When Kinks Come to Life: An Exploration of Paraphilic Behaviors and Underlying Predictors

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic details of general and FetLife sample.

	General Sample (N = 384)	FetLife Sample (N = 65)	X^2
Age M (SD)	25.92 (7.02)	42.29 (13.26)	^a8.46***
Min – Max	18–62	18–73
Sexual orientation			51.59***
Straight	74.6%	52.3%
Gay/Lesbian	8.5%	3.0%
Bisexual	14.3%	29.2%
Other sexual orientation	2.1%	15.3%
Ethnicity			28.69***
White	61.5%	95.3%
Asian	32.5%	0%
Other ethnicity	0%	4.7%
Relationship status			1.52
Single	35.5%	39.1%
In a relationship	56.0%	48.4%
Dating	8.5%	12.5%
Employment			64.67***
Full-time	39.4%	7.3%
Part-time	11.1%	12.5%
Unemployed/retired	5.6%	12.5%
Student	4.2%	4.7%
Education			33.83***
GED or equivalent	13.7%	4.7%
Some university	1.2%	31.3%
Bachelor’s degree	35.0%	37.5%
Postgraduate degree	36.4%	26.6%

^at-statistic based on independent samples t-test.

Table 2. Sample items per paraphilia on the Paraphilias Scale.

Paraphilia	Sample item
Voyeurism	You are watching an unsuspecting stranger while they undress
Exhibitionism	You are exposing your penis to a stranger who is not expecting it
Scatologia	You are making obscene phone calls to someone who is not expecting it
Fetishism	You are touching an object like shoes, gloves, or plush toys
Transvestic fetishism	You are dressing up as someone of the opposite sex
Frotteurism	You are touching or rubbing a stranger who is not expecting it
Sadism	You are spanking, beating, or whipping someone; You are cutting someone’s skin
Masochism	You are being spanked, beaten or whipped; You are having your skin cut
Biastophilia	You are forcing someone into sexual activity
Urophilia	You are urinating on someone (“golden showers”); You are being urinated on by someone (“golden showers”)
Scatophilia	You are defecating on someone (“scat”); You are being defecated on by someone (“scat”)
Hebephilia	You are having sex with a girl (age 12 to 14); You are having sex with a boy (age 12 to 14)
Zoophilia	You are having sex with an animal
Pedophilia	You are having sex with a boy below the age of 12; You are having sex with a girl below the age of 12

Table 3. Descriptive statistics of arousal and behavior for each Paraphilic Interest split by gender and sample source.

