Contingent negative variation (CNV) and erotic preference in self-declared homosexuals and in child sex offenders

Contingent negative variation (CNV) was recorded bilaterally from central electrodes using a "match/mismatch" paradigm in (Study 1) samples of heterosexual men (N = 6), gay men (N = 10) and lesbian women (N = 14) and (Study 2) in samples of child sex offenders (N = 34) and heterosexual control men (N = 19). Sexual orientation was assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Sexuality (MSS) and the Human Sexuality Questionnaire (HSQ). Separate CNV averages were formed for each condition of stimulation: for Study 1, slides of adult male and female nudes; for Study 2, slides of child, pubescent and adult male and female nudes. Penile plethysmographic (PPG) data were also obtained from 15 of the child sex offender sample while they viewed stimuli of the same categories as were used in the CNV recording. On the basis of their PPG responses to children, child sex offenders were classified as either "pedophiles" or "non-pedophiles". In Study 1 significant Group x Sex (of slide) and Group x Electrode interactions indicated that: (i) heterosexual men (but neither homosexual group) showed significantly larger CNVs to female than to male slides; (ii) both homosexual groups showed significantly asymmetrical (R > L) CNVs. In Study 2, controls showed significantly greater CNVs to adult females than to both adult males and female children. Child sex offenders showed no significant differences in CNV to male and female slides for any age. "Non-pedophiles" showed significantly larger CNVs to female adults than to female children, but "pedophiles" did not. It is concluded that CNV has promise as a measure of both deviant and non-deviant sexual preference.     

Maximizing the discriminant validity of phallometric assessment data.

Independent data sets from phallometric assessment studies were analyzed to examine methods of maximizing the discriminant validity of phallometric testing. Community volunteers and non-sex-offender patients were compared with rapists and child molesters recruited primarily from a maximum security psychiatric institution. The results indicate that the discriminant validity of phallometric assessment was enhanced by the use of (1) z (rather than raw) scores to compensate for individual differences in responsivity, (2) deviance indexes (computed by calculating the difference in responsivity between deviant and nondeviant stimuli) rather than responses to deviant categories alone, (3) stimuli depicting brutal sexual coercion, and (4) pubescent stimuli for assessing sexual age preferences. Discriminant validity was unimpaired by including Ss with low levels of response. The implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Men who molest their sexually immature daughters: is a special explanation required?

Child molesters who target their own children have been described as low risk and not pedophilic. Men who had molested a daughter or stepdaughter (n=82) were compared to 102 molesters whose only female victims were extrafamilial. Men who offended against their own daughters had less deviant sexual age preferences and were less likely to commit new violent and sexual offenses. However, the father-daughter molesters exhibited an average absolute phallometric preference for prepubertal children and had a violent recidivism rate of 22% in a follow-up of less than 5 years. Actuarial risk assessment instruments (the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide and the Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide; V. L. Quinsey, G. T. Harris, M. E. Rice, and C. A. Cormier, 1998) worked as well for intrafamilial child molesters as for other sex offenders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexual preference similarity, attitude similarity, and perceived counseling credibility and attractiveness.

84 17–66 yr old homosexual men identified as holding either an activist or a nonactivist stance on gay advocacy rated the counselor's credibility and attractiveness on the Counselor Rating Form after listening to an audiotape-recorded segment of a counseling interview between a male counselor and a male client expressing sexual preference concerns. Ss heard the same counseling interaction except for counselor responses to 2 client questions, one related to counselor sexual preference and one related to counselor stance on gay advocacy. The counselor was rated more Expert, Trustworthy, and Attractive when he stated a sexual preference for men than when he stated a sexual preference for women or refrained from stating a sexual preference. Attractiveness ratings were a function of attitude similarity between the counselor portrayed on the tape recording and Ss in the study. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Expression of flavor preference depends on type of test and on recent drinking history.

