March 25th

INTRODUCTION TO PARAPHILIAS

  • Definition:

    • Anomalous sexual activities or interests characterize paraphilias.

IS IT A DIAGNOSABLE DISORDER?

Case Study: Masochism

  • Subject: A 25-year-old female graduate student.

  • Experiences:

    • Reports masochistic experiences leading to feelings of sexual excitement during arguments.

    • Finds brutality stimulating, akin to being raped.

    • Engages in sexual relations with strangers, enjoying physical punishment during sex more than other stimuli.

    • Identifies being beaten or whipped as producing the most intense sexual experiences.

  • Emotional Insight:

    • Acknowledges dangers associated with her behaviour but expresses uncertainty about seeking treatment due to the pleasure derived from activities.

Legal Case Example

  • Wife Charged: In a case of criminal negligence resulting in death, a married couple played a dangerous sex game involving hanging each other with a rope. The game ended fatally when the husband lost consciousness.

Relevant Legal Precedent

  • US Law: Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Appleby

    • Relevant quote: “… because assault is a general intent crime, the only intent required is an intent to do the act causing injury; a showing of hostile purpose or motive is not required.” (Paclebar, Furtado, & McDonald-Witt, 2006, p. 223)

MASOCHISM

  • Definition:

    • Derived from Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, referring to individuals who derive sexual satisfaction from experiencing pain.

  • Common Activities:

    • Include punishment experiences such as spanking, whipping, humiliation, and degradation.

  • Diagnostic Criteria:

    1. Over a period of 6 months, recurrent and intense arousal from the act of being humiliated or made to suffer.

    2. Fantasies, urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning in various areas (e.g., social, occupational).

  • Prevalence:

    • Estimated 2.2% of males and 1.3% of females in Australia report BDSM practices.

    • 3-4% of a college sample reported experiences of being bound or sexually degraded.

    • 36% of men fantasize about being tied up.

    • Mean age of onset is 19.3 years.

Psychological Explanation

  • Baumeister (1988): Stated masochism reflects a motivated desire to escape self-awareness, similar to intoxication.

    • Characterized by focusing on immediate sensations (both painful and pleasurable) and viewing oneself as a sexual object.

ASPHYXIIPHILIA / HYPOXYPHILIA

  • Definition: The desire to induce a state of oxygen deficiency for sexual arousal or orgasm enhancement.

  • Demographics:

    • Predominantly males; ratio of 3 men for every woman.

  • Risks: Danger of death by asphyxiation, with 118 recorded deaths in Alberta and Ontario between 1974-1987.

SADISM

  • Historical Figure: Marquis de Sade, known for practicing sadism and inflicting pain leading to fatalities.

  • Definition: Individuals who derive sexual satisfaction from inflicting pain on others.

  • Diagnostic Criteria:

    1. Arousal from physical or psychological suffering experienced by others characterized by urges or behaviors.

    2. Actions on non-consenting individuals, or distressful fantasies leading to impairment in functioning.

  • Prevalence Rates: Varies based on forensic settings (2% - 30%), with less than 10% among committed sex offenders; 37 - 75% for sexually motivated homicides.

BONDAGE AND DISCIPLINE

  • Definition: Involves the use of restraining devices significant to sexual behavior.

  • Dominance and Submission (D-S): Power exchange concerning sexual stimulation and behavior control between consenting partners.

  • Variations: A small minority consider themselves 24/7 ‘slaves’ in owner-slave relationships.

Study Findings

  • Analysis of 66 men and 80 women in BDSM relationships showed long-standing and satisfying dynamics, with freedom to exit slave roles.

SADOMASOCHISTIC BEHAVIOR

  • Findings from Kinsey: 26% of individuals reported erotic responses to being bitten during sex.

  • Demographics: Majority of S&M males studied (n=178) identified as heterosexual and well-educated, with a preference for dominant/submissive roles.

  • Causes: Generally considered non-pathological; Kleinplatz & Moser (2005) concluded evidence does not suggest poorer relationships or distress.

ANOMALOUS TARGET PREFERENCES

PEDOPHILIA

  • Definition: Sexual attraction to prepubescent children, diagnosed in individuals aged at least 16 if they act on urges or feel distressed by them.

    • Notably, not all child molesters are pedophiles.

