When reviewing the global literature, paraphilia, personality organization, and attitudes toward crime have been central research topics. However, most studies have treated paraphilia as a disorder and focused on clinical or forensic populations. Yet, both paraphilia and criminal tendencies extend beyond clinical and forensic contexts and represent social phenomena. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the role of personality organization and criminal attitudes in individuals' paraphilic tendencies.


The study included 114 volunteer participants aged 18 and above, the majority of whom resided in Istanbul. Participants completed the Demographic Information Form, the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale, the Personality Organization Inventory, and the Measures of Criminal Attitudes and Associates. Additionally, the Paraphilia Assessment Form, developed by the researcher, was used to evaluate participants' cognitive and emotional responses to ten different paraphilic scenarios. To minimize carryover effects, neutral scenes were presented between paraphilic scenes. Data were collected both face-to-face in a university laboratory (n = 56) and online (n = 58). In the laboratory sessions, participants' behaviors were observed, and brief interviews were conducted.


Primitive Defenses were found to differ significantly in relation to pedophilic and necrophilic emotions, and a significant association was observed between frotteurism and negative emotions. Reality Testing and Identity Diffusion did not show strong associations with paraphilic emotions; however, Identity Diffusion was positively related to the liking and acceptance of masochism. Criminal Attitudes were significantly associated with emotions toward zoophilia, with negative emotions linked to zoophilia and positive emotions linked to exhibitionism. Antisocial Intent demonstrated positive associations with the liking and acceptance of fetishism and sadism. Sexual Sensation Seeking showed significant differentiation in emotions toward masochism and fetishism, exhibiting positive associations with positive emotions toward masochism and with the liking and acceptance levels across all paraphilias.