- Larsson, Sam.,
1996. Det andra jaget vid manlig
transvestism. Ett jagteoretiskt och
kognitionspsykologiskt perspektiv. (The
second self and male transvestism. A
self-theoretical and cognitive
perspective). Written in Swedish with an
English summary. Acta Universitatis
Upsaliensis. Studia Psychologica
Upsaliensia, Uppsala
- Keywords:
Transvestism, cross-dressing, cross-gender
behavior, cross-gender identity.
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- ABSTRACT
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- This
study is a comprehensive examination of
cross-dressing among men and gives
descriptive information, a review of the
literature, and some new research data.
The theoretical part of the study presents
an interactionistic and multidimensional
model for the analysis of heterosexual
transvestism. Various theoretical
approaches are analyzed, and a self theory
based on a cognitive and transpersonal
psychology perspective is successively
elaborated. Transvestism is viewed as
multidetermined and many possible motives
and explanations to cross-dressing are
discussed. The multidimensional model
emphasizes the complex interaction between
many different personal and situational
variables such as biological,
psychosocial, cognitive, emotional and
identity factors. One important argument
in the model is that transvestism can be
seen as an expression of a second self or
a feminine self, or better, of a
cross-gender identity. The cross-gender
identity is conceptualized as a subsystem
of the self. The model also conceptualizes
transvestism as a multi-stage
developmental process.
-
- The
empirical section contains three different
studies: The main part of this thesis
focuses on a quantitative and qualitative
in-depth analysis of a group of twelve
typical transvestites from a
cross-dressing club in Sweden. However,
this group of transvestites is also
compared to a small group of marginal
transvestites and male-to-female
transsexuals. The empirical results give a
detailed picture of the experiential world
of the transvestite; his inner
consciousness, and the cognitive and
affective changes associated with
cross-dressing. The results show that
these changes are ego-syntonic and
pleasurable. The results also emphasize
the need for a developmental perspective
on transvestism; the early time period
seems to be more associated, for example,
with erotic fantasies. However, the late
stage seems to focus on the expression of
the girl within or cross-gender identity.
Our transvestite sample was comprised of
highly educated men and high prestige
workers. Many transvestites in our sample
also reported a happy childhood; however,
the marginal transvestites and the
transsexuals reported more unhappiness as
children compared to the transvestite
group. The results for our transvestite
sample confirm previous findings that male
transvestism can be seen as a second self
or a cross-gender identity and that
cross-dressing follows a dynamic pattern
from an early "fetishistic stage" to a
later "gender identity stage".
-
- The
second part of the empirical study
contains a comparison between treated and
untreated male cross-dressers. This
comparison was based on an interview study
of 92 male members of a cross-dressing
club in Sweden. Multiple comparisons
between the treated and untreated subjects
showed many similarities between the
groups. However, there were also
significant differences: Members of the
treated group more often were unmarried or
divorced, experienced more difficulties
functioning in the male gender role and
also seemed to have a more intense
identification with the feminine self.
-
- The third
part of the empirical section reviews the
findings from a study of 50 wives and
long-term partners of transvestites in
Sweden. The results show both positive,
neutral and negative attitudes in various
degrees toward cross-dressing, and both
positive and negative factors in the
marriage attributed to transvestism.
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