Despite many proposed theories (e.g., biological, learning, evolutionary) it is still unclear how individuals develop paraphilic interests. It is not even clear from these theories why paraphilic interests are much more common in men than in women. One possible factor affecting male preponderance is anxiety. Anxiety can potentiate sexual arousal in men and deter sexual arousal in women. It has been proposed that paraphilic interests (e.g., sexual interest in children, in violence) can develop when anxious feelings are generated by unconventional sexual stimuli. According to this hypothesis, when anxiety is repeatedly elicited by an unconventional sexual stimulus, and when anxiety potentiates sexual arousal in men, over time, paraphilic interests may develop. It follows that men (but not women) with paraphilic interests may be susceptible to anxiety disorders – an anxiety disorder would facilitate the hypothesized developmental process. Part 1 of this dissertation consisted of a meta-analysis of 29 studies to determine the link between paraphilias and anxiety. Part 2 was a large-scale file review of 1,048 patients referred to a sexual behaviour clinic to investigate the link between paraphilias and anxiety. Both the meta-analysis and the file review showed a link between paraphilias and anxiety, but paraphilias were also associated with many other psychological disorders. Therefore, there does not seem to be a specific link between the paraphilias and anxiety, casting doubt on the validity of the hypothesis tested in this dissertation. The discovery of a general link between paraphilias and psychological disorders, however, opens new avenues for studying the development of paraphilic interests.

