Sexual fantasies of sexually distressed and nondistressed men and women: an empirical comparison

Abstract

Sexual fantasies are seen as an important source of information and a modality for treatment procedures in sex therapy programs. While drive-reduction models view fantasy as a symptom of a deficiency state, cognitive-behavioral approaches take fantasies as an index of a satisfying sex life. While current data tend to support the behavioral position, no systematic comparison has been undertaken of men and women with and without sexual distress. This study compared written examples of sexual daydreaming, masturbatory and coital fantasies as well as habitual patterns of employing fantasies during sexual activities of the above mentioned groups. Other psychotherapy clients served as control. Sex differences were sparse and the comparison between distressed and nondistressed tended to support the behavioral position. Although sexual fantasizing is positively related to a satisfying sex life, fantasies are often used for reducing aversive emotions. Subjects older than 35 years showed fewer fantasies and lower correlations between daydreaming and sexual activity.