Psychological report^, 1975, 36, 430. @ Psychological Reports 1975
BODY-PARTS SATISFACTlON A N D SEXUAL PREFERENCES RONALD A. LATORRE1 AND AMY LOUISE BORGESON McGill University
Fisher ( 2 ) has reported a number of studies on the relationshp between body experiences and personality. This study attempted a replication; however, there were two methodological modifications: body-part dissatisfaction was assumed to be an indicator of body-part awareness and specific sexual preferences served as indicators of personality types for 45 males who completed a 3-part questionnaire. Ss rated their satisfaction of 18 body parts, including 2 over-all ratings of body satisfaction on 8-point Likert-type scales, desirability of participating in 15 different sexual behaviors on an 8-point scale, and experience with these behaviors. Fisher has related back awareness with the anal character which is presumably exemplified by such sexual behaviors as anal intercourse, homosexuality, and sadism. In our study, a quartile split was made for the key variable of back satisfaction (and for all other key variables reported). Those males least satisfied with their backs indicated a significantly greater desire for homosexual behavior (tZ2 = 3.05, p < . 0 l ) but did not indicate a significantly greater desire for anal intercourse or for sadism. Fisher also related head awareness and anal attitudes. In our study, males least satisfied with their facial appearance reported a greater desire for anal intercourse (t2Z = 2.93, p .01). Fisher also reported that over-all body awareness was related to oral themes. Our males who were least satisfied with their bodies had less desire for cunnilingus (tzz = 3.25, p .01) and there was no difference between groups with high and low body-satisfaction for desirability of fellatio. Berscheid, Walster, and Bohrnstedt ( 1 ) noted males mosc concerned with the size of their penises tended to be homosexuals; our least sacisfied males rated their desire for homosexual behavior greater (tz2 = 3.25, p .01). W e also confirmed their finding chat those mosc satisfied with their bodies are also most sacisfied with their sex life (tzz = 2.87, p < .01). Over-all, those least satisfied with various parts of their bodies did indicate greater desirability or preference for several sexual behaviors than did those most satisfied. For the most part, our findings confirmed prior ones (1, 2 ) . Yet, ic should be kept in mind our equation of body-part dissatisfaction and body-part awareness is based on clinical observation (body-part abnormalities are often included in figure drawings of patients), not empirical evidence. REFERENCES 1. BERSCHEID, E., WALSTER, E., & BOHRNSTEDT, G. The happy American body-survey
BODY-PARTS SATISFACTlON A N D SEXUAL PREFERENCES RONALD A. LATORRE1 AND AMY LOUISE BORGESON McGill University
Fisher ( 2 ) has reported a number of studies on the relationshp between body experiences and personality. This study attempted a replication; however, there were two methodological modifications: body-part dissatisfaction was assumed to be an indicator of body-part awareness and specific sexual preferences served as indicators of personality types for 45 males who completed a 3-part questionnaire. Ss rated their satisfaction of 18 body parts, including 2 over-all ratings of body satisfaction on 8-point Likert-type scales, desirability of participating in 15 different sexual behaviors on an 8-point scale, and experience with these behaviors. Fisher has related back awareness with the anal character which is presumably exemplified by such sexual behaviors as anal intercourse, homosexuality, and sadism. In our study, a quartile split was made for the key variable of back satisfaction (and for all other key variables reported). Those males least satisfied with their backs indicated a significantly greater desire for homosexual behavior (tZ2 = 3.05, p < . 0 l ) but did not indicate a significantly greater desire for anal intercourse or for sadism. Fisher also related head awareness and anal attitudes. In our study, males least satisfied with their facial appearance reported a greater desire for anal intercourse (t2Z = 2.93, p .01). Fisher also reported that over-all body awareness was related to oral themes. Our males who were least satisfied with their bodies had less desire for cunnilingus (tzz = 3.25, p .01) and there was no difference between groups with high and low body-satisfaction for desirability of fellatio. Berscheid, Walster, and Bohrnstedt ( 1 ) noted males mosc concerned with the size of their penises tended to be homosexuals; our least sacisfied males rated their desire for homosexual behavior greater (tz2 = 3.25, p .01). W e also confirmed their finding chat those mosc satisfied with their bodies are also most sacisfied with their sex life (tzz = 2.87, p < .01). Over-all, those least satisfied with various parts of their bodies did indicate greater desirability or preference for several sexual behaviors than did those most satisfied. For the most part, our findings confirmed prior ones (1, 2 ) . Yet, ic should be kept in mind our equation of body-part dissatisfaction and body-part awareness is based on clinical observation (body-part abnormalities are often included in figure drawings of patients), not empirical evidence. REFERENCES 1. BERSCHEID, E., WALSTER, E., & BOHRNSTEDT, G. The happy American body-survey
