The document summarizes three experiments from Dutton & Aron's 1974 study that tested the hypothesis that males experiencing a strong emotion (fear) would find an attractive female more sexually appealing than males not experiencing fear. Experiment 1 found that males crossing a shaky suspension bridge rated a female interviewer as more sexually attractive than males crossing a safer bridge. However, subjects were not randomly assigned. Experiment 2 addressed this issue and replicated the results. Experiment 3 induced anxiety through electric shocks and also found that males experiencing fear found an attractive female confederate as more sexually appealing. The study provided evidence supporting the link between emotions and increased sexual attraction.

1. Evidenceforanemotion-sexualattraction link The experimental design and operationalization of the Dutton & Aron (1974) study Nadine Bol Mark Boukes 12-02-2010 Experimentation

2. Content Aim of Dutton & Aron’s studies Experimental designs and operationalization Conclusion 1

3. Aim of Dutton & Aron’s studies To test the “notionthatanattractivefemale is seen as more attractivebymaleswhoencounter her whiletheyexperience a strongemotion (fear) thanbymalesnotexperiencing a strongemotion” (p. 511) 2

4. Experiment 1 Subjects: males 18-35yr, unaccompanied by a female X = Anxiety, operationalized by Capilano Canyon Suspension Bridge (X1) or “control” bridge (X2) Y = Sex of interviewer Female (Y1) or male (Y2) O = Sexual attraction TAT, telephone calls C = Manipulation check Fearfulness of bridge check (questionnaire and observation) No arousal check (suspicion) 3 Group 1: X1 Y1 O C Group 2: X2 Y1 O C Group 3: X1 Y2 O C Group 4: X2 Y2 O C

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6. Results experiment 1: twobridges Sexualimagery scores Behavioral data (telephonecalls) The experimentalcondition (Group 1) had a significant higher score onbothdependent variables 5

7. However… Subjectswerenotrandomlyassigned to one of the conditions 6

8. Experiment 2: one bridge Subjects: males 18-35yr, unaccompanied by a female X = Anxiety, operationalized by Crossing the bridge (X1) or crossed the bridge 10min ago (X2) Y = Sex of interviewer Female (Y1) O = Sexual attraction TAT, telephone calls C = Manipulation check Was not necessary 7 Group 1: X1 Y1 O C Group 2: X2 Y1 O C

9. Results experiment 2 Sexualimagery scores Behavioral data (telephonecalls) The experimentalcondition (Group 1) had a significant higher score onbothdependent variables 8

10. However… Therecouldnotbecontrolledfornonverbalcommunication of interviewer (lady in distress effect). 9

11. Experiment 3: electric shocks Subjects: males 18-35yr, unaccompanied by a female X = Anxiety, operationalized by Expect to receive a strong shock (X1) receiving a weak shock(X2) Y = Expect to receive shock confederate female Strong (Y1) or weak (Y2) O = Sexual attraction Questionnaire, TAT C = Manipulation check Anxiety check (questionnaire) 10 Group 1: X1 Y1 O C Group 2: X2 Y1 O C Group 3: X1 Y2 O C Group 4: X2 Y2 O C

12. Results experiment 3 Attraction ratings Sexualimagery scores Strong shocks lead to higherattraction ratings. Sexualimagery scores werehigherwhen the subject received a strong shock butonlywhen the femaleconfederatealsoreceived a strong shock 11

13. Conclusion Support foranemotion-sexualattraction link was found The emotionfearcanlead to sexualattration Notgeneralizable 12

14. Thankyouforyourattention Dutton, D. G., & Aron, A. P. (1974). Someevidenceforheightenedsexualattractionunderconditions of high anxiety. Journal of Personality and SocialPsychology, 30(4), 510-517. 13