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Bailey JM, Hsu KJ. Psychometric Evidence That Paraphilia Is a Natural Kind. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2024:10.1007/s10508-024-02941-2. [PMID: 39090436 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-024-02941-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Is the category paraphilia a natural kind? That is, do different paraphilias share anything scientifically interesting or are they classified together because they are unusual and sometimes problematic? We investigated this question systematically in 11 samples of paraphilic males (N = 4,617) and 11 samples of control males (N = 1,494). Primary data consisted of responses to the 11-item Paraphilic Interests Scale. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, the scale mean was similar for paraphilic and control samples. Using logistic regression and the same items, we derived three highly correlated measures that robustly discriminated paraphilic and control samples (ds ranging from 0.86 to 0.92). These successful measures capitalized on the unanticipated fact that some items (especially those assessing transvestism and masochistic humiliation) were positively associated with membership in paraphilic samples, while others (especially those assessing voyeurism) were negatively associated with such membership. Subsequent analyses focused on one of the measures, the Paraphilic Interests Scale Contrast (PISC). Consistent with prior findings distinguishing paraphilias and homosexual orientation, PISC was not elevated among homosexual males compared with heterosexual males among the control groups. Within four paraphilic samples, PISC was positively associated with additional paraphilic phenomena. Results provide tentative support for both the proposition that paraphilia is a natural kind and the usefulness of PISC as a measure of paraphilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Michael Bailey
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
| | - Kevin J Hsu
- Department of Psychological and Social Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, Abington, PA, USA
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Savin-Williams RC. Sexual and romantic spectrums: Mostly straights and mostly gays/lesbians. Curr Opin Psychol 2022; 48:101503. [PMID: 36427401 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Sexual and romantic orientations and identities exist along a spectrum with varying degrees of compliance to traditional concepts of sex and romance. Recent investigations have focused on individuals who are not exclusive in their sexual and romantic lives-mostly straights and mostly gays/lesbians. Multi-disciplinary research reveals the diversity of individuals' internal and external sexual and romantic feelings and expressions. One corrective strategy is to scrap categorically based assessment tools and replace them with continuum measures that capture the multiplicity of individuals' sexual and romantic lives. Here I suggest several new measures that are more responsive to a spectrum approach.
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Attard-Johnson J, Vasilev MR, Ó Ciardha C, Bindemann M, Babchishin KM. Measurement of Sexual Interests with Pupillary Responses: A Meta-Analysis. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 50:3385-3411. [PMID: 34557971 PMCID: PMC8604861 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02137-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Objective measures of sexual interest are important for research on human sexuality. There has been a resurgence in research examining pupil dilation as a potential index of sexual orientation. We carried out a meta-analytic review of studies published between 1965 and 2020 (Mdn year = 2016) measuring pupil responses to visual stimuli of adult men and women to assess sexual interest. Separate meta-analyses were performed for six sexual orientation categories. In the final analysis, 15 studies were included for heterosexual men (N = 550), 5 studies for gay men (N = 65), 4 studies for bisexual men (N = 124), 13 studies for heterosexual women (N = 403), and 3 studies for lesbian women (N = 132). Only heterosexual and gay men demonstrated discrimination in pupillary responses that was clearly in line with their sexual orientation, with greater pupil dilation to female and male stimuli, respectively. Bisexual men showed greater pupil dilation to male stimuli. Although heterosexual women exhibited larger pupils to male stimuli compared to female stimuli, the magnitude of the effect was small and non-significant. Finally, lesbian women displayed greater pupil dilation to male stimuli. Three methodological moderators were identified-the sexual explicitness of stimulus materials, the measurement technique of pupillary response, and inclusion of self-report measures of sexual interest. These meta-analyses are based on a limited number of studies and are therefore preliminary. However, the results suggest that pupillary measurement of sexual interest is promising for men and that standardization is essential to gain a better understanding of the validity of this measurement technique for sexual interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice Attard-Johnson
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Dorset, BH12 5BB, UK.
