Both of these paraphilias involve animals yet there are some differences between the two.

Bestiality

Bestiality, involves a human-animal sexual interaction, from which sexual excitement is derived. Bestiality has been long chronicled. It has been assumed that when humans lacked sexual gratification, in the pre-historic area, they searched for a substitute which often turned out to be an animal. This happened due to the lack of intellect on the part of the human beings, who did not notice much difference in animals other then shape, size and degree of threat to their lives. In 1300 AD, a law was passed against this behavior.

Bestiality occurs in both men and women, and according to Kinsey 8% of men and 3% of women admitted having sexual encounters with animals. (out of the 8% of men, 50% of men who had been reared on farms had such contacts)

Zoophilia

Miletski, (1999) to refer to zoophilia as a sexual orientation. Zoophilia consists of feeling for the animal, sexual activity mayb be absent, but there is an exaggerated attachment to the animal from the part of the human. Eg: the human may want to run on all fours or to be buried near to his dog.


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