And YES, it IS crap, because psychologist are not treating transsexuality as an addiction in any way. They are NOT trying to treat it like an addiction, and earlier attempts to do so have failed utterly.
Note that the following is not targeted at Mr. Oragahn, but rather at the article he linked.
Now, let's go step by step.
Actually, it doesn't. There is no infinite progression, and often not a progression at all.The behavior is exhibited over a long period of time (at least 12 months) in an excessive, aberrant form, deviating from the norm or extravagant (e.g., regarding its frequency and intensity)
A transsexual's feelings towards gender transition generally intensify as time progresses. It is extremely rare to see a transsexual, who is committed to a gender transition, veer off. As it is extremely rare to see a transsexual veer off, transsexuals easily surpass twelve months where the behavior becomes more extreme. Ironically, in the vast majority of cases of male to female transsexuals, transsexualism was barely on the radar screen prior to the onset of their cross-gender variant behavior. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
Sure, yes, many transsexual people have to work on accepting their new-found gender identity, but once that is done, it is done - and is not on any other level than that of any other person.
This is not true at all. Virtually EVERY single transsexual person who i have ever met or talked to had or did worry about the consequences of transition. There were only two cases (of over 40) where this was no the case - one of those was extremely stupid anyway, the other lived in an extremely tolerant environment and did not have to worry about money all that much.Loss of control over the excessive behavior (duration, frequency, intensity, risk) when the behavior started
Transsexuals, who begin a gender transition, have difficulty turning off their intense feeling towards gender transition. Their personal gender transition emerges in virtually all aspects of their life. Transsexuals, also, generally fail to appreciate the risk they are taking in the pursuit of in a gender transition. In the case of transsexuals, who are gainfully employed, transsexuals generally do not weigh the issues surrounding re-entering the workforce, should they lose their jobs for one reason or another. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
Transitioning is generally accompanied by great deal of fear about it's consequences, this is simply a LIE.
Yes, there is an initial satisfaction when you make an important step. That is normal - every normal person feels that way, whether that step is in a relationship, job-related or anything else.Reward effect (the excessive behavior is instantly considered to be rewarding)
As the person takes steps in their respective gender transition, each one seems the correct one. As the person regards each step in their respective gender transition as being well founded, he/she experiences reward. Over time the individual has to act out in ever increasing degrees to feel the same degree of satisfaction. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
However, except for those steps, there is no such reward mechanism. I felt very satisfied when i first managed to have the courage to go out as a woman. Nowadays, i don't - it's an every day experience and nothing special. I also felt very happy when i was first able to wear something with a deeper neckline, but that was in no way different from what my sister felt when she was able to do so.
There is no reward loop or addiction.
This is simply another lie. Virtually all transsexual people i know don't do any other procedures after SRS, UNLESS they are absolutely necessary.Development of tolerance (the behavior is conducted longer, more often and more intensively in order to achieve the desired effect; in unvaried form, intensity and frequency the desired effect fails to appear)
As a transsexual progresses through a change in gender appearance, he/she often opts to undergo more procedures and not less, indicating the degree of satisfaction derived from each procedure diminishes in intensity, requiring the individual to act out in ever increasing degrees. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
We do not get a kick out of operations, electrolysis or hormone treatment, we simply need them.
By the same token, i could argue that an ill person is addicted, given that she will potentially require treatment after treatment. But after the treatment is successful, no more will be required (in general).
No, it doesn't.The behavior that was initially perceived as pleasant, positive and rewarding is increasingly considered to be unpleasant in the course of the addiction
Virtually all transsexuals publicly cross-dress prior to undergoing a gender transition. The vast majority of transsexuals report their former cross-dressing experiences as being fun and exciting, However, as transsexuals advance in their respective gender transitions, the thought of periodic cross-dressing is abhorrent. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
In fact, most transsexual people i know find "cross-dressing" an abhorrent thought right from the start. We do not want to crossdress - and if we do it, it is out of necessity to achieve acceptance according to our gender.
Bullshit. There is no primary sexual urge behind transsexuality. It is often part of it, but only because it is part of expressing ones gender.rresistible urge/craving to execute the behavior
The drivers, underlying transsexualism, are psychological and sexual in nature. Sexual urges are irrepressible. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
If given the choice between "male sex life, female social life" and the other way round, i would pick the first one - and i suspect every other transwoman would, too, if that choice was necessary.
Indeed, most transmen are aware that they will NOT be able to have sex like a cisman, which further proves my point.
Gee. The majority of people can not function normally if they are forced to uphold a gender role contrary to their own.Function (the behavior is primarily employed as a way to regulate emotions/mood)
The vast majority of transsexuals cannot emotionally function if precluded from acting out cross-gender behavior due to one circumstance or another. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
AT least for a longer period of time, when i had to pose as a man for any reason (there were a few) i was able to do so, although often discomforted.
And this is different from achieving ANYTHING ELSE at all?Expectancy of effect (expectancy of pleasant/positive effects by carrying out the excessive behavior)
As a transsexual takes steps in his/her gender transition each one seems the correct one. Transsexuals often report their life 'improving' in the period leading up to a major surgical procedure, which matches their expectations. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
If you work to get a specific job position, or towards marriage or kids - is it any different?
