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Age, Transvestism, Bondage, and Concurrent Paraphilic Activities in 117 Fatal Cases of Autoerotic Asphyxia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Ray Blanchard  and
Stephen J. Hucker
Ray Blanchard*
Affiliation:
Gender Identity Clinic, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry
Stephen J. Hucker
Affiliation:
Forensic Division, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Autoerotic asphyxia is the practice of self-inducing cerebral anoxia, usually by hanging, strangulation, or suffocation, during masturbation. This study investigated the relationships between: asphyxiators' ages; two paraphilias commonly accompanying autoerotic asphyxia, bondage and transvestism; and various other types of simultaneous sexual behaviour. Subjects were two concurrent series totalling 117 males aged 10–56 who died accidentally during autoerotic asphyxial activities. Data concerning sexual paraphernalia at the scene of death or among the deceased's effects were extracted from coronors' files using standardised protocols. Anal self-stimulation with dildos, etc., and self-observation with mirrors or cameras were correlated with transvestism. Older asphyxiators were more likely to have been simultaneously engaged in bondage or transvestism, suggesting elaboration of the masturbatory ritual over time. The greatest degree of transvestism was associated with intermediate rather than high levels of bondage, suggesting that response competition from bondage may limit asphyxiators' involvement in a third paraphilia like transvestism.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 159 , Issue 3 , September 1991 , pp. 371 - 377
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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