ABSTRACT
People with paraphilias have atypical sexual interests, including inanimate things, locations, or specific persons (such as infants or corpses). This research examines zoophiles (i.e., those who engage in sexual activities with animals) recruited over the Internet. We conducted a self-designed poll online on prominent discussion forums aimed at the PSA community. All replies were quantified as the proportion of agreement with one of the available answer options, together with the interpretation of any qualitative data provided in the extra area.
The survey questions were conceptually classified into four categories: worldview, personal space, sexual life, and internet space. PSA exhibit a notable self-awareness regarding their sexuality and acknowledge the illegality of their actions (despite viewing them as an expression of love); they frequently associate their difficulties in achieving social acceptance with homosexuality, positing that de-stigmatization could be achieved by removing zoophilia from the DSM’s classification of disorders. Regarding sexual experiences, PSA contend that the quality of sexual encounters with animals surpasses that with people, and physical attributes, such as fur, can elicit sexual arousal in PSA, particularly when observing animals in public settings. PSA employ the Internet to network and establish connections with fellow PSA; these online relationships typically remain confined to digital interactions, since PSA often exhibit skepticism towards other zoophiles, particularly about personal safety.
A fundamental aspect of zoophilia is the pursuit of relational engagement and the desire to establish a long-term bond with an animal companion.
Author: Damian Jacob Sendler | Laboratory of Forensic Sexology, Legal Medicine, and Digital Ethnography, Felnett Health Research Foundation, 175 Zoe St, Staten Island, NY, 10305, United States.
Publisher: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine (ScienceDirect)
Citation: Sendler, D. J. (2019). Contemporary understanding of zoophilia — a multinational survey study. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 62, 44–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2018.12.010
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