	Arousing M (SD)			Arousing %			Engaged in %
Paraphilic Interest	Men	Women	t	Men	Women	X^2	Men	Women	X^2
Voyeurism	−.17 (1.89)	−1.36 (1.85)	6.25***	49.7	23.3	30.82***	40.7	17.4	27.87***
Exhibitionism	−2.04 (1.46)	−2.52 (1.16)	3.44***	7.6	5.6	.68	8.3	2.1	9.28**
Scatologia	−2.04 (1.43)	−2.18 (1.39)	.97	8.3	5.6	1.18	9.7	6.6	1.28
Fetishism	−.26 (1.08)	−.96 (1.09)	6.27***	46.2	27.4	15.21***	79.3	69.1	5.05*
Transvestic fetishism	−1.15 (1.49)	−.74 (1.54)	−2.64**	32.4	28.8	.59	44.1	43.4	.02
Frotteurism	−1.71 (1.67)	−2.30 (1.39)	3.59***	14.5	8.0	4.46*	13.8	5.6	8.59**
Sadism	−.12 (1.44)	−1.04 (1.24)	6.62***	84.8	70.8	10.22***	86.9	66.3	20.82***
Masochism	−1.06 (1.41)	−.66 (1.54)	−2.62**	67.6	78.8	6.50*	66.2	80.9	11.41***
Biastophilia	−1.41 (1.86)	−2.34 (1.29)	5.37***	33.8	11.8	30.09***	23.4	12.5	8.53**
Urophilia	−1.60 (1.69)	−2.51 (1.07)	5.91***	29.0	7.3	36.44***	19.3	9.7	7.87**
Scatophilia	−2.68 (.91)	−2.82 (.66)	1.56	7.6	2.1	7.74**	2.8	4.2	.54
Hebephilia	−2.56 (1.00)	−2.78 (.76)	2.30*	9.0	4.9	2.78	2.8	1.4	1.00
Pedophilia	−2.82 (.83)	−2.89 (.63)	.97	3.4	3.5	2.01	1.4	2.4	.08
Zoophilia	−2.75 (.98)	−2.82 (.84)	.80	3.4	1.4	.00	1.4	1.7	.52
	Arousing M (SD)			Arousing %			Engaged in %
Paraphilic Interest	Fetlife	General	t	Fetlife	General	X^2	Fetlife	General	X^2
Voyeurism	3.67 (1.98)	2.92 (1.92)	2.89***	37.5	30.8	1.13	46.9	21.4	18.94***
Exhibitionism	1.98 (1.41)	1.57 (1.24)	2.21*	7.8	5.7	.41	6.3	3.9	.73
Scatologia	1.67 (1.05)	1.90 (1.46)	−1.48	1.6	7.3	2.99	6.3	7.8	.20
Fetishism	4.01 (.78)	3.17 (1.13)	7.43***	53.1	30.8	12.17***	93.8	68.9	16.94***
Transvestic fetishism	3.94 (1.41)	3.02 (1.53)	4.73***	48.4	27.7	11.12***	64.1	41.0	11.83***
Frotteurism	2.78 (1.74)	1.76 (1.43)	4.44***	20.3	8.9	7.62**	18.8	6.8	10.09***
Sadism	4.42 (1.38)	3.11 (1.31)	7.36***	90.6	73.4	8.91**	89.1	70.5	9.63**
Masochism	4.20 (1.67)	3.07 (1.43)	5.14***	82.8	73.9	2.34	87.5	74.7	5.02*
Biastophilia	3.36 (1.94)	1.76 (1.40)	6.31***	45.3	15.1	31.84***	37.5	12.5	25.30***
Urophilia	3.24 (1.75)	1.58 (1.17)	7.31***	48.4	9.9	62.32***	42.2	9.7	47.29***
Scatophilia	1.23 (.56)	1.24 (.80)	−.01	6.3	3.7	.96	3.1	3.9	.09
Hebephilia	1.27 (.72)	1.29 (.87)	−.18	6.3	6.0	.01	1.6	1.8	.02
Pedophilia	1.16 (.49)	1.14 (.73)	.24	3.1	1.8	.47	1.6	1.6	.00
Zoophilia	1.63 (1.44)	1.14 (.74)	2.62*	9.4	2.3	8.35**	4.7	1.6	2.71

Arousing means were from −3 (very repulsive) to 3 (very arousing). The relatively higher the score, the less repulsive is the relevant paraphilic interest.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Table 4. Independent samples T-Tests and descriptive statistics of dark tetrad traits, impulsivity and social desirability split by gender.

	Men		Women
Variable	M (SD)	Min – Max	M (SD)	Min – Max	t
Machiavellianism	23.37 (4.15)	9–33	22.95 (4.04)	12–35	1.00
Narcissism	20.93 (4.00)	9–29	20.22 (4.05)	8–32	1.72
Psychopathy	16.06 (4.80)	7–33	14.92 (4.36)	6–29	2.48*
Sadism	19.01 (5.04)	7–32	14.89 (5.10)	7–31	7.97***
Dysfunctional impulsivity	1.65 (1.96)	0–7	1.59 (1.86)	0–7	.34
Functional impulsivity	6.61 (2.87)	0–12	5.47 (2.87)	0–12	3.91***
Social desirability	6.15 (2.76)	0–13	6.07 (2.77)	0–13	.38

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Table 5. Correlations between paraphilic arousal and correspondent behavior for the full sample and the subset of the sample who expressed finding the paraphilia arousing.