The persistence of a conditioned flavor preference was examined in 3 experiments. All contained an initial acquisition phase in which half the rats were given almond odor mixed with sucrose (AS) in some sessions and water (W) only in other sessions, whereas the other half (controls) were given explicitly unpaired exposures to almond (A) and sucrose (S) in separate sessions. Subsequent 2-bottle choice tests revealed a persistent preference for A, despite extinction exposure to A or S, but this depended on the choice offered on test: Exposure to A did not extinguish the preference for A over W but did reduce the preference for AS over S; conversely, exposure to S did not extinguish the preference for AS over S but did reduce the preference for A over W. These results indicate that flavor preferences can be resistant to extinction procedures but suggest that the expression of such preferences in choice tests depends on an adaptation-level process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Brand loyalty revisited: A twenty-year report.

Consistency of brand preferences and the relationship between preferences and use were investigated by mail questionnaires 20 years after original preferences were specified. Reasons for discrepancies between current preferences and use were also solicited. The relationships between consistencies of the 162 respondents and some standard personal characteristics were determined. Average amount of agreement for stated preferences separated by a 20-year span was 26%, and for preference in 1941 and use in 1961 was 23%. A small degree of relationship was found between intelligence and preference agreement and original socioeconomic status and preference agreement. There was no evidence of a general factor of loyalty. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The paternally expressed gene Peg3 regulates sexual experience-dependent preferences for estrous odors.

Sexual experience has marked and long-lasting effects on male behavior in mammals, regulating traits such as the anticipation and display of sexual behavior, aggression, and olfaction. The authors conducted urine preference, habituation-dishabituation, and partner choice tests with sexually experienced and naive male mice and found that wild-type males acquire adaptively significant preferences for the odors of receptive, estrous females with sexual experience, and that these preferences are matched by changes in main olfactory system responses involving the piriform cortex, as indicated by c-Fos expression. The authors also report that these experiential effects are disrupted in male mice carrying a knockout of the imprinted gene Peg3. This paternally expressed gene regulates maternal care and offspring development, but the authors here report that Peg3 mutant males suffer a complex olfactory deficit that affects estrous odor preferences and the responses of the main olfactory system to such odors. Peg3 appears to have evolved to regulate the experience-dependent preference for receptive females, an adaptive trait that would enhance male reproductive success and so potentially increase paternal transmission of this paternally expressed gene. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-lasting effects of IMHV lesions on social preferences in domestic fowl.

Imprinting leads to strong filial attachment to the mother. Later it influences mate choice. Although nothing is known about the brain regions involved in adult sexual preferences, a particular region of the domestic chick's forebrain (IMHV) has been implicated in filial imprinting. In the present experiment lesions were placed in this region of female chicks soon after hatching. When these and control birds were adult, their sexual preferences were tested. The sham-operated control females had preferences for a male that differed slightly from one with which they had been reared. In contrast, females with lesions did not show a clear preference. It is suggested that the lesion impairs filial and sexual imprinting by disrupting the ability of chicks to learn the characteristics of individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Formation of equivalence sets in pigeons.

Pigeons were reinforced for responding to a set of 20 out of 40 photographic slides, all 40 of which contained trees. The 40 slides were seen twice each day, in a different random order each time. After several sessions, the reinforcement contingencies were reversed: Previously positive slides were made negative, and previously negative slides, positive. After several more sessions, contingencies were again reversed, and so on throughout the experiment. Early in training, rho (the probability of ranking a positive over a negative) was less than .5 for the first 40 slides in the sessions in which the contingencies were reversed, indicating that the birds were continuing to respond approximately as they had in the previous session. Later in the experiment, rho for reversal sessions climbed above .5, indicating that with exposure to the reversed contingency for just the initial slides in the first session of reversal, the birds then responded correctly to most of the rest of the slides. The birds had learned arbitrary stimulus equivalences, so that the reversed reinforcement contingencies for slides at the beginning of a session predicted reversed contingencies for the other slides in the respective sets. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The use of bouts and frequencies in the evaluation of hand preferences for a coordinated bimanual task in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): An empirical study comparing two different indices of laterality.

