Final answer:
Sexual arousal and response are multifaceted, involving both physiological measures like penile tumescence and psychological factors, which can influence individual experiences of arousal, as seen in studies examining the relation between homophobia and arousal responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Sexual Arousal and Response
Sexual arousal is a complex process that can be influenced by a range of psychological and physiological factors. During research studies, such as those conducted by Adams et al. (1996), changes in penile tumescence were used as a measure of physiological genital arousal during exposure to sexually explicit videos. These studies highlight the complexities of human sexuality, including how individual responses can differ based on sexual orientation, psychological factors, and social attitudes towards sex.
Sexual response in humans involves a sexual response cycle with four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. This cycle shows how both psychological and physical elements contribute to sexual experiences. The physiological aspects include blood engorgement in the erectile tissues among both sexes, as observed in the excitement phase.
The study also alludes to the idea that personal identity and societal norms, such as those mentioned in the findings related to homophobia and sexual arousal, play a role in sexual behavior. These insights are crucial for understanding the individual variations in sexual response and the impact of psychological factors like denial or lack of awareness.