PSYC 223 Sexual Paraphilias

paraphilia's

sexual arousal to non-normative or deviant stimuli and the associated sexual behaviors
-represent deviations in the qualitative aspect of sexuality or direction of sexual feelings

victimless

-fetishism
-transvestic fetishism
-sexual masochism and sadism

involving victim

-exhibitionism
-frotteurism
-pedophilia
-sexual masochism and sadism
-voyerurism

fetishism

erotic attraction to nonliving objects: wide variety of behavioral manifestations
-masturbation with object
-incorporation of object into sexual behavior
theft or collection of objects
-partialism

transvestic fetishism

heterosexual men for whom dressing in women's clothing is found to be sexually arousing
-men typically masturbate while fantasizing about being both a male and the female object of his fantasy

exhibitionism

recurrent urge for exposure of the genitals to strangers or unsuspecting persons
-arousal response to shock, fear, or embarrassment of victims
-associated with acts of aggression

frotteurism

characterized by the individual's touching or rubbing his genitals against the leg, buttocks, or other body parts of an unsuspected person
-typically occurs in situations where behavior will go undetected by victim
-associated with: withdrawn, immature or socially avoidant personality style

pedophilia

adults for whom prepubescent children are the focus of erotic attraction and interest
-opportunistic
-pervasively angry
-sexual

sadism

involves excitement in response to the infliction of psychological and physical suffering
-beating/burning
-restraint
-blindfolding
-body piercing
-humiliation (forcing someone to crawl or wear infantile clothing

masochism

involves excitement in response to being humiliated or made to suffer
-some individuals become excited in either role, whereas some only become aroused in a particular role

voyeurism

involves the observation of an unsuspecting person or persons who are nude, disrobing, or engaging in a sexual act
-essential feature is the lack of awareness of the victim
-associated with: sadism, aggression, and sexual assault
-little sexual experience and lack of heterosocial skills
-strong feelings of inferiority

characteristic profile

offenders are predominantly men (impulsivity, anger, aggression, dominance)

etiological factors

heterosocial deficits, eatly attachment problems, comorbid pathology: mood disorder, anxiety, substance abuse

classical conditioning

pairing of a neutral stimulus with sexual arousal - fetishes conditioned in normal volunteers

imprinting

early sexual experiences influence the shaping of subsequent sexual desires and fantasies

conditioning and fantasy rehearsal

self-directed conditioning paradigm

early sexual trauma

control over painful memory through mastery
-identification with the aggressor