Sexual sadism and sexual masochism . Sexual sadism and sexual masochism are often complementary - the sadists will seek out the masochist for mutual sexual arousal and gratification, and are found in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships. The masochists, who outnumber sadists, demand that their sexual partners inflict pain on them, for the purposes of sexual arousal and gratification. Also gender Identity disorder needs to be differentiated from true hermaphrodism where individuals are born with genitalia of both sexes, and often have other endocrine and physical abnormalities. Individuals with gender identity disorder have strong and persistent identification with the opposite sex and often report that they feel trapped in the body of a man or woman.
Gender is independent of sexual arousal patterns.
There are at least three different competing theories proposed to explain Gender Identity Disorder. One theory suggests that slightly elevated levels of testosterone or oestrogen during critical periods of foetal development may masculinise a female foetus and feminise a male foetus. The third theory, Social learning theory postulates that children may display interests typical of the opposite sex, and, if persistent over time, these children may eventually be encouraged by their parents, thus reinforcing these behavioural patterns associated usually with the opposite sex. This treatment incorporates a multidisciplinary approach including, intensive psychotherapy, hormone treatment, and complex urino-genital plastic surgery in which an individual's original sex organs are transformed into functioning organs of the opposite sex. Prescribed reading Davison.