Sex Differences in the Motivation for Viewing Sexually Arousing Images

Abstract Sexual motivation strongly influences mate choice and dating behavior can be triggered by merely viewing sexually arousing visual images, such as erotic pictures movies. Previous studies suggested that men, more than women, tend to search for sexual cues signal promiscuity in short-term mates. However, it remains tested whether sex differences the view observed using robust well-controlled behavioral measures. To this end, we employed a pay-per-view key-pressing task. Japanese self-identified heterosexual male female participants viewed images of or couples with two levels arousal (sexual vs. less sexual). Participants could alter time presented image according their willingness keep it. Male were most eager opposite sex, whereas motivated couples. Such may reflect differentiated reproductive strategies between men women terms men’s toward women’s long-term relationships.