Paraphilia: Difference between revisions
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A '''paraphilia'''<ref>From the Greek words ''para'' - beside, and ''philia'' - love.</ref> is a sexual desire or behaviour that involves an unusual source of gratification. A paraphilia | A '''paraphilia'''<ref>From the Greek words ''para'' - beside, and ''philia'' - love.</ref> is a sexual desire or behaviour that involves an unusual source of gratification. A paraphilia becomes pathological when the person's central focus is the chosen object without which the person cannot become aroused or be sexually gratified. As with everything in [[abnormal psychology]], acceptable sexual behaviours are dictated by sexual norms that change over time and differ between cultures. For example, Richard von Krafft-Ebing's psychiatric text on sex ''Psychopathia Sexualis'' declared masturbation as psychologically damaging since it disrupted developing normal erotic instincts and led to homosexuality.<ref>{{cite book |author=Richard Von KrafftEbing |title=Psychopathia Sexualis |publisher=Arcade Publishing |location= |year= |pages= |isbn=1-55970-425-X |oclc= |doi=}} The book's title is Latin for "Sexual Psychopathology"</ref> Similarly, the second edition of the [[Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders]] considered sexual interest towards people of the same sex, or towards sexual acts not associated with sexual intercourse as disordered.<ref>{{cite book |author= |title=Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-II |publisher=American Psychiatric Association |location=Washington, DC |year=1968 |pages= |asin=B000H5KIG4 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> Masturbation and homosexuality are currently considered as normal behaviours, and do not appear in the [[DSM]]. | ||
Some paraphilias are criminal offenses, such as child molestation and rape, while others are merely frowned upon or may bring shame and ridicule upon an individual if discovered. Some paraphilias cause harm to others, while others are victimless, such as fetishism. | Some paraphilias are criminal offenses, such as child molestation and rape, while others are merely frowned upon or may bring shame and ridicule upon an individual if discovered. Some paraphilias cause harm to others, while others are victimless, such as fetishism. This article will present sexual behaviours that are currently considered abnormal. | ||
== The paraphilias == | |||
== Exhibitionism == | === Exhibitionism === | ||
[[Exhibitionism]] is sexual gratification by displaying one's genitals to an involuntary observer. | [[Exhibitionism]] is sexual gratification by displaying one's genitals to an involuntary observer. Exhibitionists reports feeling little control over the urge to expose themselves, and exposing oneself while driving is common.<ref name="pmid16420072">{{cite journal |author=Grant JE |title=Clinical characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity in males with exhibitionism |journal=J Clin Psychiatry |volume=66 |issue=11 |pages=1367–71 |year=2005 |pmid=16420072 |doi=}}</ref> | ||
== | |||
=== Fetishism === | |||
[[Festishism]] is sexual gratification gained by relying on an inanimate object or a body part (to the exclusion of the person as a whole) for sexual gratification. Most fetishes are linked to the human body, and common choices include women's shoes, gloves and underpants. | |||
== Frotteurism == | === Frotteurism === | ||
[[Frotteurism]], from the french word ''to rub'', is sexual gratification by touching or rubbing against an unwilling person. | |||
== | === Pedophilia === | ||
[[Pedophilia]] is sexual gratification for an adult from sexual contact with a prepubescent child, and is often [[child sexual abuse]]. | |||
== | === Rape === | ||
[[Rape]] is sexual gratification from sexual intercourse with a person without their consent. | |||
== | === Masochism === | ||
[[Masochism]] is sexual gratification through the infliction of pain or humiliation on oneself. | |||
=== Sadism === | |||
[[Sadism]] is sexual gratification through the infliction of pain or humiliation on others. This is a pathology only when one of the partners does not consent. | |||
=== Transvestism === | |||
[[Transvestism]] is sexual gratification through dressing in clothes of the opposite sex. | |||
=== Voyeurism === | |||
Voyeurism is seuxal gratification through covertly observing another people's sexual activities or anatomy. The risk of being caught heights the excitement for the voyeur. Voyeurism is an example of a spectrum disorder, as advertisements in the media have sexually charged material which may be considered "normal voyeurism", and pornography can be seen as legitimate voyeurism. | |||
== Treatment == | |||
Some paraphilias have been hypothesized to part of the [[obsessive-compulsive disorder]] spectrum, as individuals report an inability to resist their urges.<ref name="pmid10457546">{{cite journal |author=Bradford JM |title=The paraphilias, obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder, and the treatment of sexually deviant behaviour |journal=Psychiatr Q |volume=70 |issue=3 |pages=209–19 |year=1999 |pmid=10457546 |doi=}}</ref> Serotonergic medication such as antidepressants have often been used effectively in treating paraphilias. While serotonin plays an important role in aggression, impulsiveness, and sexuality, its role in the pathophysiology of the parailias is undetermined.<ref name="pmid12839888">{{cite journal |author=Kafka MP |title=The monoamine hypothesis for the pathophysiology of paraphilic disorders: an update |journal=Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. |volume=989 |issue= |pages=86–94; discussion 144–53 |year=2003 |pmid=12839888 |doi=}}</ref> | |||
