Evolution and laboratory research on men’s sexual arousal: What do the data show and how can we explain them?
Abstract
The Thornhills present an intriguing analysis of evolutionary factors that may have contributed to men's sexual arousal pat- terns, with particular relevance to rape. An important part of their analysis pertains to laboratory research on men's sexual arousal. As one of the contributors to that literature. I believe there is a need to clarify further some of the findings reviewed by the Thornhills. On the basis of such a clarification and on some theoretical inconsistencies, I question the current version of the "adaptation to rape" hypothesis. In addition, I suggest some building blocks that I believe need to be incorporated into a revised information processing model. Finally, I point to the need to account for individual-differences data, which have revealed contrasting sexual arousal patterns among substantial portions of the male population.