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This paper examines two episodes in the history and philosophy of phallometry and cervimetry in the second half of the 20th century. Phallometry is the measurement of the human penis with special devices (phallometers) in a psychophysiological context, while cervimetry is the measurement of the cervix in laboring women (by hand or by cervimeter). Despite decades of efforts to standardize these measuring practices, we still have only non-standard ways of measuring the dynamics of the cervix during labor as well as penile tumescence during arousal. We adopt the lens of "messiness" as an analytic tool in order to trace historical actors' methodological assumptions, goals, and decisions that were involved in their measuring practices. It will be argued that, far from being an a priori attribute, the "messiness" of biomedical phenomena (and how to best respond to it) depends on the actors' methodological priorities. What is "messy" is actively shaped (and re-shaped) by researchers' instrumental assumptions and theoretical commitments, as demonstrated in their method of measuring. This paper also offers a preview of early findings from our current research on the history of cervical measurement (Jackson) and phallic measurement (Wassermann). Drawing on primary source material we have analyzed, the argument will be developed in two parts. First, in the context of phallometry research: Two different and eventually diametrically opposed methodological approaches developed when confronted with "messy" human bodies and minds, a divergence which still exists today. Second, in the case of cervimetry research: "messiness" emerged when researchers tried to standardize the measurement of the human cervix, to no avail. Ironically, today's "messy" practice of measuring the cervix by hand has been continually justified by knowledge gained in the continued pursuit (and failure) of standardized replacements of this method.

Phallometry is a physiological measure of sexual response widely used for the assessment of paedophilia among sexual offenders. Although many medications decrease penile response sufficiently to interfere with sexual intercourse, it is unknown to what extent such medications might interfere with phallometric testing. In the current study, we utilized a naturalistic convenience sample of 1078 men who attended a clinic for assessment of sexual preferences, mostly related to sexual offence convictions. In the present analyses, we quantified the differences in penile response during phallometric assessment associated with taking a range of common medications. Participants on medication typically showed less penile output than participants not taking medications; however, differences were largely accounted for by age rather than by medication status. Though most medications were associated with decreases in penile responsivity during volumetric phallometric testing, such changes were small in absolute terms and appeared to be associated with ageing rather than with the medications themselves.

Deviant sexual interests such as pedophilia (interest in prepubescent children), biastophilia (interest in forced sex), and peo-deiktophilia (interest in exposing one's penis to strangers) are important to consider in the assessment and treatment of male sex offenders. Phallometry, the measurement of erectile responses to sexual stimuli, is the best available measure of male sexual interests. This article summarizes the research on the discriminative and predictive validity of phallometrically-measured sexual interests, discusses common professional or ethical objections to the clinical use of phallometry, and comments on the advantages and disadvantages of two alternative measures (visual reaction time and sexual offense history scales).

This paper briefly reviews the empirical bases of phallo-metry and then evaluates its utility in answering a series of potential forensic questions. It is concluded that phallometry does not have a basis sound enough to justify its use in deciding whether or not a man may have committed a sexual offence. It may, however, contribute, as part of a more comprehensive evaluation, to decisions concerning sentencing, dangerousness or risk to reoffend, with convicted sexual offenders.

It is unclear whether deviant sexual preferences distinguish adolescents who commit sex offenses in the same way that such deviance characterizes adult sex offenders. We compared male adolescents (mean age = 15 at the time of a referral sex offense), matched adult sex offenders, and normal men (adult nonoffenders or nonsex offenders). We hypothesized the following: phallometric responses of the adolescents would be similar to those of adult sex offenders and would differ from normals; adolescents with male child victims would exhibit greater evidence of sexual deviance than those whose only victims were female children; among adolescents who had molested children, those with a history of sexual abuse would exhibit more evidence of sexual deviance than those with no such history; and phallometric measures would predict recidivism. With some notable exceptions or qualifications, results confirmed the hypotheses. Phallometry has valid clinical and research uses with adolescent males who commit serious sex offenses.

Penile circumference and penile volume phallometry are laboratory methods of assessing sexual arousal. Volume phallometry is reportedly more sensitive to responses, but comparative studies have been inconclusive and beset with methodological problems. In this study, 42 self-professed heterosexual volunteers were assessed with both methods simultaneously, employing a standard test for erotic partner preference. Pearson correlations between test outcome profiles were very high (r.80) for subjects whose circumferential increase was2.5 mm [10% of a full erection (FE)]. However, among lower responders the agreement dropped precipitously (mean r = -.15). Moreover, as a group higher responders differentiated adult and pubescent age female stimuli from each other and all other categories with either method, but lower responders made this differentiation only with the volume method. We conclude that (l) at high levels of response both methods are equally good, (2) at low levels of response volumetric phallometry is a more accurate measure of arousal, and (3) 10% FE, or a 2.5-mm circumference increase, should be the minimum response criterion for the circumferential measure.