| | - Martin R Vasilev
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Dorset, BH12 5BB, UK
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Diamond LM. The New Genetic Evidence on Same-Gender Sexuality: Implications for Sexual Fluidity and Multiple Forms of Sexual Diversity. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2021; 58:818-837. [PMID: 33620277 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2021.1879721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
In September of 2019, the largest-ever (N = 477,522) genome-wide-association study of same-gender sexuality was published in Science. The primary finding was that multiple genes are significantly associated with ever engaging in same-gender sexual behavior, accounting for between 8-25% of variance in this outcome. Yet an additional finding of this study, which received less attention, has more potential to transform our current understanding of same-gender sexuality: Specifically, the genes associated with ever engaging in same-gender sexual behavior differed from the genes associated with one's relative proportion of same-gender to other-gender behavior. I review recent research on sexual orientation and sexual fluidity to illustrate how these findings speak to longstanding questions regarding distinctions among subtypes of same-gender sexuality (such as mostly-heterosexuality, bisexuality, and exclusive same-gender experience). I conclude by outlining directions for future research on the multiple causes and correlates of same-gender expression.
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Rieger G, Holmes L, Watts-Overall TM, Gruia DC, Bailey JM, Savin-Williams RC. Gender Nonconformity of Bisexual Men and Women. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2020; 49:2481-2495. [PMID: 32607808 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01766-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The degree to which bisexual-identified individuals are distinct from either heterosexual or homosexual individuals in their sexual orientation is an ongoing debate. We examined potential differences between these groups with respect to a strong correlate of sexual orientation, gender nonconformity (femininity in males, masculinity in females). Across pooled data, we compared self-reports of childhood gender nonconformity (n = 919) and adulthood gender nonconformity (n = 1265) and observer ratings of adulthood gender nonconformity (n = 915) between sexual orientations. Most analyses suggested a steady increase in gender nonconformity from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual. However, in some analyses, bisexual men were closer to homosexual men than to heterosexual men in their gender nonconformity. The intermediate status of bisexual people in gender nonconformity was not due to the sample having a mixture of very gender-conforming and very gender-nonconforming individuals. In total, men and women with bisexual orientations appeared neither like heterosexual nor homosexual individuals, at least with respect to their gender-related traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerulf Rieger
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, C04 3SQ, UK.
| | - Luke Holmes
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, C04 3SQ, UK
| | | | - Dragos C Gruia
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, C04 3SQ, UK
| | - J Michael Bailey
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Jabbour J, Holmes L, Sylva D, Hsu KJ, Semon TL, Rosenthal AM, Safron A, Slettevold E, Watts-Overall TM, Savin-Williams RC, Sylla J, Rieger G, Bailey JM. Robust evidence for bisexual orientation among men. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:18369-18377. [PMID: 32690672 PMCID: PMC7414168 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2003631117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The question whether some men have a bisexual orientation-that is, whether they are substantially sexually aroused and attracted to both sexes-has remained controversial among both scientists and laypersons. Skeptics believe that male sexual orientation can only be homosexual or heterosexual, and that bisexual identification reflects nonsexual concerns, such as a desire to deemphasize homosexuality. Although most bisexual-identified men report that they are attracted to both men and women, self-report data cannot refute these claims. Patterns of physiological (genital) arousal to male and female erotic stimuli can provide compelling evidence for male sexual orientation. (In contrast, most women provide similar physiological responses to male and female stimuli.) We investigated whether men who self-report bisexual feelings tend to produce bisexual arousal patterns. Prior studies of this issue have been small, used potentially invalid statistical tests, and produced inconsistent findings. We combined nearly all previously published data (from eight previous studies in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada), yielding a sample of 474 to 588 men (depending on analysis). All participants were cisgender males. Highly robust results showed that bisexual-identified men's genital and subjective arousal patterns were more bisexual than were those who identified as exclusively heterosexual or homosexual. These findings support the view that male sexual orientation contains a range, from heterosexuality, to bisexuality, to homosexuality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Jabbour
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
| | - Luke Holmes
- Department of Psychology, Essex University, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - David Sylva
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, CA 90056
| | - Kevin J Hsu
- Department of Psychological and Social Sciences, Pennsylvania State University Abington, Abington, PA 19001
| | - Theodore L Semon
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
| | - A M Rosenthal
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
| | - Adam Safron
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - Erlend Slettevold
- Department of Psychology, Essex University, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - John Sylla
- American Institute of Bisexuality, Los Angeles, CA 90014
- University of Chicago Law School, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Gerulf Rieger
- Department of Psychology, Essex University, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - J Michael Bailey
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208;
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