Bio 27 October 22 Chapter 16: Atypical Sexual Behavior

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What Is Atypical Sexual Behavior?

Paraphilia: sexual behavior in which arousal or response depends on an unusual, extraordinary, or bizarre activity – Previously referred to as deviant,

perverted, aberrant or abnormal

Atypical sexual behaviors: sexual behaviors in which most people do not engage (significant overlap with paraphilia) May be mild tendencies infrequently expressed, or regular behaviors; many people fantasize about atypical sexual behaviors, but never engage in them

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Paraphilias

More males report paraphilias and are prosecuted for crimes related to paraphilias Paraphilias are often clustered: if you have one, you are more likely to have others Classified as noncoercive vs. coercive paraphilias – Noncoercive: paraphilias that do not involve other people, or that involve the participation of consenting adults – Coercive: paraphilias that involve unwilling people, children, or animals Unconventional behavior may alienate others leading to difficulty in establishing relationships

• • • Non-Coercive Paraphilias: Fetishism Fetishism: sexual arousal primarily from a body part (like feet) or inanimate object (like clothing) Can be hard to draw a line between normal activities with fetishistic overtones and outright fetishes; usually a fetish is defined as the person being fixated on the object to the exclusion of all else Rarely harmful to others – Burglary is most common serious offense associated with fetishism

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Origins of fetishism

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) trained a dog to salivate at the sound of a bell; this phenomenon is referred to by psychologists as

conditioning

A fetish can be incorporated into sexual thought through fantasy, possibly during masturbation Some children associate objects (often belonging to their mothers or sisters) with sexual arousal; may imbue objects with characteristics of that person

Non-Coercive Paraphilias: Transvestic Fetishism • • • Transvestic fetishism: Sexual arousal from wearing clothes of other sex As a diagnostic category, term is applied only to heterosexual men Rarely harmful to others; many argue that it should not be considered a paraphilia, but rather a normal part of sexual expression for some people

• • • • • • Non-Coercive Paraphilias: Sexual Sadism and

Sexual Masochism

Sadism: sexual arousal from giving physical or psychological pain Masochism: sexual arousal from receiving pain / bondage – The only paraphilia seen in women with some frequency Bondage: taking sexual pleasure from being bound or tied up BDSM: bondage, discipline, dominance/submission, and sadomasochism Difficult to label because some behaviors common – Kinsey (1948, 1953) found that 22% of males and 12% of females responded erotically to stories with SM themes – Probably more people interested today due to the internet More people report masochistic than sadistic tendencies; some partners switch off SM roles

Why S & M?

• • SM is often viewed in a highly negative light due to its contradiction with sexual activity as a loving, tender interaction For most people, SM is a form of sexual enhancement that involves mutual shared interest

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Other Non-Coercive Paraphilias

Autoerotic asphyxia: reducing blood supply to the brain during heightened sexual arousal; usually achieved by a chain or leather belt around the neck, sometimes a plastic bag; blood supply is restored at the time of orgasm.

Klismaphilia: receiving or giving enemas Coprophilia: contact with feces Urophilia: contact with urine (“water sports” or “ golden showers ” )

COERCIVE PARAPHILIAS

• • • • Coercive Paraphilias: Exhibitionism Exhibitionism: Exposing genitals to an involuntary observer Goal is to get attention, express hostility, or to shock, unlike with nudism Some offenders commit more serious crimes Suggested response – Calmly ignore it – Leave immediately – Report to authorities ASAP

Coercive Paraphilias: Obscene Phone Calls • • • Sexual arousal from response to call Usually a shy, insecure male Suggested response – Gently hang up, ignore re-call – Screen calls, call tracing – Report and ask for new number

Coercive Paraphilias: Voyeurism • • • Sexual arousal from observing others undressing or engaging in sexual activity, without their consent Offenders often feel inadequate and lack sociosexual skills – Tend to be young men in 20s More likely to observe strangers than acquaintances

Other Coercive Paraphilias

• • • Frotteurism: rubbing against an unwilling victim; one study found that 21% of college-aged men had engaged in such acts – In Japan, frotteurism and groping were such a problem that women-only train cars were introduced – Perpetrators may orgasm at the time of the act, or incorporate mental images of it into subsequent masturbation Zoophilia: (also called bestiality) sex with animals – 8% of males and 4% of females report having a sexual experience with an animal at some point – Rate is highest among people raised on farms – Commonly occurs in young people not yet sexually active with other humans Necrophilia: viewing or having intercourse with a corpse – Extremely rare; some have been known to kill in order to have sex with their victim’s body

Sex Addiction

• • • • Sex addiction: being dominated by insatiable sexual need Also referred to as nymphomania in women and satyriasis in men Not recognized as an actual psychiatric disorder in the DSM-IV Poorly understood

“Noncoercive paraphilias should not be considered mental illness, because they don’t hurt anybody”

How strongly do you agree or disagree with this statement? Support your answer using specific evidence.

1 2 3 4 5 strongly disagree somewhat disagree neutral somewhat agree strongly agree