Profiles of Subjective Sexual Arousal in Response to Pornography Exposure and Their Association with Problematic Pornography Use: A Cluster Analytic Approach

Previous literature suggests that higher subjective sexual responsivity may increase the risk of problematic pornography use (PPU), although this assumption remains debated. Empirical studies are scarce, and the methodology used could be improved. We examined individuals’ subjective sexual arousal responses and their association with PPU. A total of 219 men and women completed an experimental task in which they self-reported subjective sexual arousal every 20 s during a pornographic film. Profiles were identified using time-series clustering techniques. Participants also reported their online and offline sexual behavior, PPU, other out-of-control sexual behaviors, and dispositional variables (sexual sensation-seeking, impulsivity, affect). Three response patterns emerged: “non-responsive” (36.5%), “low-responsive” (38.8%), and “moderate-responsive” (24.7%). Most participants experienced sexual responsivity during pornography exposure, but a significant proportion did not (non-responsive profile). Those with a non-responsive profile displayed a lower lifetime pornography use (81.25%) than responsive profiles (low-responsive: 95.3%; moderate-responsive: 98.1%; p<.01) and reported less weekly time on the internet for sexual purposes (1.10 h) than the moderate-responsive profile (2.20 h; p<.05), suggesting a possible relationship between arousal responsivity and non-problematic use. No significant differences emerged between profiles in PPU indicators, suggesting that subjective sexual arousal during pornography use is not related to risk of PPU