Sex differences, androgyny, and approach responses to erotica: A new variation on the old volunteer problem.

In Study 1, 52 male and 41 female college students were ostensibly given a choice between a hard-core, "lustful" film and a soft-core, "loving" film. Consistent with predictions, results indicate relatively less approach of the lustful theme film by females. Study 2 was a field experiment in which 43 female and 41 male college students were contacted by telephone and asked to volunteer for an experiment involving erotica or one involving perception of geometric figures. Females were less likely than males to volunteer for a study involving erotica, regardless of whether it was described as hard- or soft-core in nature. Results for Ss who had completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory indicated that the effect was obtained only for sex-typed (vs androgynous) Ss. The possible influence of S self-selection on laboratory studies in this area is considered. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)