Paraphilia
Template:TOC-right 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 a particular object without which the person cannot become aroused or be sexually gratified.
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 discusses sexual behaviours that are currently considered abnormal.
The paraphilias
Exhibitionism
Exhibitionism is sexual gratification by displaying one's genitals to an involuntary observer. Exhibitionists report feeling little control over the urge to expose themselves; exposing oneself while driving is common.[2]
Fetishism
Festishism is sexual gratification gained by relying on an inanimate, apparently non-sexual 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 considered 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 is sometimes viewed as socially acceptable voyeurism.
Treatment
Some paraphilias have been hypothesized to part of the obsessive-compulsive disorder spectrum, as individuals report an inability to resist their urges.[3] 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.[4]
Antiandrogen drugs decrease testosterone levels, a hormone essential to human sexuality, and are highly effective controlling pedophilia, exhibitionism, and voyeurism.[2]
References
- ↑ From the Greek words para - beside, and philia - love.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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]