Sexual+Deviance

Meghan Hickey Sexual Deviance Sexual deviance, also known as paraphilia, is a form of sexual expression that is universally unaccepted in terms of morality, legality, and in medicine. Different forms of sexual deviance include fetishism, cross-dressing, sexual sadomasochism, pedophilia, exhibitionism, voyeurism, zoophile, necrophilia, incest and rape (Sexual Deviance, 2011). In general, paraphilia involves repeated sexual activity with non-consensual partners, repeatedsexual behavior with non-human objects, or repeated sexual activity with people involving real or fake suffering or humiliation (Nichol, 2001). It is considered a mental illness to be a paraphilia. ** Normal Sex Practices ** The general public finds it difficult to know what “normal” sex practices are because of media and the fact that a lot of people do not tell the truth about their sex practices. However, a study done in 1994 showed that the three most popular sex practices were penile-vaginal sex, watching their partner undress, and oral sex. Penile-vaginal sex was most enjoyable with 80% of the sample survey saying that it was the only sex practice they did in the last year. The study also found that deviant sexual behaviors appealed to very few people (Elmer-DeWitt, 1994). ** Common Types ** __Fetishism__: Sexual arousal by inanimate objects __Transvestism__: The act of dressing in clothes traditionally worn by the other gender __Sexual Sadomasochism__: Receiving sexual pleasure from inflicting or receiving pain or humiliation __Pedophilia__: Fantasizing about sexual behavior with children who have not gone through puberty __Exhibitionism__: Exposing one’s genitals to a non-consenting person or people to get sexual arousal. It is also known as “flashing” __Voyeurism__: Sexual arousal from watching other naked individuals without their knowledge __Zoophilia__: Sexual arousal from animals __Necrophilia__: Sexual arousal from a dead body __Incest__: Sexual intercourse between close family members __Rape__: Sexual assault, usually involving intercourse (Hucker, 2005) ** Characteristics ** Sexual deviants are almost always maleswho have been dealing with paraphilia since the onset of puberty, and who usually have fully developed the mentality by the age of 20. They are diagnosed if they have been exhibiting the behaviors for at least six months or if it is affecting their social, occupational or other areas of their lives (Hucker, 2005). Less severe sexual behaviors like “talking dirty,” fantasizing during masturbation, and watching your partner undress are more common, but would not make someone be mentally ill (Paraphilia, 2005). The paraphilia is also usually very specific. For example, a man who is sexually aroused from showing his genitals will usually not enjoy watching other naked individuals. A sexual deviant is usually obsessed with their deviant behavior (Paraphilia, 2011). When a deviant does exhibit other behaviors, however, they are usually along the lines of exhibitionism, voyeurism or rape (Nichol, 2001). Someone who is sexually deviant can only become sexually gratified by either acting upon his or her obsession or thinking about his or her obsession while doing another sexual act. (Paraphilia, 2011).
 * Definition**

**Causes** It is unclear what causes sexual deviance; however, psychoanalysts theorize that it starts from early in life. They believe that the individuals are reverting back to sexual behaviors that they exhibited in the past. Experts also think that a contributing factor is the fact that deviants have difficulty forming personal relationships (Causes of Paraphilia Unclear, 2011). ** Assessment and Treatment ** Sexual deviants are assessed through methods like clinical interviews, behavioral measurements, paper and pencil tests, and psycho-physiological tests to see how serious the condition are and what needs to be done to treat it. In clinical interviews, doctors figure out how often the patients have the behavior and whether or not the patient has multiple deviances. Behavioral measurements are done through role-playing. Once doctors have determined the condition in which the patient is in, they can figure out a treatment for them. While most paraphilic individuals do not seek treatment, those that do can either go through psychological therapy or take some medications. A combination of the two has been proven to be the most effective. The most effective psychological techniques include cognitive behavioral methods like relapse prevention strategies (Hucker, 2005). The goal in cognitive behavioral therapy is to make the deviant switch from thinking about the inappropriate to the appropriate. The three main areas that doctors work to change are sexual behaviors, thinking patterns, and social skills (Nichol, 2001). Individuals can also take medications that reduce their sex drive through Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors such as Prozac and Paxil (Hucker, 2005). It is important to take drugs to help them because they can get distracted from thinking about deviant behaviors, which can affect their day-to-day lives, and even counseling. When deviants do get treated, it is usually because a family member caught them or because they were arrested. They choose not to get treated because they receive immense pleasure from their behavior, and giving it up is not something they want to do (Causes of Paraphilia Unclear, 2011). In order for treatment to be effective, it must be on a long-term basis, and the patient should be willing to comply (Paraphilia, 2005). One way of helping to prevent sexually deviant behavior is proper sex education. If teachers are able to educate children around the ages that they might be developing deviant behaviors, then they might be able to help prevent their deviant behaviors from maturing. Teachers need to be telling students about appropriate sexual behaviors, and about sexual dysfunctions. Sexual dysfunctions can include impotency and premature ejaculation among other things. Another way to help prevent sexual deviance is to help children develop social skills. This is a concern because a lot of sex offenders lack sociable qualities (Nichol, 2001). ** Sexual Offending ** While some types of sexual deviance do not lead to sexual offending, like transvestism, some deviances can lead to sexual assault. For example pedophilia can lead to child molestation, which is illegal, so it is very important to be treated for these behaviors (Hucker, 2005). Some studies have shown that the amount of pornography that deviants watch may have an effect on their deviant behaviors (Marshall, Zillman, & Bryant, 1989). Feminists believe that part of the reason they are assaulted is because the media makes it socially acceptable for men to feel sexually aroused from taking advantage of women. They believe the only way to stop this is social change. Some research shows that drugs and alcohol has little to do with why sexual deviants assault others (Nichol, 2001). ** References ** Causes of Paraphilia Unclear. (2001). In // Discovery Communications //. Retrieved from [] Elmer-DeWitt, Philip. (1994, October 17). Behavior: Now for the Truth About Americans and Sex. // Time //. Retrieved from [] Hucker, Stephen. (2005). Paraphilias. // Forensic Psychiatry //. Retrieved from [] Marshall, W.L., Zillman, D., Bryant, J. (1989). Pornography and Sex Offenders [Abstract]. // Pornography: Research Advances & Policy // // Considerations //. 30, 185-214. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Hillsdale, NJ. Nichol, Grant. (2001). Paraphilic Sex Offenders: A Literature Review and Proposal for Program Development in Victoria. // Centre for Health Program Evaluation //. Retrieved from [] Paraphilia. (2005). In // MedicineNet //. Retrieved from [] Paraphilia. (2011). In // Discovery Communications //. Retrieved from [] Sexual Deviance. (2011). In // Medindia Health Network Pvt Ltd //. Retrieved from [] [] [] []