Abstract

Almost four decades have passed since Dutton and Aron published their classic article in JPSP in which they present the results of three studies. According to interpretations of the results done by the authors, the suffi cient condition of obtaining the effect of increased sexual attraction toward the object - which must be present shortly after or while waiting to become an aversive stimulus - is the induction in the subjects of a strong autonomic arousal. This can be done via crossing a high suspended bridge or anticipating the receipt of strong electric shocks. However, the results of reanalysis do not allow such a conclusion. In the article the author presents the results of secondary analysis and lists methodological, theoretical and interpretative incoherences.