The relationship of male transsexual typology to psychosocial adjustment

Abstract

In a search to uncover variables predictive of psychosocial adjustment of male transsexuals, this study examined features which have been empirically linked to characteristics of male transsexual typology. Data from 25 male transsexual volunteers were examined by means of multiple regression analysis to determine whether symptoms of introversion, depression, or tension, as well as adjustment to work and gender reorientation could be linked to the typological variables of androphilia, gynephilia, cross-gender fetishism, feminine gender identity in childhood, and age of onset of transsexualism. Valid and reliable scales measuring the typological variables of erotic partner preference (androphilia and gynephilia), cross-gender fantasy in association with sexual arousal (cross-gender fetishism), and degree of feminine gender identity in childhood were used. Results indicate a significant relationship between social gender reorientation and the feature of androphilia and between work adjustment and gynephilia. This differential adaptation is explained in terms of the different course that transsexualism takes within each typological subgroup. These findings offer evidence as to why some transsexuals may more readily adopt a female gender identity than others. There was no relationship found between the typological features and those variables measuring psychological disturbance.

Sexual Orientation versus Age of Onset as Bases for Typologies (Subtypes) for Gender Identity Disorder in Adolescents and Adults

“…As the data in Table 2 indicate, many investigators have observed that earlyonset MtF transsexuals tend to differ from late-onset MtF transsexuals in other clinically important ways. For example, comArch Sex Behav (2010) 39:514-545 533 pared with their late-onset counterparts, early-onset MtF transsexuals usually display more cross-gender behavior during childhood (Docter, 1988;Dolan, 1987;Doorn et al, 1994;Laub & Fisk, 1974;Levine & Lothstein, 1981;Lundström et al,1984;Seil, 1996Seil, , 2004Stoller, 1979Stoller, , 1980; but see Person & Ovesey, 1974a, b) and less cross-gender fetishism (Burns et al, 1990;Docter, 1988;Dolan, 1987;Fisk, 1974a, b;Levine & Lothstein, 1981;Lundström et al, 1984;Person & Ovesey, 1974a, b;Seil, 1996;Stoller, 1979Stoller, , 1980; but see Doorn et al, 1994, andJohnson &Hunt, 1990). In most reports, late-onset MtF transsexuals have been described as greatly outnumbering their early-onset counterparts (Dolan, 1987;Levine & Lothstein, 1981;Lundström et al, 1984;Seil, 2004;Stoller, 1980; but see Doorn et al, 1994, andJohansson et al, 2009).…”

“…Two important studies, conducted by Freund et al (1982) and Johnson and Hunt (1990), addressed the comparative descriptive value of a number of features associated with MtF transsexualism; both studies found sexual orientation, and gynephilia specifically, to be an important, and arguably the most important, descriptive feature. As previously discussed, Freund et al studied 136 male patients with varying degrees of cross-gender identity, most of whom were transsexuals or ''borderline transsexuals.''…”

“…Freund et al concluded that there were two main types of cross-gender identity: one associated with gynephilia and fetishism, the other associated with childhood femininity and androphilia. Johnson and Hunt (1990) studied 25 MtF transsexuals in the process of gender transition, examining the interrelationships between five variables they believed to be related to transsexual typology: androphilia, gynephilia, cross-gender fetishism, feminine gender identity in childhood, and age of onset of either cross-dressing or cross-gender fantasies. The authors used measures of androphilia and gynephilia developed by Blanchard (1985), which were nominally independent of each other; consequently, respondents could report high levels of both androphilia and gynephilia (i.e., bisexual attraction) or low levels of both (i.e., analloeroticism).…”

Sexuality of Male-to-Female Transsexuals

“…Among transsexuals, Johnson and Hunt (1990) found gynephilia was significantly positively correlated with sexual arousal to cross-gender fantasy, and significantly negatively correlated with feminine gender identity in childhood. More recent studies have also reported the existence of cross-gender sexual arousal among transsexuals (Docter & Fleming, 2001;Lawrence, 2003;Walworth, 1997).…”

Autogynephilia: A paraphilic model of gender identity disorder

“…Langevin (1985) concluded that "gender identity may be as significant a component in transvestism as erotic needs" (p. 214). Johnson and Hunt (1990) hypothesized that autogynephilic transsexuals experience real gender identity conflicts, just as androphilic transsexuals do, but resolve these conflicts later in life. Levine (1993) argued that autogynephilic eroticism could be an effect rather than a cause of atypical gender identity and proposed that "cross-dressing and ... autogynephilic fantasy are the external and internal manifestations of the same phenomenon-the conscious experience of the self as at least partially female" (p. 135).…”