When less is more - Implicit preference for incomplete bodies in xenomelia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) research

Background:

• Xenomelia, also known as Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID), involves individuals identifying with an amputated body.
• These individuals often exhibit admiration and sexual attraction towards amputees.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically investigate implicit preferences for amputated bodies in individuals with xenomelia.
• To determine if these preferences differ from control groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Implicit Association Test (IAT) to assess implicit attitudes.
• Compared individuals with xenomelia, a normally-limbed control group, and a group of involuntary amputees.

Main Results:

• Individuals with xenomelia demonstrated a stronger implicit and explicit preference for amputated bodies.
• Control and involuntary amputee groups did not show significant differences in preferences.

Conclusions:

• Presents the first behavioral evidence of an implicit-level conflict in self-identification in xenomelia.
• Suggests xenomelia may stem from a neurologically disordered experience of one's own bodily self.