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Implicit Measures in Clinical Sex Research: A Critical Evaluation
Jessica Hinzmann1, Charmaine Borg2, Peter J de Jong2
1Department of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
Sexual Medicine Reviews
|August 10, 2020
Summary
Implicit measures show promise for understanding sexual dysfunctions by assessing automatic cognitive processes. Further research is needed to refine these tools for clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sexology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Current models of sexual arousal highlight the role of automatic affective-motivational processes.
- Dysfunctional automatic processes are implicated in the development and persistence of sexual dysfunctions.
- Implicit, performance-based measures are needed to assess automatic processes, as self-report measures are insufficient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review studies utilizing implicit tasks in clinical sexual research.
- To critically evaluate the contribution and potential of implicit measures in understanding sexual dysfunction mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of six electronic databases (AMED, MEDLINE, PsycArticles, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, PsycINFO, SocINDEX) was conducted.
- Studies involving implicit measurement techniques for automatic processes in clinical sex research were included.
Main Results:
- Preliminary evidence suggests lowered attention to sexual stimuli is linked to low sexual arousal.
- Mixed findings exist for desire and genital pain, potentially due to varied assessment tools.
- Studies revealed negative automatic associations with sexual cues in women with genito-pelvic pain or penetration disorder, and less positive associations in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Men with sexual distress showed sex-positive and sex-failure associations.
Conclusions:
- Implicit measures demonstrate potential for indexing automatic, sex-relevant cognitive mechanisms in sexual dysfunctions.
- More systematic research and development of psychometrically sound implicit measures are crucial.
- These refined measures could enhance the evaluation of implicit measures in clinical sex research and their utility for assessing individual differences.
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