Paraphilias and Sexual Variants: Normal or Abnormal?

1. Chapter 14 Paraphilias and Sexual Variants

2. Defining “Normal”

3. Historical Perspectives Mid 11th century, Christian perspective Missionary position only All other positions “unnatural” Freud Only penile-vaginal sex is “mature”

4. Today’s DSM-IV-TR Definitions:Paraphilia and Sexual Variants Paraphilia: from Greek, “para” means other and “philia” means love • Sexual arousal and gratification depends on engaging in or thinking about unusual behavior • Lasts at least 6 months Sexual variants may be unusual but are not the preferred behavior

5. Paraphilia, Sexual Variant, or Normal?What do you think? Walking naked on beach and out of the view of others = • Paraphilia • Sexual variant • Normal or acceptable behavior

6. Multiple and Related Paraphilias Over half in treatment for paraphilia report engagement in 3 or 4 types of paraphilias Some types of paraphilias cluster together Most developed fantasies by age 12 or 13 but fearful of disclosure or discussion

7. Courtship Disorders: Normal Phases What are these normal phases? Finding potential partner Affiliation Tactile phase Copulatory phase

8. Voyeurism: Disorder of “Finding” Phase of Courtship • Description • Symptoms and causes • Danger level

9. Exhibitionism: Disorder of Affiliative Phase of Courtship

10. Obscene Phone Calls: Another Affiliative Phase Disorder Telephone Scatologia: verbal form of exhibitionism Description Types Causes and sexual turn-on Consequences Danger level

11. Frotteurism: Disorder of Tactile Courtship Phase Frotteurism: sexual arousal achieved primarily by rubbing one’s genitals against others in public places Only considered paraphilic if engaged in repeatedly as preferred form of sexual behavior

12. Pedophilia

13. Fetishism, Transvestism and Related Paraphilias Erotic fetishism: sexual arousal and gratification almost exclusively by handling or fantasizing about inanimate object Partialism: sexual arousal focusing exclusively on specific part of body

14. But what if I really enjoy leather? Which is “normal”?

15. Transvestism Edward Hyde, governor of New York (1702 – 1709) and a modern transvestite.

16. Most Transvestites Secretly Cross-dress Purpose of cross-dressing Reasons for cross-dressing Marital status Transsexuals versus transvestites

17. Personal Reflections Do you believe that it is okay for consenting adults to engage in any sexual behavior in private as long as it does not cause physical and/or emotional injury and does not interfere with normal social and occupational activities? Why or why not?

18. Related Fetish-like Paraphilias Nonhuman objects are focus: Urophilia Coprophilia Mysophilia Klismaphilia

19. Bestiality vs. Zoopilia Beastiality: arousal through sexual contact with animals Zoophilia: beastiality is preferred over sex with human partners

20. Sadomasochism (S&M)

21. S&M as a Sexual Variant

22. Other Paraphilias Necrophilia: arousal from having sex with dead bodies Autoerotic asphyxiation: individuals deprive themselves of oxygen when highly sexually aroused in hopes of intensifying orgasm

23. What Causes Paraphilias? Paraphilias and obsessive-compulsive disorder have many similarities Freudian theorists Learning theorists Which theory makes the most sense to you?

24. Understanding ParaphiliacsCan you fill in the blanks below? Attitudes about and expectations of men and women are ______. Most paraphiliacs are _____, but generally have history of other struggles.

25. Why are most paraphiliacs male? What did the text convey?

26. Therapy: Does it work? The large majority of paraphiliacs do not want to change, stifling hopes of success in therapy Recidivism is very high

27. Therapy: Approaches

28. Personal Reflections Do you engage in sexual practices that may be physically or psychologically harmful to yourself or others (e.g., exhibitionism, obscene telephone calls, voyeurism, sadomasochism, pedophilia)? If so, have you sought therapy to help with your behavior? If not, why not?