Chapter 15 – Variations in Sexual Behaviour

A set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms, disorders, theories, and treatments related to atypical sexual behaviours and paraphilias from Chapter 15.

Normal Sexual Behaviour (Statistical Definition)

Defines normality by how common a behaviour is in the population; limited because prevalence varies across cultures and self-reporting.

Cultural Norms (Sexual)

Standards within a society that label certain sexual acts as acceptable, unacceptable, or illegal, varying by time and place.

Harm Criterion

Concept that a sexual behaviour is ‘normal’ if it causes no harm to self or others; views of harm differ across cultures.

Paraphilia

Intense, persistent sexual interest in objects, situations, or people not typically viewed as erotic.

Paraphilic Disorder

A paraphilia that meets DSM-5 Criteria A (the atypical interest) and B (distress, impairment, or harm to non-consenting others).

DSM-5 Criterion A

Describes the nature of the paraphilic interest (e.g., exposing genitals to strangers).

DSM-5 Criterion B

Specifies negative consequences such as personal distress, impairment, or harm/law conflict; required for disorder diagnosis.

Consenting-Partner Paraphilias

Paraphilias involving adults who agree to participate (e.g., BDSM fetishes); may be non-disordered if no distress/harm.

Non-Consenting-Partner Paraphilias

Paraphilias that involve victims or violate law (e.g., voyeurism, pedophilia).

Fetish

Sexual arousal focused on non-living objects or specific body parts; becomes Fetishistic Disorder when distress/impairment arises.

Fetishistic Disorder

Persistent, distressing reliance on non-living objects or specific body parts for sexual arousal, interfering with normal functioning.

Transvestic Disorder

Sexual arousal from cross-dressing accompanied by significant distress or impairment.

Autogynephilia

A man’s sexual arousal from imagining himself as a woman; distinct from simple cross-dressing.

Sexual Sadism

Arousal derived from inflicting physical or psychological pain on another person in a sexual context.

Sexual Masochism

Arousal derived from experiencing pain, humiliation, or suffering in a sexual context.

Sexual Sadism Disorder

Sadistic urges that cause distress/impairment or are acted on with a non-consenting person.

Sexual Masochism Disorder

Masochistic urges that cause personal distress or functional impairment.

Sadomasochism (S&M)

Combination of sadistic and masochistic activities, often practiced consensually within BDSM.

BDSM

Umbrella term for Bondage & Discipline, Dominance & Submission, Sadism & Masochism; usually involves consensual, planned “kink.”

DS (Dominance & Submission)

BDSM play focusing on power exchange through scripted roles of Dominant (top) and Submissive (bottom).

BD (Bondage & Discipline)

BDSM practices using restraints and disciplinary actions, sometimes with sensory deprivation or humiliation.

Hypersexuality

Excessive, compulsive pursuit of sexual activity despite negative consequences; no formal DSM-5 diagnosis.

Courtship Disorder

Disturbance in one or more normal phases of courtship (looking, talking, touching, intercourse), often leading to non-consensual acts.

Voyeuristic Disorder

Recurrent arousal from watching an unsuspecting naked or sexual person, coupled with distress or non-consensual acts.

Exhibitionistic Disorder

Recurrent arousal from exposing genitals to unsuspecting strangers, accompanied by distress/impairment or acted upon.

Telephone Scatologia

Sexual arousal from making obscene or threatening phone calls, typically while masturbating; verbal exhibitionism.

Frotteuristic Disorder

Sexual arousal from rubbing against a non-consenting person, usually in crowded places, causing distress or legal issues.

Biastophilia

Erotic interest in committing rape, preferring non-consensual over consensual sex.

Pedophilic Disorder

Sexual interest in prepubescent or pubescent children, with distress, impairment, or acted upon urges.

Classic-Type Pedophile

Attracted primarily to prepubescent children.

Hebephilic-Type Pedophile

Attracted primarily to early pubescent children.

Pedohebephilic Type

Attracted to both prepubescent and pubescent children.

Castration Anxiety

Freudian concept where fear of losing one’s penis is unconsciously managed via fetish development.

Psychoanalytic Theory of Paraphilias

Posits paraphilias stem from unresolved psychosexual conflicts (e.g., castration anxiety, Oedipus complex).

Behavioural Theory of Paraphilias

Explains paraphilias through classical conditioning: accidental pairing of arousal with neutral stimuli creates lasting fetishes.

Object-Relations Theory

Links paraphilias to early attachment problems or sexual trauma affecting adult relationships.

Neurological Findings (Paraphilias)

Research shows some paraphilics (esp. pedophiles) have lower IQs, brain structure differences, and distinctive activation patterns to sexual stimuli.

Cognitive Distortions (Offenders)

Rationalizations used by paraphilic offenders to justify behaviour, e.g., “the child seduced me.”

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Treatment focusing on challenging distorted thoughts and developing coping skills for paraphilias.

Relapse Prevention

Therapeutic strategy that teaches offenders to recognize triggers and create safety plans to avoid reoffending.

Satiation Therapy

Behavioural technique where one masturbates to a socially appropriate fantasy, then immediately to the deviant fantasy to reduce its appeal.

Assessment Interview (Paraphilias)

Comprehensive evaluation covering family, health, education, and sexual history, often with psychological testing.