The DOI matches its Crossref record; 229 of the 232 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
An Integrative Theoretical Framework for Understanding Sexual Motivation, Arousal, and Behavior
Abstract
An integrative theoretical framework and model for understanding sexual motivation, arousal, and behavior is presented, combining the principles of incentive motivation theory and the hierarchical control of behavior. It is intended to stimulate discussion. The framework can serve as a "route map" in understanding the links between different component processes and their interactions, as well as the relations between different academic perspectives on understanding sexuality. It is suggested that both excitation and inhibition of sexual motivation, arousal, and behavior act at various levels in a hierarchical structure, and much confusion can be avoided by distinguishing these levels. The model integrates information from different branches of psychology: biological, evolutionary, clinical, cognitive, developmental, and social. It describes interactions between sexual behavior and anxiety, attachment, aggression, and drug taking; and it is applied to gender differences, evolutionary psychology, sexual deviancy, sexual addiction, and the biological bases of sexuality.
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In the citing paper
“Much evidence has been gathered to favor a dual-systems model of behavior (Pool & Sander, 2019;Strack and Deutsch, 2004), including sexual behavior (Toates, 2009(Toates, , 2014)).”
From A motivation model of sex addiction – Relevance to the controversy over the concept (2022) · cites this paper as Toates, 2009
In the citing paper
“Toates (2009) fitted this to the notion of dual control, with Janssen and Bancroft's 'fear of performance failure' corresponding to stimulus-driven inhibition (e.g. a loud sound, foul odor, perception of erectile difficulty) (Box B), and 'fear of performance consequences' corresponding to goal-directed inhibition (e.g. a wish to retain fidelity) (Box D).”
From A motivation model of sex addiction – Relevance to the controversy over the concept (2022) · cites this paper as Toates, 2009
In the citing paper
“That is, sexual desire does not emerge spontaneously, but requires conscious effort, planning, and an intimate context to create opportunities for having sex.16,17”
From A Psychosocial Approach to Erectile Dysfunction: Position Statements from the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM) (2021) · cites this paper as [17]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Toates, F.
- Affiliations
- The Open University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Toates, Frederick
- Venue
- Journal of Sex Research
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2009-03-17
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 2-3
- Pages
- 168-193
- ISSN
- 0022-4499 (ISSN-L)
- 1559-8519
- OpenAlex
- W2006544947
- Cited by
- 339
- References
- 232
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 1.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Sex Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Open Research Online (The Open University) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Keywords
- sexual motivation, sexual arousal, sexual behavior, excitation and inhibition, anxiety, attachment, aggression, drug use, gender differences, evolutionary psychology, sexual deviance, sexual addiction
- MeSH terms
- Aggression, Anxiety, Arousal, Cognition, Female, Humans, Inhibition, Psychological, Male, Models, Psychological, Motivation, Psychological Theory, Sexual Behavior, Social Behavior, Behavior, Addictive
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