Abstract
Quinsey and Lalumière (1995) suggested that some, if not most, paraphilias are exaggerated manifestations of more normative and functional mate selection
preferences. The present study tested whether Feederism, a fat fetish focused on erotic eating, feeding, and gaining weight,
is an exaggeration of a sexual arousal pattern commonly seen in the general population. Thirty participants (15 men and 15
women) recruited from the general population were assessed using penile plethysmography and vaginal photoplethysmography,
respectively. None of the participants were self-identified Feeders or Feedees. Participants were shown sexual, neutral, and
feeding still images while listening to audio recordings of sexual, neutral, and feeding stories. Participants did not genitally
respond to feeding stimuli. However, both men and women subjectively rated feeding stimuli as more sexually arousing than
neutral stimuli. We discuss the discordance between physiological and self-reported sexual arousal in the context of sex differences
in sexual concordance and implications for future research.
preferences. The present study tested whether Feederism, a fat fetish focused on erotic eating, feeding, and gaining weight,
is an exaggeration of a sexual arousal pattern commonly seen in the general population. Thirty participants (15 men and 15
women) recruited from the general population were assessed using penile plethysmography and vaginal photoplethysmography,
respectively. None of the participants were self-identified Feeders or Feedees. Participants were shown sexual, neutral, and
feeding still images while listening to audio recordings of sexual, neutral, and feeding stories. Participants did not genitally
respond to feeding stimuli. However, both men and women subjectively rated feeding stimuli as more sexually arousing than
neutral stimuli. We discuss the discordance between physiological and self-reported sexual arousal in the context of sex differences
in sexual concordance and implications for future research.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-012-9925-7
- Authors
- Lesley L. Terry, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- Kelly D. Suschinsky, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- Martin L. Lalumière, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- Paul L. Vasey, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002