Buente, Veronika (2023) Sexual arousal and pain: The influence of sexual arousal on subjective pain intensity and pain tolerance during a cold pressor test in women. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Introduction. Research has shown that orgasm and vaginal self- stimulation can reduce pain. However, research regarding the question if sexual arousal on its own has a similar effect is contradicting. Therefore, the current aims to clear up these contradicting results by investigating if whether sexual arousal without self-stimulation moderates pain tolerance and pain intensity while controlling for disgust. Method. One-hundred and seventy-four heterosexual female first year students were randomly assigned to either the neutral, the female-friendly or the original porn condition. While watching either the neutral film or one of the two pornographic films, the participants performed a cold pressor task which was used to induce pain. Furthermore, subjective sexual arousal, disgust and pain intensity were measured via visual analogue scales. Results. Sexual arousal was sufficiently induced in the original and female-friend condition compared to the neutral condition. However, the results indicate that sexual arousal did not significantly reduce pain intensity and did not significantly increase pain tolerance. Conclusion. The study results do not support the hypothesis that sexual arousal on its own without self-stimulation is sufficient in moderating pain intensity and pain tolerance Keywords. sexual arousal, pain intensity, pain tolerance, cold pressor task, women
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Supervisor name: | Borg, C. and Lakhsassi, L. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Jul 2023 09:38 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Jul 2023 09:38 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/2225 |
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