Erick Janssen’s Fundamental Contribution in Sex Research
Erick Janssen
Professor of Psychology
Trailer
Get AccessFull VideoContent: This interview with Professor Erick Janssen offers sexologists a deep dive into the multifaceted world of sexual psychophysiology, guided by one of its most influential figures. The discussion centers primarily on the groundbreaking Dual Control Model (DCM) of Sexual Response, a framework co-developed by Erick Janssen and John Bancroft that has revolutionized our understanding of sexual behavior. The interview explores the origins of this model, the theoretical gaps it aimed to fill, and its core principles distinguishing between sexual excitation (SES) and sexual inhibition (SIS). It explains how individual differences in these systems manifest, examining profiles such as individuals with high SES and low SIS, or individuals with both SES and SIS high, providing nuanced insights crucial for clinicians and researchers.
Beyond the foundational aspects of the DCM, the conversation with Erick Janssen expands to its profound impact on clinical practice, specifically addressing its utility in treating sexual dysfunctions like erectile dysfunction, female sexual arousal disorder, or even compulsive sexual behavior. Erick Janssen also shares his extensive research findings on sexual arousal, the intricate role of emotions (both positive and negative), and the complex relationship between psychological states such as depression and anxiety with sexual desire, a topic extensively researched by Erick Janssen.
The interview concludes by looking towards the future, with Erick Janssen discussing future research needs and suggestions for the next generation of sexologists. For example, the potential for the Dual Control Model to influence the development of tailored drug treatments based on individual psychosexual profiles, a concept Erick Janssen has championed, and offers invaluable lessons for the next generation of sex researchers. This conversation with Erick Janssen provides a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of human sexuality from a pioneer whose work continues to shape contemporary research and clinical approaches.
Learning Objectives for Sexologists:
- Understand the historical context and foundational principles of the Dual Control Model of Sexual Response.
- Gain insights into how individual differences in Sexual Excitation (SES) and Sexual Inhibition (SIS) systems influence diverse sexual behaviors and dysfunctions.
- Explore the clinical applications of the Dual Control Model in diagnosing and treating various sexual dysfunctions.
- Learn about research on the role of emotions, depression, and anxiety in sexual arousal and desire.
- Identify current and future directions in sexological research
Quotes
- Individuals can score high both on the sexual excitatory scale and the sexual inhibitory scale, the two are relatively independent.
- People’s propensity to sexual excitation and inhibition is relatively stable
- Asexuality has been found to be associated with very low sexual excitation, and hypersexuality with very high sexual excitation.
Produced in 2025
Erick Janssen
Professor of Psychology
Lecturer
Prof. Dr. Erick Janssen is Professor and Director of the Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies (IFSS), Department of Neurosciences at KU Leuven, Belgium. He also serves as Program Director for the Master’s Program in Human Sexuality at KU Leuven, and holds the position of Senior Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, USA. He earned his M.A. in 1988 and his Ph.D. in 1995 from Universiteit van Amsterdam (The Netherlands).
Prof. Janssen’s research centers on human sexual psychophysiology, exploring topics such as sexual desire and arousal, sexual inhibition/excitation, risky sexual behavior, hypersexuality, sexual dysfunction, and sexual aggression — often in the context of relationships, sexuality, and health.
Together with Dr. John Bancroft, he developed the influential Dual Control Model of Sexual Response. This model, focusing on individual differences in sexual excitation and inhibition, has guided over 150 empirical studies worldwide involving more than 75,000 participants; findings from these studies link excitation/inhibition propensities to vulnerabilities such as sexual dysfunction or elevated risk-taking, hypersexuality, or sexual aggression.
He leads the psychophysiological laboratory at IFSS, and coordinates international research collaborations across the USA, Canada, UK, Sweden, Portugal, Germany, Croatia, and the Netherlands. His work has been recognized with multiple awards, including two Hugo Beigel Awards (for best publication in the Journal of Sex Research), as well as the SSTAR Award, Reiss Theory Award, and IASR Best Student Manuscript Award (with his students). He is a past-President of the International Academy of Sex Research (IASR), Chair of the Scientific Committee of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), and founder of international research networks such as SexLab and EuroSex.
In his academic role, Prof. Janssen teaches several courses: ‘Methods in Sex Research,’ ‘The Psychology of Sex: Empirical Approaches,’ ‘Capita Selecta: Lectures in Human Sexuality,’ and co-teaches ‘Sexuality in Perspective,’ a university-wide introductory course on human sexuality.
He has supervised or co-supervised dozens of PhD dissertations, over 100 master’s theses, post-doctoral fellows, as well as many undergraduate research projects and honors theses, both at KU Leuven and The Kinsey Institute.