A key finding was the significant challenge participants faced when interpreting sexual interest from women displaying incongruent cues — specifically, when a woman dressed in sexually appealing clothing exhibited a rejecting facial expression. This scenario led to a higher rate of misinterpretation, with men more likely to erroneously perceive sexual interest. This difficulty was markedly amplified following the induction of sexual arousal.

Further analysis revealed that men with a higher sex drive and a stronger tendency towards sexually objectifying women were particularly prone to these misinterpretations. This subgroup of men was more likely to overlook the woman’s rejecting cues (facial expression) and instead base their judgments on global cues (attire) that aligned with their own state of arousal.

Men who frequently erred in the mouse-tracking task also reported greater acceptance of rape myths and demonstrated higher levels of sexual aggression predisposition. This correlation points to a deeper, more concerning link between misinterpretation of sexual interest cues and attitudes conducive to sexual coercion or harassment.

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