'Paraphilia' is the term used by professionals to indicate that a sexual fetish is severe enough to warrant being called a mental health disorder. Even after the release of the fifth edition of the DSM (DSM-5) paraphilias remain controversial. Although philosophers and scientists alike have argued that some paraphilias are just a way to medicalize sexual behavior that is simply abnormal by society's standards, these arguments typically target paraphilias that do not involve immoral or illegal behaviors. To my knowledge, philosophers have largely ignored the 'criminal paraphilias' (like pedophilia) in their arguments. In this paper, I attempt to fill this gap. I argue that the diagnostic criteria for some paraphilic disorders allows for criminal behavior to serve as a sufficient condition for diagnosis, blurring the line between criminal behavior and psychopathology. I argue that such an equivocation is undesirable in at least three ways: it is contrary to the goals of psychiatry; it allows for the rights of individuals being diagnosed to be routinely violated; and it perpetuates mental illness stigma. These objectionable aspects of including criminal behavior as a diagnostic criterion for criminal paraphilias, coupled with the lack of empirical evidence that shows criminal behavior is a legitimate symptom of paraphilic disorders, provide a strong argument in support of removing the criterion. Once removed, there will effectively be no difference between diagnostic criteria for the noncriminal and criminal paraphilias, and philosophers providing critiques of the former group will be pressed to also address the latter. / Master of Arts / ‘Paraphilia’ is the term used by mental health professionals to indicate that a sexual fetish is severe enough to warrant being called a mental health disorder. Even after the release of the fifth edition of the DSM (DSM-5) paraphilias remain controversial. Although some have argued that a subset of paraphilias are used inappropriately to medicalize sexual behavior that is simply abnormal by society’s standards, these arguments typically target paraphilias that do not involve immoral or illegal behaviors. To my knowledge, philosophers have largely ignored the ‘criminal paraphilias’ (like pedophilia) in their arguments. In this paper, I attempt to fill this gap. I argue that the diagnostic criteria for some paraphilic disorders allows for criminal behavior to serve as a sufficient condition for diagnosis (meaning that criminal behavior is all that is needed to warrant a diagnosis of a criminal paraphilic disorder), blurring the line between criminal behavior and psychopathology. I argue that such an equivocation is undesirable in at least three ways: it is contrary to the goals of psychiatry; it allows for the rights of individuals being diagnosed to be routinely violated; and it perpetuates mental illness stigma (negative beliefs about the mentally ill that cause fear, dislike, and avoidance). These objectionable aspects of including criminal behavior as a diagnostic criterion for criminal paraphilias, coupled with the lack of empirical evidence that shows criminal behavior is a legitimate symptom of paraphilic disorders, provide a strong argument in support of removing the criterion. Once removed, there will effectively be no difference between diagnostic criteria for the noncriminal and criminal paraphilias, and philosophers providing critiques of the former group will be pressed to also address the latter.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Esta i investigação tem como objeto o discurso de legitimação de praticantes de condutas sexuais tradicionalmente classificadas como perversões, chamadas por seus adeptos de BDSM sigla que descreve diversas práticas ou jogos sexuais: B é para Bondage, o par B & D para bondage e Disciplina. O par D & S para Dominação e Submissão, e o par S & M para Sadismo e Masoquismo. O BDSM liga-se ainda ao fetichismo. As definições de BDSM analisadas foram retiradas da Internet, cujas especificidades são abordadas. Para a contextualização histórica do objeto foi apresentada e discutida a construção médico- psiquiátrica das perversões sexuais. A análise do discurso BDSM e sua comparação com definições psiquiátrica indicaram a centralidade da noção de consentimento como argumento de legitimação e distinção de comportamentos patológicos, principalmente no diálogo com a psiquiatria contemporânea. / The object of this investigation is the legitimating discourse of the adherents of sexual practices traditionally classified as perversions, called BDSM by their adepts which describes various practices or sexual games: B stands for Bondage, their pair B & D stands for bondage and Discipline, their pairs D & S stands for Domination and Submission, and the pair S & M stands for Sadism and Masochism. BDSM is also linked to fetishism. The definitions of BDSM analyzed were taken from the Internet, which had it specificities considered. The historic contextualization of the object is presented and discussed through the medical and psychiatric construction of sexual perversions. The analysis of the BDSM discourse and its comparison with historical psychiatric definitions indicates the central role the notion of consent plays in legitimating the practice of BDSM and in distinguishing it from pathological behaviors, in constant dialog with contemporary psychiatry.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Esta i investigação tem como objeto o discurso de legitimação de praticantes de condutas sexuais tradicionalmente classificadas como perversões, chamadas por seus adeptos de BDSM sigla que descreve diversas práticas ou jogos sexuais: B é para Bondage, o par B & D para bondage e Disciplina. O par D & S para Dominação e Submissão, e o par S & M para Sadismo e Masoquismo. O BDSM liga-se ainda ao fetichismo. As definições de BDSM analisadas foram retiradas da Internet, cujas especificidades são abordadas. Para a contextualização histórica do objeto foi apresentada e discutida a construção médico- psiquiátrica das perversões sexuais. A análise do discurso BDSM e sua comparação com definições psiquiátrica indicaram a centralidade da noção de consentimento como argumento de legitimação e distinção de comportamentos patológicos, principalmente no diálogo com a psiquiatria contemporânea. / The object of this investigation is the legitimating discourse of the adherents of sexual practices traditionally classified as perversions, called BDSM by their adepts which describes various practices or sexual games: B stands for Bondage, their pair B & D stands for bondage and Discipline, their pairs D & S stands for Domination and Submission, and the pair S & M stands for Sadism and Masochism. BDSM is also linked to fetishism. The definitions of BDSM analyzed were taken from the Internet, which had it specificities considered. The historic contextualization of the object is presented and discussed through the medical and psychiatric construction of sexual perversions. The analysis of the BDSM discourse and its comparison with historical psychiatric definitions indicates the central role the notion of consent plays in legitimating the practice of BDSM and in distinguishing it from pathological behaviors, in constant dialog with contemporary psychiatry.

TITLE: Attachment regarding individuals with sexual preference disorder AUTHOR: Irena Golebiowská DEPARTMENT: Psychology SUPERVISOR: PhDr. Bc. Ivana Křížová, Ph.D. Abstract This Master's thesis deals with the nature of attachment regarding individuals with sexual preference disorder. The aim is to examine in depth early and later relationship experiences of selected individuals with sexual preference disorder and to evaluate their potential significance in the context of psychosexual development and sexually delinquent behaviour of these people. The theoretical part first introduces the concept of attachment and outlines the background and the basic concepts of the attachment theory. The following part describes types of attachment and selected methods of assessing adult attachment. The next section provides a summary of key information about sexual preference disorders. Attention is paid to the classification and basic theories of origin of the sexual preference disorders. The psychosexual development of individuals with paraphilia and the specifics of the concept of sexual delinquency are also briefly described. Finally, it outlines the possible significance of the nature of emotional attachment in the context of sexual preference disorders. The empirical part of the thesis presents life stories of three...