  • Estimated Prevalence: 3% - 5% among males; correlations with low heterosocial competence.

  • Age of Onset: Approximately 18.2 years.

  • Relationship with Child Pornography: Strong correlation noted.

DSM-V DEFINITION OF PEDOPHILIC DISORDER

  • Diagnostic Criteria:
    A. Recurrent, intense arousing fantasies or urges involving sexual activity with prepubescent children lasting at least 6 months.
    B. Acting on these urges or experiencing marked distress/interpersonal difficulties.
    C. Individual is at least 16 years old and at least 5 years older than child in Criterion A.

  • Characteristics:

    • Often associated with other personality disorders, including antisocial personality disorder.

    • Likely to have had early trauma, such as being molested.

Traits of Pedophiles:

  • Common traits include emotional instability, anger, impulsivity, and a sense of entitlement regarding sexual access to children.

  • Unfounded beliefs about children’s sexual readiness and their willingness to engage in sexual interactions.

Patterns and Recidivism

  • Pedrofiles typically re-offend, exhibiting stable patterns over time.

  • Estimates suggest 3.3% - 13% rearrested for a sex crime involving a child within 3 years post-release.

  • Recidivism rates vary in literature, influenced by early age of offense, previous records, and targeting male victims.

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

  • Consequences include clinical issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and interpersonal difficulties into adulthood, with potential for re-engagement in coercive sexual acts.

FETISHISM

  • Definition: Sexual fixation on an object other than another human being, which carries significant erotic importance.

  • Types of Fetishes:

    • Media fetishes: Focus on materials (e.g., leather, silk).

    • Form fetishes: Preference for specific shapes (e.g., high-heeled shoes).

  • Demographics: Predominantly male; onset during puberty or earlier, generally intensifying throughout life.

CAUSES OF FETISHISM

  • Learning Theory: Classical conditioning leading to associating objects with sexual arousal as a response.

  • Cognitive Perspectives: Perceived arousal misinterpreted as sexual, leading to a cyclical pattern of indulgence and subsequent guilt or shame.

FOOT FETISHISM

  • Notably higher instances of partialism for feet/shoes.

Case Study: Neurological Findings

  • A case study by Waldinger et al. (2013) documented a woman who experienced orgasmic sensations in response to foot stimulation due to neurological damage following trauma.

TRANSVESTISM

  • Definition: Dressing as a member of the opposite gender for sexual arousal.

  • Types:

    • Transvestic Fetishism: Intense fantasies, urges, and behaviors focused on cross-dressing leading to clinically significant distress.

  • Demographics: A sample of 1032 cross-dressers showed that 87% were heterosexual men, with majority having stable parental backgrounds.

AUTOGYNEPHILIA

  • Definition: Sexual arousal in males associated with fantasies of self as female covering physiological, behavioral, anatomical, and transvestic aspects.

DSM-V SEXUAL DISORDERS

  • Includes various conditions such as Exhibitionism, Fetishism, Frotteurism, Pedophilia, Sexual Masochism, Sexual Sadism, Transvestic Fetishism, Voyeurism, and Paraphilias Not Otherwise Specified (NOS).

PARAPHILIAS: NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED

TELEPHONE SCATELGIA

  • Definition: Repetitive sexual calls to unsuspecting individuals involving sexual or obscene content.

NECROPHILIA

  • Definition: Engaging with deceased individuals, often linked to specific occupations; contains subtypes based on behavior (regular, homicidal, fantasy).

KLISMAPHILIA

  • Definition: Sexual arousal from enemas, often stemming from childhood experiences.

PARTIALISM

  • Definition: Sexual arousal focused on body parts other than traditional erogenous zones (e.g., case of a 19-year-old male fixation).

ZOOPHILIA

  • Definition: Sexual attraction to non-human animals, distinct from abuse.

    • Noted psychological isolation before the rise of the internet leading to feelings of estrangement and interests in animals.

COPROPHILIA AND UROPHILIA

  • Coprohilia: Related to desires around defecation with subtypes focused on urination acts (urosadism/urophilia).

PREVENTION OF SEXUAL VARIATIONS

  • Discusses difficulties in intervention and the complex nature of diagnosing sexual variations while analyzing components of sexual development.