Meta-Analyses of Fraternal and Sororal Birth Order Effects in Homosexual Pedophiles, Hebephiles, and Teleiophiles.

This study investigated the relations between numbers of older brothers, numbers of older sisters, and the odds of homosexuality in later-born males, including males who are most attracted sexually to prepubescent or early pubescent children (pedohebephiles) and males who are most attracted sexually to adults (teleiophiles). The authors meta-analyzed data from 24 samples of homosexual and heterosexual men, originally reported in 18 studies, and totaling 18,213 subjects. The results confirmed that older brothers increase the odds of same-sex preference in pedohebephiles as they do in teleiophiles. They also replicated the recent finding that older sisters have a similar but weaker statistical association with the odds of homosexuality. These findings have two theoretical implications. First, the findings for older brothers and older sisters indicate some commonality in the factors that influence sexual preference in teleiophiles and those that influence sexual preference in pedohebephiles. Second, the finding for older sisters confirms a prediction stemming from the hypothesis that male fetuses stimulate maternal antibodies that increase the odds of homosexuality in later-born males. Such immunization could result from miscarried as well as full-term fetuses, and number of older sisters should correlate with number of male fetuses miscarried before gestation of the subject.

[The Measurement of Psychological Mindedness: a validation study of the German version of the Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness (BIPM)]. / Die Messung Psychologischer Mentalität: eine Validierungsstudie zur deutschsprachigen Version des Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness (BIPM).

The Measurement of Psychological Mindedness: a validation study of the German version of the Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness (BIPM) Objectives: The aim of the study is to examine central measurement properties of the translated Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness (BIPM) within a sample of German native speakers. Methods: Factor structure, validity and reliability of the BIPM was examined using data from a community sample of 399 participants. Additionally, associations between BIPM and socio-demographic variables were tested. Results: BIPM revealed a two factor structure (Insight and Interest), comparable to the original scale. Psychological mindedness (PM) correlated negatively with alexithymia, but did not correlate with emotional or cognitive irritation. Insight, but not Interest, correlated positively with psychological flexibility. Conclusions: The German translation proved to be a reliable, valid and economical measure for PM.

A method yielding comparable estimates of the fraternal birth order and female fecundity effects in male homosexuality.

The fraternal birth order effect (FBOE) is the finding that older brothers increase the probability of homosexuality in later-born males, and the female fecundity effect (FFE) is the finding that the mothers of homosexual males produce more offspring than the mothers of heterosexual males. In a recent paper, Khovanova proposed a novel method for computing independent estimates of these effects on the same samples and expressing the magnitude and direction of the effects in the same metric. In her procedure, only families with one or two sons are examined, and daughters are ignored. The present study investigated the performance of Khovanova's method using archived data from 10 studies, comprising 14 samples totalling 5390 homosexual and heterosexual subjects. The effect estimate for the FBOE showed that an increase from zero older brothers to one older brother is associated with a 38% increase in the odds of homosexuality. By contrast, the effect estimate for the FFE showed that the increase from zero younger brothers to one younger brother is not associated with any increase in the odds of homosexuality. The former result supports the maternal immune hypothesis of male homosexuality; the latter result does not support the balancing selection hypothesis.

[Validation of the German Version of the Psychological Mindedness Scale (PMS-D)]. / Validierung der deutschen Übersetzung der Psychological Mindedness Scale (PMS).

Validation of the German Version of the Psychological Mindedness Scale (PMS-D) Objectives: The Psychological Mindedness Scale (PMS) is one of the few established measures for psychological mindedness (PM). PM refers to a capacity and disposition to properly perceive inner processes - feelings, thoughts and conflicts. The aim of this study was the validation of the German translation of the PMS, which was conducted via TRAPDprocess. METHODS: Following a pre-study for adjusting the translation, the scale was presented to a sample generated by students (n = 157). We conducted a factor analysis and calculated the reliability of the scale and its four factors with Cronbach's α. Convergent validity was measured by calculating correlations with the Toronto-Alexithymia-Scale (TAS-20). RESULTS: Internal consistency and convergent validity of the scale translation proved to be good. Due to the relatively small sample we tested whether data quality was sufficient for factor analysis which was the case. The best solution was a four factor solution which reflected the main components from theoretical definitions of PM. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed translation is in our view convenient to be used in German language area.

Stability of Self-Reported Arousal to Sexual Fantasies Involving Children in a Clinical Sample of Pedophiles and Hebephiles.

In forensic research, there is a controversial discussion concerning the changeability or stability of pedophilia. Seto (2012) conceptualized pedophilia as a sexual age orientation characterized by an early onset, correlations with sexual and romantic behavior, and stability over time. However, empirical data are sparse and are mostly based on samples of detected offenders. The present study examined self-reported arousal to sexual fantasies involving children in a clinical sample of pedo-/hebephiles. In Study 1, retrospective self-reports on the age of onset and duration of sexual interest in minors were examined. In Study 2, the stability and variability of self-reported arousal to sexual fantasies involving children were evaluated prospectively. Non-prosecuted self-identifying pedo-/hebephilic men seeking professional help were recruited within the Berlin Prevention Project Dunkelfeld. Between 2005 and 2013, 494 participants completed the intake assessment. Self-reported data were collected via questionnaire focusing on sexual arousal to fantasies during masturbation involving prepubescent and/or early pubescent minors. Subsequent assessments of sexual arousal were obtained for 121 of the participants. The average time between the first and last assessment was approximately 29 months. Spearman's correlation coefficients examined the between-group rank-order and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests examined the within-individual mean-level stability. The majority of subjects reported an early onset of their pedo-/hebephilic sexual arousal. The rank-order stability was medium to high. Over the investigated period, the majority of subjects showed no or only minimal decrease or increase of self-reported sexual arousal. These results suggested that sexual arousal to fantasies involving prepubescent and/or early pubescent children is stable. Furthermore, the results support the conceptualization of pedo-/hebephilia as a sexual age orientation in men.