Validation of a virtual environment for sexual aversion

Lafortune, David; Lapointe, Valérie; Canivet, Cloé; Godbout, Natacha; Boislard, Marie-Aude

doi:10.1016/j.jbct.2021.11.001

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 71 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…63% of the samples were introductory psychology students Women show a preference for female-centric pornography consumption (typically that which depicts more genuine female pleasure, natural bodies, attractive male leads, and greater context) Although effect sizes were small, women who reported viewing pornography with more female-centric features also reported more positive effects of pornography on sex life and perceptions of the other gender Gesselman et al [ 45 ] Empirical quantitative A web-based, demographically representative sample included 7,512 American adults aged 18–65 years, with a near-even gender split of men/women and moderate racial diversity (63% White) Participants who were younger, were men, had higher income, and were sexual minorities reported more frequent engagement with all forms of sextech assessed Participants indicated their engagement with eight forms of sextech, including teledildonic use and accessing virtual reality pornography as well as two more common domains (online pornography and sexting). Engagement with pornography and sexting was high, but some demographics indicated increasing engagement with new sextech Kaisar [ 41 ] Non-empirical Critical examination of how the relationship between data and sexual subjectivity is being transformed through these emerging technologies Teledildonics are marketed as a substitute for heteronormative sexual encounters whereas they are closer to a simulated experience of mutual masturbation Intimate encounters between interactive sex toys and bodies should be considered complex technological and biological assemblages, where machines and the human body come into intimate connection through datafication Lafortune et al [ 26 ••] Empirical quantitative 39 participants allocated into low ( n = 16) or high sexual aversion (SA) ( n = 23) groups. Mean age was 29.9 years (s.d .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Virtual Reality Pornography: a Review of Health-Related Opportunities and Challenges

Evans

2022

Curr Sex Health Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose of Review Virtual reality (VR) pornography is a relatively new medium for the experience of pornography. In juxtaposition with traditional modes of experiencing pornography, such as two-dimensional (2D) displays, VR promises a new experience of pornography for the user. VR can offer the feeling of ‘being there’: an increased sense of immersion and presence in a mediated experience thanks to the sensory affordances of the medium. In an effective VR environment, the user is immersed in the experience itself, feeling an embodied presence in the world presented to them and able to interact with the environment and others in the environment in ways that cannot be achieved in other media. In terms of pornography, this is potentially revolutionary. The user can be embodied in one of the performers and experience a unique perspective. Alternatively, there are interfaces that will allow for the performer and viewer to physically interact with one another and experience physical arousal from the actions of the other at a distance. The possibilities of VR pornography are therefore related to the intensity of experience, the changing relationship with the performers and others in pornographic media, and the possibility of new, embodied experiences of arousal utilising networked, embodied technologies. This research review assesses to what extent research on VR pornography has supported these possibilities, affordances, and developments. Recent Findings 23 articles were included in the present review. Findings demonstrate some increases in arousal and empathy in using VR pornography. However, further empirical evidence for these findings is still needed. In addition, teledildonic technology is lacking empirical research and the effects of the use of this technology in conjunction with VR requires research. Summary Collectively, the results underscore the notion that VR improves immersion and presence for subjects, and this can translate to increased sexual desire, empathy for performers in pornography, and sexual anxiety in watching pornography. This is a field in infancy, and the initial results of empirical work suggest that VR can intensify some key aspects of the experience of pornography. Theoretical reflections on VR pornography indicate many areas that require further empirical research.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research has also considered the increased arousal potential of VR pornography in people with sexual aversion (SA) anxiety [ 26 ••]. This study focused on sexual aversion (SA) defined as the experience of fear, disgust, and avoidance when exposed to sexual contexts or cues.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual Reality Pornography: a Review of Health-Related Opportunities and Challenges

Evans

2022

Curr Sex Health Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This technology employs computer-generated, three-dimensional environments to simulate reality (Riva, 2022). VR has already revealed its efficacy in treating sexual problems (Loranger and Bouchar, 2017;Mozgai et al, 2020;Lafortune et al, 2022), but it does not sufficiently address the challenges posed by patients' sexual stigma and fear. To receive VR-based therapy, patients still need to commute to a clinic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body, emotions, and sexuality in the metaverse: A Randomized Control Trial Exploring the Use of Second Life for an Avatar-based Intervention to support women With Female Orgasmic Disorder

