Male Sexual Orientation: a Cross-Cultural Perspective
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MALE SEXUAL ORIENTATION: A CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE LANNA J. PETTERSON Bachelor of Arts (Hons.), University of Lethbridge, 2012 MasterMALE of Science, SEXUAL University ORIENTATION: of Lethbridge, 2015 A CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE MALE SEXUAL ORIENTATION: A CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in EVOLUTION AND BEHAVIOUR Department of Psychology University of Lethbridge LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA, CANADA © Lanna J. Petterson, 2020 MALE SEXUAL ORIENTATION: A CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE LANNA J. PETTERSON Date of Defence: August 26th, 2020 Dr. P. Vasey Thesis Supervisor Professor Ph.D. Dr. J. B. Leca Thesis Examination Committee Member Associate Professor Ph.D. Dr. S. Pellis Thesis Examination Committee Member Professor Ph.D. Dr. S. Bubel Thesis Examination Committee Member Professor Ph.D. Dr. B. Kolb Internal External Examiner Professor Ph.D. Department of Neuroscience Faculty of Arts and Science Dr. K. Hsu External Examiner Penn State Abington Assistant Professor Ph.D. Abington, PA Dr. D. Logue Chair, Thesis Examination Committee Associate Professor Ph.D. General Abstract Some men experience sexual interest in MtF (male-to-feminine) transgender individuals, known as gynandromorphophilia. This sexual interest has received little academic attention. My thesis includes (a) a review of the literature pertaining to gynandromorphophilia; (b) studies characterizing Samoan gynandromorphophilic men; (c) a study assessing whether Canadian heterosexual men experience some degree of gynandromorphophilia; (d) studies examining the relevance of culture to men’s perception of, and sexual interest in, MtF transgender individuals; (e) a study exploring the relationship between individual factors and gynandromorphophilia; and (f) a discussion of whether gynandromorphophilia is a paraphilia. Broadly, this research suggests that gynandromorphophilic men are predominantly attracted to women, but they differ from exclusively heterosexual men in their elevated response to MtF transgender individuals. Heterosexual men may, however, have a general capacity to experience sexual interest in MtF transgender individuals. This interest may be expressed or inhibited by individual and cultural factors. iii Preface This dissertation comprises six empirical chapters presented as scientific reports, a theoretical discussion, along with an introduction and conclusion. All of the research methods described in this thesis received approval from the University of Lethbridge Human Subject Research Committee, an institutional human ethics review board. Chapter 2-4 have been published or submitted to peer-reviewed journals. Chapters 1- 9 were written with co-authors. All co-authors gave their permission to include unformatted versions of the published manuscripts in my thesis. For all Chapters, the dissertation author (Lanna J. Petterson) drafted the initial manuscript and contributed to the concept, design, and revisions. For all empirical studies (Chapter 2-7), Petterson analyzed and interpreted the data and designed the study tests. Petterson also collected and edited the stimuli used in the studies in Chapters 3-7. For all Chapters, Paul L. Vasey contributed to the concept, design, and revisions. Additional information pertaining to each Chapter are as follows. Chapter 1 authors were Lanna J. Petterson and Paul L. Vasey. Petterson conducted the initial review of the literature. Vasey assisted with the literature review. This chapter has not been submitted. Chapter 2 authors were Lanna J. Petterson, Barnaby J. Dixson, Anthony C. Little, and Paul L. Vasey. Dixson and Little created the stimuli and provided editorial assistance. Petterson and Vasey contributed to data collection. Chapter 2 includes material from Petterson, L. J., Dixson, B. J., Little, A. C., & Vasey, P. L. (2020). Heterogeneity in the sexual orientations of men who have sex with fa'afafine in Samoa. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(2), 517-529. doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01646-6 iv Chapter 3 authors were Lanna J. Petterson and Paul L. Vasey. Petterson and Vasey contributed to data collection. This chapter has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Chapter 4 authors were Lanna J. Petterson and Paul L. Vasey. Petterson collected the data. This chapter will be resubmitted following revisions to a peer-reviewed journal. Chapter 5 authors were Lanna J. Petterson, Francisco R. Gómez Jiménez, and Paul L. Vasey. Vasey and Gómez Jiménez contributed to data collection. This chapter has not been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Chapter 6 authors were Lanna J. Petterson, Francisco R. Gómez