The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of phallometry to discriminate among homicidal child molesters, nonhomicidal child molesters, and a comparison group of nonoffenders.Twenty-seven child molesters who had committed or had attempted a sexually motivated homicide, 189 nonhomicidal child molesters, and 47 nonoffenders were compared on demographic variables and psychometrically determined responses to aural descriptions of sexual vignettes. Two phallometric indexes were used: the pedophile index and the pedophile assault index. The pedophile index was computed by dividing the subject's highest response to an aural description of sex with a "consenting" child by his highest response to description of sex with a consenting adult. The pedophile assault index was computed by dividing the subject's highest response to an aural description of assault involving a child victim by his highest response to description of sex with a "consenting" child.Homicidal child molesters, nonhomicidal child molesters, and nonoffenders were not significantly different in age or IQ. Homicidal and nonhomicidal child molesters had significantly higher pedophile index scores than nonoffenders. Significantly more homicidal child molesters (14 [52%] of 27) and nonhomicidal child molesters (82 [46%] of 180) than nonoffenders (13 [28%] of 47) had pedophile index scores equal to or greater than 1.0, but homicidal and nonhomicidal child molesters did not differ from each other. Significantly more homicidal child molesters (17 [63%] of 27) than either nonhomicidal child molesters (71 [40%] of 178) or nonoffenders (17 [36%] of 47) had pedophile assault index scores equal to or greater than 1.0, and nonhomicidal child molesters and nonoffenders were not significantly different from each other. Within-group analyses revealed that of the three groups, only the nonhomicidal child molesters exhibited a significant difference between their pedophile index scores and their pedophile assault index scores; their pedophile index scores were higher.Consistent with past research, the authors found that the pedophile index is useful in differentiating homicidal and nonhomicidal child molesters from nonoffenders and that the pedophile assault index is able to differentiate homicidal child molesters from nonhomicidal child molesters and nonoffenders.

Phallometry is an objective method of assessing male sexual arousal. The main applications in forensic psychiatry concern the evaluation of men charged with or convicted of sexual offences, the evaluation of those with suspected paraphilias not subject to the criminal justice system, risk assessment and measurement of response to sex offender treatment. In some jurisdictions, phallometry is incorporated into legal decisions about release from custody or discharge from secure hospitals. This paper provides a brief overview of the international development of phallometry, considers challenges to its broader adoption and discusses future directions for research and clinical practice.

Исследовались студенты медицинского института Тамбовского государственного университета имени Г.Р. Державина. Изучены 7 групп (русские, дагестанцы, узбеки, арабы Ближнего Востока и стран Магриба, африканцы, индийцы; всего 606 человек, возраст 18-25 лет). Цель – выявление этно-территориальных и конституциональных особенностей размеров полового члена и семенных желез. Проводились 4 измерения неэрегированного полового члена, длины и ширины яичек, рассчитывались 8 производных показателей. Предложен новый генитометрический признак (объем полового члена) и формула для его расчета. Установлены статистически достоверные межгрупповые различия по генитометрическим признакам. Максимальный уровень различий отмечен между русскими и африканцами, а также русскими и индийцами. Наибольшие типологические различия выявлены между юношами астенического и пикнического соматотипов. Для характеристики изменчивости генитометрических признаков у юношей более значимым является этно-территориальный компонент по сравнению с конституциональным., Students of the Medical Institute of Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin were examined. 7 groups were examined (Russians, Dagestanis, Uzbeks, Arabs of the Middle East and the Maghreb countries, Africans, Indians; total 606 people, age 18-25 years). The goal is to identify ethno-territorial and constitutional features of the size of the penis and seminal glands. 4 measurements of flaccid state, the length and width of testes were carried out, 8 derived parameters were calculated. New genitometric feature (volume of penis) and the corresponding formula are introduced. Statistically reliable intergroup differences in genitometric features are stated. Maximal level of differences is between Africans and Russian, as well as between Russians and Indians. The greatest typological distinctions are revealed between young men of asthenic and picnic somatotypes. To characterize the variability of genitometric traits in young men, the ethno-territorial component is more significant compared to the constitutional one