This thesis addresses the possibilities and limitations of Rorschach Inkblot Method in the psychological assessment of preferential rapists. The theoretical part of the thesis summarizes the general characteristics of paraphilias, introduces the contemporary theories on sexual aggression and rape, and presents selected studies related to the use of RorschachInkblot Method (using Exner's Comprehensive System) in the research of paraphilias. The empirical part focuses on my research project. I have theoretically deduced variables and composites and subsequently compared them with the normative values the CS reference populations. I have also analysed the number of criterions of the Banality Profile (of psychopathy), which were fulfilled by the sample of the sexual offenders. Then I have analysed the sequence of the clusters according to the most prominent key variable among the subjects that were the most clinically disturbed. I have found statistically significant differences between the rapists and the normative population in several variables. The most prominent ones were associated with the interpersonal perception, and mediation. I have also showed that the psychopathy profile (Banality Profile) is only partially suitable for characterization of preferential rapists. Through the analysis of the...

Hintergrund: Systematische Darstellungen zur Diagnostik und Verhaltenstherapie von sexuellen Gewalttätern mit psychischen Störungen fehlen im deutschen Sprachraum fast völlig. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden deshalb für diese kleine, aber besonders gefährliche Tätergruppe die auf der Basis des DSM IV hauptsächlich relevanten Diagnosen (Paraphilie und Störung der Impulskontrolle) und für diese Störungen geeignete Behandlungsmethoden vorgestellt. Methoden: Merkmale, die Paraphile und Impulskontrollgestörte im Hinblick auf Lerngeschichte, sexuelle Präferenz und tatauslösende Bedingungen differenzieren, werden dabei hervorgehoben. Weiterhin wird eine erste Validierungsstudie vorgestellt, in der untersucht wurde, inwieweit sich beide Störungsgruppen hinsichtlich Impulsivität, sozialer Angst, Konfliktvermeidung und dysfunktionaler Selbstaufmerksamkeit unterscheiden. Ergebnisse: Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass die vorgeschlagene Kategorisierung valide ist und dass sich Paraphile und Impulskontrollgestörte psychologisch bedeutsam voneinander differenzieren lassen. Schlussfolgerungen: Auf dieser Basis lassen sich Aussagen über störungsspezifisch relevante Behandlungselemente ableiten. Unterschiedliche Vorgehensweisen bei Paraphilen bzw. Impulskontrollgestörten werden für folgende Bereiche skizziert: Aufbau einer therapeutischen Beziehung, Änderung der sexuellen Präferenzen, Training sozialer Fertigkeiten und der Konfliktbewältigung, Modifikation dysfunktionaler Kognitionen und Rückfallprävention. / Background: Systematic work regarding the diagnostics and behavior therapy of violent sex offenders with mental disorders is mostly lacking in German publications. Therefore, this study presents the diagnoses which are mainly relevant for this small but particularly dangerous group of offenders on the basis of DSM IV (paraphilia and impulse control disorders) and describes specifically indicated interventions. Methods: Characteristic features are emphasized which differentiate paraphiliacs and offenders with an impulse control disorder with regard to learning history, sexual preferences, and the stimulus conditions which triggered the offense. Further, a validation study is presented which examined the differences between both disorders concerning impulsivity, social anxiety, avoidance of interpersonal conflicts, and dysfunctional self-consciousness. Results: Results showed that the proposed categorization is valid and that paraphiliacs and offenders with an impulse control disorder can be psychologically useful differentiated. Conclusions: In this framework, first conclusions can be drawn regarding the treatment elements which are considered to be relevant for disorder-specific therapy. Different procedures for the treatment of paraphiliacs and offenders with an impulse control disorder are described for the following areas: establishment of a therapeutic relationship, modification of sexual preferences, training of social and coping skills, conflict management, modification of cognitive distortions, and relapse prevention. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

