Development of zoophilic interests and behaviors in the example of an adolescent male

BACKGROUND: In the research literature the phenomenon of bestiality is considered as a form of animal abuse or as an expression of love and affection toward animals or even as another sexual orientation. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The article elucidates the mechanisms of development and maintenance of paraphilia in an 18-year-old single male. Psychological evaluation was conducted with both clinical and psychometric measures. The patient’s course of psychosexual development is characterized by two perspectives – his own and that of his mother. RESULTS: At the time of the assessment, the subject’s primary sexual outlet was masturbation and zoophilic sexual contact with sheep. The deviation developed over ten years prior to the exposure of the patient’s zoophilic interests. The diagnostic process indicated that the subject suffers from significant psychopathology. Following the assessment, the patient was diagnosed with another disorder of sexual preference (F65.8) based on the ICD-10 criteria. The mechanisms of development and maintenance of his paraphilia are discussed with regard to other research. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who have sex with animals, or who fantasize about doing so, often struggle with negative reactions from their therapists (including a lack of knowledge, laughter, and pressure) when they decide to disclose their experiences. The article may be useful to clinicians who encounter this problem in their practice as an example of the functional capturing of this phenomenon.