Dimensions of subjective female orgasmic responsiveness

Bibliographic Data

ID6204317
AuthorsMichael D Newcomb (corresponding author), Peter M Bentler (0000-0002-9440-721X)
Year1983
Volume44
Issue4
Pages862-873
Publication date1983-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/0022-3514.44.4.862
PMID6842369
OpenAlexW2071201677, W4238731469
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited1

Results of recent psychological research have been at odds with the major physiological evidence on the nature of female orgasmic responsiveness. Although female orgasm appears to be a single process physiologically, subjective reports by women indicate that individual differences in their experience is multidimensional. The basis for the discrepant findings is analyzed via two studies of reported orgasmic experiences in women. One sample of 115 sexually experienced women yielded data that replicated the finding that coital and masturbatory orgasmic responsiveness can be statistically distinguished and independently assessed, thus indicating that sample selection associated with prior research could not explain the result. A separate sample of 101 sexually experienced women were given an instrument that assessed coital responsiveness but differentiated masturbatory responsiveness into dimensions associated with masturbation when alone and with a partner without intercourse. A confirmatory factor analysis substantiated the existence of the three dimensions of female orgasm. However, female orgasmic responsiveness was highly correlated across the three dimensions so that it was possible to isolate a large second-order factor of general orgasmic responsiveness that is consistent with most of the physiological evidence on the unitary nature of orgasm. Correlates of the orgasm scales with background data revealed some discriminant validity for the three dimensions of responsiveness.

Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Orgasm · Psychiatry · Sexual dysfunction · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Clinical Psychology · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Psychology · Sexual function and dysfunction studies · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology