Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/17197
Title: Elevated rates of atypical handedness in paedophilia: Theory and implications
Contributor(s): Fazio, Rachel L (author); Lykins, Amy  (author)orcid ; Cantor, James M (author)
Publication Date: 2014
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1080/1357650X.2014.898648Open Access Link
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/17197
Abstract: Multiple factors determine handedness including genetics, prenatal stress and post-natal environmental conditions. Atypical handedness, whether manifest as increased sinistrality or decreased strength of lateral preference, has been noted in a wide variety of populations with neuropathology. Those with atypical sexual preferences, specifically paedophilia, also manifest reduced rates of right-handedness. This paper uses the largest sample of phallometrically assessed men to date to establish the pattern of atypical handedness in paedophilia. Specifically, whereas prior research has largely characterized participants dichotomously as right-handed or non-right-handed and/or used self-report of writing hand, this paper expands upon such reports by using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory's laterality quotient. Participants' handedness and phallometrically assessed sexual preference were analyzed both as continuous and categorical variables, and the responses of those scoring in the range of ambiguous-handedness were evaluated to ascertain whether they were ambiguously handed or more accurately described as mixed-handed. Results indicated those producing scores in the range of ambiguous-handedness demonstrated response patterns consistent with ambiguous-handedness, rather than mixed-handedness. Paedophiles demonstrated high rates of non-right-handedness primarily manifested as sinistrality, whereas those who had a sexual preference for pubescent children evidenced increased ambiguous-handedness. Results support a view of ambiguous-handedness as less pathological than previously hypothesized, and of a neurodevelopmental origin of paraphilic sexual preferences.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Laterality, 19(6), p. 690-704
Publisher: Routledge
Place of Publication: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1464-0678
1357-650X
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 170104 Forensic Psychology
170101 Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology)
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 520103 Forensic psychology
520202 Behavioural neuroscience
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 929999 Health not elsewhere classified
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200201 Determinants of health
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

Files in This Item:
2 files
File Description SizeFormat 
Show full item record

SCOPUSTM   
Citations

26
checked on Mar 16, 2024

Page view(s)

1,196
checked on Jun 11, 2023
Google Media

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Items in Research UNE are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.