A Survey of the United Kink-dom: Investigating Five Paraphilic Interest Groups and Their Demographic and Psychological Correlates.
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| Title: | A Survey of the United Kink-dom: Investigating Five Paraphilic Interest Groups and Their Demographic and Psychological Correlates. |
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| Authors: | Brown, Ashley (AUTHOR), Barker, Edward D. (AUTHOR), Friedrich, Stella (AUTHOR), Rahman, Qazi (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Sex Research. Mar/Apr2026, Vol. 63 Issue 3, p412-430. 19p. |
| Subjects: | Paraphilias, Sociodemographic factors, Cognition, BDSM |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom |
| Abstract: | We explored demographic, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of five paraphilic interest groups in the UK: BDSM, pet play, age play/ABDL, furries, and balloon fetishists – chosen for their prevalence, power dynamics, and varied activities. Through an anonymous survey (N = 470), we assessed role identities, engagement patterns, and relational dynamics. Groups were more likely to have non-heterosexual, non-monogamous, and non-cisgender identities, with high levels of co-occurrence across paraphilic interests. Participants were predominantly cisgender men, though over 25% identified as non-cisgender. Men were more likely to take on dominant roles, women submissive roles, and nonbinary people switch roles. There were differences in Dark Triad traits based on role identity. A minority of participants did not pair their interests with sex, especially pet players and furries. Bimodal distributions in the centrality of paraphilic interests to sexual identity underscore implications for sub-group classification and add to discourse of paraphilias as a dimension of sexual orientation. Relationship satisfaction correlated with shared paraphilic interests. Some associations were found between age play and pedophilic fantasies and behaviors and pet play/furries and zoophilic fantasies and behaviors, but this was only for a small minority. This work expands on existing literature by contextualizing findings within broader societal and relational frameworks and addressing stigmatized stereotypes. Recommendations include longitudinal and cross-cultural studies to explore the evolution of paraphilic interests and their intersection with psychosocial variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | We explored demographic, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of five paraphilic interest groups in the UK: BDSM, pet play, age play/ABDL, furries, and balloon fetishists – chosen for their prevalence, power dynamics, and varied activities. Through an anonymous survey (N = 470), we assessed role identities, engagement patterns, and relational dynamics. Groups were more likely to have non-heterosexual, non-monogamous, and non-cisgender identities, with high levels of co-occurrence across paraphilic interests. Participants were predominantly cisgender men, though over 25% identified as non-cisgender. Men were more likely to take on dominant roles, women submissive roles, and nonbinary people switch roles. There were differences in Dark Triad traits based on role identity. A minority of participants did not pair their interests with sex, especially pet players and furries. Bimodal distributions in the centrality of paraphilic interests to sexual identity underscore implications for sub-group classification and add to discourse of paraphilias as a dimension of sexual orientation. Relationship satisfaction correlated with shared paraphilic interests. Some associations were found between age play and pedophilic fantasies and behaviors and pet play/furries and zoophilic fantasies and behaviors, but this was only for a small minority. This work expands on existing literature by contextualizing findings within broader societal and relational frameworks and addressing stigmatized stereotypes. Recommendations include longitudinal and cross-cultural studies to explore the evolution of paraphilic interests and their intersection with psychosocial variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00224499 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/00224499.2025.2486472 |
