Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2026
04:38
Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice
Published on: March 5, 2020
Personality characteristics and sexual functioning of 188 cross-dressing men
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|May 1, 1996
Summary
Non-patient male cross-dressers show personality traits and sexual functioning similar to the general population. This suggests clinical diagnosis is unwarranted without significant psychological distress or impairment.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Previous research on cross-dressing men focused on those in psychological distress seeking clinical treatment.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the personality traits and sexual functioning of individuals who cross-dress but do not seek treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the personality characteristics and sexual functioning of non-treatment-seeking male cross-dressers.
- To compare personality traits and sexual functioning across different self-identified groups of male cross-dressers (transvestites, transgenderists, transsexuals).
Main Methods:
- 188 non-treatment-seeking male cross-dressers completed the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) and the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI).
- Participants were categorized into transvestite (TV), transgenderist (TG), or transsexual (TS) groups based on self-report and cross-gender activities.
- Statistical analyses were performed to compare personality domains, facets, and sexual functioning scales across the diagnostic groups.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in broad personality domains were found among TV, TG, and TS groups.
- Transsexual (TS) men scored higher on Aesthetics (Openness to Experience) than TV and TG men.
- TS men reported lower sexual drive, while TS and TG men exhibited more psychiatric symptoms and poorer body image compared to TV men.
Conclusions:
- Non-patient male cross-dressers, when not seeking clinical treatment, are largely indistinguishable from non-cross-dressing men in terms of personality traits and psychological distress.
- The findings underscore the importance of clinical significance criteria (DSM-IV) before diagnosing cross-dressing men with an Axis I disorder.
- Sexual functioning and psychological distress levels may vary between different subgroups of cross-dressing men, even in non-clinical populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic
The third stage of psychosexual development proposed by Freud is the phallic stage, occurring between the ages of 3 and 6. During this period, children become aware of their bodies and the differences between males and females. The erogenous zone in this stage is the genitals, and conflicts arise as children develop desires toward the opposite-sex parent. Boys experience the Oedipus complex, where they desire their mother and view their father as a rival. This leads to castration anxiety, the...
01:23Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital
The genital stage is the final phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, beginning at puberty, around age 12. During this stage, sexual energy shifts from self-focused interests to external individuals, marking the development of mature adult sexuality. Freud saw this phase as a time of sexual reawakening, with desires directed toward others outside the family. A healthy transition into this stage, according to Freud, signifies the emergence of two key aspects of adult...
01:24Cattell's 16 Personality Factors
Raymond Cattell's trait theory offers a structured framework for understanding personality by distinguishing between two critical traits: surface and source traits. Surface traits are observable patterns of behavior, such as indecisiveness, anxiety, and irrational fears. These traits are less stable, varying across situations and over time. This means that they are less helpful in understanding the deeper aspects of an individual's personality.
In contrast, source traits are the fundamental,...
In contrast, source traits are the fundamental,...
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.
01:23Factors Influencing Attraction VI: Personality Traits
Personality traits are fundamental in shaping social perception and influencing interpersonal relationships. Certain traits, such as agreeableness and extraversion, contribute positively to social interactions, whereas others, such as narcissism, have complex and often contradictory effects on how individuals are perceived over time.The Role of Agreeableness and ExtraversionAgreeableness and extraversion are associated with higher levels of interpersonal attractiveness and likability.
01:26Desirable Characteristics in Others
Various factors, including the type of relationship, gender, and duration of the relationship, influence the perception of desirable characteristics in others. While certain traits such as trustworthiness, cooperativeness, agreeableness, and extraversion are universally valued across all relationships, other characteristics are context-dependent and gain prominence based on specific relational dynamics.Universal and Context-Dependent TraitsTrustworthiness and cooperativeness are fundamental...