What counts as sexual arousal?

[MilesVitae]

In trying to understand chastity better, through questions of my own and others on here as well as other reading (such as this, ewtn.com/expert/answers/dating.htm), I find that sexual arousal is - needless to say - frequently mentioned. But, to be honest, I’m not entirely sure what exactly is meant by “sexual arousal.”

Most obvious are basic physical reactions (i.e., erections in the case of men). Also obvious is the conscious, explicit (though not necessarily deliberate) desire for sexual pleasure. What confuses me are other feelings in reaction to physical beauty, flirtation, etc. So what counts as sexual arousal?

I have asked similar questions to this before, but I don’t think I am repeating - I’m trying to get a clearer notion of previous answers.

(I am not primarily asking what to do with sexual arousal - one must not enjoy or seek it before marriage, although s/he may do something otherwise acceptable which unintentionally results in it, provided s/he can do so without enjoying it)

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Obviously we aren’t talking purely of physical phenomena here, since those can happen without any sexual reason and without any kind of choice involved (for many people, at least). What we are really talking about is willfully doing something to get sexual pleasure, whether emotional or physical.

For us men at least, I think it’s generally obvious what this means (as opposed to, say, chaste friendship or noticing beauty in a “Platonic” way) if you do not have strong romantic feelings for the other person. If you do, well everything can seem more complicated and even more innocent, because after all it’s pretty much sexuality in its good, natural context.

Ultimately the reality is the same though. If it brings sexual pleasure, in however wholesome-feeling a way, it is something that needs to be saved until marriage.

Not sure if this is the sort of answer you were looking for.

 

[MilesVitae]

Obviously we aren’t talking purely of physical phenomena here, since those can happen without any sexual reason and without any kind of choice involved (for many people, at least). What we are really talking about is willfully doing something to get sexual pleasure, whether emotional or physical.

Ultimately the reality is the same though. If it brings sexual pleasure, in however wholesome-feeling a way, it is something that needs to be saved until marriage.

Not sure if this is the sort of answer you were looking for.

Not really…I’m not asking what is a sexually immoral action. I am asking what is meant by “sexual arousal.” Merely physical reactions or the desire for sexual pleasure, or something else as well?

 

[Aelred_Minor]

I deleted my post because I realized it boild down to “you just know”, but you’ve already quoted two parts of it so there it is. I guess I have a hard time understanding the confusion.