Abstract
This article presents a study of 114 self-defined zoophile men who were researched primarily through the use of an on-line questionnaire. We describe how the participants acquired the identity label of zoophile, what it meant to them, and their relationships among themselves. Also examined are how they eroticized animals and how human and feral characteristics combined to form this object choice. Finally, participants' sexual profiles with animals and humans, and how the balance of animal and human desires creates different forms of zoophilia, are described.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abel, G. G., Becker, J. V., Cunningham-Rathner, J., Mittleman, M., & Rouleau, J. L. (1988). Multiple paraphilic diagnoses among sex offenders. Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry, and Law, 16, 153–168.
Allgeier, E. R., & Allgeier, A. R. (2000). Sexual interactions (7th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Alvarez, W. A., & Freinhar, J. P. (1991). A prevalence study of bestiality (zoophilia) in psychiatric in-patients, medical in-patients, and psychiatric staff. International Journal of Psychosomatics, 38, 45–47.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic, and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
Beastly passions. (2000, December 3). The Independent on Sunday, pp. 32–33.
Beck, A. M., & Katcher, A. H. (1996). Between pets, and people. The importance of animal companionship. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.
Beirne, P. (2000). Rethinking bestiality: Towards a concept of interspecies sexual assault. In A. L. Podberscek, E. S. Paul, & J. A. Serpell (Eds.), Companion animals, and us: Exploring the relationships between people, and pets (pp. 313–331). New York: Routledge.
Bryant, C. D., & Snizek, W. (1993). On the trail of the centaur. Society, 30, 25–35.
Cornog, M., & Perper, T. (1994). Bestiality. In V. L. Bullough & B. Bullough (Eds.), Human sexuality: An encyclopedia (pp. 60–63). New York: Garland.
Dekkers, M. (2000). Dearest pet. New York: Verso.
Durkin, K. F., & Bryant, C. D. (2002). Log on to sex: Erotic cyberspace as a new frontier. In R. Weitzer (Ed.), Deviance, and social control (pp. 185–194). Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Earls, C. M., & Lalumière, M. L. (2000). A case study of preferential bestiality (zoophilia). Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research, and Treatment, 14, 83–88.
Gebhard, P. H. (1965). Situational factors affecting human sexual behavior. In F. A. Beach (Ed.), Sex, and behavior (pp. 483–495). New York: Wiley.
Holmes, S. T., & Holmes, R. M. (2002). Sex crimes: Patterns, and behavior (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Home Office. (2000). Setting the boundaries: Reforming the law on sex offences. London: Home Office Communications Directorate.
Humane Society of the United States. (2001). Available from www.hsus.org
Hunt, M. M. (1974). Sexual behavior in the 1970's. Chicago: Playboy Press.
Ingold, T. (Ed.). (1994). What is an animal? New York: Routledge.
Jasper, J., & Nelkin, D. (1992). The animal rights crusade: The growth of a moral protest. New York: Free Press.
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., & Martin, C. E. (1948). Sexual behavior in the human male. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., Martin, C. E., & Gebhard, P. H. (1953). Sexual behavior in the human female. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Koch, S., & Schockman, H. E. (1998). Democratizing Internet access in the lesbian, gay, and bisexual communities. In B. Ebo (Ed.), Cyberghetto of cybertopia: Race, class, and gender on the Internet (pp. 170–184). Westport, CT: Praeger.
Lenius, S. (2001). Bisexuals, and BDSM: Bisexual people in a pansexual community. Journal of Bisexuality, 1, 69–78.
Masters, W., Johnson, V., & Kolodny, R. C. (1995). Human sexuality. New York: HarperCollins.
Matthews, M. (1994). The horseman. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
Miletski, H. (2002). Understanding bestiality, and zoophilia. Germantown, MD: Ima Tek Inc.
Page, G. H. (1999). Inside the animal mind. New York: Doubleday.
Posner, R. A., & Silbaugh, K. B. (1996). A guide to America's sex laws. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Ross, M., Tikkanen, T., & Mansson, S. A. (2000). Differences between internet samples, and conventional samples of men who have sex with men: Implications for research, and HIV interventions. Social Science, and Medicine, 51, 749–758.
Roth, M. (1999, December 15). All opposed, say neigh. Riverfront Times, p. 10.
Savishinsky, J. (1983). Pet ideas: The domestication of animals, human behavior, and human emotions. In A. H. Katcher & A. M. Beck (Eds.), New perspectives on our lives with companion animals (pp. 112–131). Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Singer, P. (2001). Retrieved from www.nerve.com/Opinions/Singer/heavyPetting/main.asp?
Strong, B., DeVault, C., Sayad, B. W., & Yarber, W. L. (2002). Human sexuality: Diversity in contemporary America. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing.
Thomas, K. (1983). Man, and the natural world. New York: Pantheon Books.
Walton, C. E. (2001). Bestiality. In C. D. Bryant (Ed.), Encyclopedia of criminology, and deviant behavior (pp. 19–22). Philadelphia: Brunner-Routledge.
Weinberg, M. S., Williams, C. J., & Calhan, C. (1995). “If the shoe fits...”: Exploring male homosexual foot fetishism. Journal of Sex Research, 32, 17–27.
Weinberg, M. S., Williams, C. J., & Pryor, D. W. (1994). Dual attraction: Understanding bisexuality. New York: Oxford University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Williams, C.J., Weinberg, M.S. Zoophilia in Men: A Study of Sexual Interest in Animals. Arch Sex Behav 32, 523–535 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026085410617
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026085410617