Vila,

Ardoy-Cuadros,

Romero-Moreno

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A randomized controlled trial was conducted for testing the efficacy of an avatar-based intervention for women with female orgasmic disorder (FOD). The trial was registered on ClinicalTrial.gov (trial identifier: NCT06187246). Participants were 31 women who were randomly assigned to an avatar-based intervention in Second Life, or control group based on minimum therapeutic contact. The avatar-based intervention was based on the CBT and ACT approaches, and it consisted of 12 weekly online individual sessions, and aimed at improving the FOD diagnosis, sexual satisfaction, function and initiative (primary outcomes), and sexual self-esteem, sex-guilt, and sexual anxiety (secondary outcomes). Participants were assessed at baseline, after treatment, and at 1- and 3-month follow-ups. Changes over time were analyzed using linear mixed models, considering treatment group, measurement time point, and group-by-time interactions as fixed effects. Effect sizes were computed (Cohen's d; number needed to treat; reliable change index). Participants in the avatar-based intervention showed a significant improvement in every primary and secondary outcome, while control group measurements did not change over time. The differences between the baseline and posttreatment and follow-up levels for all variables, and the differences between the intervention and control group, were statistically and clinically significant. 100% of the intervention participants and 0% of the control participants recovered after the treatment. The avatar-based intervention showed the potential to eliminate the FOD disorder criteria in both the short- and long-term. The preliminary results of this study suggest that women with FOD might benefit from an avatar-based intervention specifically designed to target the disorder.

show abstract

“…Customized and realistic VR environments provide a safe, standardized, controllable, and ecologically valid method to elicit cognitions and emotions comparable to those experienced in the real world (Bell et al 2022). Consequently, a growing body of research in psychology utilizes VR to study disgust in the general population and in clinically speci c contexts, including arachnophobia and contamination-related compulsions (Ammann et al 2020; Belloch et al 2014; Dozio et al 2022; Inozu et al 2020, 2021; Olatunji et al 2009; Somarathna et al 2022).VR can generate realistic cues and situations related to sexual disgust, such as bodily uids, simulated genital touching, or the perception of another person's sexual interest, thus providing strong experimental control to safely and progressively expose individuals to speci c stimuli, including sexual characters or environments(Lafortune et al 2022). VR simulations can also be repeatedly experienced and tailored to diverse levels of sexual explicitness and behavioral involvement that would be impossible to ethically recreate or control in a laboratory setting or with real-life sexual stimuli(Dubé et al 2022).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining sexual functioning and disgust in virtual reality: low desire and sexual pain predict disgust toward virtual sexual stimuli

Lafortune,

Lapointe,

Dubé

et al. 2023

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sexual dysfunctions are prevalent and impair the lives and intimate relationships of up to one-third of the population. Virtual reality (VR) offers promising avenues for the study of sexual dysfunctions; however, little attention has been given to the use of VR in sex research. Sexual disgust appears to be positively related with lower sexual functioning, but empirical research remains scarce and mainly relies on cross-sectional retrospective data. This study examines whether four domains of low sexual functioning—i.e., low sexual interest/arousal, lubrication/erection difficulties, difficulties in reaching orgasm, and sexual pain—are associated with disgust experienced towards sexual stimuli in VR. Seventy individuals completed self-reported questionnaires on sexual functioning and sexual disgust propensity. They then participated in two VR behavioral tests, which included sexual and non-sexual stimuli. Disgust and sexual arousal were measured after each test. Participants also completed a questionnaire on sexual presence immediately after immersion. Bivariate correlational analyses and multivariate regression models were performed. Results show that sexual disgust propensity positively correlates with disgust ratings in the sexual test (r = .48), while sexual presence positively relates to sexual arousal (r = .41). Both lower sexual interest/arousal and increased pain during sex predicted greater disgust during the sexual test (β = .37 – .39). These findings support the relationship between sexual disgust and both impaired sexual interest/arousal and sexual pain, and confirm the relevance of using VR sexual stimuli in sex research.

show abstract

Validation of a virtual environment for sexual aversion

Cited by 11 publications

References 71 publications

Virtual Reality Pornography: a Review of Health-Related Opportunities and Challenges

Virtual Reality Pornography: a Review of Health-Related Opportunities and Challenges

Body, emotions, and sexuality in the metaverse: A Randomized Control Trial Exploring the Use of Second Life for an Avatar-based Intervention to support women With Female Orgasmic Disorder

Examining sexual functioning and disgust in virtual reality: low desire and sexual pain predict disgust toward virtual sexual stimuli

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About