GAYPRIL TALK: “LOOKING AT AND LONGING FOR MALE & FEMALE SWIMSUIT MODELS: STUDIES IN THE CATEGORY SPECIFICITY OF SEXUAL ATTRACTION”

Individuals who are high on category specificity are attracted to only one sex or the other; individuals who are low on category specificity show more shades of grey, displaying some attraction to both sexes.  Considerable research indicates that men are more category specific than women are that is, men are more either-or in their attraction to the two sexes than women are. Do men and women consistently differ in category specificity? Do gay men differ from straight men and do lesbians differ from straight women in their degree of category specificity? Do self-identified bisexual individuals show sexual attraction to and interest in both sexes, consistent with their identities? Do men and women continue to show category specificity even when they evaluate swimsuit models on dimensions unrelated to sexual attraction (e.g., on age or personality)? Research findings are related to broader questions about the nature of sexual orientation and the nature of sex differences in sexuality.

Lunch will be provided. RSVP online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RichardLippa.