The Psychology of Gay Men's Cuckolding Fantasies

Arch Sex Behav. 2018 May;47(4):999-1013. doi: 10.1007/s10508-017-1096-0. Epub 2017 Dec 28.

Abstract

Cuckolding (also known as troilism) is a sexual interest in which one obtains sexual arousal from the experience of a romantic partner engaging in sexual activity with someone else. The present study investigated fantasies about and experiences with cuckolding in a large and diverse sample of predominately gay-identified men (N = 580). Compared to previous research focusing on heterosexual men's cuckolding fantasies, our results indicate that gay men's cuckolding fantasies share many common elements; however, they differ in some important ways. Most notably, interracial and BDSM themes do not appear to be as common in gay men's cuckolding fantasies as they are among heterosexual men. Our findings also indicate that frequent fantasies about cuckolding are linked to several overlapping sexual interests (e.g., voyeurism, group sex) and, further, the content of these fantasies is associated with a number of individual differences (e.g., agreeableness, sensation seeking, sociosexuality). Finally, this study also suggests that gay men who act on their cuckolding fantasies tend to report positive experiences; however, the likelihood of reporting positive outcomes appears to depend upon one's personality and attachment style.

Keywords: Consensual non-monogamy; Cuckolding; DSM-5; Gay men; Sexual fantasy; Troilism.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Fantasy*
  • Homosexuality, Male / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sexual Partners / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult