Contemporary understanding of zoophilia - A multinational survey study.

INTRODUCTION: People with paraphilias have sexual interests that are unusual, including inanimate objects, places, or individuals (children, corpses). This study explores zoophiles (=PSA, people who have sex with animals) recruited from the Internet.

METHOD: We administered a survey of own design via the Internet on popular discussion forums targeting the communities of PSA. All responses were quantified as the percentage of agreeing with one of the possible answer choices, plus the interpretation of qualitative data that may have been supplied in additional space.

RESULTS: Survey questions were thematically categorized into four groups - worldview, personal space, sex life, and online space. PSA are remarkably self-aware of their sexuality and recognize that their behavior is illegal (even though they perceive it as an expression of love); they often relate their struggles with finding social acceptance to homosexuality, believing that one way of de-stigmatizing them would be to remove zoophilia from the list of disorders listed in the DSM. Concerning sex life, PSA believe that the quality of sex with animals is much higher than with humans, and physical features, such as the presence of a fur, can be sexually arousing to PSA, especially when seeing animals in public. PSA utilize the Internet to network and connect with other PSA; these Internet-based friendships usually do not extend beyond online conversations, given that PSA tend to be mistrustful of other zoophiles particularly in the area of personal safety.

CONCLUSIONS: One of the most essential basis of zoophilia is relationship seeking behavior as well as interest in forming a long-term relationship with an animal partner.