Variables in Addition to Gender that Help to Explain Differences in Perceived Sexual Interest

Variables in addition to gender that might be related to perceptions of sexual intent were examined. College students reported the degree to which they thought characters in various interpersonal situations were indicating sexual interest and completed measures of attitudes toward women, sexual experience, number of sexual partners, hypermasculinity or hyperfemininity, and social desirability responding. Small but significant gender differences were found in interpretations of sexual interest. For men, traditional attitudes toward women, hypermasculinity, and lower social desirability responses significantly predicted perceptions of sexual interest. Among women, higher number of sexual partners, hyperfemininity, and less sexual experience significantly predicted perceived sexual interest. Results indicate that gender alone is insufficient for explaining differing perceptions of sexual interest.