The effect of sexual arousal on moral judgment

Dan and George's Study on Arousal

Sexual arousal is one of the most powerful emotions.

But to what extent can it alter our judgment and moral decisions? Researchers Dan and George conducted an ingenious study to answer this question.

They recruited a group of male college students.

Methodology: College Students in Normal vs. Aroused State

The experiment was conducted in two phases. In the first, the students answered a series of questions in a normal, calm state.

In the second phase, they were asked to answer the same questions while self-stimulating by viewing erotic images, i.e., in a state of high sexual arousal.

The Three Question Areas: Attractiveness, Sexual Morality, and Risks

The questions covered three areas. The first measured their attraction to different types of sexual activities and partners.

The second explored how far they would be willing to go for sexual gratification, including morally questionable behaviors.

The third assessed their attitudes toward risks, such as using birth control.

The hypothesis: Do answers change significantly under arousal?

The hypothesis was that the students' answers would change dramatically between calm and aroused states.

They wanted to measure the gap between how we think we would act in a passionate situation and how we actually act when we are in one. The results were shocking.

Summary

Dan and George studied how sexual arousal affects judgment