Paraphilia		τ	p-value
Voyeurism	Full sample	0.43	.001
	Find arousing	0.32	.001
Exhibitionism	Full sample	0.24	.001
	Find arousing	0.21	.010
Scatologia	Full sample	0.27	.001
	Find arousing	0.24	.001
Fetishism	Full sample	0.33	.001
	Find arousing	0.26	.001
Transvestic Fetishism	Full sample	0.46	.001
	Find arousing	0.38	.001
Frotteurism	Full sample	0.31	.001
	Find arousing	0.12	.086
Sadism	Full sample	0.57	.001
	Find arousing	0.55	.001
Masochism	Full sample	0.61	.001
	Find arousing	0.59	.001
Biastophilia	Full sample	0.49	.001
	Find arousing	0.38	.001
Urophilia	Full sample	0.45	.001
	Find arousing	0.39	.001
Scatophilia	Full sample	0.14	.003
	Find arousing	0.22	.056
Hebephilia	Full sample	0.03	.542
	Find arousing	0.17	.099
Pedophilia	Full sample	0.09	.060
	Find arousing	0.23	.157
Zoophilia	Full sample	0.20	.001
	Find arousing	0.32	.047

Table 6. Results of multiple hierarchical regression of demographic variables, individual differences, dark tetrad variables, and paraphilia-related arousal on behavior engagement per paraphilia.

	Voy	Exh	ScLog	Fetish	Tr Fetish	Frot	Sad	Mas	Biast	Uro	Scat	Heb	Pedo	Zoo
Independent variables
Step 1: Demographic variables
Gender	−.12*	−.18***				−.11*	−.13***		−.04		−.12*
Sample	−.19***			−.09	−.06	−.08	−.10**	−.07*	−.10*	−.18***
Age							.06					−.09	−.10*	−.08
R^2	.13	.04		.03	.02	.05	.21	.12***	.10	.13	.02	.01	.02	.01
F	29.59***	19.01***		14.66***	9.81**	11.10***	37.28***	26.84***	23.96***	62.14***	7.35**	4.60*	6.87**	4.39*
Step 2: Individual differences
Dysfunctional impulsivity	.10*		.11*						.06	.09*	.05	.02	.00
Functional impulsivity		−.12*			−.10*		.06
Social desirability				−.07	−.06		−.06	.10**
R^2	.14	.05	.03	.05	.05		.24	.14	.11	.14	.03	.01	.03
∆R^2	.02	.01	.03	.01	.03		.03	.02	.01	.01	.01	.02	.01
∆F	7.95**	4.31*	11.35***	6.06*	6.24*		6.87**	11.17***	4.49*	6.13*	6.13*	4.05*	4.36*
Step 3: Dark Tetrad variables
Psychopathy					.11*	.14**	.05		.05		.11*	.13**	.15***	.15***
Narcissism	.09*	.13*	.06
Machiavellianism	−.15***	−.15**					−.08*	−.04
Sadism	.08			.10*			.03	−.06
R^2	.18	.08	.04	.08	.07	.08	.28	.17	.13		.05	.04	.05	.05
∆R^2	.04	.03	.01	.03	.02	.03	.04	.03	.01		.02	.02	.03	.04
∆F	6.56*	5.36*	5.21*	12.54***	9.21**	11.10***	7.66**	8.14**	6.33*		6.43*	9.44**	1.77***	16.15***
Step 4: Arousal
Paraphilia- related arousal	.40***	.31***	.35***	.35***	.51***	.26***	.61***	.74***	.52***	.45***	.17***	.23***	.30***	.29***
R^2	.32	.17	.16	.19	.32	.14	.55	.62	.35	.31	.07	.10	.14	.13
∆R^2	.14	.09	.12	.11	.25	.06	.27	.45	.122	.17	.03	.05	.09	.08
∆F	81.61***	43.67***	58.04***	55.31***	149.49***	28.51***	247.64***	485.982***	139.763***	101.85***	11.85***	24.22***	43.01***	37.52***

Gender coded 1 = male, 2 = female; Sample coded 1 = Fetlife, 2 = general.

