Age, transvestism, bondage, and concurrent paraphilic activities in 117 fatal cases of autoerotic asphyxia

Article Abstract:

Autoerotic asphyxia is a sexually aberrant practice involving self-strangulation or suffocation during masturbation. One problem with identifying the psychological characteristics of those who indulge in such practices is that they are usually dead by the time they come to the attention of the psychiatric community. Moreover, until recently, these cases were most likely to be dealt with only by police and other authorities, since the deaths were classified as either accidents or suicides. In an attempt to discover whether there might be some specific behavioral patterns that accompany such lethal behavior, so that those who engage in autoerotic asphyxia can be treated before it is too late, the data and files from coroner's reports and related information regarding 117 fatalities from autoerotic asphyxiation were reviewed. Of particular interest was physical evidence from the scene of death that indicated the types of sexual fantasies or rituals that might have accompanied the victims' ultimate act. In particular, three variables - age, and evidence of bondage (using shackling or binding devices, in addition to the device used to induce strangulation), or transvestism (e.g. cross-dressing, shaved legs, lipstick) - were correlated with the presence of seven features surrounding the masturbatory behavior, namely anal self-stimulation, mirrors or cameras for self-observation, fantasy props, heterosexual pornography, bondage, or sadomasochistic pornography, or shaved pubic hair. Most of the victims died by some form of hanging. A number of patterns emerged, among them that anal self-stimulation, self-observation, and fantasy props were associated with transvestism but not bondage, and that bondage and transvestism tended to be more prevalent among the older victims. The subjects who were seemingly preoccupied with bondage had a tendency to be less interested in transvestism. The findings support the generally held notion that paraphilic (abnormal sexual) disorders tend to cluster. It also seems that most victims were more interested in the act of strangulation or suffocation than in the physical sensation of cerebral anoxia (loss of oxygen supply to the brain). Beyond these observed patterns, the underlying intentions of those who engage in such practices remain a mystery. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Transvestism, Autoerotic asphyxia, Bondage (Sexual behavior), Sadomasochism (Sexual behavior)

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Toward an understanding of intuition and its importance in scientific endeavor

Article Abstract:

Intuition can play a key role in any scientific endeavor. Intuition allows scientist to conceptualize a problem, formulate a productive approach and provide meaning to raw data. Intuition also optimizes the unconscious such that both logical and associative connections are made between recent observations and stored knowledge. The intuitive researcher relies on the unconscious to reach new and different levels of understanding.

Methods, Analysis, Research, Scientists, Intuition

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