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Dissertation
Development of the fetish interest scale: a measure of sexual interest using forced-choice and visual reaction time methodologies
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
Aug 2001
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00009295
Abstract
Using Forced-Choice and Visual Reaction Time Methodologies ABSTRACT Sexual offending behavior is recognized as a major societal concern in need of further investigation. Studies of sex offender recidivism have identified paraphilic interest as a significant dynamic risk factor for future sexual offending behaviors. Although psychometrically reliable and valid assessment tools exist for a number of paraphilic disorders (e.g., pedophilia), the scientific literature describes few such measures for assessing for interest in fetish themes. This study describes the development and initial psychometric properties of a new measure of sexual interest, the Fetish Interest Scale [FIS], that uses both subjective (forced choice) and objective (visual reaction time) methods to determine the degree of sexual interest in paraphilic visual stimuli. The Fetish Interest Scale measures interest in the following seven categories: (1) adult women, (2) female feet, (3) female hair, (4) female hands, (5) panties and bras, (6) shoes, and (7) stockings. The scale was developed in three stages. During the first stage, operational definitions for each of the seven measured categories were elicited and used to identify a population of visual images that were categorized and classified during the second phase of this study. The goal of the second stage was to arrive at an empirically selected sample of images to be included in the final stage of development. Two hundred and eighty images were categorized into discrete groups and rated to help identify 126 items to be included in the third phase of development. The final phase of this study examined the psychometric properties of the Fetish Interest Scale. Participants viewed a series of single images that represent the primary content areas for the purpose of measuring reaction time (measured in milliseconds). Participants also viewed a series of images presented side by side (e.g., feet vs. hair) to determine which item they found to be most sexually interesting. Results from bivariate correlations identified a significant relationship between the visual reaction time and forced-choice preference data. Significant methodological concerns, however, temper this finding. A critical examination of the research design and suggestion for future research is discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Development of the fetish interest scale
- Creators
- Adam Lawrence Wasserman
- Awarding Institution
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- ix, 145 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002); College of Nursing and Health Professions (2000-2002)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888736204721