Increasing neutral distraction inhibits genital but not subjective sexual arousal of sexually functional and dysfunctional men.

Archives of Sexual Behavior,  December, 2004  by Jacques J.D.M. van Lankveld

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INTRODUCTION

Psychological conceptualizations of sexual arousal disorder in men suggest a key role for attentional resource limitations in etiology and problem maintenance (Barlow, 1986; Geer & Fuhr, 1976; Sbrocco & Barlow, 1996). Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) are hypothesized to direct their attention, either consciously or unconsciously, to external or internal stimuli to such an extent that it might serve to inhibit sexual reactivity. They are held to process nonsexual thought content when they appraise a situation as demanding their sexual performance (Abrahamson, Barlow, Sakheim, Beck, & Athanasiou, 1985; Barlow, 1986). Thought content may include neutral nonsexual topics, such as ...