Hand preferences for a coordinated bimanual task were assessed in 109 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Hand preference was evaluated for 4 test sessions using bouts and frequencies of hand use to compare the sensitivity of each level of analysis in evaluating individual variation in handedness. Overall, significant population-level right-handedness was found using several different measures of hand use. Handedness indices based on bouts and frequencies were highly and significantly correlated. Moreover, hand preferences were consistent across tests despite efforts to situationally bias preference during each test. Taken together, these data do not support the view that bouts are a better level of analysis for evaluating hand preference. The results further suggest that hand preferences for coordinated bimanual actions are not influenced by situational factors and may reflect an inherent specialization of the left hemisphere for motor skill. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Aversion therapy for sexual deviation: Contingent shock and covert sensitization.

Studied 2 different aversion therapy approaches to the treatment of sexual deviation (e.g., homosexuality) in 6 clinical referrals. Covert sensitization, which provides an imagined aversive event following imagined sexual behavior, was compared with contingent shock, which provides a physical aversive event following erection to slides depicting sexually deviant material. Replicated, counterbalanced within-S presentations of each technique were used. Treatment effects were monitored by measurement of penile circumference changes during slides presented prior to treatment sessions, and by daily subjective recording of sexual urges and fantasies as well as masturbation and sexual acts. No clear difference was found between the treatments on the penile circumference measure. On suppression of subjective measures of sexual arousal, however, covert sensitization appeared to be more effective than contingent shock. Follow-up of 4-18 mo. is reported for the individual cases. (37 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counseling style preference of international students.

Examined, with a single-S research design, the counseling-style preference of 6 international clients and 1 White-American client within and across 4 counseling sessions. All clients first listened to an audiotape (analog) counseling session containing a problem-solving approach and a client-centered approach and rated both approaches. The clients then rated these 2 counseling styles in actual counseling sessions. In contrast to past research findings, no overall preference was found for either approach. Preferences for a particular counseling style also changed from session to session. In addition, preferences exhibited during the analog portion of the study were often different from those expressed during the actual counseling sessions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Early hormonal influences on childhood sex-typed activity and playmate preferences: Implications for the development of sexual orientation.

Early hormones have been hypothesized to influence both sexual orientation and related childhood sex-typed behaviors. This study examined hormonal influences on activity and playmate preferences in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) aged 2.5–12 yrs (24 girls, 19 boys) and their relatives (16 girls, 25 boys). CAH girls preferred boys' toys and activities. They also had greater preference for boy playmates than controls, but this was largely attributable to 4 girls. CAH boys did not differ significantly from controls. Activity and playmate preferences were not related. It was concluded that early androgen has a major effect on childhood activity preferences but only a weak influence on playmate preferences; sex segregation does not arise from sex-typed activity preferences; activity and playmate preferences may be differently predictive of sexual orientation; and hormonal influences on sexual orientation are likely to be complex. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex stereotypes and preferences in the toy choices of 20-month-old boys and girls.

Examined the toy preferences of 20-mo-old Ss under free play and modeling conditions. The relationship between toy familiarity and preference was also studied. The interaction between sex of child and sex-type of toy was significant. The hypothesis that toy contacts or imitation would be associated with toy familiarity was not supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Music-induced context preference following cocaine conditioning in rats.

