Episode 238: Are Neurodiverse People More Likely To Be Kinky?

Some folks who frequent kink and BDSM spaces have observed that there seems to be a higher percentage of neurodiverse persons compared to other social settings. So is there actually a link between neurodiversity and kink? In today’s show, we’re going to dive into a recent study published in the Journal of Sex Research that looks at how neurodiversity, specifically in the form of autistic traits, is linked to engaging in the kink subculture of pup play.

I am joined by Liam Wignall, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Brighton. He specialises in research on kink/BDSM, looking at the impact of internet and community engagement on identity formation. His recent book, Kinky in the Digital Age, explores how kinky gay and bisexual men navigate kink in contemporary times.

Some of the topics we explore include:

What does it mean to be neurodivergent? How prevalent is neurodivergence in the general population?
What does pup play look like and why are some people into it?
Why might there be a link between autism and kink in general?
What specifically about pup play might be appealing to neurodivergent individuals?
Why is there so little research on neurodiversity and sexuality?

You can check out our article on Liam’s recent publication here, and connect with him on Twitter/X here.

You can also get 30% of Liam’s book Kinky in the Digital Age through Oxford University Press with discount code: ASPROMP8

Thank you to our sponsors! 

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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.