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Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 15 (2011) 823–827

WCES-2011

The Relationship between Dimensions of Personality and Sexual

Desire in Females and Males
Mirnader Miri ª, Mohammad AliBesharat ª , Masoud Asadi b, Shima Shahyad c,
ª Faculty of Psychology and Education,Tehran University,Tehran ,Iran
b
Faculty of Psychology and Education,Tarbiat Moalem University Tehran ,Iran
c
Faculty of Psychology and Education,ShahidBeheshty University Tehran ,Iran

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was to investigate relationship between dimensions of personality (neuroticism , extraversion
,openness , agreeableness & conscientiousness and sexual desire in females and males , sample includes 140 teachers (70 females
& 70 males ) that have been chosen via cluster multistage sampling method . Assessment instruments were the Five Factor
Personality Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1992) and the Hulbert Index of Sexual Desire (1992). Data was analyzed by using
independent t- test, Pearson correlation coefficient and Stepwise multiple regression, Finding demonstrated that there is
significant relationship between sexual desire, extraversion, neuroticism and agreeableness in females and males. Sexual Desire
had negative correlation with neuroticism, a positive correlation with extraversion. Stepwise regression analysis showed that only
extraversion and neuroticism in two steps could explain 26 % of variance, five factor model , sexual desire

Keywords: Personality, five factor model, sexual desire, Tehran University

1. Introduction

Sexual relation comprises of 3 elements:There are the components of Eros , excitement & orgasm among live
animals (Besharat 1998) but is complex in humans (Liliam & Rouzen 2000) , sexual desire means attraction of
sexual incentives and acts (Regen , Liali, Auto, Joushi, 2003); Travis & White (2000); sexual desire is Interactional
deeds arisen by Environment under social justification with fresh and dynamic quality , Nicklson & Yore (2003)
described the sexual desire as orgasm in heterosexual affection in compatible with individual potential for love
expression .Sexual desire is resourceful energy in the life ,furthermore as strategy for prevention and resolving
asexual contradicts ,because individuals are encounter with positively daily conflict (Camroun & Colic, 2003)
,whenever sexual desire expressed in effective way it creates 15 -20 % rate of relationship , senses and energy by
structure , while the sexual desire in contrary acts unsatisfactory or it is ineffective as a result it contains 50-75 %
range consequently it spoils friendship (Macharty, 1999); sexual desire blended with the whole of personality
,therefore the sexual desire treated as independent concept which potentially it is impossible (Chalichman, 1990).
Isnack(1976) demonstrated that the case of extrovert has link with sexual desires, therefore extroverted individuals
are eager to make several sexual relationship, Hown, Croker & Edwards, Perstain, Ward & Deberidge depicted that
neuroticism has negative relationship with sexual desires similar to consciousness & excitement.

Mirnader Miri.Tel: 09126770712; fax: +98-021-3388-2314
E-mail address:nadermiri@yahoo.com

1877–0428 © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.192
824 Mirnader Miri et al. / Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 15 (2011) 823–827

Sexual desires is different in males and females , females persistently suppressed their sexual desires till the time
of marriage ,meanwhile they find the required strategy for this challenges as a result they are unable to satisfy sexual
desires at the meantime whenever their husbands are fond of intercourse they encountered with challenges for
sexual desires (Harris, 2005), Bamister (2001) , the sexual desires in women are more flexible and changeable than
men , consequently the sexual desires of females are less stable than men. Men demonstrate more strong sexual
desires in comparing with women (Bamister, 2001) , Catz & Jardian (1999) according to the studies in terms
relationship between anxiety & sexual desires among females & males , it was demonstrated that the men endowed
with stronger sexual desires than women due to abatement of sexual desires not fear of sexual affection. Schmitt
(2004) proved that there is significant difference between sexual desires of men and women.
In spite of sexual desires for family reinforcement (McCarthy, 1999), this issue is neglected in the community of
Iran due to scarce data.The aim of current research is to survive the sexual desires in men and women, the
recognition of relationship of personality dimensions & sexual desires, while the prediction of sexual desires carried
out by personality aspects, therefore the research theories are : 1- There is difference between sexual desires of men
& women. 2- There relationship between personality aspects (neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeability and
consciousness), sex and sexual desire.

2. . Method

The subjects comprise of married female and male teachers of high school – Tehran who are 140 teachers (70
women and 70 men) and they are nominated by multiple cluster and tested. The controls filled out the new
personality questionnaire form (Casta & Makcra, 1992) , the Hulbert sexual desire indices (Hulbert 1992) were to be
filled out cited by Sanaei, 2008, the age average of teachers were 35 yrs. old (sd = 9.14) , female teachers with age
average of 33 yrs. (sd = 9.44) ,while 38 yrs. old for men (sd = 8.04) , the average of marriage period both men and
women were 11.22 yrs. (sd = 7.67) , the marriage average age were 13,37 for men (s d = 8.54) while for the women
were 9.07 yrs. (s d = 6.01) , the current research fixed with correlation stepwise regression , independent group t -
test , standard deviation and median were used for data analysis according to the statistical and methods.

