Abstract
Two groups of 23 female-to-male and 14 male-to-female transsexuals were compared to a representative sample of Polish controls along following dimensions: (i) temperamental features including reactivity and mobility of nervous processes, as measured by Strelau's Temperament Inventory; and (ii) patterns of sexual activity, measured with Dulko's Questionnaire for Measurement of Transsexualism. Transsexuals were found to resemble respective controls on temperamental dimensions according to their sense of gender identity and not their somatic sex. Male-to-female transsexuals were more similar to control females than to control males and the reverse was true for female-to-male subjects. With respect to forms of sexual activity, transsexuals, particularly the female-to-male, were found to have a relatively versatile erotic life. Both groups experienced more dreams with erotic content than respective controls. However, they also manifested fewer successes at satisfying their erotic needs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bentler, P. M. (1976). A typology of transsexualism: Gender identity theory and data.Arch. Sex. Behav. 5: 567–583.
Boyar, R. M., and Aiman, J. (1982). The 24-hour secretory pattern of LH and the response to LH-RH in transsexual men.Arch. Sex. Behav. 11: 157–169.
Dorner, G. (1978). Hormones and sexual differentiation of the brain. Sex hormones and behavior.Excerpta Med. 62: 81.
Hebb, D. (1969).Handbook of Psychology PWN, Warsaw, Poland.
Hoenig, J., and Kenna, J. C. (1974). The nosological position of transsexualism.Arch. Sex. Behav. 3: 273–287.
Leuba, C. (1965). Toward some integration of learning theory: the concept of optimal stimulation. In Powler, H. (ed.),Curiosity and Exploratory Behavior Macmillan, New York.
Lipton, M., Breese, G. R., Prauge, A. J. Jr., Wilson, J. C., and Cooper, B. R. (1976). Behavioral effects of hypothalamic polypeptide hormones in animals and man. In Sachar, E. J. (ed.),Hormones, Behavior and Psychopathology, New York, p. 15.
McConahay, S. A., and McConahay, J. B. (1977). Sexual permissiveness, sex-role rigidity and violence across cultures.J. Soc. Issues 33: 134–143.
Moss, R. L., Riskind, P., and Dudley, C. A. (1979). Effects of LH-RH on sexual activities in animals and man. In Collu, R., Barbeau, A., Ducharme, J. R., and Rochefort, J. (eds.),Central Nervous System Effects of Hypothalamic Hormones and Other Peptides, New York, p. 345.
Ponikiewska, W. (1976). Influence of undisturbed pregnancy and childbirth on sexual character of partnership. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
Randell, J. B. (1959). Transvestism and transsexualism. A study of 50 cases.Brit. Med. J. 2: 1448.
Renaud, L. P., Martin, J. B., and Brazeau, P. (1975). Depressant action of TRH, LH-RH and somatostatin on activity of central neurones.Nature pp. 233–255.
Roth, M., and Ball, J. R. B. (1964). Psychiatric aspects of intersexuality. InIntersexuality in Vetebrates Including Man, Armstrong, C. N., and Marschall, A. J. (eds.), New York, p. 395.
Sorensen, T., and Hertoft, P. (1982). Male and female transsexualism. The Danish experience with 37 patients.Arch. Sex. Behav. 11: 133–156.
Stawowska, L. (1973),Diagnosis of Personality Types WUS, Katowice, Poland, pp. 10–29.
Strelau, J. (1969).Temperament and Type of Nervous System PWN, Warsaw, Poland.
Strelau, J. (1972). A diagnosis of temperament by nonexperimental techniques.Polish Psychol. Bull. 3: 97–105.
Strelau, J. (1974).Role of Temperamental Traits in Action Ossolineum, Wrocław, Poland.
Strelau, J. (1978).Role of Temperament in Mental Development, Warsaw, Poland.
Strelau, J. (1982). Temperament Inventory according to the typology by Iwan P. Pavlov. In Strelau, J. (ed.),Regulatory Functions of Temperament Ossolineum, Wrocław, Poland.
Unger, R. K. (1979).Female and Male: Psychological Perspectives Harper and Row, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dulko, S. Sexual activity and temperament in polish transsexuals. Arch Sex Behav 17, 163–171 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542665
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542665