First postpubertal same-sex sex in Kinsey's general and prison male same-sex samples

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Kinseys prison male same-sex sample (consisting of prisoners who were gay, bisexual, or had had extensive postpubertal samesex sex regardless of sexual attractions) was compared with Kinseys general (i.e., non-prison) same-sex sample (previously analyzed by Rind and Welter, 2016) in terms of reactions to and characteristics of first postpubertal same-sex sex, with a focus on minor-adult contacts. Prison participants had a minor-adult contact as their first postpubertal same-sex sex twice as often as general participants, and their experience involved penetration in three-quarters of cases compared to only half the time for general participants, and it was paid for (i.e., prostitution) three times as often. Despite these differences, reactions to these events by prison and general participants were the same, with combined results of 66% positive reactions (i.e., enjoyed it "much") versus 15% emotionally negative reactions (e.g., shock, disgust, guilt). Results added to those from a series of studies done since 2000 using male same-sex samples in showing that minor–adult same-sex sexual experiences in this population do not conform to the child sexual abuse (CSA) model of trauma and harm. Comparing prison and general participants also showed that the CSA "trauma" crime link often claimed (i.e., where minor-adult sex is said to produce trauma that leads to later criminal behavior) did not hold in the Kinsey same-sex samples, because trauma (the middle element) was mostly missing. This null result for the link alerts that trauma needs to be shown rather than assumed when considering this link.

{Only minors who already experienced their spermarche (first ejaculation) were analyzed in this study.}

Table 15: Rates of positive reactions (enjoyed "much") by minors to their first postpubertal same-sex sexual experience as a function of age at experience, in Kinsey general and prison male same-sex samples, shown (...) for (...) minor-adult experiences:

age
percentage (%)
numbers (n)
≤ 11 years
85
26
12 years
73
51
13 years
72
65
14 years
61
71
15 years
63
60
16 years
58
36
17 years
59
41


Given the similar patterns of reactions as a function of exact age between the general and prison samples, results were collapsed across samples and ages were regrouped according to commonsense categories of maturity (preteens = 12 and under; early teens = 13-14; mid-teens = 15-17). Table 17 shows positive and emotionally negative reactions, separately for minors with peers and minors with adults, in relation to maturity level. Minors with peers showed no omnibus differences or linear trends in reactions as a function of maturity level. For minors with adults, a clear linear trend emerged in positive reaction proportions, in which preteens were largest (77%), followed by early teens (66%) and then mid-teens (61%). No differences occurred in proportions of emotionally negative reactions. In short, this analysis lends no support to the view that greater maturity (physically, emotionally, cognitively) is essential among postpubertal boys for better or less problematic reactions to same-sex sexual experiences, whether with peers or adults. [...]

Also worthy of note are the other analyses of reactions based on combining the two same-sex samples. First, immaturity was clearly not a disadvantage in terms of reactions, contrary to widespread assumptions that emphasize full maturity (e.g., physical, emotional, cognitive) as a prerequisite for non-problematic response whenever an age discrepancy is present. In a linear trend, preteen adolescent boys enjoyed "much" their age-discrepant experiences the most often, followed by early teen boys and then by mid-teen boys (77, 66, and 61%, respectively). Proportions of emotionally negative reactions were small and the same across these three groups. These results, at odds with conventional thinking today, are nevertheless consistent with the findings and observations made by Kinsey et al. (1948) and Gebhard, Gagnon, Pomeroy, and Christenson (1965). Both sets of Kinsey researchers discussed the sizable potential in early postpubertal boys to be highly responsive to erotic activity, a potential much stronger than in postpubertal girls and one equaling if not exceeding that in adult males. As per these authors, this potential is not limited to heterosexual outlet, but extends to same-sex sexual experiences with peers or older males under certain conditions, the kinds often in place in Kinseys day (Rind & Welter, 2016).

source: Article 'First Postpubertal Same-Sex Sex in Kinsey's General and Prison Male Same-Sex Samples: Comparative Analysis and Testing Common Assumptions in Minor-Adult Contacts' by Bruce Rind (Temple University); www.researchgate.net/publication/325588608_First_Postpubertal_Same-Sex_Sex_in_Kinsey%27s_General_and_Prison_Male_Same-Sex_Samples_Comparative_Analysis_and_Testing_Common_Assumptions_in_Minor-Adult_Contacts; www.boychat.org/messages/1515959.htm; Archives of Sexual Behavior; June 2018