If you haven't yet heard of whisper porn, otherwise known in the scientific community as autonomous sensory meridian response, you're hardly alone. The warm-and-fuzzies some people get from whispers haven't been talked about much in the media, let alone studied—that is, until psychologists at Swansea University in the U.K. recently published a paper that took stock of the ASMR community and what whispers do for them.
For the record, ASMR isn't just limited to whispering. While most people who seek ASMR stimulation react pleasurably to softly spoken words, other stimuli can include sounds of scratching, crinkling, tapping, blowing, and even shuffling paper. Those who experience ASMR respond to those sounds in ways some might react to sex—they report spinal shivers, goose bumps, and even states of euphoria. And to get those reactions, they often seek out auditory videos—hence why ASMR's less scientific moniker includes the word porn.
Now, back to the study. Researchers surveyed nearly 500 participants, found through Facebook and Reddit ASMR groups, asking them to complete questionnaires that detailed their viewing habits, physical responses, and what sounds really did it for them. The majority of the participants responded to whispering, but many also identified "crisp" sounds and slow or repetitive movements, such as folding towels, as pleasurable. Sounds they didn't really get into include vacuuming and airplane noise—though there was still a teeny, tiny percentage that enjoyed those noises.
However, most participants said they don't use ASMR to get off, despite its whisper porn nickname. In fact, just five percent reported using ASMR media in the same way others use porn videos, while a full 84 percent of participants said they disagree with the notion ASMR could or should be used in a sexual manner. Most, rather, reported using ASMR as a way to relax, help them sleep, or deal with stress.
Clearly, a survey of 500 people doesn't give great enough insight into this relatively unknown practice, and more research will need to be done to answer additional questions, such as why some people respond pleasurably to ASMR while others don't. Within its limitations, it also can't definitively state whether there is a large community of people who can get aroused through sound alone, and why they do. But it's an interesting first step—and now, when you hear the term "whisper porn," you've got the latest and greatest 4-1-1 to contribute to the conversation.
Had you heard about whisper porn before today? Do you know anyone who uses sounds to relax or relieve stress? Could you see how sounds could act as a sexual stimulant?
