Telephone+Scatalogia

Kyle Sellett **Telephone Scatalogia **

**Definition** Telephone Scatalogia: 1. A psychosexual disorder characterized by a recurrent, intense urge or fantasy to make obscene telephone calls. 2. To derive sexual arousal and/or gratification from making obscene, provocative telephone calls usually at random. Synonym: [|obscene-phone-calling]. (Farlex, 2004)

** Paraphilias ** Paraphilias are, “recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors” (Hales, 2008). Telephone scatalogia is just one of many different disorders that fill this list. Others that also fall under this category are: exhibitionism, fetishism, frotteurism, pedophilia, sexual masochism, sexual sadism, transvestic fetishism, voyeurism, necrophilia, urophelia, zoophilia, klismaphilia, and partialism (Hales, 2008).

** 4 Main Types of Calls ** There are four different types of obscene phones calls that can be made by people suffering from telephone scatalogia. Haeberle, Bullough, & Bullough (2006) point out three of the types of phone calls people suffering from telephone scatalogia can make. 1. In the most common type of call the caller may breathe heavily or describe sexual activities, particularly his masturbatory action, in explicit detail. 2. The second type of obscene call is one in which the caller threatens the listener and instructs her to undress, masturbate, or engage in some form of sexual behavior. 3. In the third type of obscene call, the caller tries to convince the listener to reveal intimate details of her sexual behaviors, often stating that he is conducting a survey of sexual practices for an institute or university. A fourth type of caller was suggested by Matek (1988). Matek stated that this fourth type, “Uses crisis hotlines in order to request help (from a female volunteer), discuss sexual material, and masturbate. According to Matek this type of caller is so common that it is likely not a single crisis telephone program anywhere in the U.S. has been free from the telephone masturbators” (Laws, & O’Donohue, 2008).

** Common Traits in Callers ** “It has been reported that telephone scatalogists are predominantly heterosexual male onanists in their late twenties and thirties, at the time of their psychiatric treatment or arrest, with an average or elevated sexual drive, adequate cognitive ability, with no significant psychopathology, who had a failed, lasting at least for a few years, marriage (or a live-in girlfriend) in some instances with children and who have a limited social (physical) interaction, minor criminal history (mostly involving theft), high school education with some college and menial jobs. It is not uncommon for telephone scatalogists to disguise their voice and pretend to be women while talking over the phone with females, who comprise a vital majority of scatalogists' victims” (Pakhomou, 2006). The callers enjoy the startled or frightened responses of the listener. In many of these cases the caller will masturbate during or shortly after the call. Some people may do these types of calls on occasion, or as a one-time prank. In many of these instances the callers will be adolescents. It is often reported that the obscene telephone caller has doubts about his gender identity, and the calls provide him with confirmation of his masculine role (Haeberle, Bullough, & Bullough, 2006). Pakhomou (2006) states that, “Telephone scatalogia presents a uniquely human form of sexual interaction, because it is not tactile and is deeply imbedded in speech and language.”

** Legal Ramifications ** State laws can give a minimum fine of $500 and imprisonment of up to 30 days for obscene telephone calls. Federal law provides fines up to $500 and imprisonment of up to six months for interstate or foreign obscene phone calls (Haeberle, Bullough, & Bullough, 2006).

** Scientific Studies ** Two studies on the topic of telephone scatalogia were discussed in the book //Sexual Deviance: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment//. They both dealt with college undergraduate students. The first was conducted in 1967 and found that twenty-six percent of college females reported receiving obscene telephone calls. When the same study was redone in 1968 to include males it found that twenty-eight percent of females and eleven percent of males reported receiving these calls. The book notes, “However, these data do not reflect prevalence rates for telephone scatalogia, because no information is available on how many calls one individual might make or how many of the callers would meet the criteria for paraphilia NOS” (Laws, & O’Donohue, 2008).

**Treatment** Paraphilias are thought of as a whole group so similar methods are used in treating all of them. One form of treatment is psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy. This idea is based around the thought that “Identification and resolution of early conflicts, trauma, and humiliation are thought to remove the individual’s anxiety toward appropriate partners and enable him or her to give up the paraphilic fantasies” (Hales, 2008). Hormonal treatments have also been used and are usually aimed at lowering testosterone levels in males. Hales (2008) notes a study done in 2005 that demonstrated men with higher testosterone levels tended to have committed the most invasive sexual crimes.

** How Recipients Should React ** When receiving a call that is believed to be of obscene nature it is best to hang up immediately. It is normal to feel revolted, victimized, manipulated, or violated. The caller usually becomes aroused though if the recipient expresses any negative emotions towards them. Remember never to give out your name or any personal information to the caller. Be careful, as the caller may initially sound friendly or recognizable. If calls persist be sure to inform the police and telephone company (Haeberle, Bullough, & Bullough, 2006). If problems persist there are other options that can be helpful in stopping obscene callers. The recipient can change their telephone number and receive an unlisted number. Caller ID can be used, which is a device that attaches to the telephone company and displays a local caller’s telephone number. Another option is Call Trace; this allows the date, time, and phone number of the caller to be recorded by the telephone company. Following the call the recipient must enter a code into the telephone to activate the trace and notify the phone company to take action with the police. (Haeberle, Bullough, & Bullough, 2006)

** References **

Farlex, Initials. (2004). // telephone scatalogia //. Retrieved from http://www.sex-lexis.com/Sex-Dictionary/telephone%20scatalogia

Haeberle, E.J., Bullough, V.L., & Bullough, B. (2006). Obscene Telephone Calls. //Human sexuality: an encyclopedia//. Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/GESUND/ARCHIV/SEN/BEGIN.HTM#Contents

Hales, R.E. (2008). //The american psychiatric textbook of psychiatry//. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

//Happiness: a brief look past in film past//. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.moviehoppingisnotacrime.com/happiness-1998

Laws, D.R., & O'Donohue, W.T. (2008). //Sexual deviance: theory,// //assessment, and treatment//. New York: The Guilford Press.

Pakhomou, S.M. (2006). Methodological aspects of telephone scatologia: a case study. //International Journal of Law and Psychiatry//, //29//(3), Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V7W-4JD1174- 1&_user=571676&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F2006&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=gateway&_origin=gateway&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000029040&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=571676&md5=9cd9a04412cd04656acdafd3d51d0a16&searchtype=a doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2005.09.005