“Is there a disorder for people who feel attracted to individuals with disabilities?” asked a client after a session. Curious, I asked her to elaborate. She described an unexpected sexual arousal during a marathon when she saw a participant in a wheelchair. Later, she felt similar sensations upon seeing a blind runner. “I think I was horny!” she said. Another client once revealed, filled with guilt, that he felt sexually stimulated watching horror films. He worried he had a disturbing side, feeling deeply ashamed and concerned.

Have you ever experienced similar inexplicable sensations, where your body reacted with what seems to be sexual arousal in contexts entirely unrelated to genuine sexual desire? Perhaps during a suspenseful scene, a thrilling ride, or even a stressful public presentation? Before making assumptions about your sexual inclinations, it's crucial to understand the often-overlooked phenomenon known as "arousal misattribution."

Our psychological understanding of arousal has long been clouded by misconceptions.

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