The Difference Between Male and Female Sexual Arousal

First I want to state that I am talking about biological sex differences in human anatomy, So I am referring to gender male/female in a purely biological sense. Even those who identify as a different gender (Gender Dysphoria) show these same brain structures even though they identify differently.

Second if a pathologist found a disembodied brain, could they identify it as a male or female?

The Difference Between Male and Female Sexual Arousal

The answer s actually no. They could measure the size, the grey matter/vs white matter but they could not say 100% if the brain was male or female, they could say it was most likely a man's brain or a woman's brain but 100% certainty no they could not. But in general a women's brain has more white matter, and a man's brain has more grey matter (source) "Gray matter represents information processing centers in the brain, and white matter represents the networking of – or connections between – these processing centers." See this article for more information.

But, if the brains were functioning and connected to an fMRI machine it would be quickly obvious whose is whose and which is which. As an example here's a pair of videos showing the difference between male and female orgasm.


And there are reasons for this: The cognitive differences between men and women. Stanford University.

Now to the point of my article. One of the things that I wish women understood about male arousal. The section of a man's brain that is stimulated during arousal is his senses. Especially his centers for sight. A guy literally sees sexy. While a woman thinks sexy. Study showing the differences in male and female arousal.

A woman can see something that she finds sexy such as:

The Difference Between Male and Female Sexual Arousal

But the process is like this. Image, then thought about the image, then sexual response. While in guys that middle step that thought is not there.

So a guy sees a sexy image:

The Difference Between Male and Female Sexual Arousal

It goes image, sexual response, then thought..... So when we talk about sexually objectifying women there is an assumption that guys have a step to stop that response. They do not. Even a guy having sexual fantasies triggers his sense response (imagination of images) rather then a direct sexual thought.

This is a profound difference in responses. So next time your guy sees something attractive, understand that they can not help it. The sight alone was the trigger, not thoughts behind it. Of course a guy can then think, and react appropriately, turn his head, etc. But that initial response is hardwired, and there is nothing that he can do to stop it.

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Most Helpful Guy

  • Genius from you, as always

    Kudos

    • thank you.

    • No, thank you. GAG is essentially a Pop culture site defined by the associated hysteria. people like you with your insights give it credibility and meaning

Most Helpful Girl

  • Good to know

    • you have the look

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What Girls & Guys Said

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  • This isn't the problem women have with being sexually objectified. It's in how you treat us differently based on whether you find us appealing or not. It's in how you define us based on what we look like, without considering other factors.

    • Yep - and THAT is a whole lot MORE natural than this crazy idea you're all equal. There aren't any women that will treat fat guys and movie stars equally - and guys simply live with it. But last decade a whole bunch of unattractive females decided they will get treated like equals, which they never will. Complaints to be sent to your parents only, sorry love... You can, by all means, enjoy and share other parts of your persona by the way - just not the nasty 'well I'm equal (ly good looking)' baloney.

    • Both genders treat those that they find attractive differently. Hence why attractive sales people do better then unattractive ones (women make 80% of all purchasing decisions). Initial reaction of first impressions are a big part of how we define our world. Does he look scary, creepy, etc. is part of how we determine threat narrative.

    • I try to be fair for it is obvious that plain girls like "great abs" too but must do without. There is a song (from 70s I think) about a plain girl "learning" this fact at 17. However I learned that ugly girls can be ugly on the inside too to the pint of a death threat and I can tel when someone has "connections".

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  • This has made me kind of curious. I wonder if, considering that there is a degree of neuroplasticity in the brain, whether it is possible to remodel the male brain to behave closer to the female one under orgasm. Thanks for the mytake, it was very interesting.

    • Found this: www.science20.com/.../would_female_orgasms_kill_men I am no neurosurgeon, nor can claim to have an understanding of the topic. From what I understand, they are stating that you can electrically induce similar brain waves to a female in a male, but it would put their health at serious risk. If you know anything about this (including if you think that these guys are spouting crap) I would love to hear it.

  • Interesting.. lol

  • I like the scientific reasoning, even if feeling a bit blehh for the brain image...
    Anyway my boyfriend sometimes happen to look at other girls, his friends, I don't say anything because I can't know what he thinks but ik he loves me, though if the take says that it is scientifically unconditional for men to look and have thoughts about other women (even if not something 100% sure) I can understand but that doesn't mean I can just let it go without asking him kindly about it
    Yeah not asking every time, after the first time he tells me then I can understand him, sometimes it is nice to talk about this kind of things in a natural way without sounding obsessive, it is part of the relationship to talk and understand each other in my opinion, no need to show brain scans to your partner as evidence heheh

    • He doesn't have thoughts, that's the thing. He looks because that's reflex. He won't remember what he saw probably moments after he sees it because its not a particularly involved process its just as he said, a reflex with no thought in it.

