Exhibitionism

Joy Menhennett **Exhibitionism** **Definition** Exhibitionism, when pertaining to sexuality, is defined as the act, or fantasy, of exposing one’s genitals (Bader, Schoeneman-Morris, Scalora, & Casady, 2008) in an ‘inappropriate’ or unconventional time or place (i.e. in public) and can be accompanied by “direct or indirect sexual gratification” or arousal (Blair & Lanyon, 1981 p. 439). Occasionally, this behavior extends to masturbation in public (Piemont, 2007). People also exhibit both to strangers and to people they know (Cox, 1988), as well as to unsuspecting or consensual people (Hugh-Jones, Gough, & Littlewood, 2005). These behaviors are often considered deviant (Blair & Lanyon, 1981). Also, in the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual (DSM-IV), exhibitionism is defined or classified as a psychological disorder and categorized as a paraphilia, which is a term used to cover various conditions that involve sexual behaviors or desires that are inappropriate or abnormal (Hugh-Jones et al., 2005). Yet the DSM-IV clarifies that for the diagnosis of this disorder, one must have experienced significant distress or impairment in life for an extended amount of time because of these behaviors or fantasies (Langstrom, 2010). **Methods of Exhibiting** The actual act of exposing one’s naked body or genitals can occur in many ways and in multiple situations, although some exhibitionists fantasize about exhibiting themselves rather than expose themselves in public in reality. The context of the exposure relates to how acceptable the behavior is because of the varying social norms in different settings. There are approved settings for nude exposure such as in some forms of media or nude beaches. Then there are liminal settings, which can be spaces that test the boundaries of social norms and relationships, such as the internet. Finally, exhibitionism that takes place in a subversive setting violates authority and could be considered criminal activity (Jones, 2010). In case studies there have been men diagnosed as exhibitionists who sometimes show their genitals in public and/or masturbate in front of people in public places (Piemont, 2007), such as the park, public transportation, libraries, shopping malls, bridges, etc., (Jones, 2010). Others have lured people into their cars and then expose their genitals as a shock (Piemont, 2007). These tend to be the behaviors that are considered most deviant and may result in arrest due to the subversive context that the behavior is taking place in (Jones, 2010). The exhibiting of one’s genitals or nude body can be brief (i.e. a quick flash of nudity), or it can be lengthy. Lengthier exposures may include one walking with their genitals hanging out or exposed, those that include masturbation, and some exhibitionists that stand in front of a window, exposing themselves to passersby (Piemont, 2007). Yet another form of exhibitionism is ‘interactive sex entertainment’ such as participating in websites that involve exposing oneself in pictures on the internet, posing nude/stripping in public, or exposing genitals or nudity for a camera (Hugh-Jones et al., 2005, p. 263). A famous example of sexual exhibitionism that has, for the most part, been slightly accepted into social norms due to its liminal context, occurs at Mardi Gras in New Orleans where behaviors from “disrobement to public acts of sex” are exhibited in the streets (Jones, 2010, p. 254). **The Exhibitionist** Although much of the literature on exhibitionism focuses on men who exhibit, females exhibit as well (Hugh-Jones et al., 2005). Much of the information on men came from studies that included samples in a criminal or clinical context, especially samples of men who were in prison for behaviors that were disturbing or antisocial. Therefore in the past, the population of exhibitionists that is outside of this context, such as non-offenders and women, has not been heavily investigated. Just as there are different methods of going about exhibitionist behaviors, those who do exhibit have different characteristics or reasoning for it (Hugh-Jones et al., 2005). **The Exhibitionism Dilemma** This criteria and classification is based on the psycho-medical representation of exhibitionism that implies abnormality, but Hugh-Jones et al. (2005) argue against this discourse and assert that not every person who exhibits should be seen as deviant or ill because there are different circumstances and interactions involving exhibitionists and their onlookers. There has also been speculation that exhibitionism in women is not as serious or “less real” than that of men and that their reasoning behind exposure was not for arousal but for other reasons, such as getting attention (Hugh-Jones et al., 2005, p. 261). Since many studies included very disturbed individuals, men in particular, who were incarcerated or in therapy for exhibitionism, this negative image of the man who exposes himself to innocent, unknowing people is the representation in which some female exhibitionists use to support their own form of exhibitionism. One female who considered herself an exhibitionist was interviewed for a study and she asserted that the guy who flashes strangers is what exhibitionism is for men, and that no one wants to see what they’re showing, but for women, exposing themselves is entertainment, arousing not only themselves but others as well (Hugh-Jones et al., 2005). Although in this study, more women exhibitionists who were interviewed reported positive effects for themselves and others from their actions, it is speculated that part of this success or acceptance has to do with the objectification of women’s bodies in today’s society. It is also thought that the “conventional assumptio s about femininity” in mainstream society may cause onlookers to judge negatively. Yet it is suggested that within a “youth culture context”, at least for the younger female exhibitionists being interviewed, the exposure of the body in public is deemed more acceptable (Hugh-Jones et al., 2005, p. 270-271). **Mediated Exhibitionism** In addition, during the current digital age, access to technology has allowed a type of exhibitionism to take place in a different public space: the internet. “The phenomenon of amateur performers exposing their nude bodies on the internet” is termed mediated exhibitionism and includes the interactive exchange of these images through various forms of technological communication (i.e. email, webcams, text messages, etc.) (Jones, 2010, p. 253). This more recent form can help change some ideas and social norms about the exposure of the body, because of this liminal setting, that tests the boundaries (Jones, 2010). **References** Bader, S.M, Schoeneman-Morris, K.A., Scalora, M.J., & Casady, T.K. (2008). Exhibitionism: Findings from a Midwestern police contact sample. //International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 52// (3), 270-279. Blair, C.D., & Lanyon, R.I. (1981). Exhibitionism: Etiology and treatment. //Psychological Bulletin, 89// (3), 439-463. Cox, D. (1988). Incidence and nature of male genital exposure behavior as reported by college women. //The Journal of Sex Research, 24//, 227-234. Edwards, C. //Immaturity at its finest//. (2009, April 1). Retrieved from [] Hugh-Jones, S., Gough, B., & Littlewood, A. (2005). Sexual exhibitionism as ‘Sexuality and Individuality’: A critique of psycho-medical discourse from the perspectives of women who exhibit. //Sexualities, 8// (3), 259-281. Jones, M.T. (2010). Mediated exhibitionism: The naked body in performance and virtual space. //Sexuality and Culture, 14//, 253-269. doi: 10.1007/s12119-010-9075-9 Langstrom, N. (2010). The DSM diagnostic criteria for exhibitionism, voyeurism, and frotteurism. //Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39,// 317-324. doi: 10.1007/s10508-009-9577-4 Nelligan, K. //Flash of anger for parking inspector.// (2009, September 25). Retrieved from []e6frfkvr-1225779513708 Piemont, L. (2007). Fear of the empty self: The motivations for genital exhibitionism. //Modern Psychoanalysis, 32// (1), 79-93.