Paraphilic Interests the Role of Psychosocial Factors in a Sample of Young Adults in Hong Kong Chan, Heng Choon (Oliver)
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Paraphilic Interests The Role of Psychosocial Factors in a Sample of Young Adults in Hong Kong Chan, Heng Choon (Oliver) Published in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy: Journal of NSRC Online published: 19/02/2021 Document Version: Final Published version, also known as Publisher’s PDF, Publisher’s Final version or Version of Record License: CC BY Publication record in CityU Scholars: Go to record Published version (DOI): 10.1007/s13178-020-00532-z Publication details: Chan, H. C. O. (2021). Paraphilic Interests: The Role of Psychosocial Factors in a Sample of Young Adults in Hong Kong. Sexuality Research and Social Policy: Journal of NSRC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-020-00532- z Citing this paper Please note that where the full-text provided on CityU Scholars is the Post-print version (also known as Accepted Author Manuscript, Peer-reviewed or Author Final version), it may differ from the Final Published version. 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Download date: 23/09/2021 Sexuality Research and Social Policy https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-020-00532-z Paraphilic Interests: The Role of Psychosocial Factors in a Sample of Young Adults in Hong Kong Heng Choon (Oliver) Chan1 Accepted: 30 December 2020 © The Author(s) 2021, corrected publication 2021 Abstract Background Little is known about the prevalence and nature of paraphilic interests in the Hong Kong young adult popula- tion. This study explores the psychosocial factors associated with paraphilic interests. Methods Testing the propositions of several criminological theories (i.e., the theories of self-control, general strain, social learning, social control, and routine activity), the study recruited 1171 participants (18–40 years old), from September 2018 through April 2020, to examine both general and 14 subtypes of paraphilic interest (i.e., voyeurism, exhibitionism, scatologia, fetishism, transvestic fetishism, frotteurism, sadism, masochism, biastophilia, urophilia, scatophilia, hebephilia, pedophilia, and zoophilia). Results The fndings indicate that males reported signifcantly higher levels of general and 12 subtypes of paraphilic interest than females, while females had a higher level of transvestic fetishism than males. No mean diference is found between males and females in interest in masochism. Relative to females, males reported signifcantly higher levels of negative tempera- ment, alcohol and drug use, and risky sexual behavior, whereas females had higher levels of self-control, social bonds, and perceived neighborhood disorganization than males. Multivariate analyses indicate that in general, high levels of negative temperament, alcohol and drug use, risky sexual behavior, and perceived neighborhood disorganization and low levels of self-control and social bonds were important factors associated with the participants’ likelihood of having general and 14 subtypes of paraphilic interest. Conclusions These fndings provide support to the signifcant role of psychosocial factors in understanding diferent para- philic interests in the Hong Kong young adult population. Policy Implications This study has implications for practice, in the form of reducing, if not eliminating, the tendency to develop an interest in paraphilic behaviors. This may be more important when referring to paraphilic behaviors that are criminally oriented. Keywords Paraphilic interest · Paraphilic behavior · Paraphilia · Psychosocial factor · Young adult Introduction partners” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Para- philic sexual interest is regarded as sexual arousal from an Paraphilias can be broadly defned as conditions char- atypical sexual activity (e.g., exposing one’s genitals to acterized by persistent unconventional sexual interests. nonconsenting others) or target (e.g., prepubescent chil- Clinically, a paraphilia has been defned as an “intense dren) (Bouchard, Dawson, & Lalumière, 2017). However, and persistent sexual interest other than sexual interest it should be stressed that having or acting on a paraphilic in genital stimulation or preparatory fondling with phe- interest may not necessarily be pathological. Most people notypically normal, physically mature, consenting human with paraphilic interests do not have a mental disorder, and paraphilia is only clinically diagnosed when the paraphilic interest is recurrent, persistent, necessary for sexual enjoy- * Heng Choon (Oliver) Chan [email protected] ment, and results in signifcant distress or impairment of functioning. Nevertheless, some studies found a signifcant 1 Teaching Laboratory for Forensics and Criminology, positive relationship between antisociality (e.g., antiso- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, City cial personality disorder, conduct disorder) and paraphilic University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong S.A.R. Vol.:(0123456789)1 3 Sexuality Research and Social Policy interests and behavior, particularly in the criminal pop- biastophilia, pedophilia) is at a higher risk for criminality ulation (DeLisi, Drury, Caropreso, Heinrichs, Tahja, & is inaccurate as it may not necessarily the case. Elbert, 2018; Lee, Hanson, Calkins, & Jeglic, 2020). The Culture and society are also found to have a signifcant Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, impact on the recognition and acceptance of behavior Fifth Edition (DSM-5) identifes eight paraphilias and as normal or deviance. Sexual practices, in general, are their associated paraphilic disorders (i.e., voyeurism, associated with the societal kinship structures and power exhibitionism, fetishism, transvestic fetishism, frotteurism, gradients, which often follow prescribed and shared cultural sexual sadism, sexual masochism, and pedophilia; APA, scripts that promote or discourage diferent types of sexual 2013), while the International Classifcation of Diseases, interests and behavior (Reiss, 1986). Specifcally, Bullough Tenth Revision (ICD-10) recognizes six disorders of sex- (1976) described cultures and societies as either sex-positive ual preference (i.e., voyeurism, exhibitionism, fetishism, (i.e., emphasizes the pleasurable, gratifying, rewarding, fetishistic transvestism, sadomasochism, and pedophilia; and non-reproductive aspects of sex) or sex-negative (i.e., World Health Organization, 2010). Other paraphilias are perceives semen loss and sexual intercourse as a weakness classifed in DSM-5 in the residual diagnosis category of and sexual asceticism is encouraged). Nevertheless, as paraphilia (e.g., scatologia, biastophilia, urophilia, scat- societies have evolved, changed, and imbibed new customs, ophilia, hebephilia, and zoophilia). the attitudes and values regarding sexual interests, activity, Given the fexibility of sexual norms across time and and overall sexuality have also changed accordingly cultural practices, the DSM-5 has distinguished paraphilias (Ayonrinde & Bhugra, 2015). from paraphilic disorders, with the former is regarded as Relative to the Western cultures, Asian and Middle atypical but not inherently pathological behaviors. Paraphilic Eastern cultures commonly adopt a higher restrictive disorders, in contrast, are regarded as the presence of devi- view on sexual issues. In these cultures, discussion on sex ant, maladaptive erotic urges, which may result in a signif- has always been and remains a taboo subject (Baazeem, cant threat to the psychological and physical well-being of 2016; Ho, Singam, Hong, & Zainuddin, 2011). Thus, it the afected individuals and/or others. Indeed, the diagnosis is reasonable to perceive that cultural factors may influ- of paraphilic disorders requires that (1) the patient experi- ence an individual’s expression of distress as a result of ences personal distress over persistent (at least 6 months) his/her sexual dysfunction. For instance, Chinese males and troubling sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors (and not may feel embarrassed to discuss erectile dysfunction and simply from society’s disapproval), and that (2) such behav- choose to suffer in silence (Ho et al., 2011). Indeed, com- iors cause distress, injury, or death of another individuals, or plaints of ejaculatory delay are more common in Asian involve nonconsenting individuals or those who are unable populations when compared to those from the Europe, to provide legal consent (American Psychiatric Association, Australia, and the USA (Kalra, Tandon, & Rao, 2014). 2013). Concerning the treatment of sexual disorders and specifi- However, sexual fantasies should not be confused with cally for paraphilic interests and behavior, the review by sexual interests. Joyal