Table 7. Moderation analyses of the moderating effects of individual differences and dark tetrad variables on the association between arousal and behavior for each paraphilia.

	b	SE	t	p	95% CI
Voyeurism R^2 = .25***
Arousal	.140	.010	11.67	<.001	[.12, .17]
Dysfunctional impulsivity	.020	.010	1.76	.078	[−.003, .05]
Machiavellianism	−.010	.006	−1.99	.047	[−.03, < −.001]
Arousal x dysfunctional impulsivity	.006	.006	.940	.350	[−.006, .02]
Arousal x Machiavellianism	−.007	.003	−2.51	.013	[−.01, −.001]
Exhibitionism R^2 = .18***
Arousal	.070	.009	8.55	<.001	[.06, .09]
Functional impulsivity	−.003	.003	−.81	.416	[−.01, .004]
Machiavellianism	−.006	.003	−2.50	.013	[−.01, −.001]
Arousal x functional impulsivity	−.007	.003	−2.52	.012	[−.01, −.001]
Arousal x Machiavellianism	−.009	.002	−5.07	<.001	[−.01, −.006]
Scatologia R^2 = .18***
Arousal	.110	.010	8.44	<.001	[.09, .14]
Dysfunctional impulsivity	.020	.010	1.84	.066	[−.001, .04]
Arousal x dysfunctional impulsivity	.010	.006	1.90	.058	[<-.001, .02]
Fetishism R^2 = .18***
Arousal	.350	.040	8.59	<.001	[.27, .43]
Sadism	.070	.030	2.78	.006	[.02, .12]
Arousal x sadism	.005	.007	.690	.493	[−.009, .02]
Frotteurism R^2 = .13***
Arousal	.070	.010	6.21	<.001	[.05, .09]
Psychopathy	.010	.004	3.46	<.001	[.006, .02]
Arousal x psychopathy	.004	.003	1.77	.078	[<-.001, .009]
Sadism R^2 = .52***
Arousal	.400	.020	21.91	<.001	[.36, .43]
Machiavellianism	−.070	.030	−1.83	.068	[−.14, .01]
Arousal x Machiavellianism	−.010	.004	−2.55	.011	[−.02, −.002]
Masochism R^2 = .61***
Arousal	.420	.020	25.96	<.001	[.39, .45]
Social desirability	.120	.690	.170	.870	[−1.24, 1.47]
Arousal x social desirability	−.014	.070	−.200	.840	[−.15, .12]
Urophilia R^2 = .52***
Arousal	.190	.010	13.51	<.001	[.16, .22]
Dysfunctional impulsivity	.040	.020	1.74	.082	[−.005, .08]
Arousal x dysfunctional impulsivity	.010	.007	2.17	.031	[.001, .03]
Scatophilia R^2 = .24***
Arousal	.010	.010	.430	.670	[−.02, .03]
Psychopathy	.010	.004	1.74	.080	[−.001, .02]
Arousal x psychopathy	.020	.002	9.90	<.001	[.01, .02]
Hebephilia R^2 = .45***
Arousal	<-.010	.010	−.150	.880	[−.01, .01]
Psychopathy	.010	.002	2.50	.013	[.001, .009]
Arousal x psychopathy	.020	.001	17.24	<.001	[.014, .02]
Pedophilia R^2 = .39***
Arousal	−.020	.010	−1.93	.055	[−.03, .001]
Psychopathy	.005	.002	2.15	.032	[<.001, .009]
Arousal x psychopathy	.016	.001	15.28	<.001	[.01, .02]
Zoophilia R^2 = .28***
Arousal	.030	.010	2.49	.013	[.004, .04]
Psychopathy	.003	.002	1.86	.064	[<-.001, .006]
Arousal x psychopathy	.013	.001	9.81	<.001	[.01, .02]

***p < .001.