CONTINGENT NEGATIVE-VARIATION (CNV) AND EROTIC PREFERENCE IN SELF-DECLARED HOMOSEXUALS AND IN CHILD SEX OFFENDERS

Contingent negative variation (CNV) was recorded bilaterally from cent ral electrodes using a ''match/mismatch'' paradigm in (Study 1) sample s of heterosexual men (N = 6), gay men (N = 10) and lesbian women (N = 14) and (Study 2) in samples of child sex offenders (N = 34) and hete rosexual control men (N = 19). Sexual orientation was assessed using t he Multidimensional Scare of Sexuality (MSS) and the Human Sexuality Q uestionnaire (HSQ). Separate CNV averages were formed for each conditi on of stimulation: for Study 1, slides of adult male and female nudes; for Study 2, slides of child, pubescent and adult male and female nud es. Penile plethysmographic (PPG) data were also obtained from 15 of t he child sex offender sample while they viewed stimuli of the same cat egories as were used in the CNV recording. On the basis of their PPG r esponses to children, child sex offenders were classified as either '' pedophiles'' or ''non-pedophiles''. In Study 1 significant Group X Sex (of slide) and Group x Electrode interactions indicated that: (i) het erosexual men (but neither homosexual group) showed significantly larg er CNVs to female than to male slides; (ii) both homosexual groups sho wed significantly asymmetrical (R > L) CNVs. In Study 2, controls show ed significantly greater CNVs to adult females than to both adult male s and female children. Child sex offenders showed no significant diffe rences in CNV to male and female slides for any age. ''Non-pedophiles' ' showed significantly larger CNVs to female adults than to female chi ldren, but ''pedophiles'' did not. It is concluded that CNV has promis e as a measure of both deviant and non-deviant sexual preference.