Bestiality: An Overview and Analytic Discussion

Abstract

Individuals who experience sexual and emotional attractions to animals are widely considered deviant in American society. Such a condition is frequently referred to as bestiality and zoophilia, which in fact describe two separate types of sexual behaviors. A multitude of studies have uncovered a range of prevalence rates across different demographic groups, which may vary due to the terminology and the type of data collection methods utilized. Dogs and horses are consistently chosen as the preferred animal to engage in sexual activities by humans, while male animals have been presented as the heavily favored sex of animal. It is questionable whether one's sexual orientation corresponds with the preference of the sex of the animal. Those engaged in human–animal sexual contacts vary in their reasoning behind their sexual behavior with animals, which are generally environmentally or belief based, and reinforce certain myths. Since the development of the Internet not only has it promoted an enhanced research perspective of the sexual behaviors of bestialists and zoophiles, but they have also found an environment populated by like-minded individuals with similar sexual behaviors/interests.