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A Test of Three Different Explanations for Low Stimulus Response Discrimination in Phallometric Testing
Skye Stephens1, Michael C Seto2, Martin L Lalumière3
1Department of Psychology, Saint Mary's University.
Journal of Sex Research
|June 22, 2022
Summary
Phallometric assessment for men with sexual interest in children revealed indiscriminate penile responses. Explanations like faking good, arousal effects, or non-exclusivity showed limited impact on this pattern.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Sexology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Phallometric assessment is crucial for evaluating sexual interest in children.
- Indiscriminate penile responses are common in forensic contexts.
- Potential causes include faking good, arousal effects, and non-exclusivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causes of indiscriminate penile responses in phallometric assessments.
- To test the hypotheses of faking good, arousal effects, and non-exclusivity.
Main Methods:
- Volumetric phallometric assessment.
- Analysis of 2,858 adult male patients' data from 1995-2011.
- Statistical testing of three proposed explanations for response patterns.
Main Results:
- Evidence supported faking good, arousal effects, and non-exclusivity as explanations.
- Each explanation accounted for a small amount of variance in response discrimination.
- Combined explanations also showed limited explanatory power.
Conclusions:
- The causes of indiscriminate responding in phallometric assessment remain not fully understood.
- Future research is needed to better identify the factors contributing to this response pattern.
- Understanding these patterns is vital for accurate risk assessment and treatment planning.
