There are a number of theories, which attempt to explain the practice of cross-dressing, none of which is even remotely conclusive despite the undoubted credentials of their respective proponents.
Even Harry Benjamin, a doyen amongst “sexologists” and founder of the Harry Benjamin International Dysphoria Association has stated in his book The Transsexual Phenomenon (1996) that:-
“...psychoanalytic theories are something like a cult, if not a religion, and are often quite incomprehensible to ordinary clinicians. To them, their explanations and analyses many times appear far-fetched, even absurd, in spite of their often intriguing and sometimes poetic quality…These psychoanalytic concepts have been accepted variously as important scientific discoveries, or as ingenious theories, but have also been criticized and rejected as merely intellectual "games," a sophisticated voodoo, if not as plain nonsense and balderdash...The prominent psychiatrists and university professors Buerger-Prinz, Giese, and Albrecht in an important German monograph [Zur Phenomenologie des Transvestismus bei Maennern.(1953)] call some psychoanalytic theories "think possibilities without evidence in clinical observation" (phenomenology).”
Nevertheless, this did not stop Benjamin from devising his own theories, which he encapsulated in his “Sexual Orientation Scale” for transvestites and transsexuals
Many theories exist for why men cross-dress but none had adequate research to be proven. A few are listed here. No attempt has been made to explain the rationale behind the theory.
Genetic Theory: Transgenderism is inherited. If you are transgendered, then your offspring are more likely to be transgendered.
Environmental Theory: Changes in the atmosphere due to pollution, global warming etc., have upset the balance and caused an inherent condition to become more common.
The decline in Moral Standards Theory: The decline in moral standards has allowed perversions and fetishes' to become more acceptable.
Modern Stress Levels Theory: Stress in today's society is at an all-time high and people need an escape.
Brain Differences: The brains of TV's and TS's are different from non-transgendered people.
Labeling Theory: The "labeling theory" suggested by Edwin Lemert in his book Social Pathology: A Systematic Approach to the Theory of Psychopathic Behavior (1951), the very fact that someone is labeled a cross-dresser results in them using the role assigned to them as a means of defense, attack, or adjustment to the problems created by the subsequent societal reaction.
Brain Theory: The brains of transsexual people are ‘wired up’ differently to ‘normal’ men. This may be connected with the theory above but is subtly different.
Female is the Natural State Theory: The male sex was a mistake by nature that it is now beginning to correct. An evolutionary step is underway which will mean that the male sex in humans will be outdated before 2200.
Unborn Twin Theory: It is now well known that many pregnancies start as twins, but that one twin survives only for a very brief time.
Abused Child Theory: As a child, the boy was abused and forced to dress in girls clothes.
The Social Symptoms Theory: In the isolated minority, the syndrome can best be explained by the theory of deviancy amplification. One type of deviance leads to other deviances. The sexual frustration, low self-esteem, social stigmatization, and isolation may often lead to substance abuse, social route, non-sexual crimes, political extremism, and suicide.
No research exists to validate the above theories. For the man that has a sexual need or the man that has a sexual fattish, it is more likely that the act of cross-dressing is a learned behavior. You just do not wake up one-morning wearing pantyhose or panties. You make a continuous decision to find woman undergarment to wear. In most men, the main reason to cross-dress is sexual. It is seldom something you do spontaneously. You planned when and where you will cross-dress because you do not want to be caught. You borrow or buy something that will turn you on. The first time you do this, it is a new experience with new sensations; heighten senses and an adrenalin rush (noticeable increase in your strength, no feelings of pain, heightened senses, sudden boost of energy and increased breathing).
It is like riding a bicycle for the first time. You are scared at first. You might fall and hurt yourself. People might laugh. Once on the bicycle gain your balance, you learn how to push the peddles and steer a straight course. You now can feel the wind in your face giving you exhilaration. Now your heart is pumping and you learn this is a good experience. Cross-dressing for the first time is the same thing. You are afraid you might be caught, and people might laugh but you strip down naked and slid on stockings for the first time. You feel how smooth they are touching your skin. That touching can be sexually stimulating your heightened senses, just like the wind in your face. The feeling exhilarates you; your heart is pumping faster you have a sudden boost of energy. You are excited sexually and you provide self-gratification. At this point, you might be satisfied to continue with wearing stockings. You think if stocking can give you a little pleasure, maybe a garter and panty will increase that pleasure. Cross-dressing for some is a learned behavior. A person tends to do those things that give him pleasure and not do the things that are not pleasurable. Once you find something that gives you pleasure you will do it repeatedly.
Cross-dressing for some can be a learned behavior. Learned behavior, "most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions, this coded information serves as a guide for action." Albert Bandura, Social Learning Theory, 1977.
According to Social Learning theory, models are an important source for learning new behaviors and for achieving behavioral change in institutionalized settings. Social learning theory is derived from the work of Albert Bandura, which proposed that observational learning could occur in relation to three models:
• Live model – in which an actual person is demonstrating the desired behavior
• Verbal instruction – in which an individual describes the desired behavior in detail, and instructs the participant in how to engage in the behavior
• Symbolic – in which modeling occurs by means of the media, including movies, television, Internet, literature, and radio. This type of modeling involves a real or fictional character demonstrating the behavior.
An important factor of Bandura’s social learning theory is the emphasis on reciprocal determinism. This notion states that an individual’s behavior is influenced by the environment and characteristics of the person. In other words, a person’s behavior, environment, and personal qualities all reciprocally influence each other. Bandura proposed that the modeling process involves several steps:
1. Attention – in order for an individual to learn something, they must pay attention to the features of the modeled behavior.
2. Retention – humans need to be able to remember details of the behavior in order to learn and later reproduce the behavior.
3. Reproduction – in reproducing a behavior, an individual must organize his or her responses in accordance with the model behavior. This ability can improve with practice.
4. Motivation – there must be an incentive or motivation driving the individual’s reproduction of the behavior. Even if all of the above factors are present, the person will not engage in the behavior without motivation.
Briefly, you learn by observing a model (live, verbal or symbolic). The learning process includes attention to the model, retention of the model, reproduction of the model and motivation. A boy may observe his mother, sister, aunt or other female dressing or observe their clothing. A boy may try to act like a female role figure by wearing their clothes or acting with feminism mannerism. This behavior is remembered, may not be acted on for many years. The man will try to reproduce his past memories based on motivation and incentives. One incentive is the feeling when dressed. One motivation can be the reactions he derives when dressed, positive reinforcement.
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