Not intending but somewhat willing: The influence of visual primes on risky sex decisions

Abstract

Objectives This article investigates a potential mechanism underlying the “sexually conservative puzzle” (the scenario where people reporting little to no casual sex intentions nevertheless go on to engage in casual sex). Methods In two experiments, we tested whether people reporting no behavioral intentions (BI) for casual sex were nevertheless more responsive to risk-conducive cues, when compared to those with some BI. Responsiveness to cues was assessed in terms of increases in behavioral willingness (BW) for casual sex. Results In Study 1, subliminal priming of sexual images (vs. control images) increased the casual sex BW of male undergraduates—but only among those who had previously reported no BI for casual sex in a baseline survey. In Study 2, these results were replicated using supraliminal priming with a more diverse online sample; effects were not moderated by age, education, or relationship status. Conclusions Overall, these findings suggest that although sexually conservative people often do not plan on having sex (i.e., they have no BI), for some, their reactive, context-sensitive decision-making (i.e., their BW) can be swayed in the presence of risk-conducive cues.

Examining daily variability in willingness to drink in relation to underage young adult alcohol use

“…Although there are studies using priming that demonstrate that the mere exposure to risk-inductive cues can increase associated risk cognitions and behavior (Bartholow & Heinz, 2006; Harris, Brownell, & Bargh, 2009; Roberts, Gibbons, Kingsbury, & Gerrard, 2014), little is known about actual real-life daily variations in risk-conducive situations and how they impact risk cognitions. As such, the present study is an important first step in understanding how risk cognitions such as behavioral willingness are sensitive to daily changes in context.…”

Liking a Sexual Character Affects Willingness to Have Casual Sex

“…For example, when dissatisfaction within a relationship is caused by sexual dissatisfaction within the relationship (Sprecher & Cate, 2004), women may be more susceptible to sexual media content than when dissatisfaction is caused by nonsexual factors. Moreover, a study by Roberts et al (2013) showed that the effect of showing erotic material to men on willingness to engage in casual sex was affected by behavioral intentions to engage in casual sex. Thus, differences in behavioral intentions, together with different reasons for women’s satisfaction with their relationship or being single, should be taken into account in future research.…”

The understudied half of undergraduates: Risky sexual behaviors among community college students

“…According to some studies, people may be more willing to engage in these behaviors or act irrationally in the moment (due to arousal, when visually primed, or peer-pressured), but have lower explicit intentions to engage in these behaviors in the abstract. 65 Future research might examine willingness to engage in risky sexual behaviors, under a range of interpersonal and contextual conditions, in addition to assessing behavioral intentions. Furthermore, this study uses intentions as a proxy for actual behavior.…”