    • @hellionthesagereborn but there can be thoughts...

    • Yes there can be thoughts but that's highly improbable. you know what happens when a guy looks at porn while in a relationship? The vast majority of men think of their significant other. So the stimulus is the visual but the thoughts are for a person they have a connection with, usually (obviously if the relationship is falling apart then they are less likely to do this). So what I am saying is do not presume their are thoughts simply because he notices when a girl is wearing a low cut top or something. That's rarely how that works.

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  • Ok, time to put this to a test.

  • I've never had a problem with a guy seeing something attractive. thought this was going to be about orgasm lol :)

    • Science can't even figure out certain aspects of the female orgasm...

    • @Blake0048 .. lots of drawn out sustained touching is pretty important. its all about touch and attraction-for me.

    • i get turned on my sight and touch. i process falling in love with thinking, but not arousal

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  • I disgree, sometimes when I see something of a sexy nature it's image and arousal and no thought. My thoughts usually come last or not at all.

    • Interesting... Thank you for sharing. I was not aware of any out-lyres for this.

    • you have the look

  • Women aren't complaining about you having sexual desires. We are perfectly fine with you thinking a woman is hot. That's normal, that's natural. What we do have a problem with is when you use that desire as an excuse to treat someone as less then human. This isn't rocket science. Thinking someone is hot is fine. Masturbating in front of them without permission is not. Telling someone you think they look nice is fine. Touching them without their permission is not. It isn't the thought that is the issue here it's the actions.

    • Male sexuality has little or no social value. I agree that there are appropriate actions and inappropriate ones, but that changes on the sex of the performer. Further the accepted social response to inappropriate actions also changes by sex. As an example a guy can not cat call a woman, but a woman can (and do) cat call men. A great example is this video where a woman just sits on strange men. watch it and look at how helpless they are when their personal space is invaded rudely. Further take a look at the one the guy who's girlfriend breaks up with him for being a victim of assault. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f14K1LEsLLI

    • There are certainly issues that men face particularly regarding believability in sexual assault cases. And that needs to change. I'm not arguing that men don't have issues too, I'm arguing that being more visually driven doesn't excuse your behaviour. I don't care if you find someone sexually attractive. I care about how you act on that sexual attraction. And that goes for both genders.

    • This was not to excuse sexual misconduct it was to clarify where voluntary and involuntary response exists within the male psyche. There is no excuse to act inappropriately, until the expectation os beyond the biological capabilities of the accused. This was an attempt to make that line clear.

  • Glad to see some acknowledgement that we can't help but be attracted to women.

  • Interesting indeed. Thanks for posting.

  • So we don't even need the visual triggers? And fullas rely on them? Oh shucks.

  • Interesting, very interesting.

  • Hmmm... i always thought the looking was reflexive. I guess this is the proof.

    • you have the look

    • @BOUNTYGUY9 the look of?

    • it is the proof yes it is lol

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  • Does this prove only men are visually stimulated or does it prove that women are also visually stimulated?

    • Men have a primary visual stimulation. Women can be stimulated visually but as a secondary reaction.

    • How does a woman’s visual stimulation work?

  • It seems the cuteness arousal (?) is reversed in men and women. Women see something cute and instantly go "awwwwwwwww my god!!! sooo cute!!!" while men don't get triggered by cuteness like that haha.

    • Bend your leg at an acute angle. It get's me. LOL

    • They get triggered by cuteness in girls. It's just of a different nature to the cuteness of puppies.

  • Oh really🤓

  • very interesting

  • The number of times I've seen this explained to women is ridiculous and every time women refuse to understand the basics of biology and choose to hate on people because of it. On the other hand when a woman says, "It's natural" everybody is supposed to accept that as a full explanation for whatever crappy behavior she wants to exhibit.

    • Hence the complicated explanation

    • Push back at feminazi crap when you can be bothered, let them drown in their anger when you can't.

  • Women can have multiple orgasms after such heavy explosion?

  • When a man is aroused his zipper presses against his fireman. When a woman is aroused her gigi swirls.
    That's the difference.

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