40 male college students on 12 scales of 15 slides depicting sexual behavior. In addition, the time spent looking at each slide was recorded. Results indicate that the meaning structure of pornography involved only the evaluative and activity factors. The potency factor, usually found in other domains of concepts, collapsed into this 2-space and provided no further information. High ratings of pornography were closely associated with low evaluative ratings and high activity ratings, i.e., very pornographic material was seen as bad, unpleasant, dirty, and harmful; and also as active, hot, and stimulating. Looking time was closely related to the activity factor ratings of the slides and moderately related to the evaluative ratings. Thus, the determinants of looking time were the same as those of the pornography ratings, but with their relative contributions reversed. (French summary)
ISSN:0008-400X
1879-2669
DOI:10.1037/h0082305