Antiandrogen drugs decrease testosterone levels, a hormone essential to human sexuality, and are highly effective controlling pedophilia, exhibitionism, and voyeurism.<ref name="pmid16420072">{{cite journal |author=Grant JE |title=Clinical characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity in males with exhibitionism |journal=J Clin Psychiatry |volume=66 |issue=11 |pages=1367–71 |year=2005 |pmid=16420072 |doi=}}</ref> | |||
== References == | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
Revision as of 23:20, 26 December 2007
A paraphilia[1] is a sexual desire or behaviour that involves an unusual source of gratification. A paraphilia becomes pathological when the person's central focus is the chosen object without which the person cannot become aroused or be sexually gratified. As with everything in abnormal psychology, acceptable sexual behaviours are dictated by sexual norms that change over time and differ between cultures. For example, Richard von Krafft-Ebing's psychiatric text on sex Psychopathia Sexualis declared masturbation as psychologically damaging since it disrupted developing normal erotic instincts and led to homosexuality.[2] Similarly, the second edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders considered sexual interest towards people of the same sex, or towards sexual acts not associated with sexual intercourse as disordered.[3] Masturbation and homosexuality are currently considered as normal behaviours, and do not appear in the DSM.
Some paraphilias are criminal offenses, such as child molestation and rape, while others are merely frowned upon or may bring shame and ridicule upon an individual if discovered. Some paraphilias cause harm to others, while others are victimless, such as fetishism. This article will present sexual behaviours that are currently considered abnormal.
The paraphilias
Exhibitionism
Exhibitionism is sexual gratification by displaying one's genitals to an involuntary observer. Exhibitionists reports feeling little control over the urge to expose themselves, and exposing oneself while driving is common.[4]
Fetishism
Festishism is sexual gratification gained by relying on an inanimate object or a body part (to the exclusion of the person as a whole) for sexual gratification. Most fetishes are linked to the human body, and common choices include women's shoes, gloves and underpants.
Frotteurism
Frotteurism, from the french word to rub, is sexual gratification by touching or rubbing against an unwilling person.
Pedophilia
Pedophilia is sexual gratification for an adult from sexual contact with a prepubescent child, and is often child sexual abuse.
Rape
Rape is sexual gratification from sexual intercourse with a person without their consent.
Masochism
Masochism is sexual gratification through the infliction of pain or humiliation on oneself.
Sadism
Sadism is sexual gratification through the infliction of pain or humiliation on others. This is a pathology only when one of the partners does not consent.
Transvestism
Transvestism is sexual gratification through dressing in clothes of the opposite sex.
Voyeurism
Voyeurism is seuxal gratification through covertly observing another people's sexual activities or anatomy. The risk of being caught heights the excitement for the voyeur. Voyeurism is an example of a spectrum disorder, as advertisements in the media have sexually charged material which may be considered "normal voyeurism", and pornography can be seen as legitimate voyeurism.
Treatment
Some paraphilias have been hypothesized to part of the obsessive-compulsive disorder spectrum, as individuals report an inability to resist their urges.[5] Serotonergic medication such as antidepressants have often been used effectively in treating paraphilias. While serotonin plays an important role in aggression, impulsiveness, and sexuality, its role in the pathophysiology of the parailias is undetermined.[6]
Antiandrogen drugs decrease testosterone levels, a hormone essential to human sexuality, and are highly effective controlling pedophilia, exhibitionism, and voyeurism.[4]
References
- ↑ From the Greek words para - beside, and philia - love.
- ↑ Richard Von KrafftEbing. Psychopathia Sexualis. Arcade Publishing. ISBN 1-55970-425-X. The book's title is Latin for "Sexual Psychopathology"
- ↑ (1968) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-II. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Grant JE (2005). "Clinical characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity in males with exhibitionism". J Clin Psychiatry 66 (11): 1367–71. PMID 16420072. [e]
- ↑ Bradford JM (1999). "The paraphilias, obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder, and the treatment of sexually deviant behaviour". Psychiatr Q 70 (3): 209–19. PMID 10457546. [e]
- ↑ Kafka MP (2003). "The monoamine hypothesis for the pathophysiology of paraphilic disorders: an update". Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 989: 86–94; discussion 144–53. PMID 12839888. [e]