What's a Sexual Paraphilia?

The DSM-IV defines paraphilias as sexual impulse disorders characterized by intensely arousing, recurrent sexual fantasies, urges and behaviors that are considered deviant with respect to cultural norms.

A paraphilia is a means for some people to release sexual energy or frustration. The act or behavior is usually followed by arousal and orgasm, generally achieved by masturbation and fantasy.

Simply stated, paraphilia is a clinical term used to identify sexual deviations or perversions - behaviors that are generally considered to be distasteful, abnormal, atypical, or extreme. It involves the habitual preoccupation and practice of these behaviors, to the point of dependency, as a means of releasing sexual energy or for sexual gratification. The behavior or act usually results in arousal and orgasm.

In a broad sense, paraphilias will fall into one or more of the following:

a. sexual fantasies and behaviors with non-human objects
b. sexual behaviors involving humiliation, pain, or suffering of oneself or another person
c. adult sexual behavior involving children
d. non-consenting sexual behavior involving another adult
e. sexual intrusion on the privacy or personal space of an unsuspecting person without their knowledge or consent

Although there are numerous paraphilias, a few of the most common are:

Exhibitionism (exposure of one's genitals to an unsuspecting child or adult, usually a stranger) Exhibitionism is commonly called indecent exposure and, when prosecuted, is generally a low-level misdemeanor or an ordinance violation. The behavior is distinct in that most untreated exhibitionists will expose themselves hundreds, if not thousands, of times in their lifetime.