Motivation for cross-dressing in heterosexual transvestism.

The literature concerning the motivation for cross-dressing in heterosexual transvestism is briefly reviewed. Thirty-three members of a club established for heterosexual transvestites were interviewed. The sensations they derived from cross-dressing and the importance of compulsive and narcissistic aspects in their transvestite behaviour were assessed and compared with those reported by 24 transsexual subjects. While cross-dressed, transvestite and transsexual subjects frequently reported feeling relaxed, comfortable and relieved of masculine demands. Transvestite subjects showed significantly more compulsive and narcissistic aspects in their transvestite behaviour than transsexual subjects. Fetishistic pleasure was infrequently given as a motivation for cross-dressing.