Mapping Paraphilic Infantilism and Diaper Fetishes - Discussion

-By B. Terrance Grey
Part of the Survey Project at Understanding.Infantilism.Org

The relative importance of the Feel/Sound/Smell of diapers shows a commonality among the majority of ABDLs. 85% of ABDLs consider the Feel/Sound/Smell of diapers important or very important. Similarly, only 8% of ABDLs dislike the convenience that diapers offer.  The exceptions to these clear majorities may be worthy of further study, but mapping should focus on the areas of diversity: the themes. While the themes of loss of control, sexuality, and change in role might not be the as important as previously thought, preference for particular themes is a reasonable way to group ABDLs. Grouping by interest is also consistent with the conventional system for defining paraphilias.

The data from the themes could be plotted in a three dimensional space, as shown in Figure #8.  Arbitrarily, control-related themes could be plotted on the X axis, shown by the arrow pointing leftand downward. Then sexual themes could be plotted on the Y axis, shown by the arrow pointing to the right. Finally, babyhood themes could be plotted along the Z axis, the arrow pointing up.  The position along the axis would be determined by the absolute importance:  Important themes would have a positive value.  Themes that were undesirable would have a negative value.  

Theoretically, this would be a continuous point cloud.  However, the raw survey data included five levels, from 'very important' to 'must be absent.'  This gives enough data to plot five levels for each axis, resulting in 125 nodes. However, the threshold between 'important' and very important' might vary between surveyees.  Grouping 'very important' with 'important' and 'tolerable' with 'must be absent' gives three levels for each axis.  This results in a more manageable 27 nodes. The sizes of the disks in Figure #8 are proportional to the population that the disk represents. Of the 27 nodes, only four represented over five percent of the ABDL population. Collectively, these four represented only 36% of ABDLs.

The most frequent interest node included those who considered all three themes important or very important.   It represents 11.7% of ABDLs.  This node is marked Control positive,  Sexuality positive, and  Babyhood positive, or C+S+B+ for short. 10.2% of ABDLs considered sexuality OK but placed importance on control and babyhood, C+S0B+.  The next node from to the left, C+S-B+, represents 5.8% of ABDLs.  These ABDLs considered control and babyhood either 'important' or 'very important', but sexuality was 'tolerable' or 'must be absent.'

There is also a large node contrasting with these three, C-S+B-.  These ABDLs considered sexuality either 'important' or 'very important', but control and babyhood to be 'tolerable' or 'must be absent.'  The C-S+B- node represents 8.5% of ABDLs.

Technically, Figure #8 is a four-dimensional plot, correlating three major themes among ABDLs with the population distribution.  It might be extremely useful as a research tool, but might not replace simpler representations in casual conversation.  Figure #8 is also important in that it is an interest-based map.  Approaches that focused on practices were often distorted, since some practices follow from interests other than paraphilic infantilism or diaper fetishism. For example, a large segment of ABDLs practice sexuality but considered it an unimportant aspect of their AB/DL interests, as shown in Figure #5.  The gap between practice and interest might be the result of other fields of interest, such as heterosexuality, homosexuality, religion, etc.

This gap might be one cause for the perception that all paraphilias are sexual in focus and expression. This perception is reinforced by the presence of sexual practices, but as shown by the survey data, not consistently supported by sexual interests. For example, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines paraphilic infantilism is a sub-group of "Sexual Masochism," marked by wearing diapers and being treated like a baby^[2]. That is, a positive importance of sexuality (S+) as well as a positive importance for babyhood (B+), control (C+), or both (C+B+). These nodes are colored white in Figure #9.  This includes five nodes, representing 27% of ABDLs.  Sexuality is also central (S+) to fetishism. Not counting the nodes included in paraphilic infantilism, this includes four nodes, representing 18% of ABDLs. The remaining 55% of ABDLs are excluded from these existing categories when the definitions are applied this narrowly.

When only a handful of cases were available, grouping all ABDLs together was reasonable, although the reliability of generalizations suffered.  For example, Dr. Dinello's patient clearly required medical intervention^[7], but is distinguished from most ABDLs by physical and mental retardation.  In contrast, a more characteristic example of paraphilic infantilism, Dr. Pate's patient, clearly did not benefit from professional help.^[4]  The present survey, drawing on responces from over a thousand ABDLs, provides dramatically more data than ever available before.    The more detailed map of ABDL interests that it provided might aid future research.  This might offer more insight into what causes paraphilic infantilism and diaper fetishes.  It might also give a clearer picture of which ABDLs, if any, might benefit from medical help.

Only by mapping out and then studying homogeneous groups can paraphilic infantilism and diaper fetishism be accurately and inclusively defined. By understanding the diversity present in ABDLs, we will be better able to address any needs they might have.

Email BitterGrey Level: Advanced | Status: Finished | Last Update: 5/27/07| First 5/27/07

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. For online material based on this work, include a link to either this page, the ABDL Surveys Project index, or the website's main index. For printed material based on this work, include a citation with one of those three URLs.