Traditional models of drug-seeking behavior have shown that exposure to associated environmental cues can trigger relapse. These learned associations take place during repeated drug administration, resulting in conditioned reinforcement. Although considerable investigation has occurred regarding simple conditioned stimuli, less is known about complex environmental cues, particularly those that may be salient in human addiction. Recent studies indicate that music can serve as a contextual conditioned stimulus in rats and influence drug-seeking behavior during abstinence. The purpose of the present study was to further assess the effectiveness of music as a conditioned stimulus in rats, to determine rats' preferences for two contrasting pieces of music, and to determine rats' preferences for music versus silence. To this end, we created an apparatus that gave instrumental control of musical choice (Miles Davis vs. Beethoven) to the rats themselves. After determining baseline musical preference, animals were conditioned with cocaine (10 mg/kg) to the music they initially preferred least, with alternating conditioning sessions pairing saline with the music preferred most. The animals were subsequently tested in a drug-free state to determine what effect this conditioning had on musical preference. The results indicate that music serves as an effective contextual conditioned stimulus, significantly increasing both musical preference and locomotor activity after repeated cocaine conditioning. Furthermore, we found that rats initially favor silence over music, but that this preference can be altered as a result of cocaine-paired conditioning. These findings demonstrate that, after repeated association with reward (cocaine), music can engender a conditioned context preference in rats; these findings are consistent with other evidence showing that musical contextual cues can reinstate drug-seeking behavior in rats. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of brightness preferences in young chicks: Effects on brightness discrimination learning.

Conducted 7 experiments with a total of 256 1-3 day old Vantress * Arbor Acre chicks to investigate the effects of interactions between the S and its sensory environment on both emergence of brightness preferences and modification by conditioning. In a simultaneous brightness discrimination, Ss were rewarded with heat for approaching either a bright or dim stimulus. Results indicate (a) brightness preference was so stable that it could not be eliminated by incubating, hatching, and rearing in the dark; (b) light experience significantly increased this preference; and (c) modification of this preference by heat reinforcement depended on age of S, prior rearing condition, sensory stimulation between testing sessions, and the length of interval between testing sessions. (28 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fifth-grade students as emotional helpers with kindergartners: Using play therapy procedures and skills.

This research study investigated the effectiveness of a filial therapy training model as a method to train 5th-grade students in child-centered play therapy skills and procedures. The 5th-grade students were trained to be therapeutic change agents in weekly play sessions with kindergarten children identified as having adjustment difficulties. Skill acquisition was assessed by videotaping 5th-grade student participants playing with a kindergarten child identified as having adjustment difficulties in 20-min play sessions before and after the training. Analysis of covariance on adjusted posttest means revealed that 5th-grade children in the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant increases in empathic responses, behavioral willingness to follow the kindergarten children's lead, and involvement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Emotion in the criminal psychopath: Startle reflex modulation.

Measured startle-elicited blinks during presentation of affective slides to test hypotheses concerning emotional responding in psychopaths. Ss were 54 incarcerated sexual offenders divided into nonpsychopathic, psychopathic, and mixed groups based on file and interview data. Consistent with findings for normal college students, nonpsychopaths and mixed Ss showed a significant linear relationship between slide valence and startle magnitude, with startle responses largest during unpleasant slides and smallest during pleasant slides. This effect was absent in psychopaths. Group differences in startle modulation were related to affective features of psychopathy, but not to antisocial behavior per se. Psychopathy had no effect on autonomic or self-report responses to slides. These results suggest an abnormality in the processing of emotional stimuli by psychopaths that manifests itself independently of affective report. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subjective versus objective measurements of deviant sexual arousal in clinical evaluations of alleged child molesters.

Psychological assessments of sex offenders involve evaluating deviant sexual arousal. We evaluated 24 male alleged child molesters and 23 normal control subjects, comparing self-reports of sexual interest with physiological responses during penile plethysmography. Alleged child molesters reported more subjective arousal to children than did normals; subjective and objective measurements were significantly correlated for alleged child molesters' response to children and normals' response to adults; alleged nonincestuous offenders had significantly higher subjective response to pictures of children than did alleged incestuous offenders; and both alleged child molesters and normals reported sexual arousal despite showing no penile responses, and repulsion despite showing significant penile responses. Results suggest that self-reports of deviant arousal in conjunction with penile plethysmography can help in differentiating pedophiles from normals and can provide critical information for clearer, more comprehensive assessments of deviant sexual arousal and denial of deviant sexual arousal than that obtainable from plethysmography alone. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)