Jiménez, and Paul L. Vasey. Petterson, Vasey, and Gómez Jiménez contributed to data collection. This chapter has not been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Chapter 7 authors were Lanna J. Petterson and Paul L. Vasey. Petterson collected the data. This chapter has not been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Chapter 8 authors were Lanna J. Petterson and Paul L. Vasey. Petterson conducted the initial review of the literature. Vasey assisted with the literature review. This chapter has not been submitted has not been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. v Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to thank Paul Vasey. It has been a privilege to work with you and learn from you. You have been an incredible mentor, one of my biggest supporters, and a friend. You have taught me how to think critically and to work hard. You encouraged me and showed me patience when I needed it. I am forever grateful for the opportunities that you have given me. In the words of John Waters, “I respect everything I make fun of”; clearly, I respect you a lot. I would like to thank my committee members, Shawn Bubel, Jean-Baptiste Leca, and Sergio Pellis. Your questions and feedback have challenged my thinking, and I believe that I have benefited from this. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from each of you. Additionally, I would like to thank my external examiners, Dr. Bryan Kolb and Dr. Kevin Hsu, for taking the time to review my thesis and provide me with thoughtful comments and questions. Barnaby Dixson and Anthony Little, thank you for your contribution to the work and all the feedback that you gave to me. I would also like to thank the past and present faculty and staff of the University of Lethbridge who have supported me in various ways. I would especially like to thank David Logue, John Vokey, Fangfang Li, Jennifer Mather, Jennifer Williams, Drew Rendall, Gail Hepburn, and Martin Lalumière. You have all contributed to my learning and development. Susan Entz and Scott Allen, thank you for all the time that you spent carefully reviewing my proposals and providing me with feedback and suggestions. Many thanks to Leanne Wehlage. You routinely went out of your way to help me. I can only hope that you receive the care and patience that you gave to everyone in the department. Erin McSween, thank you for all of your assistance over the past year. vi J. Michael Bailey, Kevin Hsu, Samantha Dawson, and Ken Zucker, thank you for your feedback and advice. J. Michael Bailey, Kevin Hsu, and Ray Blanchard, thank you for your important contributions to the field. To the past and present Vasey lab members—you have all helped me grow in various ways. I especially would like to thank Doug VanderLaan, Scott Semenyna, Francisco Gómez Jiménez, Ryan Mallard, Lucas Court, and the students that have contributed to this research. Doug VanderLaan, you have been foundational to my development. I will always consider you to be a mentor, an academic role model, and a friend. Scott Semenyna and Francisco Gómez Jiménez, I have loved working and spending time with you two. I cannot wait to see where life takes you both. Scott Semenyna, I could not have asked for a better friend to have gone through this with. I have learned from you and leaned on you. Francisco Gómez Jiménez, I will never have a better office mate. I am glad to have you as a friend, and I am also so thankful for your contribution to this research. Thanks to all my friends and family who have stood by me throughout my academic career. To my parents—thank-you for your tireless support, love, and encouragement. You have given me more than I could ever ask for. Melissa Read, Mattie Salmon, and Marina Barry, I truly value the encouragement and kindness you have given me over the past years. To my in-laws—your positivity is such an inspiration and I am so thankful for all the support and kindness you have given me throughout this time. To my (new) husband, Joe D’Angelo—I am so grateful to have you as a partner. You have supported me and believed in me when I have needed it most. You are definitely a distraction at times, but I feel that I am better for it. I love you and I feel so fortunate to be on this journey with you. Thanks for all the laughter along the way. vii Finally, I would like to thank Trisha Tuiloma, Alatina Ioelu, Julio C. Jiménez Rodríguez who have been critical to the success of the lab and were indispensable to this research. I would also like to thank the participants, the University of Lethbridge, and the funding agencies, without whom this research would not be possible. viii Table of Contents General Abstract ................................................................................................................ iii Preface ................................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgements