Transvertism: a disorder of the sense of self

Transvestism is not simply a sexual disorder, but is best understood as primarily a disorder of the sense of self. A descriptive background of transvestism is provided through a review of developmental history, clinical course, presonality structure, and family history. The predominant transvestic fantasies and their modes of enactment are described. The disorder of the sence of self that gives rise to transvestic behavior is identified as a split in the ego into incompatible male and female gender identities. The split is attributed to an early identification with the mother as a defense against unresolved separation anxiety engendered during the separation-individuation phase of infantile development. The effect of this split upon the sense of reality, object relations, and adaptation to stress in transvestism are examined for a psychodynamic point of view.