In this thesis I investigate whether human sexual preferences develop through sexual imprinting. Sexual imprinting is the acquisition of sexual preferences through non-rewarded experiences with parents and siblings during an early sensitive period and it is known to exist in many other animals. Learning is often sex specific so that males, for instance, learn to prefer as sexual partners individuals that look like their mother, and avoid individuals that look like their father. First, sexual imprinting in animals and humans is reviewed and compared to prevailing evolutionary views presupposing genetically determined sexual preferences. Further, by means of web surveys, I have explored the relationship between childhood exposure to parents with certain natural and cultural traits and sexual attraction to these traits in a partner. Cultural traits were included because it is unlikely that preferences for them are genetically determined adaptations. Parental effects varied between traits. For instance, in heterosexual males, a positive effect of mother was found on attraction to smoking, but not glasses, while a negative paternal effect was found on attraction to glasses, but not smoking. However, when maternal and paternal effects were investigated for a large number of artificial and natural traits, including smoking and glasses, an overall positive effect of opposite sex parent emerged in both heterosexual males and females. Additionally, in the last study we explored a sexual preference for pregnant and lactating women. Results suggest that exposure to a pregnant and lactating mother had an effect if it occurred when the respondent was between 1,5 and 5 years old. In conclusion, these results suggest that human sexual preferences are the result of sex specific learning during a sensitive period. Sexual imprinting should therefore be recognised as a plausible explanation to human sexual preferences that deserves further scientific investigation. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.

Charles University Prague, Czech Rep. Raculty of Philosophy Department of Psychology Doctoral Theses Comparison of Accuracy and Precision of Sexodiagnostic Methods of Penile Plethysmography and Viewing Time Ondřej Trojan, 2017 Abstract The diagnosis of pedophilia denotes (according to ICL 10) the erotic preference for prepubescent or early pubescent children. Penile plethysmography (PPG) measures the reaction of these men in respon- se to either visual stimuli or to erotic narrative stories including child objects. Penile plethysmography is quite an intrusive assessment method, so viewing time (VT) might be a good alternative if it is shown to be compapratively accurate. Several studies in the past have shown inconsistent data, therefore more research is needed to confirm its validity in distinguishing responses to the preferred age category of pedophilic men. Method: Participants were 30 self-referred admitting paedophiles aged between 18 and 55 in the experimental group and 30 heterosexual gynephile men in the comparison group. A set of photographs depicting naked adults in addition to male and female children across 6 age categories ranging from young infants to adolescents was used; the same set of 38 stimuli were used to measure PPG (first) and VT(after). PPG apparatus was used to measure penile...

Researchers vary on their definitions of paraphilia. A difference exists between an individual possessing a paraphilia versus an individual possessing a paraphilic disorder. Hanson (2010) proposed a dimensional model of sexual deviance that includes a measure of intensity. However, research on sexual intensity has been lacking. A majority of existing research focuses on the potential risk factors of possessing a paraphilia or paraphilic disorder (e.g., criminality). There is less focus on whom in the population has the potential to develop a paraphilia; or which factors predict paraphilic behavior. The Big Five personality factors (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism), obsessive-compulsive behavior, and sexual fantasy (exploratory, intimacy, impersonal, and sadomasochism) were used to predict paraphilic intensity using the Edwards Paraphilic Inventory (EPI). Surveys were placed on Amazon Mechanical Turk (n = 100), the Celebrity Feet in the Pose website (via https://celebrityfeetinthepose.com), and its social media (n = 163) to reach a total of 263 participants. Results indicated that obsessive-compulsive behavior, sadomasochism, and agreeableness significantly predicted the level of paraphilic intensity. Such findings support that paraphilic disorders are likely obsessive-compulsive in nature. Furthermore, agreeableness and paraphilic intensity were negatively correlated. This suggests that the lower the individual is in agreeableness, the higher the likelihood he or she falls on the paraphilic spectrum. Lastly, those who practice sadomasochistic roleplay in the bedroom are likely to report higher levels of paraphilic intensity. According to the United States sample, 1 out of every 10 participants reported some type of paraphilic activity. Individuals who participated in the survey from the website self-reported higher levels of paraphilic behavior than those who completed the survey from Amazon Mechanical Turk. In addition, these individuals are represented in more than one paraphilic category. It remains unclear how large of a role pleasure plays in an individual seeking therapeutic or pharmacological help with paraphilic disorders. Pedophilic disorder was not examined due to ethical concerns with the United States and other various countries. Future research should examine education level and sexual orientation as predictors of paraphilic intensity.