3. Measures

3, 1Hulbert sexual desire index (HISD): The concerning test was applied for prominent sexual desires evaluation
according to Sanaei 2008 for sexual performance due to plain instrument independent of community oriented
responses , this test comprises of 25 items , the choices are based on Likurt 5 scales (from all the time to never ) ,
the range of marking is from 0 to 100 ,the high score means more sexual desire the less score means scarce sexual
desire.The reliability of index is 0.86 by Hulbert retest technique , the Cronbach Alfa Coefficient of items is 0.89,
the instrument furnished with fitted content reliability according to the public opinions and proponents which it is
0.92 in Iran according to Shafiei 2005 , kronbach alpha coefficient of items is 0.66 for the current paper.
3,2 Neo- personality Questionnaire form – Short Form (NEO-FFI): The respective scale consists of 60 items with 5
major personality aspects include neuroticism , extraversion , openness , agreeableness & consciousness, each
characters affords 12 articles while the examinee refers to Likurt 5 level rate (fully agreeable to fully disagreeable )
, the least and highest score to be from zero to 48 , Kianmehr 2002 , Robenstein & Straul 2007, the Crunbuch Alfa
coefficient over neuroticism , extraversion , openness , agreeableness & consciousness to be 0.88, 0.85, 0.70, 0.84 &
0.62 respectively , while Crunbuch Alfa coefficient over neuroticism , extraversion , openness , agreeableness &
consciousness to be 0.86, 0.76, 0.71, 0.77 & 0.84 respectively. Furthermore kronbach alpha coefficient over
neuroticism , extraversion , openness , agreeableness & consciousness to be 0.77, 0.67, 0.49, 0.58 & 0.68
respectively according to Rajabi & Nabgani 2008., meanwhile the current paper calculates the reliability coefficient
for Questionnaire in the range of 0.76.
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4. Results

Table1. Average & Standard of Deviation Scores for Personality Aspects and Sexual Desires
( )

Variables Women Men Total

M SD M SD M SD
Extraversion 38.45 7.72 41.95 5.17 40.20 6.78
Neuroticism 35.84 8.18 32.05 6.09 33.95 7.44
Openness 38.07 4.85 34.37 5.93 37.72 5.41
Agreeableness 41.51 7.61 44.77 6.21 43.14 4.11
Consciousness 46.41 8.25 45.95 5.92 46.42 7.17
Sexual Desires 51.41 19.92 59.80 13.87 55.60 17.61

Table2. The results of independent t – test for comparison of examinees according to the personality aspects & sexual desires

Variables Women Men

DF T P
M M

Extraversion
7.72-38.45 6.09-32.07 139 3/14 0.002
Neuroticism 8.18-35.84 6.09-32.05 138 3.10 0.002
Openness 4.85-38.07 5.93-34.37 138 0.76 0.44
Agreeableness 7.61-41.51 6.21-44.77 138 2.77 0.006
Consciousness 8.25- 46.90 5.92-45.92 138 0.77 0.43
Sexual Desires 19.92-51.41 13.87-59.80 138 2.88 0.005
The result of t test in independent group used for comparison of examinees in terms of sexual desires &
personality aspects are demonstrated in table 2 ,therefore the average of sexual desire in men is higher in women
with M = 59.8 & M = 51.41 respectively, while there is statistical significant difference (t= 2.88 & p <0.004) in
terms of personality aspects , there is no significant difference in terms of extroversion (t= 3.14 & p <0.05) ,
agreeableness (t= 2.77 & p <0.005), neuroticism (t= 3.10 & p <0.05) and agreeableness (t= 2.77& p <0.05) .as a
result , men showed higher scores in terms of extroversion and agreeable components but women with higher scores
in connection with neuroticism.
Table 3. Research Variables correlative Matrix

Variables 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Extroversion 1
2 Neuroticism - 1
0.220**
3 Openness 0.087 -0.220** 1
4 Agreeableness 0.198* -0.399 0.227** 1
5 Consciousness 0.200* -0.422** 0-198 * 0.485 ** 1
6 Sexual Desires 0.496** -0.323** 0-036 0.044 0.052 1

N=140 *P<0/05 **P<0/01

The results of correlation test between research variables depicted in table 3, as a result , there is positive &
significant correlation for sexual desires and extraversion ( p <0.001), but for neuroticism it is negative ( p <0.001)
,while there is any correlation among sexual desires with agreeableness , openness & consciousness.