Right, the difference is that an addiction DOES NOT STOP - it does in the case of transsexuality, showing that this is, again, simply wrong.
Yeah, right.Limited pattern of behavior (also applies to buildup and follow-up activities)
See 10.
Gee, working towards an important goal is exiting? Get out of here.Cognitive occupation with the build-up, execution and follow-up activities of the excessive behavior and possibly the anticipated effects of the excessively executed behavior
Transsexuals find gender transition and the associated steps-which is a process and not a state of existence-exciting. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
Again, this is no different from working towards any other goal in life.
Masturbation? WTF?Irrational, contorted perception of different aspects of the excessive behavior
The vast majority of transsexuals are utterly incapable of realizing their masturbation thoughts are not indigenous to those of a member of the opposite sex. Further, the vast majority of transsexuals have no real construct of what it means to be a member of the opposite sex. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
First, many transsexual people do not masturbate at all. Those who do generally employ female sex fantasies (if they are transwomen) or male ones (if they are transmen). This is shown by comparing their sex fantasies to those of other women/men.
A notable effect is that the sex fantasies of transwomen (not sure about transmen) are often more like those of women several decades ago, for the simple reason that their social situation is different (the fantasies are often less adventurous and more passive)
Yes, and if YOU have to act contrary to your gender, you will ALSO experience extreme discomfort. And if YOUR sex hormones were to suddenly vanish, you would also have physical problems.Withdrawal symptoms (psychological and physical)
When circumstances preclude transsexuals from acting out cross-gender variant behavior, they report discomfort and psychological withdrawals. Ironically, the vast majority of transsexuals report that they had no difficult living as members of their assigned gender prior the consideration of a change in sex. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
And the vast majority of transsexual people HAS problems prior to their inner coming-out. They might manage, but they are rarely happy with it - that is a problem, don't you think?
Yes, because such a reversion would fucking destroy them. And who are you to define their best interest anyway?Continued execution of the excessive behavior despite negative consequences (health-related, occupational, social)
On the lose of employment or similar crisis, transsexuals typically do not opt to revert to living as a member of their assigned gender role even on circumstances where doing so would be in their best interest. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
Yeah, you can easily claim that internationally accepted standards are fundamentally flawed without evidence. And the earth is flat, too.Conditioned / learned reactions (resulting from the confrontation with internal and external stimuli associated with the excessive behavior as well as from cognitive occupation with the excessive behavior)
Transsexuals are very resistant to pleas from friends, family members and intimacy partners to discontinue what are often ill conceived gender transitions and consider alternative treatments. They often seize on the concept that gender dysphoria is an accurate portray of their feelings and experiences. They also seize on the prescribed treatment regiments for gender dysphoria as set down by the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (HBIGDA), including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and genital surgery. As gender identity disorder in sexually developed individuals is fundamentally flawed, so too is the prescribed treatment regiment set down by the HBIGDA. Transsexualism (coupled with the currently flawed medical response) satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
Either way, this is not necessarily true. Indeed, most of my friends have encouraged and helped me with my transition, and so have certain family members.
Just because you do not listen to friends and family, you do not have to be addicted. They might simply be wrong.
Another bunch of lies and false applications of diagnostic criteria.Suffering (desire to alleviate perceived suffering)
The vast majority of male to female transsexuals regard any obstruction to surgical procedures that aid in their respective gender transitions as a form of suffering. A number of male to female transsexuals regard gender reassignment surgical (GRS) procedures as 'life saving' surgery and sacrosanct to their health interests, indicating a degree of discomfort in the absence of the procedure. Further, a number of transsexuals report they will commit suicide, if they are unsuccessful with respect to being approved to undergo a GRS procedure or similar procedure that protracts the testes. male to female transsexuals rarely commit suicide in the period leading up to a major surgical procedure that protracts the testes. In fact the vast majority of cases of transsexuals who commit suicide do so after undergoing a GRS procedure and not prior. 5% of all post-operative, male to female transsexuals commit suicide, which is 50 times higher than that of the greater population. In the vast majority of cases of suicide the reasons had nothing to do with prejudice. Whether the individual suffers or not is immaterial. The perception is all that matters. Transsexualism satisfies this diagnostic characteristic of being a behavioral addiction.
To summarize, this person simply misapplies diagnostic criteria.
Most of what she describes as evidence for addiction in regards to transsexuality is ALSO true for every other important wish of a person. It is NOT a sign of addiction. She also lies, distorts and falsifies transsexual behavior - many of her claims are just made up.
The most important downfall is that transsexuality is, indeed, a PROCESS (she even admits that) - an addiction is never a process. An addiction is BY DEFINITION a perpetual look of behavior and reward (be it drugs, games, sex or whatever) that has to be broken because it doesn't stop on it's own.
Contrary to that, Transsexuality has a clearly defined goal which wants to be achieved. Once it IS achieved, the "behavioral pattern" breaks down, no further treatment is required - a transsexual person just lives her life according to her or his gender.
This is never the case with addictions, there is no goal and nothing that can be achieved in order to stop the behavior.
I think Mr. Oragahn, me and all others can simply agree that this claim "transsexuality is an addiction" is simply an unsubstantiated claim, as i have said all along.