Disgust responses to virtual erotica: Analysis of their interaction with sexual anxiety and immersive tendencies

Abstract

Previous research suggests that experiencing disgust in sexual contexts may negatively impact sexual satisfaction and functioning. However, little is known about the mechanisms (e.g., sexual anxiety) that influence or underlie sex-related disgust. Additionally, immersive tendencies may play a role in shaping emotional experiences when presented with sexual cues. Recent technological advancements, especially in virtual reality (VR), offer a promising avenue to explore emotions in simulated intimate and sexual interactions. This study aimed to examine the influence of sexual anxiety and immersive tendencies on reported levels of disgust when exposed to virtual erotica. A sample of 59 participants (≥ 18 years) completed self-report questionnaires of sexual anxiety and immersive tendencies. Levels of disgust were assessed during exposure to synthetic virtual characters engaging in erotic behaviours of increasing intensity across six scenarios, ranging from flirting to nudity, masturbation, and orgasm. Linear mixed models were performed on observed data. Higher levels of sexual anxiety were significantly associated with increased disgust throughout the immersive experience (β = 0.48), while greater immersive tendencies were significantly linked to lower disgust ratings (β = −0.66). Additionally, disgust ratings significantly increased with the intensity of the virtual sexual stimuli (β = 0.48). Virtual erotica shows promise as a tool to investigate sex-related disgust and its related mechanisms, such as sexual anxiety and immersive tendencies.