Table 4. Summary of Stepwise Regression & Sex Variance Analysis , extroversion , neuroticism , openness , agreeableness & consciousness over
sexual desires

Model Variables Index SS DF MS F P R R2 SE

1 extroversion Regression 10609.85 1 10609.84 44.99 0.000 0.490 0.496 15.35
2 Residual 32541.55 138 235.80
Extroversion Regression 11562.05 2 5782.52 25.08 0.000 0.518 0.26 15.18
& neuroticism Residual 31586.34 137 230.55
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Table 5. Summary of stepwise regression statistical aspects over extroversion & neuroticism against sexual desires

Variables B SE ȕ t P
Extroversion 22.97 0.20 0.436 5.53 0.000
Neuroticism -0.38 0.187 -0.160 -2.03 0.044

Tables 4 & 5 The results of the table 2 and 3 indicate that the best variables forecasting sexual desires are
extroversion & neuroticism. Based on this results, the observedF is significance (p< 0.0001). and 0.26% of the
sexual desires is explain by the variables of the extroversion & neuroticism. The regression coefficients of
forecasting variables indicate that extroversion (t = 553, ȕ = 0/436) & neuroticism (t = - 2.03, ȕ = -0.160) can
explain the sexual desires variance significantly.

5. Discussion
The current research carried out to survey sexual desires in women & men in order to understand five major
components of extroversion , neuroticism , openness , agreeableness & consciousness with predictable sexual
desires via those components , the results of t test in independent group demonstrated that there is significant
difference in sexual desires for men and women , it means the sexual desires are more in men against women , the
current findings are in the line of researches made by Bamister , 2001 , Cautz 1999. It is evident that sexual desires
in men are uninterrupted & unchangeable process according to Hulbert 1991, while sexual desires in the women are
fluctuated and periodical form, Baumister beliefs that sexual desires in women is flexible and changeable in
response to positional, cultural & social components, the flexibility and changeability are more strong in men for
compatibility with physical & political power, as a result sexual desires in women are more transient.
The results of correlation test demonstrate that there is negative relationship between personality , neuroticism
components with sexual desires ,it means high neuroticism with low sexual desire and neuroticism are coordinated
with high sexual desires , as a result neuroticism shows negative relationship with sexual desires in contrary to the
results obtained by research of Hown & Colleagues 2003. Sexual desires are used as a strategy for prevention of
asexual conflict settlement, therefore people encountered with positive issues (Camron , Colic 2003) . neuroticism is
special character rooted in negative excitements including anxiety , depression and anger (Casta & Vidgar 1994
narrated by Casta , Anthino & Maccra 2001) , high scores in neuroticism are seen in ineffective mechanisms , self-
reprimand, aggressive reactions , hate ,sin feelings & fears under unstable & negative affections , (Macra & Casta
1996) meanwhile neuroticism causes people to demonstrate anxiety , tension , pity , animosity , pulse , depression
and low self-respect (Heren & Michel 2003) as a result those characters abate sexual desires.
Findings arisen by coefficient demonstrate there is significant & positive relationship between extroversion and
sexual desires; it means high score in extroversion in sexual desires against low score in extroversion with sexual
desires are revealed. The concerning findings are in compatible with Isnak studies 1976. Isnak survey the
relationship between personality aspects & sexual desires as a result he found that there is relationship between
extraversion & sexual desires, it is probably evident that extravert people are passionate , energetic & brave with
friendship relations with others because they enjoy a warm friendship ,furthermore thy like positive excitements e.g.
joy & love (Maccra & Casta 1996) , on the other hand sexual desires and fond include initiatives and sexual desires
(Travis & White 2000).
Sexual desire is joyful actions in sexual intercourse with heterosexual intercourse under individual potentials ,as a
result there is plausible positive & significant relationship between extroversion & sexual desires .
It is evident that women and men are different in terms of personality components , there is significant difference
between men and women in terms of consciousness , openness , extroversion & neuroticism including
agreeableness , therefore women afford more scores in connection with neuroticism component which are in
compatible with findings in Master studies 2003 , Atashruz , Pakdaman & Asgari 2006 , furthermore men obtained
more scores against women in terms of extroversion & agreeableness .The relevant conclusion are in the line of
Casta , Antinio & Maccra studies 2001.The difference between men and women was surveyed for character aspects
by Nide & Dejong 2007 , Chapman , Duberstein , Surenstein & Lince 2007 , although the research results are
different in some elements but the governed culture in the community , difference in examined groups , roles played
by sex in variant cultures , social traditional patterns are reasons for experiment , Casta & Colleagues 2001 , the sex
differences is ineffective for personality studies ,while the differences revealed in researches are merely related to
other variables for sex (Clonjes 1996) cited by Garousi Farshi & Sofiani 2008 .
 Mirnader Miri et al. / Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 15 (2011) 823–827 827

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