Human sexuality involves a complex system of non-verbal behavioral patterns that are an integral part of development of sexual response and dyadic formations. They belong to the focus of sexuality researchers who use inspirational methodological approaches from human ethology.
The Laboratory of Evolutionary Sexology and Psychopathology at the National Institute of Mental Health is interested in these kinds of studies. This paper describes designs of several Lab studies that are focused on nonverbal behavior of pre-copulative sexual interactions.
As methods of research in the ethological field are mainly used observations in a standardized situation of partner dating, as well as eyetracking and physiological measurements, or experimental designs with virtual characters - moving avatars.