THE KAHN REPORT ON SEXUAL PREFERENCES

Two hundred people were asked to view pornographic photographs depicting 19 different sexual themes for this study by a clinical psychologist specializing in women's sexual response. All lived in the Chicago area, most were from professional or academic organizations where Kahn had given talks on sexual themes: it would be fair to say, then, that the results don't spring from a fully representative cross-sampling. Those who monitor such things, however, may find enough new responses here to ballyhoo a breakthrough. For instance, despite the prevailing wisdom that men and women differ in openness to sexual experimentation, the activity that ranked number one on both hit parades was heterosexual fellatio, with a triad of two males and one female not far behind (#6 for men, #2 for women!). We don't get to see the photographs, of course, since the purpose of the book is not to titillate: instead we get to assess our own response to various word-pictures that convey much the same idea as the photographs (""Erik sighs and breathes heavily. Lisa clasps her ankles round his waist. . . ""). The purpose of the book, in part, is to educate men and women about each other's preferences. Kahn underscores the prevailing misperceptions by having men and women predict each other's responses: men predicted women would rank the missionary position first (in actuality, #6), women underestimated men's appreciation of foreplay. For those who want the latest info on techniques--and a little extra stimulation.