Abstract
Some genetic males seek voluntary castration. We designed a survey to compare the psychological, sexual, and childhood experiences for subgroups of men with extreme interest in castration. The survey was posted on the Eunuch Archive, an online platform for individuals interested in the topic. Data from 822 individuals were included in the analyses. Respondents were divided into four groups: Interested (claiming only an interest in castration topics), Fantasy (fantasize about castration sexually, but not desiring castration), Wannabe (considering being castrated in the future), and Castrated (already castrated). More individuals desiring castration (Wannabe and Castrated groups) claimed equal attraction to both sexes than individuals in the Interested group. The Interested group was more religious than the other groups, and the Fantasy group had lower sexual guilt than those with castration desire. All groups had similar psychological well-being and body image acceptance, despite the Castrated group having lower sexual functioning than the others. Childhood trauma was more common in those with castration desire than those without. The Interested group had a lower desire for castration, lower erotic attraction to castration, and pretended to be castrated at a younger age than the others. Childhood trauma and sexual guilt are common, but not limited, predictors for castration desire and erotic attraction to castration, respectively. In conclusion, childhood experiences, as well as psychological and sexual parameters, may vary in different subgroups of males with interests in castration.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the Eunuch Archive Steering Committee for helping us post the survey on eunuch.org. We also thank Ariel Handy, Elisabeth Piccolo, and Robyn Jackowich for critical feedback on the draft manuscript.
Funding
This research was supported in part by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Grant to RJW (Grant RGPIN/8194-2012).
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Appendix
Appendix
Modified Zurich Xenomelia Scale (For those who are not castrated)
These questions ask about your feelings about castration.
Modified Zurich Xenomelia Scale (For those who are castrated)
These questions ask about your feelings about castration.
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Wong, S.T.S., Wassersug, R.J., Johnson, T.W. et al. Differences in the Psychological, Sexual, and Childhood Experiences Among Men with Extreme Interests in Voluntary Castration. Arch Sex Behav 50, 1167–1182 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01808-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01808-6